Toyah’s 1980 album The Blue Meaning is the second LP from the star’s Safari Records catalogue to receive a remastered and expanded re-release.
The project, from Cherry Red Records, sees the Steve James-produced album re-released with a host of additional content from the original recording sessions.
Included in the set, released May 28, is the early original version of It’s A Mystery by Blood Donor feat Toyah Willcox – which Toyah later recorded and enjoyed success with in 1981.
The UK Top 40 album also features fan favourite Ieya, plus Blue Meanings, Mummies and the psychedelic Spaced Walking, for which Toyah’s vocals were recorded after inhaling helium.
Two versions of the album are to be released – the 2CD + 1DVD digipak includes a 24-page booklet containing a an introductory note from Toyah, plus rare and unseen imagery including album cover outtakes taken at Wykehurst Place in Bolney, Sussex.
It features 27 remastered bonus tracks – including single mixes, live tracks, rarities and unheard demos – amongst which are the final recordings made by this band line-up, including Silence Won’t Do and Jack & Jill.
The very first demo of Angels & Demons – recorded at Eel Pie Studios – an Alternate Vocal take of Blue Meanings and three tracks recorded live at the ICA London all make their release debuts.
Meanwhile, the DVD contains three brand new features with Toyah Willcox; an interview about the album/period, a track-by-track album commentary plus an exclusive acoustic three-song session of songs from the era – all filmed during October, 2020.
There’s also rare archive BBC TV performances of Mummies and Danced from Friday Night, Saturday Morning (November, 1980), available on DVD for the first time ever.
A limited-edition neon pink coloured vinyl will also be issued, including a brand new inner bag featuring rare and unseen imagery of Toyah and official lyrics for the album.
Tracklist:
DISC ONE:
1. IEYA
2. SPACED WALKING
3. GHOSTS
4. MUMMIES
5. BLUE MEANINGS
6. TIGER! TIGER!
7. VISION
8. INSECTS
9. LOVE ME
10. SHE
BONUS TRACKS
11. SILENCE WON’T DO*
12. JACK & JILL*
13. COTTON VEST
14. THE MERCHANT & THE NUBILE
15. DANCED (SESSION VERSION)
16. LAST GOODBYE
(SESSION VERSION)*
17. LOVE ME (SESSION VERSION)*
18. IEYA (SINGLE VERSION)
19. HELIUM SONG
(SPACED WALKING)^
* Previously unreleased
^ Previously unreleased digitally
DISC TWO:
1. LOVE ME (LIVE AT ICA LONDON)*
2. WAITING (LIVE AT ICA LONDON)*
3. IEYA (LIVE AT ICA LONDON)*
4. BLUE MEANINGS
(ALTERNATE VOCAL)*
5. SHE (ALTERNATE VOCAL)*
6. SPACED WALKING
(HELIUM ACAPELLA)*
7. GHOSTS (INSTRUMENTAL)*
8. MUMMIES (INSTRUMENTAL)*
9. VISION (INSTRUMENTAL)*
10. SILENCE WON’T DO
(ALTERNATE VOCAL)*
11. JACK & JILL (ALTERNATE VOCAL)*
12. THE MERCHANT & THE NUBILE (ALTERNATE VOCAL)*
13. IT’S A MYSTERY (ORIGINAL VERSION) by BLOOD DONOR
FEAT. TOYAH WILLCOX
14. ANGELS & DEMONS (DEMO)*
15. YOU’RE MY HERO (DEMO)
16. SPHINX (INSTRUMENTAL DEMO)*
17. WALKIE TALKIE
(INSTRUMENTAL DEMO)*
18. ANTHEM (INSTRUMENTAL DEMO)*
* Previously unreleased
DISC THREE:
1. THE STORY BEHIND THE ALBUM:
TOYAH INTERVIEW 2020
2. TRACK BY TRACK
ALBUM COMMENTARY:
TOYAH INTERVIEW 2020
3. GHOSTS:
ACOUSTIC SESSION 2020
4. BLUE MEANINGS:
ACOUSTIC SESSION 2020
5. IEYA: ACOUSTIC SESSION 2020
6. DANCED: FRIDAY NIGHT, SATURDAY MORNING 28/11/1980
7. MUMMIES: FRIDAY NIGHT, SATURDAY MORNING 28/11/1980
NTSC – REGION FREE
