The album cover features a painting by Steve Weston which presents Toyah as a female fairy with wings, carrying the head of a decapitated male humanoid, with pyramids and smoke in the background. The singer explained that it refers to the theme of strength and domination, and that it was inspired by science fiction works of such authors as J. R. R. Tolkien and Philip K. Dick.[2] Original vinyl issues of the album came complete with a colour insert featuring photographs of the band wrapped in bandages, with various exposed body parts sprayed gold, and Egyptian themed drawings across the lyrics pages. A picture disc variation, featuring the album's front and back artwork and no sleeve, was also issued at the time.
Lyrical contentedit
The lyrics of "I Want to Be Free" originated from Toyah's frustration as a dyslectic teenager during her school years.[3] The singer explained that it "resonated how I felt about school years which was still very strongly with me even when I was 22".[4] She further explained that the song is "about seeing the individual, it's about hearing and understanding the individual, not wiping them away from a future just because they can't add up or don't write particularly well. Also, it's about us having the choice".[3]
The song "Elocution Lesson" is based on actual elocution lessons that the singer took during her school years.[2] In relation to "Jungles of Jupiter", Toyah said: "I am absolutely convinced that at some point there was life, as we know it here, on Jupiter. (...) I believe that it's a living planet".[5] She explained that "Masai Boy" refers to the ritual of the Maasai people when "a boy becomes a man" and that it is about "love and respect for the Maasai warriors". She described "Marionette" as "a Game of Thrones version of an anti-Thatcher song", adding that it is "about being played by a politician. We are the puppets, we're being played by the marionette".[6]
Release and promotionedit
The album was released in May 1981, preceded by the single "I Want to Be Free" earlier that month. "It's a Mystery", which in the UK had been available only as the 7-inch EP Four from Toyah, was released as a separate single to promote Anthem abroad. Toyah embarked on a UK tour in May and June 1981 in support of the album.[7]Anthem entered the UK Albums Chart at number 3, eventually peaking at number 2 and spending forty-six consecutive weeks in the chart. The album was certified gold for selling more than 100,000 units in the UK.[8] It was also a modest chart success in Scandinavia, reaching the Top 40 in Norway and Finland. Anthem remains Toyah's most commercially successful album to date.
Anthem was released in CD format in 1985, adding the three remaining Four from Toyah songs and the non-album single "Thunder in the Mountains" as bonus tracks. It was then re-issued in 1999, again with the Four from Toyah material, B-sides of the single "I Want to Be Free" and its music video, and "For You", a song from the Anthem recording sessions which did not make it onto the original album. It was released on a promotional single given away free with Flexipop magazine in late 1981, together with "Sphinx", also from the sessions for Anthem. The popularity of "Sphinx" meant it found its way onto the 1984 compilation Toyah! Toyah! Toyah!, the 1998 compilation The Best of Toyah: Proud, Loud & Heard as well as the 2002 re-release of The Blue Meaning as a bonus track.
In September 2022, the album was re-released by Cherry Red Records, adding two bonus discs of rare and previously unreleased material, and a DVD with live performances and music videos.
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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 AnthemStudio album by ToyahReleasedMay 1981StudioMarquee Studios LondonGenreNew waveLength41 42 original release 64 23 1999 CD re release LabelSafariProducerNick TauberToyah chronologyToyah Toyah Toyah 1980 Anthem 1981 The Changeling 1982 Singles from Anthem It s a Mystery Released 1981 I Want to Be Free Released May 1981Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingMelody Maker favourable 1 Contents 1 Background 2 Lyrical content 3 Release and promotion 4 Track listing 4 1 Original release 4 2 2022 expanded deluxe edition 5 Personnel 6 Charts 7 Certifications 8 References 9 External linksBackground editAnthem was the band s first full length album recorded with the new lineup which consisted of Willcox Joel Bogen Phil Spalding Nigel Glockler and Adrian Lee The material was recorded at the Marquee Studios in London and produced by Nick Tauber The album cover features a painting by Steve Weston which presents Toyah as a female fairy with wings carrying the head of a decapitated male humanoid with pyramids and smoke in the background The singer explained that it refers to the theme of strength and domination and that it was inspired by science fiction works of such authors as J R R Tolkien and Philip K Dick 2 Original vinyl issues of the album came complete with a colour insert featuring photographs of the band wrapped in bandages with various exposed body parts sprayed gold and Egyptian themed drawings across the lyrics pages A picture disc variation featuring the album s front and back artwork and no sleeve was also issued at the time Lyrical content editThe lyrics of I Want to Be Free originated from Toyah s frustration as a dyslectic teenager during her school years 3 The singer explained that it resonated how I felt about school years which was still very strongly with me even when I was 22 4 She further explained that the song is about seeing the individual it s about hearing and understanding the individual not wiping them away from a future just because they can t add up or don t write particularly well Also it s about us having the choice 3 The song Elocution Lesson is based on actual elocution lessons that the singer took during her school years 2 In relation to Jungles of Jupiter Toyah said I am absolutely convinced that at some point there was life as we know it here on Jupiter I believe that it s a living planet 5 She explained that Masai Boy refers to the ritual of the Maasai people when a boy becomes a man and that it is about love and respect for the Maasai warriors She described Marionette as a Game of Thrones version of an anti Thatcher song adding that it is about being played by a politician We are the puppets we re being played by the marionette 6 Release and promotion editThe album was released in May 1981 preceded by the single I Want to Be Free earlier that month It s a Mystery which in the UK had been available only as the 7 inch EP Four from Toyah was released as a separate single to promote Anthem abroad Toyah embarked on a UK tour in May and June 1981 in support of the album 7 Anthem entered the UK Albums Chart at number 3 eventually peaking at number 2 and spending forty six consecutive weeks in the chart The album was certified gold for selling more than 100 000 units in the UK 8 It was also a modest chart success in Scandinavia reaching the Top 40 in Norway and Finland Anthem remains Toyah s most commercially successful album to date Anthem was released in CD format in 1985 adding the three remaining Four from Toyah songs and the non album single Thunder in the Mountains as bonus tracks It was then re issued in 1999 again with the Four from Toyah material B sides of the single I Want to Be Free and its music video and For You a song from the Anthem recording sessions which did not make it onto the original album It was released on a promotional single given away free with Flexipop magazine in late 1981 together with Sphinx also from the sessions for Anthem The popularity of Sphinx meant it found its way onto the 1984 compilation Toyah Toyah Toyah the 1998 compilation The Best of Toyah Proud Loud amp Heard as well as the 2002 re release of The Blue Meaning as a bonus track In September 2022 the album was re released by Cherry Red Records adding two bonus discs of rare and previously unreleased material and a DVD with live performances and music videos Track listing editOriginal release edit Side One Once Upon a Time I Want to Be Free Toyah Willcox Joel Bogen 3 10 Obsolete Willcox Bogen Nigel Glockler 2 36 Pop Star Willcox Adrian Lee Glockler 3 56 Elocution Lesson Willcox Bogen 2 32 Jungles of Jupiter Willcox Bogen Phil Spalding 5 12 I Am Willcox Bogen 3 22Side Two Happy Ever After It s a Mystery Keith Hale 4 08 Masai Boy Willcox Lee Willcox 4 06 Marionette Willcox Bogen 5 37 Demolition Men Willcox Lee 3 50 We Are Willcox Bogen 3 13 1985 CD edition bonus tracks Revelations Bogen Willcox 3 34 War Boys Willcox 3 39 Angels amp Demons Willcox Hale 6 55 Thunder in the Mountains Willcox Lee Glockler 3 341999 CD edition bonus tracks Walkie Talkie Willcox Bogen 1 59 Alien Willcox Bogen Glockler 3 28 Revelations Willcox Bogen 3 34 For You Willcox Bogen 3 06 War Boys Willcox 3 39 Angels amp Demons Willcox Hale 6 55 I Want to Be Free video dd 2022 expanded deluxe edition edit CD one I Want to Be Free 3 12 Obsolete 2 38 Pop Star 3 57 Elocution Lesson 2 35 Jungles of Jupiter 5 15 I Am 3 39 It s a Mystery Album Mix 4 12 Masai Boy 4 21 Marionette 5 41 Demolition Men 3 52 We Are 3 17 It s a Mystery 4 15 Revelations 3 37 War Boys 3 38 Angels amp Demons 6 55 Walkie Talkie 2 01 Alien 3 26 Sphinx 3 18 For You Unfaded Version 3 36 I Want to Be Free Instrumental 3 28 CD two Thunder in the Mountains 3 52 Street Addict 5 22 Voodoo Doll 3 59Live at Paris Theatre 05 04 1981 dd War Boys 4 52 Neon Womb 3 48 Danced 5 18 Angels amp Demons 7 00 It s a Mystery 4 36 Ieya 7 13Marquee Studios Dec 1980 Aug 1981 dd It s a Mystery Extended Instrumental 5 35 I Am Instrumental 3 11 Pop Star Instrumental 4 02 Jungles of Jupiter Instrumental 5 20 Joel amp Phil Instrumental Outtake 4 53 Turkish Delight Instrumental Outtake 4 30 Television Instrumental Outtake 4 43 CD three More Rare amp Archive Material It s a Mystery Re recorded TV Version Revelations Alternate Vocal War Boys Alternate Mix I Want to Be Free Alternate Vocal I Am Acoustic Pop Star Rough Mix Marionette Rough Mix Demolition Men Rough Mix Thunder in the Mountains Alternate Vocal Walkie Talkie Instrumental Japan Instrumental Outtake The Door Is a Whore Instrumental For You Instrumental Masai Boy Instrumental Alien Instrumental Thunder in the Mountains Original Instrumental Street Addict Instrumental Voodoo Doll Instrumental Clapham Junction Original Instrumental Dropped Earring Instrumental DVD Creating Anthem Track by Track Commentary I Want to Be Free Electro Acoustic 2021 It s a Mystery Electro Acoustic 2021 We Are Electro Acoustic 2021 I Want to Be Free Promo Video Thunder in the Mountains Promo Video It s a Mystery Top of the Pops 19 02 1981 It s a Mystery Top of the Pops 19 03 1981 I Want to Be Free Top of the Pops 21 05 1981 Thunder in the Mountains Top of the Pops 01 10 1981 I Want to Be Free Cheggers Plays Pop 18 05 1981 It s a Mystery Multi Coloured Swap Shop 10 10 1981 Ieya Something Else 30 10 1981 Thunder in the Mountains Something Else 30 10 1981 Personnel editBand membersToyah Willcox vocals Joel Bogen guitar Adrian Lee keyboards Phil Spalding bass Nigel Glockler drumsProductionNick Tauber producer Toyah Willcox arrangements Phil Harding engineer mixing Simon Hanhart Andy Lovell Mark Wade Keith Hale assistant engineersCharts editChart 1981 PeakpositionAustralian Albums Kent Music Report 9 68Finnish Albums 10 30Norwegian Albums VG lista 11 20UK Albums Official Charts Company 12 2UK Independent Albums 13 2Chart 2022 PeakpositionScottish Albums 14 6UK Albums Official Charts Company 15 33UK Vinyl Albums 16 6UK Independent Albums 17 1Certifications editRegion Certification Certified units salesUnited Kingdom BPI 8 Gold 100 000 Shipments figures based on certification alone References edit Mercer Mick 1981 Toyah Anthem Melody Maker Retrieved 19 November 2017 a b Toyah At Home Episode 17 YouTube 10 October 2020 Archived from the original on 18 December 2021 Retrieved 25 June 2021 a b Toyah At Home Episode 21 YouTube 7 November 2020 Archived from the original on 18 December 2021 Retrieved 22 June 2021 Rock Legends 3 January 2003 ITV1 Dreamscape Rock Legends Docu 2003 Toyah At Home Episode 16 YouTube 3 October 2020 Archived from the original on 18 December 2021 Retrieved 25 June 2021 Toyah At Home Episode 9 YouTube 15 August 2020 Archived from the original on 18 December 2021 Retrieved 25 June 2021 1980s GIG LIST toyahwillcox com Archived from the original on 27 November 2020 Retrieved 25 June 2021 a b Award Toyah Anthem British Phonographic Industry Retrieved 26 December 2017 Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 illustrated ed St Ives NSW Australian Chart Book p 312 ISBN 0 646 11917 6 Pennanen Timo 2006 Sisaltaa hitin in Finnish Keuruu Otava ISBN 951 1 21053 X Discography Toyah norwegiancharts com Retrieved 18 September 2012 Official Albums Chart Top 75 31 May 1981 06 June 1981 Official Charts Company Retrieved 13 November 2017 Indie Hits T Cherry Red Records Archived from the original on 8 June 2011 Retrieved 19 June 2021 Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 16 September 2022 22 September 2022 Official Charts Company Retrieved 4 December 2022 Official Albums Chart Top 100 16 September 2022 22 September 2022 Official Charts Company Retrieved 4 December 2022 Official Vinyl Albums Chart Top 40 16 September 2022 22 September 2022 Official Charts Company Retrieved 4 December 2022 Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50 16 September 2022 22 September 2022 Official Charts Company Retrieved 4 December 2022 External links editOfficial audio stream on YouTube The official Toyah website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Anthem Toyah Willcox album amp oldid 1173342899, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
