Toyah is currently topping the Official Legacy Chart, along with Trevor Horn and Robert Fripp with their cover of Relax. The song moved up from number two to one this week. Stream or buy the track, and the album it is taken from, by clicking below.
A short message from the inimitable Toyah Willcox – Willcox and Robert Fripp about how their performance on ‘Relax’ came to be. Listen to the track here. Click below for the video clip.
Included in the release of Echoes: Ancient & Modern is a brand new interpretation of Relax – one of the 80s most successful records in the UK. Featuring performances by Toyah and Robert Fripp. Listen or download the track now by clicking below. (Text & Image © Trevor Horn)
Toyah & Robert are referenced a couple of times in the latest issue of Classic Pop magazine, in articles on Trevor Horn and his recently released album, Echoes: Ancient & Modern. Toyah & Robert cover, the Frankie Goes To Hollywood 1983 super hit, Relax, on the album. It’s a radically different version of the song too.
Review: The overriding mood on Echoes is stately and graceful. If that means Horn appears to be trolling adherents of the filth and mayhem of the original Relax by getting Toyah to happily croon over a new just-so glide, think of it instead as a fresh remix. That’ll be Mr Toyah, Robert Fripp, doing its precise guitar. Him and Horn know what they’re doing.
Feature: Then Trevor happened to catch Toyah and Robert Fripp covering Slave To The Rhythm on one of their online lockdown shows, and the deck was duly shuffled.
“I’ve always liked Toyah – I’ve bumped into her loads of times, she’s like a ball of energy. I like her vibe. So they did it. And I think it came out pretty well, even though I was afraid of messing around with it too much. I restrained myself. Robert’s solo is definitely one of my favourite guitar solos I’ve recorded.”
• The latest issue of Classic Pop is available to buy instore and online. (Thanks to Minna of The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive for the scans)
Toyah & Robert Fripp record Relax with Trevor Horn
Superproducer Trevor Horn presents Echoes – Ancient & Modern, his Deutsche Grammophon debut album, featuring fresh orchestral takes on 11 iconic tracks. The booklet notes feature an interview in which Paul Morley talks to his long-time friend and collaborator about how he picked the right artists to help him transform familiar songs into something magical and new.
Due for release on 1 December 2023, full release details will be announced shortly.
Horn himself sings vocals on the Roxy Music classic “Avalon”, as well as producing Marc Almond, Tori Amos, Rick Astley, Andrea Corr, Steve Hogarth, Lady Blackbird, Jack Lukeman, Iggy Pop, Seal and Toyah Willcox & Robert Fripp in tracks originally performed by Pat Benatar; The Cars; Depeche Mode; Frankie Goes to Hollywood; Billy Idol; Joe Jackson; Grace Jones; Kendrick Lamar; Nirvana and Yes.
Tracklist:
01. Swimming Pools (Drank) feat. Tori Amos
02. Steppin’ Out feat. Seal
03. Owner Of A Lonely Heart feat. Rick Astley
04. Slave To The Rhythm feat. Lady Blackbird
05. Love Is A Battlefield feat. Marc Almond
06. Personal Jesus feat. Iggy Pop
07. Drive feat. Steve Hogarth
08. Relax feat. Toyah Willcox & Robert Fripp
09. White Wedding Feat Andrea Corr with Jack Lukeman
10. Smells Like Teen Spirit feat. Jack Lukeman
11. Avalon
• Continue reading at toyahwillcox.com.
