Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

Toyah Solo is a new 7 CD + DVD anthology of collected works by Toyah, released 28 February 2020 by Edsel Records

RELEASE DATE: 28 February 2020
CAT NO: TOYAHBOX01
FORMAT: 7 CD + DVD in wallets in 2-piece box with 48 page booklet

An Amazon Exclusive edition features a signed print and is strictly limited to 500 copies.

The first Toyah box set ever features six studio albums (Minx, Desire, Prostitute, Ophelia’s Shadow, Take The Leap!, Velvet Lined Shell) alongside 44 bonus tracks, including rarities, B-sides, collaborations, and several unreleased tracks, plus a DVD of promo videos and a brand new exclusive interview filmed in December 2019.

In 1985, after five studio albums and two live albums with her band, Toyah decided to go solo, and signed to Sony’s portrait label. The album Minx contained two hit singles, Don’t Fall In Love (I Said) and Soul Passing Through Soul, as well as covers of Alice Cooper’s School’s Out and Rare Bird’s Sympathy. 1987’s Desire, featured appearances from Robert Fripp and Ron Wood and Toyah’s cover of Echo Beach, and now contains the previously unreleased outtake “Mesmerised. Prostitute (1988) was an arresting and fascinating departure from the pop formula, a trend continued by 1991’s Ophelia’s Shadow. In 1994, Take The Leap” featured new songs and intriguing revisits of several of her earlier pop hits. 2003’s “Velvet Lined Shell took Toyah back to her guitar punk roots.

Amongst the bonus tracks are Toyah’s collaborations with Tony Banks, Trey Gunn, German band Kiss Of Reality, Family Of Noise and This Fragile Moment. The lavishly-illustrated 48 page booklet features annotation about each album written by Toyah herself. Also featured is an essay on the period covered by the box by Toyah’s official archivist and compiler of this box set, Craig Astley. As Craig says: “eclectic is an often-overused word but is an accurate description of this intriguing and revelatory body of work. From unashamed pop and avant-garde to progressive rock and back to punk, the Common factors throughout are Toyah’s voice and lyrics but moreover, a sense of forging and following her own creative solo path”.

• Continue reading about Toyah Solo at toyahwillcox.com.

A new box celebrating Toyah’s career is on its way • 500 with signed print

Toyah’s solo career is to be celebrated in a new box set due next month from Demon.

Toyah Solo mops up the era from 1985 onwards when Willcox signed as a solo turn to Sony’s Portrait Records and then subsequent EG releases, and comprises of seven CDs and a DVD plus a 48 page book. (If you’re a cursory fan and a bit confused and wondering ‘hang on, wasn’t she always solo?’ it transpires that up until then, Toyah was the name of the band she fronted.)

The box charts the Birmingham post-punk lungsmith’s progression from chart star – with hits such as ‘Soul Passing Through Soul’ and her cover of ‘Echo Beach’ – to increasingly experimental artist and back again, and features the six albums Minx (released 1985) Desire (1987), Prostitute (1988), Ophelia’s Shadow (1991), Take The Leap! and Velvet Lined Shell (both 1994) alongside Remixed, Revisited & Rare 1992-98 which contains updates on some of her biggest hits.

• Continue reading at Super Deluxe Edition.

The fantastic cover art for Toyah’s first ever box set release – Toyah Solo. A new 7 CD/DVD anthology released 28 Feb by Edsel Records. Includes 6 studio album across 7 discs w/ 44 bonus tracks, B-Sides, rarities & collaborations.

The full contents of the aforementioned Limited Edition version of the Toyah Solo box set. Toyah tweeted: Sssooooooo Very Excited! Toyah Solo has been 3 years in the making. It’s a beautiful box set of some of my most adventurous music plus previously unheard material. ENJOY XXXX

The pieces are coming together! Toyah Solo… is coming soon! (28.02.2020 to be precise)

Expect an official release announcement soon on this very exciting collection – An eight-disc set – Toyah’s first ever box set release. The very limited edition signed version has been spotted. Get it before it sells out!

(Amazon Exclusive Signed Edition): Signed Edition, Limited Edition, Box Set, Extra Tracks.

This Amazon Exclusive comes with a print signed by Toyah and is limited to 500 copies. This 7 CD + DVD box set (the first Toyah box set ever) features six albums (Minx, Desire, Prostitute, Ophelia’s Shadow, Take The Leap, Velvet Lined Shell) and 44 bonus tracks, including rarities, b-sides, collaborations, and several unreleased tracks, plus a DVD of promo videos and a brand new exclusive interview filmed in December 2019.

Photo © Toyah Willcox/Dean Stockings – Official Toyah have been sharing archive photos from Toyah’s Solo career era (post 1984) over the past few weeks, including this very rare jigsaw.

Invasion Planet Earth is now available to buy as a download across all digital platforms, including Sky Store, Amazon, iTunes, Virgin Media. The DVD is released on 30th December.

A soundtrack album will be released for the British indie sci-fi adventure Invasion Planet Earth. The album features the film’s original music composed by Benjamin Symons. The soundtrack will be released digitally this Friday, November 22 and is now available for pre-order on Amazon, where you can also check out audio clips.

Invasion Planet Earth is co-written and directed by Simon Cox and stars Simon Haycock, Lucy Drive, Julie Hoult, Danny Steele, Toyah Willcox and Michael Bott. The movie follows a couple’s struggle to survive as the UK comes under attack from an alien mothership.

The film will be released in the UK in early December. No word on a domestic distribution deal.

1. This Is Kaleidoscope Man (3:03), 2. Our New Hope (1:31), 3. Vision of the Apocalypse (2:04), 4. Is This God? (1:24), 5. It Wasn’t a Dream (2:18), 6. Russian (2:47), 7. The Crash (1:43), 8. Washed Up (0:43), 9. It’s Beautiful Isn’t It (2:48), 10. I’ve Hated Every Man (1:59), 11. A Heroic Leap (3:20), 12. Point and Shoot (1:11), 13. I Am Kaleidoscope Man (3:14), 14. 20 Minutes (1:12), 15. The ISS (0:57), 16. They Are Attacking (4:03), 17. The Battle of Birmingham (5:32), 18. Nuclear Strike (1:27), 19. The End of the World (1:17), 20. Sending a Message (2:24), 21. I’ll Never Be Alone (8:14)

• Continue reading at Film Music Reporter.

The Kiss Of Reality album, originally released in 1993 and featuring Toyah performing on, and co-writer of, six of the songs, is now available digitally worldwide.

This was the only album from the experimental German band. Toyah also performed live with them in the early 1990s.

Info below from Official Toyah on Kiss Of Reality and the new digital release:

For the very first time the long deleted (and scarcely available when in print) album by Kiss Of Reality is available digitally worldwide. This album was recorded in 1993 and features 11 tracks by Kiss Of Reality who are David Pittaway, Volker Rehn & Jörg Schwickerath, joined by Toyah Willcox on 6 tracks which she also wrote lyrics for. The album has also been remastered for the first time. Search Kiss of Reality on itunes, spotify, amazon, googleplay music or your favourite digital provider to download or stream.

Toyah’s new single, Step Into The New World, was released last week – 8th November. The song has received much positive feedback over the past couple of weeks.

Step Into The New World is available to buy as a digital single and can also be streamed online. The promo video can be viewed at You Tube.

Toyah performs the end title song for what’s been described as the biggest indie sci-fi movie of all time, Invasion Planet Earth. Toyah also has a role in the film.

Invasion Planet Earth is in selected UK cinemas for one day on 5th December 2019. A digital/ DVD release on 30th December follows, available to pre-order now at Amazon.

• Buy the digital single at iTunes. Stream the song at Tidal. Read more about Step Into The New World and Invasion Planet Earth at toyahwillcox.com.

The artwork for the digital release of Step Into The New World.

Toyah performs the end title song for what’s been described as the biggest indie sci-fi movie of all time, Invasion Planet Earth. Toyah also acts in the film. Step Into the New World is released digitally on 8th November. Invasion Planet Earth is in selected UK cinemas for one day on 5th December 2019.

Earlier this evening, Breaking Through, Toyah’s official newsletter confirmed Kiss Of Reality’s eponymous, and only, album – featuring Toyah on 6 of the 11 tracks- will receive its first ever digital issue very soon in a new remastered form. Details coming soon!

A brand new Radio Mix of Dance In The Hurricane is out now digitally. Toyah said of DITH: “This is my favourite song which I want to be remembered by“. Click below for links.

As some of you are probably aware, once Record Store Day is a week old stock is allowed to be sold online under current Record Store Day rules, even if you aren’t a ‘bricks and mortar’ store who was eligible in the first place.

With that in mind I’m pleased to announce that for the first time we’ve got some of the more desirable RSD stock available in the SDE shop, including David Bowie, Madonna, The Rolling Stones, John Lennon and more.

In The Court of the Crimson Queen
Limited Edition purple vinyl
Exclusive to Record Store Day 2019, Demon Records proudly present a re-imagining of Toyah’ s 2008 album release. Toyah and producer/co-writer Simon Darlow have remixed and added instrumentation to all the songs. These mixes appear for the first time on vinyl, and this release will also have completely new artwork. Pressed on Translucent Purple 180g Vinyl

• Continue reading at Super Deluxe Edition. Visit the In The Court Of The Crimson Queen page here. Not sure the vinyl, at this price, will be available for too long!

Toyah Solo also entered The Official Charts Independent Albums Top 50 at number 7.

Yet more good chart news for In The Court Of The Crimson Queen. The album entered The Official Charts Top 100 Album Sales at number 22 on the 19th April.

Toyah tweeted yesterday: “This means so much to me. Thank u thank u thank u” in response to HMV’s In The Court Of The Crimson Queen tweet. (Photo © HMV)

Toyah at Twitter: “So excited that IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON QUEEN is out tomorrow. It’s been a fantastic journey. I hope u love it xxx“.

There is now just over a week until the 2CD, download and online streaming release of In The Court Of The Crimson Queen (Friday 12th February) and coloured vinyl (Saturday 13th February).

The vinyl is released as part of RSD19 (Record Store Day 2019). Details of all participating record shops and other vinyl releases are available at recordstoreday.co.uk. Follow the official album release countdown to In The Court Of The Crimson Queen at Toyah’s official Twitter, Instagram and Facebook social media spaces. See Toyah introduce/unbox the vinyl, via Demon Music Group’s video clip, by clicking on the screenshot below.

‘CRIMSON QUEEN’ RE-IMAGINED AS A DOUBLE ALBUM OUT 12 APRIL

Toyah will release a revelatory new studio reworking of her album In The Court Of The Crimson Queen on 12 April 2019. Written and arranged by Toyah Willcox and Simon Darlow, In The Court Of The Crimson Queen has been newly re-mixed and remastered and is released as a double CD package and digital. This release further cements Toyah’s status as an iconic name of British rock and pop and features five additional new tracks.

PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM NOW

In The Court Of The Crimson Queen sees Toyah continuing to hold court with a set of beautifully crafted songs, thought provoking lyrics and a rally cry to forever living life out loud, proud and heard. The album’s 15 tracks explore life, love, empowerment and wonderment.

Several of the album’s songs have been previewed live in recent Toyah concert tours or featured on (now deleted) fan-only releases. Toyah and Simon Darlow have been developing new songs and perfecting this body of work which is now re-imagined as a double album. In The Court Of The Crimson Queen presents a collection of finely honed songcraft, killer hooks and two lifetimes of performing, writing and producing music.

Opener Dance In The Hurricane is an epic ode to defiantly walking your own path through life with drumming to die for. Lead single Sensational encourages shining a light on the beauty and courage in others, reminding our children and loved ones to unlock their invincibility and strength.  Telepathic Lover reaches out like a snaking, siren’s call to both listener and the lyric’s physically absent lover in a groove-laden command to “come alive”. Our Hearts Still Beat (written for the film In Extremis) and Legacy chart the intense journeys love can take across generations and dimensions. Latex Messiah and Come invite everyone’s inner rebel and unashamed self-expression to be unleashed in their energetic tour de force. Who Let The Beast Out was premiered at London Scoop’s 2016 outdoor musical Crime and Punishment which featured thirteen of Toyah & Darlow’s songs.

Toyah will perform material from the new album live on tour throughout 2019 with over 50 confirmed dates including a Scottish tour in April, summer festivals including stops in Dublin, Bali and Belgium, and an autumn/winter tour of major UK cities. Simon will be joining Toyah on stage at some of these events.

• News Source | Continue reading at toyahwillcox.com.

In The Court Of The Crimson Queen
2 Disc (Signed Booklet Edition)
Released: 12th April 2019 | Label: Edsel

This Exclusive Version contains a limited edition signed booklet. A re-imagining of Toyah’s 2008 album release, with four brand new songs: ‘Dance In The Hurricane’, ‘Telepathic Lover’, ‘Who Let The Beast Out’ and ‘Our Hearts Still Beat’. Toyah and producer/co-writer Simon Darlow (one-time member of the Buggles, co-writer of Grace Jones “Slave to the Rhythm”) have remixed and added instrumentation to all the existing songs. With a new running order across two CDs, all these mixes appear for the first time. This release features stunning new artwork across the digipak and the 24 page booklet.

• Click here to pre-order at Amazon. This signed edition is an Amazon Exclusive.