| Take the Leap! | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 1993 | |||
| Recorded | 1993 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 59:30 (original release) 1:20:29 (2006 re-release) | |||
| Label | Pony Canyon | |||
| Producer | Toyah Willcox | |||
| Toyah chronology | ||||
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| 2006 edition cover | ||||
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Take the Leap! is a studio album by the British singer Toyah Willcox, first released as Leap! in 1993 by Pony Canyon. It consists of new tracks as well as re-recordings of older songs from Toyah the band's repertoire.
The album was recorded in 1993 in a deserted farmhouse in the outskirts of Salisbury, in collaboration with the British band Friday Forever whom Toyah had met earlier that year. [1] It showed a change in style from Toyah's previous recordings, and has a much more "raw" feel than the polished albums which preceded it. Many of the six new compositions had been written and demoed much earlier, including "Invisible Love" in 1989 with Simon Darlow. A glutch of demos recorded with Phil Nicholas in 1992 were also re-worked from their ambient style into album tracks with a rockier feel, namely "God Ceases to Dream" and "Now I'm Running". Another demo from these sessions, "Tears for Elie" was included as a bonus track on the 2006 reissue CD, along with "Requite Me", a stray 1992 demo produced by Willcox and Darlow. [2]
"God Ceases to Dream" was written and recorded as an ambient electronic demo. It contains lyrics and melodies Willcox had originally written and performed with collaborative band side-projects, as the songs "Born Again" with Sunday All Over the World, and "Broken Special (The Island)" with Kiss of Reality. The latter was recorded and appeared on the Kiss of Reality's sophomore studio album, whilst "Born Again" was never recorded in studio. The chanting at the beginning of this album's version of "Ieya" are lyrics (which crib the Lord's Prayer) which also appeared on the Kiss of Reality album opening track "Harlequin (Holy Day)". [2]
"Lust for Love" had previously been written and performed live as a Strange Girls song, and later recorded as a demo by Cris Bonacci and Willcox. The version found on this album is subtly altered. [2]
"It's a Mystery" was due to appear on the album in a version recorded with Phil Nicholas and Friday Forever which was an African dance, tribal metal rock version. Complications at the time of original release meant this could not occur and a straightforward rock version was featured instead. The 2006 reissue of Take the Leap! includes this previously unreleased version. [2] Tracks from 7 to 14 are completely re-recorded versions of songs taken mostly from Toyah's first three studio albums.
The album was originally released in Japan as Leap! only on cassette, and was sold at concerts during Toyah's 1993 tour, while a CD version called Take the Leap! was released the following year. Toyah went on to tour the album extensively throughout 1994. [3] In 2006, the album was finally released by Edsel Records in the UK with bonus tracks, [4] and consequently original copies of the album have become much sought after. [2]
The album's first ever digital release came in December 2014 when it was made available to download at iTunes and Amazon and to stream via Spotify. [5] To mark the album's twentieth anniversary, and first ever digital release, two EPs of Take the Leap!-era material, entitled Winter in Wonderland and Has God Ceased to Dream You , were released in December 2013 and December 2014, respectively. In addition, a free digital EP of bonus material, also pertaining to the Take the Leap! album period, entitled Whisper the Elixir, was issued by Willcox's official website shortly after the release of Has God Ceased to Dream You. Its tracks were "It's a Mystery" (Whispered Elixir Mix), "It's a Mystery" (Distant Sirens Mix), "It's a Mystery" (Acoustic Poolside) and "Waiting" (Alternate Mix). [6]
In early 2020, the album was included in the Toyah Solo box set and reissued on double transparent vinyl. [7] The LP edition omits bonus tracks from the 2006 CD re-release, and instead adds a selection of re-recordings from Looking Back .
Original release
| 2020 LP edition
|
| Chart (2020) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Independent Albums [8] | 46 |
| UK Vinyl Albums [9] | 37 |
Toyah Ann Willcox is an English musician, actress, and TV presenter. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Willcox has had eight top 40 singles, released over 20 albums, written two books, appeared in over 40 stage plays and 10 feature films, and voiced and presented numerous television shows.
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 namesake 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".
Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! is a live album by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1980 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.
Minx is a 1985 album by the British singer Toyah Willcox, released by Portrait Records. It was her first album as a solo artist and spawned the moderate hit "Don't Fall in Love ".
Desire is the second solo studio album by English singer Toyah Willcox, released in 1987 by E.G. Records.
"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.
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".
In the Court of the Crimson Queen is the fifteenth studio album by British singer Toyah Willcox. It was released on 15 September 2008 by Willow Recordings Ltd. The album title was suggested by producer/co-author Simon Darlow and was endorsed by King Crimson mainstay and Toyah's husband Robert Fripp. "At last my husband's done something for my career!", Willcox commented. The album was reissued on CD and vinyl in April 2019 by Edsel records. It featured 5 additional tracks, including 'Dance In The Hurricane'. The album charted at #74 in the Official UK album charts as well as peaking at #22 in the UK sales charts and #7 in the independent album chart.
Sugar Rush is an album by the Humans, released in 2011. It is the second album by avant-garde rock singer Toyah Willcox and bassists Bill Rieflin and Chris Wong, a trio formed in 2007. The music is augmented in the studio with other instruments, notably the guitar of guest Robert Fripp of King Crimson, who appears on every track of Sugar Rush. Igor Abuladze joined the Humans on their US and UK tour in 2011 in support of the album.
"21st Century Supersister" is the 25th single release by the British rock singer Toyah Willcox. Written by Toyah and collaborator Simon Darlow, it was featured in the 2011 film The Power of Three, in which Willcox starred. The song was originally recorded for the 2008 album In The Court Of The Crimson Queen and was subsequently re-worked with new lyrics in 2011. Its original version was included as the B-side of the single and was added to the album for its 2013 reissue.
Winter in Wonderland is an EP by the British singer Toyah Willcox, released in 2013. Apart from the title track, which had originally appeared on her 1993 album Take the Leap!, it included three demo tracks relevant to the period, all of which were previously available only on CD. The EP was only released digitally to mark twenty years since the material was recorded. It was followed a year later by a similar release, Has God Ceased to Dream You.
Has God Ceased to Dream You is an EP by the British singer Toyah Willcox, released in 2014. It is a collection of alternative versions of tracks that appeared on her 1993 album Take the Leap! or were recorded during the album's recording sessions. The EP was released digitally to mark the twentieth anniversary of the CD release of the album, and coincided with Take the Leap! becoming available on digital platforms for the first time.
"Don't Fall in Love " is a song by British singer Toyah Willcox, released as the lead single from her album Minx in 1985 by Portrait Records. It was a top 40 chart success in the UK and Ireland.
Toyah Solo is a compilation box set by British singer Toyah Willcox, consisting of seven CDs and a DVD, released on Edsel Records in 2020.
Posh Pop is a 2021 studio album by British singer Toyah Willcox, released by Demon Records.
