| Four from Toyah | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| EP by | ||||
| Released | February 1981 | |||
| Genre | New wave | |||
| Label | Safari | |||
| Producer | Nick Tauber | |||
| Toyah chronology | ||||
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Four from Toyah is the second EP by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1981 by Safari Records. It reached the Top 5 in the UK Singles Chart on the back of its lead track, "It's a Mystery".
It was the band's first release to feature the new lineup of Willcox, Joel Bogen, Phil Spalding, Nigel Glockler and Adrian Lee. Although it was released in the 7" vinyl single format, it was essentially and EP with four songs. Toyah clarified that the band didn't feel under pressure to write and include those extra songs on Four from Toyah nor its follow-up Four More from Toyah : "We did produce extra songs for quality of money. I never felt under pressure. (...) It was a joy to write these extra songs and also, because these EPs were standalone, it meant that I could explore lyrical avenues that perhaps I wouldn't be able to put onto an album". [1]
Apart from "It's a Mystery", the EP featured "War Boys" which Toyah wanted to be the lead track instead, "Revelations" with lyrics telling about predictions, and "Angels & Demons" which Toyah said is about "growing up and everything you're told not to believe in". [2] "It's a Mystery" would later appear on the album Anthem , although the other three tracks would not appear on an album until the original CD release of Anthem in 1985. They were also included in the album's 1999 CD re-issue as well as the 2005 compilation The Safari Singles Collection Part 2: 1981–1983.
The EP was the breakthrough for the band, reaching number 4 in the UK Singles Charts on the back of its lead track, "It's a Mystery", and becoming Toyah's first number 1 in the UK Independent Singles Chart. It is listed at number 49 on the official top 50 best-selling singles of 1981 [3] and was eventually certified silver in the UK. [4] In June 2021, Four from Toyah was re-released by Cherry Red Records in 12" vinyl format for Record Store Day, with additional tracks and new artwork. [5]
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company) [6] | 4 |
| UK Independent Singles [7] | 1 |
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Independent Albums (Official Charts Company) [8] | 50 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI) [4] | Silver | 250,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Sheep Farming in Barnet is the debut studio album by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1979 by Safari Records.
Toyah was an English new wave band fronted by Toyah Willcox between 1977 and 1983. The only other consistent band member throughout this period was Joel Bogen, Willcox's principal co-writer and guitarist.
The Blue Meaning is the second studio album by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1980 by Safari Records. It reached the Top 40 on the UK Albums Chart.
Anthem is a studio album by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1981 by Safari Records. It was the band's most successful album, reaching number 2 in the UK Albums Chart and featuring the Top 10 singles "It's a Mystery" and "I Want to Be Free". The album was certified gold in 1981 for selling more than 100,000 copies in the UK.
The Changeling is a studio album by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1982 by Safari Records. The album peaked at number 6 in the UK where it was certified silver for sales exceeding 60,000 copies. It included the Top 40 single "Brave New World".
Warrior Rock: Toyah on Tour is a live album by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1982 by Safari Records.
Love Is the Law is the fifth studio album by British new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1983 by Safari Records. It reached number 28 in the UK Albums Chart and included the Top 40 hit single "Rebel Run". It was the last album to be released by the band before singer Willcox embarked on a solo career and retained 'Toyah' as her stage name.
Mayhem is a compilation album by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1985 by Safari Records.
Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! is a greatest hits compilation album by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1984 by K-tel. The album is also known as Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! All the Hits by including the cover slogan to differentiate it from the earlier live album Toyah! Toyah! Toyah!.
"Ieya" is a song by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox. It was first released as a single in 1980 by Safari Records to promote the album The Blue Meaning. It was re-recorded and re-issued in 1982, and met with minor chart success in the UK.
"I Want to Be Free" is a song by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released as a single in 1981 by Safari Records. The song promoted Toyah's 1981 studio album Anthem and was a Top 10 chart hit in the UK and Ireland.
"Thunder in the Mountains" is a song by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released as a single in 1981 by Safari Records. It was one of Toyah's biggest hits, reaching number 4 in the UK chart.
Four More from Toyah is the third EP by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1981 by Safari Records. It reached the Top 20 in the UK and Ireland.
"Brave New World" is a song by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released as a single in 1982 by Safari Records. It promoted Toyah's 1982 studio album The Changeling and was a Top 40 chart success in the UK.
"Be Proud Be Loud " is a song by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released as a single in 1982 by Safari Records. It was a Top 40 chart success in the UK and Ireland.
"Rebel Run" is a song by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox. It was released in 1983 to promote the album Love Is the Law and was a Top 40 chart success in the UK.
"The Vow" is a song by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox. It was released in 1983 to promote the album Love Is the Law.
Looking Back is a studio album by the British singer Toyah Willcox, released in 1995. It is a collection of re-recordings of songs from her back catalogue, mostly classic hits from the Toyah band repertoire. The material was originally conceived as part of a double album Toyah Classics slated for release in March 1995. The two sets would eventually be released individually, with Looking Back as an 'electric' accompaniment to The Acoustic Album, released the following year. The album has never been re-released digitally.
The Acoustic Album is a studio album by the British singer Toyah Willcox, released in 1996. It is a collection of acoustic re-recordings of songs from her back catalogue.
"It's a Mystery" is a song by English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released as a single in 1981 by Safari Records. The song was a hit in the UK where it peaked in the Top 5 in the charts as the lead track on the EP Four from Toyah.
