Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

To the delight of fans old and new, comes the long-awaited ‘Toyah Live At Drury Lane’ – Toyah’s legendary Christmas Eve 1981 concert released on 12 May 2023 by Cherry Red Records.

Toyah the band were invited by the BBC to play a special live concert on 24 December 1981 for broadcast live on BBC2 for The Old Grey Whistle Test Christmas Special. Simultaneously the concert was broadcast in stereo on BBC Radio 1. Previously, the concert footage was only ever available on a BBC VHS video cassette in 1982.

Following a year of top ten hit singles in 1981 plus the Gold-selling album Anthem, the band closed out the year with this fantastically energetic and celebratory concert. The band line-up for this concert saw Toyah Willcox (vocals), Joel Bogen (guitar), the late Phil Spalding (bass) and Adrian Lee (keyboards) joined by acclaimed drummer Simon Phillips. The much-loved Christmas Eve 1981 concert was watched by an astonishing 12 million viewers on BBC 2 television.

The 2LP and CD contains all 13 songs as performed at the momentous concert at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, as broadcast live on BBC 1 for Toyah In Concert.

The DVD contains all 13 songs as performed at the momentous concert at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, with two songs from the broadcast reinstated following their cut from a 1982 VHS video release Good Morning Universe.

Exclusive to the CD in this package are 3 bonus audio tracks recorded live in Milan on the band’s Winter Tour, which culminated in the Drury Lane concerts on 23/24 December 1981. These three rarely performed tracks are Stand Proud, Urban Tribesmen and Pop Star and come from a previously unreleased sound desk concert recording, courtesy of Joel Bogen.

The 24-page colour booklet includes an introduction by Toyah to the concert and new sleevenotes by Craig Astley, Toyah’s archivist who compiled this release.

Brand new artwork includes photography of Toyah’s iconic stage entrance for the gig, 20ft above the band and audience. Rare and previously unseen photographs of the band’s Drury Lane concert the day before (23 Dec 1981) from the Safari Records archive also illustrate the CD booklet.

• Pre-Order Toyah Live At Drury Lane on CD+DVD, and semi-transparent pink vinyl at Cherry Red (The editions with postcards sold out almost immediately!). Read the news/press release and album page/full tracklist/Release Gallery at toyahwillcox.com. Watch Toyah announce the release on today’s Toyah At Home.

Toyah’s album In The Court Of The Crimson Queen | Rhythm Deluxe Edition is out now to stream, download or buy on CD or translucent 2LP red vinyl. Order here.

Toyah celebrated the song Dance In The Hurricane in Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch, which premiered yesterday at You Tube and Facebook.  (Photos © Toyah Willcox)

Latex Messiah (Posh Redux) featuring Robert Fripp was released today digitally. Taken from the upcoming Deluxe Edition of In The Court Of The Crimson Queen, which is released – on CD and translucent red double vinyl – on 10th February.

Toyah introduces the new version on Toyah At Home tomorrow at 11am. Latex Messiah gets some utterly eyepopping new Latex visuals courtesy of Toyah & Robert in this week’s Sunday Lunch! Airing at midday on Sunday (15th January).

• Stream or download Latex Messiah by clicking below.

*** ADVANCE NOTICE….
PRE-ORDER LIVE tonight at 7pm ***

A special 10” Cherry Red-coloured vinyl EP commemorating Toyah’s classic single ‘Brave New World is released 10 March 2023.

Limited to 500 copies only.

The EP contains 4 tracks, all previously unreleased versions and the long-awaited Dawn Chorus (6.55 Special Mix).

Part of its special ‘45s at 45’ vinyl series marking the 45th Anniversary of Cherry Red Records.

Pre-order from 7pm TONIGHT
Thur 22 Dec 2022

BRAVE NEW WORLD
10″ Red-coloured Vinyl EP

Side A
1. Brave New World (Razzmatazz Mix)
2. Street Creature (Razzmatazz Mix)

Side B
1. Dawn Chorus (6.55 Special Version)
2. Ieya 1982 (Edited Version)

The new ‘Posh Redux’ version of Sensational featuring Robert Fripp on guitar, was released on Friday as a preview digital single to stream and download.

Following her Top 30 hit album Posh Pop and Isle of Wight Festival performance Toyah unveils details of the new ‘Rhythm Deluxe Edition’ of studio album In The Court of The Crimson Queen, presented as a prequel to Posh Pop.

The definitive version of the album now contains Toyah’s unique interpretation of the iconic song Slave To The Rhythm, featuring Robert Fripp on guitar and produced by Simon Darlow, co-writer of the original track. The album also contains three brand new remakes of Sensational, Heal Ourselves and Latex Messiah featuring the Posh Pop Three of Toyah, Simon Darlow and Robert Fripp. Plus exclusively revised artwork and lyrics for the album.

• Watch the video below or at You Tube. Yesterday’s Toyah At Home was a Sensational special, watch here, and today’s Sensational Magical Sunday Lunch, here. Stream/download Sensational (Posh Redux) here.

Tomorrow’s Toyah At Home brings the premiere of the new single – and accompanying video for – Sensational (Posh Redux). The single features Robert Fripp.

In today’s Toyah At Home episode, Toyah introduces the video to Sensational which receives a new single release in its new remixed version, featuring the Posh Pop Three including Robert Fripp on guitar. Premieres 11am, Saturday 17th December. (Image © Toyah Willcox)

Coming this Friday! Toyah’s new digital single Sensational (Posh Redux) featuring Robert Fripp.

Produced by Simon Darlow, the single is a follow-up to Slave To The Rhythm and previews the forthcoming Rhythm Deluxe Edition of In The Court Of The Crimson Queen.

Toyah – Four More From Toyah – Expanded 12″ Neon Violet Vinyl Version: Album Review

The story continues – The latest triumphant installment in Cherry Red’s reissue series of Toyah’s Safari Records catalogue.

Release Date: 9th December 2022
Label: Cherry Red Records
Formats: Vinyl

And so the story continues. Back in early 2021, we were pleased to review the deluxe reissue of Toyah’s second album, The Blue Meaning and then, last May, we raved over the combined CD/DVD repackaging of her seminal 1980 live album, Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! Cherry Red has certainly been busy and, since we last paid a visit to Toyah-land a super-deluxe edition of her 1981 album, Anthem, has hit the racks, along with a CD version of her breakthrough February 1981 concert at London’s Rainbow Theatre – a recording that was previously only available in video formats. And now, Toyah’s back again, this time with a delightful, expanded, 12” neon violet vinyl version of her third EP, Four More From Toyah.

Originally released in November 1981, the EP continued Toyah’s run of chart success, thanks this time to the popularity of lead track, Good Morning Universe. The original EP climbed to No.14 in the UK singles chart; for 2022 viewers, it’s been expanded into a mini-album, with the addition of four further tracks, two of which receive a commercial release for the first time.

The original EP comprised the first material to be studio-recorded since drummer Nigel Glocker’s departure to join NWOBHM-ers, Saxon, and the line-up on display for the eight tracks in this package is: Toyah Willcox (vocals), Joel Bogen (guitar), Adrian Lee (keyboards), Phil Spalding (bass) and new drummer, Simon Phillips. And the band sound rock-solid! I was particularly impressed by the concrete foundation, often edging towards the funky side of things, that Phil and Simon laid down; and Toyah sings with a maturity that is only hinted at on her earlier recordings, without losing any of the sinister edge that could often make her vocal delivery such a chilling experience.

• Continue reading at At The Barrier. Buy Four More From Toyah at Cherry Red.

A mere 41 years after its original release, Four More From Toyah is out today – on expanded eight song colour vinyl mini LP. Boasting gorgeous artwork and unreleased tracks, it’s the latest in an impressive release schedule of colour Toyah vinyls made available over the past five years or so. Order Four More From Toyah on neon violet vinyl at Cherry Red by clicking below.

Toyah / Four More From Toyah
Expanded EP on coloured vinyl

The Four More From Toyah EP was Toyah’s fourth UK single of 1981, following on from the original Four From Toyah EP of February 1981 (featuring ‘It’s A Mystery’), ‘I Want To Be Free’ and ‘Thunder in the Mountains’. The lead track was ‘Good Morning Universe’ and it was the only one of the four to chart outside the top 10 (it peaked at #14 and would be the band’s last top 20 hit in the UK).

Four More From Toyah will be being reissued next week, and is remastered and expanded for a coloured vinyl offering. Side A contains all four of the tracks from the original EP, while side B features the previously unreleased track ‘Go Berserk’ (a song that was played before the band walked on stage on the European tour of winter 1981), ‘Stand Proud’ (from the bonus flexi-disc that came with initial copies of Four More From Toyah), outtake ‘Clapham Junction’, and finally the Steve Lillywhite-produced, previously unreleased, re-make of ‘I Want To Be Free’ (recorded in February 1982).

• Continue reading at Super Deluxe Edition. Pre-order Four More From Toyah at Cherry Red Records.

Live At The Rainbow was released yesterday, on CD/DVD and Double Vinyl. Watch Cherry Red’s promo video for the release by clicking below. Order Live At The Rainbow at Cherry Red.

Newly remixed & remastered… Race Through Space [Live At The Rainbow] is out digitally this Friday, 4th November. Pre-save the track here.

The track is a preview of the forthcoming 2LP Vinyl and CD+DVD editions of Toyah Live At The Rainbow released 25th November on Cherry Red Records. Pre-order Live At The Rainbow.

Four More From Toyah is reissued on Special Neon Violet Vinyl by Cherry Red Records on Friday 9th December 2022.

PRE-ORDER NOW

Limited quantity of limited edition postcard available from Cherry Red Records whilst stocks last. (NB. These sold out almost immediately)

The release expands the 1981 EP ‘Four More From Toyah’ into an eight- track mini-LP, compiled by Craig Astley and newly remastered from the original master tapes.
Originally released in late November 1981 and lead by the track ‘Good Morning Universe’, the EP was the fourth top 20 charting single for the band in that year, following the ‘Four From Toyah’ EP (lead by ‘It’s A Mystery’), ‘I Want To Be Free’ and ‘Thunder In The Mountains’.

The EP was the first material to be studio-recorded since the departure of drummer Nigel Glockler who was replaced by Simon Phillips. This EP contains eight tracks recorded by the line- up of Toyah Willcox (vocals), Joel Bogen (guitarist, co-writer and co-founder of the Toyah band), Adrian Lee (keyboards), Phil Spalding (bass) and the newly recruited Simon Phillips (drums).

Side A contains all four of the tracks from the original EP.

Side B opens with the previously unreleased, studio recorded tour intro track ‘Go Berserk’, including new vocals and snatches of lyrics from ‘Neon Womb’ and ‘Urban Tribesmen’ plus new dialogue that leads to a chilling crescendo. ‘Go Berserk’ was played before the band walked on stage on the European Tour of winter 1981. It is swiftly followed by the newly remastered ‘Stand Proud’ which often featured as the first song played live (directly after Go Berserk had finished). The track originally appeared on a flexi-disc with initial copies of the ‘Four More From Toyah’ EP.

The third track is ‘Clapham Junction’, an out-take that began in the session for the single ‘Thunder In The Mountains’, was finished with new drum parts from Simon Phillips and vocals/ lyrics from Toyah.

The final track is the last session recorded by this line-up and hails from February 1982. This previously unreleased re-recording of the hit single ‘I Want To Be Free’ was produced by Steve Lillywhite in the Roundhouse Studios and went on to be used as the basis of the band’s television performance on the British Rock & Pop Awards when Toyah was awarded Best Female Singer in early 1982. This track has not previously been released.

All eight tracks are remastered by Nick Watson at Fluid Mastering and approved by Joel Bogen. The sleeve contains an out-take of the EP photography from the Safari archives plus full lyrics on a newly designed inner bag. Initial quantities come with an exclusive postcard.

• Pre-Order Four More From Toyah on Neon Violet Vinyl at Cherry Red (The limited edition with postcard sold out almost immediately!). Read the press release – and see the full tracklist, which includes two previously unreleases tracks – at toyahwillcox.com.

Cherry Red are releasing Toyah’s February 1981 concert recorded at London’s Rainbow Theatre as a CD/DVD and a coloured double vinyl LP on 25 November 2022.

Toyah – Live At The Rainbow is released for the first time on CD with seven additional songs, all previously unreleased and restored exclusively for this release.

Previously only available on VHS, the 53-min concert film has been remastered from the original Rolling Stones multitrack reels for the DVD release with improvements to both picture and sound.

The newly remixed and remastered audio has been integrated to the concert for an enhanced viewing experience. All audio remastering was approved by Joel Bogen.

Three of the seven unheard songs appear exclusively on the CD as mono-only (originally mixed by Nick Tauber) bonus tracks, where no existing multi-tracks were available to present new stereo remixes. These three tracks do not appear on the 16-song double vinyl LP edition. Toyah provides a brand-new introduction in the 24-page booklet which contains iconic live photography by Barry Plummer and new notes by Craig Astley, Toyah’s official archivist.

• Continue reading at Mr Kinski’s Music Shack. Pre-order Toyah Live At The Rainbow, and other recent Toyah reissues, at Cherry Red.

Click on the shots below for an exclusive preview clip. Computer from Toyah Live At The Rainbow for #ToyahTuesday.

One of the most long-awaited titles by Toyah fans finally comes home this November. Toyah Live At The Rainbow will be released on CD+DVD and aqua-blue transparent vinyl LP by Cherry Red Records on Friday 25th November 2022. Pre-order here. (Photos © Cherry Red)

Toyah / Live at the Rainbow
First time on DVD and CD/LP

Toyah Live at the Rainbow was issued on VHS back in 1981 (and later on laserdisc) but now gets the full reissue treatment with remixed and remastered audio on vinyl and CD as well as a DVD with restored visuals.

The concert was in February 1981 at London’s iconic Rainbow Theatre and includes a performance of ‘It’s A Mystery’. Such was that single’s success (it reached number four as part of the ‘Four From Toyah’ EP) it prompted a gig upgrade from the Lyceum Theatre to The Rainbow.

Live at the Rainbow was originally a 12-song video, but on CD it has been expanded with with seven additional tracks, all previously unheard and unreleased; restored exclusively for this release. These include ‘Bird In Flight’, ‘Mummies’, ‘Computer’ and ‘Love Me’. Three of these seven songs are in mono because the original multi-track masters could not be found. The coloured blue vinyl edition doesn’t include the mono tracks and is therefore a 16-song offering.

• Continue reading at Super Deluxe Edition.

One of the most long-awaited titles by Toyah fans finally comes home this November. ‘Toyah Live At The Rainbow’ will be released on CD+DVD and aqua-blue transparent vinyl LP by Cherry Red Records on Friday 25 November 2022.

Featuring the original 12-song concert film released for the first time ever on DVD, much requested and sought after by fans for decades.

The previously unreleased concert audio is released for the first time ever on CD with seven additional songs, all previously unheard and unreleased; restored exclusively for this release. These include ‘Bird In Flight’, ‘Mummies’, ‘Computer’ and ‘Love Me’.

For this release, the original Rolling Stones multitrack reels have been revisited and remixed from scratch by Nick Watson at Fluid Mastering to create a new full stereo mix of the gig for the first time in its history. All audio remastering was approved by Joel Bogen.

This newly remastered and expanded release is the fifth in the Toyah reissue programme.

Celebrating the much-loved February 1981 concert at North London’s legendary Rainbow Theatre, this hotly anticipated title marks the first time ever the concert audio has been released on vinyl.

At the time, the Toyah band had seen a new line-up with Willcox and Joel Bogen joined by Nigel Glockler, Phil Spalding and Adrian Lee. In February 1981, the lead track ‘It’s A Mystery’, from the EP ‘Four From Toyah’, rose up through the charts and following an appearance on BBC’s Top Of The Pops, saw the band ‘Toyah’ crossover to mainstream singles chart success. This concert, originally due to take place at the Lyceum, was upgraded to the Rainbow following the EP’s success and demand for tickets.

Safari Records decided to record this unique moment in history as the band were ascending to greater fame and recognition, and before they’d recorded an album to follow the success of ‘It’s A Mystery’.

‘Toyah Live At The Rainbow’ includes the classic tracks ‘It’s A Mystery’, ‘War Boys’, ‘Angels & Demons’, ‘Race Through Space’, ‘Danced’ and ‘Ieya’.

• Pre-Order “Toyah Live At The Rainbow” on CD+DVD and Transparent Aqua Blue Vinyl at Cherry Red, where you can also see the full tracklist for both formats.

Give Them Wings is now available to stream/download. Click below for links.

Following her Top 30 hit album Posh Pop and Isle of Wight Festival performance Toyah unveils details of the new Rhythm Deluxe Edition of studio album In The Court of The Crimson Queen, presented as a prequel to Posh Pop.

The definitive version of the album now contains Toyah’s unique interpretation of the iconic song Slave To The Rhythm, — out to stream this Friday, 12th August — featuring Robert Fripp on guitar and produced by Simon Darlow, co-writer of the original track.

The album also contains three brand new remakes of Sensational, Heal Ourselves and Latex Messiah featuring the Posh Pop Three of Toyah, Simon Darlow and Robert Fripp. Plus exclusively revised artwork and lyrics for the album.

• Pre-order heavyweight 2-LP Translucent Red Vinyl: or CD now by clicking below.

Toyah’s new single Slave To The Rhythm feat. Robert Fripp is out now to stream/download.

Toyah’s new single, Slave To The Rhythm, is released digitally on Friday 12th August. Produced by Simon Darlow, who co-write the track originally, it features Robert Fripp on guitar. The video will premiere exclusively during Toyah At Home on Saturday 13th August.