Four More from Toyah

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Four More from Toyah
Toyah Four more from.jpg
EP by
ReleasedNovember 1981
Recorded1981
Genre New wave
Label Safari
Producer Nick Tauber
Toyah chronology
Four from Toyah
(1981)
Four More from Toyah
(1981)
The Changeling
(1982)

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.

Contents

Background

The lead song on the release, "Good Morning Universe", was written in late 1981, after Toyah Willcox received the backing track from Joel Bogen, which she described as "joyous" and immediately came up with the song's title. [1] It would become the opening song on Toyah's subsequent live concerts. "In the Fairground" was written in the autumn of 1981 and its dystopian lyrics were inspired by "decay setting in" and the "sense of economic loss". [2]

Four More from Toyah followed the concept of Four from Toyah released earlier that year, which instead of being a regular 2-track single, was extended into a 7-inch EP. Toyah clarified that the band didn't feel under pressure to write and include extra songs on neither Four More from Toyah nor its predecessor: "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". [3] The first 100,000 pressings of the single came with a free flexi disc which contained a fifth exclusive track, "Stand Proud". [4] This collectability helped the single reach number 14 in the UK Singles Chart. It was also Toyah's fourth consecutive, and final, number 1 in the UK Independent Singles Chart. All sides of the release, including the flexi disc, ran at 33 rpm. 12-inch vinyl editions of this EP were released in some territories, featuring the same four tracks, with a playing speed of 45 rpm. Promotional copies of a 7-inch single with "Good Morning Universe" and "In the Fairground" on side A and side B, respectively, were also released in the UK.

None of the tracks on the EP were included on an album at the time, but "Good Morning Universe", "The Furious Futures" and "Stand Proud" were included on the 1998 compilation The Best of Toyah: Proud, Loud & Heard, while another 1998 compilation, Live & More, featured "Urban Tribesmen". "Good Morning Universe" and "In the Fairground" then made it onto the 1999 CD reissue of The Changeling . In 2005, all tracks from the original EP, bar "Stand Proud", featured on the compilation The Safari Singles Collection Part 2: 1981–1983. In December 2022, Four More from Toyah was re-released by Cherry Red Records and expanded into an 8-track 12-inch minialbum. [5]

Track listing

Original 7-inch release

Side A
  1. "Good Morning Universe" (Toyah Willcox, Joel Bogen) – 3:36
  2. "Urban Tribesmen" (Willcox, Bogen, Phil Spalding, Adrian Lee, Simon Phillips) – 3:22
Side B
  1. "In the Fairground" (Willcox, Bogen) – 3:15
  2. "The Furious Futures" (Willcox, Bogen, Spalding) – 3:24
Bonus flexidisc
  1. "Stand Proud" (Willcox)

2022 12-inch re-release

Side A
  1. "Good Morning Universe"
  2. "Urban Tribesmen"
  3. "In the Fairground"
  4. "The Furious Futures"
Side B
  1. "Go Berserk (Tour Intro)"
  2. "Stand Proud"
  3. "Clapham Junction"
  4. "I Want to Be Free" (Roundhouse Session)

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1981)Peak
position
Irish Singles (IRMA) [6] 13
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) [7] 14
UK Independent Singles [8] 1
Chart (2022)Peak
position
UK Albums Sales (Official Charts Company) [9] 100
UK Independent Albums (Official Charts Company) [10] 27

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyah Willcox</span> English musician and actress

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.

<i>Sheep Farming in Barnet</i> 1979 studio album by Toyah

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.

<i>The Blue Meaning</i> 1980 studio album by Toyah

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.

<i>The Changeling</i> (album) 1982 studio album by Toyah

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".

<i>Toyah! Toyah! Toyah!</i> 1980 live album by Toyah

Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! is a live album by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1980 by Safari Records.

<i>Warrior Rock: Toyah on Tour</i> 1982 live album by Toyah

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.

<i>Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! All the Hits</i> 1984 compilation album by Toyah

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!.

<i>Four from Toyah</i> 1981 EP by Toyah

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".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Want to Be Free (Toyah song)</span> 1981 single by Toyah

"I Want to Be Free" is a song by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released as a single in May 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thunder in the Mountains</span> 1981 single by Toyah

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brave New World (song)</span> 1982 single by Toyah

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard)</span> 1982 single by Toyah

"Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard)" 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rebel Run</span> 1983 single by Toyah

"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 30 chart success in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Vow (song)</span> 1983 single by Toyah

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's a Mystery (song)</span> 1981 single by Toyah

"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.

References

  1. "Toyah At Home: Episode #2". YouTube. 27 June 2020. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  2. "Toyah At Home | Episode #3". YouTube. 4 July 2020. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  3. "Toyah At Home: Episode #17". YouTube. 10 October 2020. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  4. Simon Hills (14 November 1981). "Toyah Four Track" (PDF). Record Mirror . p. 3. ISSN   0144-5804 . Retrieved 3 January 2023 via World Radio History.
  5. "Toyah: Four More From Toyah, Expanded 12″ Neon Violet Vinyl Edition". cherryred.co.uk. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  6. "The Irish Charts – All there is to know". www.irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  7. "Official Singles Chart Top 75: 29 November 1981 - 05 December 1981". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  8. "Indie Hits "T"". Cherry Red Records. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  9. "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100: 16 December 2022 - 22 December 2022". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  10. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50: 16 December 2022 - 22 December 2022". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 22 December 2022.