Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

Toyah Willcox first made the cover of Smash Hits on 27 November 1980, the day before her band Toyah released a ‘live’ album. It had been recorded at Wolverhampton’s Lafayette Club on 17 June 1980; the gig was also filmed for inclusion in a television documentary about Willcox and her band. Of the documentary (a ‘fly-on-the-wall’ in which she was followed around over a period of months), she spoke about her unhappiness at being under the control of ATV, the station producing it: “The director wouldn’t give me all the shots I suggested. For example, when we were playing Blue Meaning on top of Battersea Power Station he wouldn’t take a camera up in a helicopter. A lot of it is quite personal though, down to fights with the band in the dressing room.”

One of the tracks performed at the Wolverhampton show, Danced, was issued as Toyah’s fourth single: “A live album – Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! – contains further tracks recorded at this concert but Ghosts and Neon Womb [the B-side songs] are available only on this single,” the sleeve notes ran.

• Continue reading at If You Were There.

Toyah recorded her appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Loose Ends, and an acoustic version of It’s A Mystery, earlier today at BBC Broadcasting House, London. Listen to the song, and other previews from tomorrow’s show, by clicking below. Loose Ends airs at 6.15pm on Saturday. (Photo © BBC)

• Echo Beach: Watch/Listen to Toyah’s 1987 single, with remastered audio by Toyah fan David Anning, at The Official Toyah You Tube channel – Desire, the album from which the single was taken, is available digitally now.

• Gazette & Herald: Arts festival starts: Our headline performer this year is Toyah, who will be appearing at the Civic Centre on Sunday, November 1. Musical icon of the 80s and star of screen, TV and stage, Toyah will be playing acoustic versions of her hits, discussing her life story, and meeting and greeting after the show – Continue reading…

• This is Wiltshire: Trowbridge comes alive with history and light for Arts Festival: Trowbridge Arts Festival, which runs until November 1, is heralded by a baronial event on Friday, one of many emphasising its status as a Baron Town in this 700-year celebration of the Magna Carta… The festival closes on November 1 at the town’s Civic Centre, where ’80s pop icon Toyah plays an acoustic, up close and personal set which wanders trough her musical life – Continue reading…

• EDP: Celebrities create puppets to help support Norwich theatre: About 25 quirky characters – made by a mix of celebrities and artists – have been sent to Norwich Puppet Theatre ready for a celebrity puppet auction on November 25… Who has provided a puppet for the auction so far? Actors and comedians: Tom Conti, Anita Dobson, Jenny Eclair, Neil Innes, Maureen Lipman, Gwen Taylor, Toyah Willcox – Continue reading…

• Toyah @ Twitter: Stay updated on Toyah, direct from… yes… Toyah herself at Twitter…

To mark the digital release of Desire, Prostitute and Ophelia’s Shadow a selection of “Bonus Features” – retro letters, interviews and performances, see the latest Breaking Through newsletter for full details – have been made available by Toyah’s official website. This includes a “new” EP, Desirable, compiling all other previously released Desire-era songs not included on the album.

Four songs from the Desire sessions, from Echo Beach and Moonlight Dancing b-sides, are on this free digital EP, with great new cover art, nicely referencing the original Desire album.

• Download or stream Desirable at The Official Toyah Discography. The full tracklist for the EP is as follows:

1. Echo Beach [Surf Mix] (Gane) | Originates from the 12″ single of Echo Beach
2. Plenty (Willcox) | Originates from the 7″/12″ single of Echo Beach
3. Sun Up (Willcox) | Originates from the 7″/12″ single of Moonlight Dancing
4. Re-Entry Into Dance (Willcox/Geballe) | Originates from the 7″/12″ single of Moonlight Dancing

Welcome to our 150th “Newsy Bits & Pieces!” since changing to the WordPress format three years ago…

• Straight: Your guide to the 2015 Vancouver International Film Festival: Of the 350-plus other movies coming to Vancouver between September 24 and October 9, let’s say it’s not unreasonable to expect the same quality, not to mention journeys near and far… Among the cinematic delights at this year’s Vancouver International Film Festival is the appropriately titled AAAAAAAAH!, starring Toyah Willcox – Continue reading…

Den Of Geek: Aaaaaaah! review: Looking for a very different – and disturbing British indie comedy? Then check out Steve Oram’s Aaaaaaaah! If one of the jobs of a filmmaker is to present us with something we haven’t seen before, then it’s mission accomplished for writer, director and actor Steve Oram – Continue reading…

• Classic Rock Revisited: Tony Banks – A Chord Too Far Review: The rock side of Banks has seen him collaborate with the world’s most respected musicians including singers Toyah Willcox, Fish and Nick Kershaw – Continue reading…

• Rebel Run: Released this very week in 1983 – Now get down and stay down – A Toyah pop skatertastic classic! Download ‘Rebel Run’ at iTunes, view the promo video, and the airing on Top Of The Pops. Watch Toyah perform the single on Hold Tight and Saturday Superstore. Listen to the song live at Hammersmith Odeon on the ‘Rebel Run’ Tour in December 1983. Andromeda Rising covered the song in 2005. Listen to their version here.

Mearns FM: Toyah in Stonehaven: Eighties pop icon Toyah Willcox will play Stonehaven Town Hall this Friday and Saturday night (18th & 19th September) with the singer eager to look around the town – Continue reading…

Toyah on The One Show earlier this evening. Recreating the iconic Thunder In The Mountains hair and make-up, with the help of make-up artist Sean Chapman and hairdresser Michael Douglas. Toyah also made a surprise appearance live on the programme, joining guests Simon Le Bon and John Taylor of Duran Duran on the sofa. Watch the programme at BBC iPlayer.

On 2nd September 1985, World in Action, Toyah’s third single from Minx was released. This would be the last single from the album and Toyah’s final release on Portrait/CBS Records.

World in Action was the first single of Toyah’s career that she didn’t co-write. It was also the first release since pre-Four From Toyah not to make an appearance in the UK Singles Chart. As with the previous two singles from the album, the 7” and 12” had different sleeves. The 12” sleeve is probably the best of all six of the Portrait single sleeves, featuring a stunning, Terence Donovan, photo of Toyah. This was also the only single from the Portrait trio not to have a promo video made to accompany it. B-Side song Soldier Of Fortune, Terrorist Of Love was written by Willcox/Lee. Both were produced by Christopher Neil. The 12″ included the extra “Action Mix” of WIA.

Pay a visit to Mark Satchwill’s Instagram to view some incredible new Toyah art from him.

This week in 1985 Soul Passing Through Soul – Toyah’s second single as a solo artist, stats fans – was in the lower reaches of the UK Singles Chart. It was written by “Willcox/St James” and taken from the album Minx, which would go on to be released at the end of July. Some (not me) say it was influenced by/is reminiscent of David Bowie’s Heroes.

Soul Passing Through Soul was released on 7″, 12″ and 7″ Picture Disc, and was accompanied by a great video, with fantastic visuals – something Toyah always was, and indeed still is, known for…

Released today (2nd July) in 1982: Nine To Five

Shameless cash-in of the month for July comes courtesy of this 1982 single from EG records. Nine To Five was recorded in 1977 for the soundtrack album of the following year’s Derek Jarman movie ‘Jubilee’, which featured among its cast members a number of British punk rock artists. The track itself was credited to Maneaters, but was performed by Adam Ant and Toyah Willcox, both of whom had yet to have a hit at the time. Then, after years of trying, they both had their breakthrough hits within months of each other: Adam & The Ants had their first Top 10 hit at the end of 1980 and Toyah had theirs in March 1981, and both acts had several more in the twelve months that followed. Two of Adam’s former labels had already plundered his catalogue recordings for reissues, and now it was EG’s turn.

For the single, EG billed the song as being by ‘Adam and Toyah’ and advertised it as being available in a “special picture bag”. Both artists objected to the release and the way in which it was marketed.

• Continue reading at If You Were There.

The continuing adventures of the Brave New World doll. (Thanks to Andy | Photos © A Westhorpe)

• Angel and Me: Tears Of An Angel: A couple of lines of lyrics from Toyah’s iconic Angel and Me, from the 1982 album The Changeling, have been used in this Harry Potter fan story at fanfiction.net – See here…

• The Letters of Derek Philpott (and Wilf Turnbull): The Crowd Fund Kickstarter Campaign For The Book has succeeded!! The deadline to secure a copy is Sunday May 3rd at 3.40pm. I am only printing sufficient copies to provide for everyone that has pledged because I am one ordinary fellow who will be sending these out from where they are being delivered to .. my front room! The book will not be in the shops or available anywhere else – Continue reading…

• Get it On… With Bryan Burnett: It’s A Mystery, from The Safari Records Singles Collection Part 1: 1979 – 1981, was included in Bryan’s BBC Radio Scotland show playlist yesterday evening. I only mention it because I was listening at the time, and coincidentally I’ve also been playing both the Safari Collection CDs this week! #stillgetexcitedwhentoyahgetsplayedontheradio – Visit Bryan’s page…

• Kiss & Make Up – Carl Stanley: Yesterday I posted about Carl’s forthcoming book. Today I received an email from him saying thank you. A rare occurrence. Thanks Carl, wishing you every success with your book.

• FlexiPop! The Book: There’s still time to pledge and help get this fantastic book published – Further info here…

Incredible but true. Don’t Fall in Love (I Said), Toyah’s first bona fide solo single, entered the UK singles chart exactly 30 years ago tomorrow! Written by Toyah and Simon Darlow, and backed by, if truth be told, the far superior, Snow Covers The Kiss, it was taken from the album Minx, which would go on to be released in late July of 1985. Don’t Fall in Love (I Said) – A great pop single that brings back memories of happy times.

• Visit the DFIL page at Toyah’s official website, view an iconic appearance by Toyah on Formel Eins, listen to/watch Toyah performing the song live in 2014 at You Tube, view the single’s chart info at The Official Charts Company, browse some of Dreamscape’s previous posts relating to the song, and view photos from that era at our Gallery.

Two live Toyah classics, Thunder In The Mountains and I Want To Be Free, both from the 1982 Safari Records album Warrior Rock, are included in the new Vintage TV/HMV Digital link-up. Toyah played acoustic versions of both on The Vintage TV Sessions (Episode 4) in early 2014. That show is airing again soon.

Vintage TV is delighted to announce an exciting new relationship with HMV Digital!

Vintage TV music-lovers, you can now listen to all your favourite tracks from The Vintage TV Sessions, courtesy of HMV Digital. From Steve Harley to Lulu, Marc Almond to Lisa Stansfield, simply head over to HMV Digital to download your top songs and listen to them over and over again! There are over a 100 songs for you to add to your music library, so what are you waiting for?

• Continue reading at Vintage TV. Visit Vintage at HMV Digital.

A previously unreleased acoustic version of Toyah’s exuberant 1982 hit single Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard) is currently available to listen to at toyahwillcox.com.

You can also check out Toyah’s full live gigs schedule for 2015, which includes the Acoustic, Up Close & Personal Tour, Toyah and The Humans Telling Stange Tales UK Tour plus a variety of full band concerts and festival appearances.

Thanks to the Acoustic… gigs there is a renewed interest in The Acoustic Album, Toyah’s 1996 re-working of a selection of previous recordings, including Blue Meanings, Angels & Demons, The Vow and Moonlight Dancing. The album has been made available again recently with new artwork, and it is also available digitally. Visit the album’s dedicated page at Toyah’s Official website.

“The acoustic gigs have been so successful that I really need to consider doing another acoustic album.” said Toyah in an interview with The Argus last year. It would be interesting to hear which songs would make The Acoustic Album Two.

• Browse Toyah’s Official Gigs page. The Acoustic Album is available at iTunes.

Exactly 34 years ago today, Valentine’s Day 1981, Four From Toyah entered the UK Singles Chart. Toyah’s sixth single and second EP eventually peaked at number four and spent 14 weeks on the chart. The rest, as they say, is history…

Hot on the heels of the Has God Ceased To Dream You EP, as part of the Official Toyah Christmas 2014 Advent, comes another… The Whisper The Elixir EP.

Tracklist: 1. It’s A Mystery (Whispered Elixir Mix), 2. It’s A Mystery (Distant Sirens Mix), 3. It’s A Mystery (Acoustic Poolside), 4. Waiting (Alternate Mix).

The Official Toyah Willcox Website say: The final release to mark the twentieth anniversary of the 1994 album Take The Leap is a free digital EP exclusive to toyahwillcox.com. Whisper The Elixir brings together a further four related tracks/versions from the Leap! period.

On the A-Side (in the old money) or tracks 1/2 are two previously unissued remixes of It’s A Mystery prepared at the same time as the tribal version aka Weybridge Mix. On the b-side/ the final two tracks are alternate versions of songs recorded in the main album sessions for Leap…

• Continue reading/Download the EP at toyahwillcox.com.

A new four-song digital EP, Has God Ceased To Dream You, has just been released by Toyah.

Tracklist: 1. God Ceases To Dream (Remix), 2. Now I’m Running (Remix), 3. It’s A Mystery (Weybridge Mix), 4. Tears For Elie (Demo).

The Official Toyah Willcox Website say: This exclusive digital EP release is a companion piece to the full length Take The Leap! album. Has God Ceased to Dream You contains alternate mixes and demos related to the album which were previously issued on various hard copy CD releases which are now deleted.

The first three tracks did all originally appear on the Take The Leap! album but are presented here in quite radically different versions and are all re-vocalled. Tears For Elie originates from the same sessions and was previously available on the 2006 UK CD release of Take The Leap! issued by Demon Records.

• Buy at iTunes or Amazon. Stream at Spotify. This is Toyah’s 28th single (29th if 2010’s multi-artist “Re-Joyce (In The Bleak Midwinter)” is included in the tally).

Toyah is included on the, just released, Smash Hits 80s Annual 3CD Set.

‘It’s A Mystery’ is track 14 on the second CD of the 66 song collection, released by Warner/Universal Music.

Other artists include: Wham!, Bananarama, Duran Duran, Adam & The Ants, Madness, Soft Cell, Kim Wilde, The Human League, Dexys Midnight Runners, The Specials, Belinda Carlisle, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Yazoo. Echo & The Bunnymen, Tears For Fears and many more.

• View the full tracklist here, and a larger version of the cover here. The CD is available to buy at Amazon.

A new Toyah artwork, by Alison T Bond, based on the iconic ‘Brave New World’. View the full version at Twitter. (© Alison T Bond)

Willyfred, the wonder rabbit and now star of primetime Saturday night TV, has unearthed Toyah’s original Soul Passing Through Soul video outfit… Click below to see the photo at Twitter.