Dreamscape | The Toyah Willcox Fansite

Christmas 2016, Toyah attended a ceremony and was inducted into the Birmingham Walk Of Stars.

Toyah said: “I am thrilled to be receiving a star on the Birmingham Walk of Stars. Having spent my childhood and teenage years in this great city, I developed my love of music and theatre here, thanks to all the great music venues and theatres available within the one city.“

• See news on Toyah attending the Birmingham Walk Of Stars event here and here. (Photo © Birmingham Mail)

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.

Christmas 2011, Toyah presented a fantastic, three-hour, music-filled festive spectacular for the, relatively, new music channel Vintage TV.

Toyah’s Vintage Christmas was a constant that Christmas, airing numerous times through December, with Toyah introducing festive pop videos and sharing seasonal trivia. The programme was repeated in subsequent years, and Toyah would go on to present other Christmas shows – including A Very Vintage Christmas, Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo – right through until Vintage TV ceased broadcasting in 2017.

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.

Christmas 2012, 2013 & 2014 brought us, Christmas related, Toyah releases…

1. I Believe In Father Christmas; Toyah’s version of the Greg Lake 70s festive classic (which was voted one of the greatest ever Christmas songs in a 2012 poll) has gathered quite a history over the years: It was originally recorded for ITV’s Pop Goes Christmas in 1982, Safari then included it on the Mayhem compilation album in 1985, and later it was also made available on the CD Live & More. Ten years ago, at Christmas 2012, it was released as a standalone digital single. Download at iTunes. 2.Winter In Wonderland; One year on and at Christmas 2013 there was another new digital single, make that an EP, for Christmas – Winter in Wonderland… Download at iTunes. 3. Has God Ceased To Dream You; Toyah released this four-song EP in December 2014 as a companion piece to the recently digitally released Take The Leap! album… Download at iTunes. (NB. Only I Believe In Father Christmas is still available at iTunes!)

Britain’s Favourite Christmas Carol: Wednesday 14th December: Channel 5: 3.50am
A countdown of the nation’s most beloved carols, as voted for by the British public. A cast of famous faces guide viewers through the results, giving their take on some of the most enduring songs ever written. In between the notes, a team of experts reveal the musical tricks, hidden histories and surprising stories behind these classic carols. Plus, a cast of community and professional choirs from across the UK perform the carols, alongside beloved performances from the TV archives. (NB. This originally aired at Christmas 2019)

Christmas 2016, and BBC Four aired a repeat Top Of The Pops, which was originally broadcast in October 1982 on BBC1, which included Toyah’s studio performance of the single, Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard). This website described Toyah’s performance/appearance as “iconic, classic and utterly unforgettable“.

While the retro TOTP aired, BBC Four also tweeted: “In 1982, Toyah was so famous, she even had a lion-tailed macaque named after her on Animal Magic, and appeared on the show to meet it“.

Read Toyah’s December 2022 blog at toyahwillcox.com. Toyah says: “HELLO THERE AND HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL! I hope you are all ready to PARTY!”

Christmas 2012, BBC Radio 4 aired Neil Tennant’s Smash Hits Christmas on 20th December.

A fascinating look back at the golden years of the UK’s biggest pop magazine of the Eighties. A publication Toyah featured in a lot between 1980 and 1985, and also graced a trio of covers in 1980, ’81 and ’82.

The programme included contributions from Tennant, various Smash Hits editors and writers, and Toyah, talking about Smash Hits in general and her Brave New World cover from the Summer of 1982.

Neil Tennant had a life as a journalist before he became famous as a Pet Shop Boy, interviewing many of the pop stars and bands of the era, including a very early interview with Madonna. In fact, it was on a Smash Hits trip to New York that he had his big breakthrough with the record producer Bobby O.

Neil Tennant’s Smash Hits Christmas, a 30-minute radio docu, hasn’t been available at BBC iPlayer/BBC Sounds since Christmas 2012, but you can click below to listen to a recording of the programme at You Tube, or download direct from Dreamscape, here.

• Toyah At Home: I Want To Be Free/British Rock & Pop Awards – Watch… • Robert At Home: Episode 18 – Watch… • Toyah & Robert – Upbeat Moments Of The Week – Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – My Favourite Game – Watch…

Press for Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – This week covering The Cardigans. (Image © Toyah Willcox)

• Guitar.Com: Toyah And Robert Fripp Back With Chill Cover Of The Cardigans’ My Favourite Game For Sunday Lunch: Plus an ending you wouldn’t expect – Continue…

• NME: Toyah and Robert Fripp cover The Cardigans’ ‘My Favourite Game’: The husband-and-wife duo offer a pared-back rendition of the 1998 hit – Continue…

• Brooklyn Vegan: Watch Toyah & Robert Fripp cover The Cardigans’ “My Favourite Game” – Continue…

• Far Out: Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp share cover of ‘My Favourite Game’ by The Cardigans – Continue…

• Brave Words: Robert Fripp & Toyah Perform The Cardigans’ “My Favourite Game” – Continue…

• DGM Live: Toyah & Robert’s Weekend – Continue…

Christmas 2018, Toyah became a Mastermind! She won Episode Two of Series 17 of Celebrity Mastermind, which aired on BBC1 on Saturday 22nd December.

John Humphrys put four celebrities to the test in another episode of the classic quiz, which aired across Christmas 2018 in ten episodes on BBC1.

Taking part were comedian Joe Pasquale, Newsround presenter Ricky Boleto, singer Toyah Willcox and Olympian Jeanette Kwakye. They answered questions on werewolf films, 1990s number one singles, Boudica and Disney animations.

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.

It’s beginning to look a lot like… December!

NB. Last UK ordering date for delivery of the Toyah baubles before Christmas is this coming Wednesday (7th December).

Two brand new designs of limited edition official Toyah Baubles are available for the festivities in 2022.

Anthem and Thunder in the Mountains join the range with Brave New World to offer three dangly wonders for the Christmas tree or anywhere in need of a good baubling!

Each one is boxed with a mini card hand signed by Toyah and numbered on the back. We know some fans like to try and get hold of low numbers, others try and get their lucky number, so we’ve enabled you to select your number when you order.

• Click below to shop the baubles now exclusively online.

Had some requests for a Dreamscape Christmas Countdown.

We haven’t had one for a few years and I was planning on starting one on 1st December but the website went awol for a couple of days, so the 2022 advent/countdown will start on 5th December and run for 21 days… through to Christmas Eve!

Stay tuned for some seriously Toyah festiveness… Beginning Monday!

A Musical History: BBC4: Friday 16th December: 11.45pm
Fleetwood Mac. Fleetwood Mac are the great survivors of British and American rock music. For more than 50 years they’ve overcome break-ups and breakdowns to become one of the most successful bands of all time, selling over 100 million records worldwide, with their 1977 smash Rumours accounting for nearly half of those sales. Here, fan Edith Bowman provides a narrative overview, alongside fellow celebrity admirers who all pay tribute to the band. Contributors include KT Tunstall, Travis’ frontman Fran Healy, Toyah Willcox, Sian Pattenden and Emma Dabiri.

Following Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! (May 2022, #72) and Anthem (September 2022, #33), Toyah secures a third Top 100 album in 2022 on The Official Charts today, with Live At The Rainbow entering at #100. Not only that, though, Live At The Rainbow places very well in various other Official Chart album countdowns today.

Album Chart #100
Independent Chart #7
Sales Chart #24
Physical Chart #22
Scottish Chart #34

Live At The Rainbow also charted at #36 in the Official Chart Album Update (aka Midweeks) earlier this week.

• Chart Stats: Toyah has now had seven albums on the Official Charts in the past four consecutive years: In The Court Of The Crimson Queen (2019) #74, Sheep Farming In Barnet (2020) #99, The Blue Meaning (2021) #59, Posh Pop (2021) #22, Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! (2022) #72, Anthem (2022) #33, Live At The Rainbow (2022) #100.

NB. As well as those album stats, the two box sets, Toyah Solo (March 2020), and The Humans: Noise In Your Head (July 2020), both entered a number of the Official Charts, including Sales and Independent.

• More Toyah Chart News: Browse Dreamscape’s Official Charts archive…  Download/Stream or buy the vinyl or CD/DVD of Live At The Rainbow.

• Toyah At Home: Waiting – Watch… • Robert At Home: Episode 17 – Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Objects Of Desire – Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – Holy Wars – Watch…

Press for Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – This week covering Megadeth. (Image © Toyah Willcox)

• Guitar.Com: Robert Fripp and Toyah’s Sunday Lunch Cover Of Megadeth’s Holy Wars: The pair have uploaded another colourful video to their weekly cover series – Continue…

• NME: Watch Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp cover Megadeth’s ‘Holy Wars’: The latest in their Sunday Lunch series sees the pair embrace thrash metal – Continue…

• Classic Rock/Louder: Toyah and Robert Fripp have covered Megadeth and that’s completely normal these days: Britain’s favourite light entertainers Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox are apparently paying tribute to thrash’s “big four” one cover at a time – Continue…

• Brooklyn Vegan: Watch Toyah & Robert Fripp cover Megadeth’s “Holy Wars” – Continue…

• Consequence: Robert Fripp and Toyah Take on Megadeth’s “Holy Wars”: The married couple tackle the metal classic in their latest “Sunday Lunch” performance – Continue…

• Far Out: Robert Fripp and Toyah Wilcox cover ‘Holy Wars’ by Megadeth – Continue…

• Brave Words: Robert Fripp & Toyah Tackle On Megadeth’s “Holy Wars” In New Kitchen Video – Continue…

• Ultimate Guitar: Watch: Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox Cover Megadeth’s ‘Holy Wars’: The latest issue of the couple’s “Sunday Lunch” series – Continue…

• Metal Injection: King Crimson’s Robert Fripp & Toyah Willcox Covered Megadeth’s “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due”: Plus they’ve got a balloon – Continue…

• DGM Live: Toyah & Robert’s Weekend – Continue…

Carol Decker’s 30 Rock Chicks!: NOW 80s: Monday 5th December: 11pm
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)

Favourite Singers With Nick Heyward: NOW 80s: Tuesday 6th December: 4pm
Mr Favourite Shirts is back on NOW 80s – this time he selects his Favourite Singers! Including some who influenced him the most such as David Byrne & XTC’s Andy Partridge.

Pointless Celebrities: Challenge: Monday 12th December: 7pm
Music. Series 10, Episode 5. A special celebrity music edition of the general knowledge quiz in which four teams try to come up with the answers that no-one else could think of. Presented by Alexander Armstrong and co-host Richard Osman. Featuring Fish and Barbara Dickson, Nick Heyward and Toyah Willcox, Heather Small and Mari Wilson, and Jessica Taylor and Kelli Young. (Photo © BBC)

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.

Video Killed The Radio Star: Sky Arts: Friday 9th December: 5.30am
Toyah Willcox. (Series 7, Episode 6) An insight into the making of videos by Toyah Willcox, whose hits included It’s A Mystery, Thunder in the Mountains and I Want To Be Free.