Dreamscape | The Toyah Willcox Fansite

Toyah and Cherry Red Records are delighted to announce the newly remastered and expanded release of Toyah’s 1980 album “The Blue Meaning” on 28 May 2021. This is the second in a reissue programme of Toyah’s entire Safari Records catalogue.

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Produced by Steve James with arrangements by Steve James and ‘Toyah’ the band (Joel Bogen, Pete Bush, Toyah Willcox, Steve Bray and Charlie Francis), the album reached number 1 on the UK Independent Album Chart and charted in the main UK Top 40 album chart in June 1980.

Remastered by Nick Watson from the original mastertapes and original sources, overseen and approved by Joel Bogen. The album features the ultimate fan favourite ‘Ieya’ considered a signature song by the band, which was also released as a single.

2-CD+DVD digipack with a fully illustrated 24-page booklet containing a brand new introduction note from Toyah plus rare and unseen imagery including album cover outtakes taken at Wykehurst Place, a gothic revival mansion in Bolney, Sussex.

This expanded edition features 27 remastered bonus tracks including single mixes, live tracks, rarities and unheard demos compiled by Craig Astley. Amongst the 20 previously unreleased tracks are the final recordings made by this band line-up including ‘Silence Won’t Do’ and ‘Jack & Jill’, as seen being recorded on the 1980 ITV documentary “Toyah” and have been long awaited by fans for forty years.

The very first demo of ‘Angels & Demons’ recorded at Eel Pie Studios, an Alternate Vocal take of ‘Blue Meanings’ with the previously unheard original longer song outro and three tracks recorded live at the ICA London all make their release debuts.

Includes the early original version of ‘It’s A Mystery’ by Blood Donor feat Toyah Willcox that a ‘new’ line-up of Toyah ‘the band’ went on to record and enjoy their first hit single with in 1981.
A sleevenote by Toyah’s archivist Craig Astley, with input from Toyah Willcox and Joel Bogen, chronicles the creation of the album and reveals the recording origins of the bonus material.

Includes a DVD (NTSC/Region Free) containing three brand new features with Toyah Willcox, an interview about the album/period, a track-by-track album commentary and an exclusive acoustic three-song session of songs from the era – all filmed October 2020.

The DVD also includes rare archive BBC TV performances of ‘Mummies’ and ‘Danced’ from Friday Night, Saturday Morning (November 1980) available on DVD for the first time ever.

Strictly limited edition neon pink coloured vinyl echoes Toyah’s hair colour from the back sleeve and the colourful glow surrounding the gothic mansion, Wykehurst Place in Sussex on the LP’s front cover. The vinyl LP features the original album track listing and features rare unseen imagery plus full album lyrics.

Initial copies of the Vinyl LP from Cherry Red website come with a signed postcard by Toyah – design exclusive to the LP pre-order. Initial copies of the 2CD+DVD from Cherry Red website come with a signed postcard by Toyah – design exclusive to the 2CD+DVD pre-order.

• Continue reading at toyahwillcox.com to see the full tracklist, hear a preview track and read further details on the release. Pre-order The Blue Meaning, 2CD/1DVD Deluxe Edition, and Limited Edition Colour Vinyl LP here.

Britain’s Favourite 80s Songs: Channel 5: Friday 26th March: 10pm
Britain’s Favourite 80s Songs: Channel 5: Sunday 28th March: 10.55pm
1983. Series 1, Episode 4. Simon Bates narrates this look at the music of 1983, featuring interviews with Toyah Willcox, Paul Gambaccini, Cheryl Baker, Carol Decker, Jenny Powell and other famous faces. Among the featured tracks are Eurythmics’ Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), New Order’s Blue Monday, and Bad Boys by Wham! Director: Yvette Lyons, Sian Brooks, Vanessa L. Williams. Starring: Simon Bates, Toyah Willcox, Paul Gambaccini, Cheryl Baker, Jenny Powell, Carol Decker.

Every Tuesday Toyah is counting down to the release of the newly remastered release of the 1980 album The Blue Meaning, released by Cherry Red Records. You can pre-order the deluxe 2CD+DVD set featuring 27 bonus tracks, or limited edition neon pink vinyl from Cherry Red.

Celebrity Catchphrase: ITV2: Thursday 25th March: 6pm
Celebrity Catchphrase: ITV: Saturday 27th March: 6pm
Stephen Mulhern hosts a celebrity special of the classic game show, with Nicola Coughlan, Stephen Mangan and Toyah Willcox all trying to say what they see as they guess well-known phrases for the chance to win a £50,000 jackpot for their chosen charity.

The Electric Ladies Tour with Hazel O’Connor has been rescheduled to June 2022. If you have already bought tickets please do hang onto them, they remain valid for the rescheduled dates. Three brand new extra dates have been added. Click below for further info.

A Musical History: BBC4: Friday 2nd April: 11.30pm
Fleetwood Mac. Fleetwood Mac fan Edith Bowman provides a narrative overview alongside other celebrity fans who all pay tribute to the band in this hit-filled hour. Contributors include KT Tunstall, Travis’ frontman Fran Healy, Toyah Willcox, Sian Pattenden and Emma Dabiri.

80s Stars – Then & Now!: Wednesday 24th March: NOW 80s: 9am
Where are they now? Classic hits, followed by some recent songs, including Pet Shop Boys, Kylie, Toyah, The Stones, Tony Hadley, The Pretenders, UB40, Rick Astley and T’Pau!

Apologies for the lack of updates recently. News posts will, hopefully, resume in early 2021!

Toyah introduces an amazing appearance from October 1981. We Are, from the album Anthem, performed on German music show Rockpop, a programme that ran from 1977 to 1982. Watch Toyah’s Intro, and then take a trip back to 1981 for We Are.

This Is Now said: How did you all enjoy Edition 1 of the new series? We had a complete blast! The new TOTP! – See the tweet. (Photos © This Is Now)

This Is Now said: What a performance by Toyah – See the tweet. (Photo © This Is Now)

Quadrophenia: TCM Movies: Thursday 19th November: 9pm
The Who wrote and produced this energetic story of a young man disillusioned with his life in 1960s London. Phil Daniels excels as the alienated anti-hero Jimmy Cooper. Director: Franc Roddam. Starring: Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash, Toyah Willcox, Philip Davis, Mark Wingett, Sting, and Ray Winstone. (Photo © The Who Films Ltd / Universal Pictures)

Toyah’s November 2020 blog is available at toyahwillcox.com.

Minder: ITV4: Wednesday 18th November: 3.40pm
Minder: ITV4: Thursday 19th November: 9.10am
All Mod Cons. Arthur decides to sell Terry’s flat without his permission. Meanwhile, Terry gets a job minding at a local club and ends up getting into more trouble than he had planned for when he realises the club’s manager is on the fiddle. Starring: George Cole, Dennis Waterman, Toyah Willcox, Simon Cadell, James Ottaway, and Tony Osaba. (Series 2, Episode 8, 1980). Also showing on ITV4 HD. (Photos © ITV)

There’s a very special Flashback Friday tomorrow as Toyah introduces an archive performance of We Are performed on the German TV programme Rockpop in October 1981. Premieres 11am, Fri 6 November. Click below for Toyah’s tweet.

Toyah introducing a classic TV appearance: We Are on the German TV show Rockpop in October 1981. Premieres tomorrow at 11am.

Carol Decker’s 30 Rock Chicks!: NOW 80s: Friday 6th November: 10pm
T’Pau’s Carol Decker brings a bit of Heart and Soul to a countdown of ’80s ladies who like to rock! With Joan Jett, Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks and Pat Benatar. (as well as Toyah via the Thunder In The Mountains video)

Edition 1 of That Was Then… This Is Now! airs from 7pm this evening Thursday 5th November.

It features exclusive performances and a fascinating interview from Toyah herself.

She gives a stunning performance of I Wanna Be Free and as well as the standout track from her most recent album “In The Court Of The Crimson Queen”, the utterly brilliant “Sensational.”

Toyah also joins host Mike Read to give insights into her experiences of life and family under lockdown and about getting even with her husband Robert Fripp regarding the title of a new album

ORDER EDITION ONE NOW FOR JUST £10

Edition 1 also features exclusive performances from The Fizz and Chesney Hawkes and a video from Nik Kershaw who is number one on the Heritage chart this week and much more, hosted by broadcasting legend Mike Read and Sky TV’s Hayley Palmer.

EARLY BIRD OFFER SERIES ONE OFFER ENDS TODAY
As a special introductory offer all 5 editions can be ordered now with a 20% saving applied at checkout. Featuring exclusive performances and appearances from Cliff Richard, Nik Kershaw, Limahl, Paul Young, Johnny Hates Jazz and many many more.

PRE-ORDER SERIES ONE HERE

BACKGROUND
That Was Then… This Is Now! was devised by production legend Mike Stock in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis which has seen all live music events cancelled leaving some of our most respected music artists unable to perform. The government has not been able to offer sustained support so the team behind the show will share all profits generated from the streaming of the show with the artists equally. As Mike suggests “…the objective is to create an opportunity moving forward that will provide a viable business alternative for artists as we face the hugely uncertain future of the music industry in these Covid times…’

Cherry Red Records, who release Sheep Farming In Barnet as a deluxe CD set next month, recently interviewed Toyah.

The Toyah Willcox story is an in-depth interview which looks at who the real Toyah is, what motivates her and how she became so successful. She also shares many fascinating stories from her incredible career.

This week, X Factor’s Sean Smith, Two brothers who are too sexy for their shirts, An 80s Special and I’m A Celeb is back

That Was Then… This Is Now!

Super excited for this, and the countdown is ON!
The first episode will be on Thursday 5th November at 7pm and features Chesney Hawkes, The Fizz and Toyah – check out the website for tickets: www.thisisnow.tv
It was a pleasure to be part of this, and can’t wait for you to see and enjoy it with us.

• Continue reading at The Revive Mag. Buy tickets for Episode One of That Was Then… This Is Now!, featuring Toyah, at This Is Now.

Is this Black Sabbath cover by King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp and his wife Toyah the oddest tribute of 2020?

The duo perform Paranoid… in a prison

Robert Fripp… visionary, eccentric, King Crimson mastermind and now performer of Black Sabbath’s Paranoid on his Fernandes Custom Gold guitar in a prison while wearing fake tattoos.

And his wife of 34 years, musician / actress / author Toyah Willcox, is singing it while behind bars. It’s the latest instalment of the couple’s wonderfully imaginative lockdown videos that have also included Fripp playing Deep Purple’s ubiquitous Smoke On The Water next to a lake while Wilcox dances dressed as a cheerleader (see below).

We say bring it on, it’s not like 2020 isn’t bizarre enough already.

• Continue reading at Music Radar. See also Guitar World.