An expansive 5CD box set anthology of B-Sides, rarities and archive material from Toyah’s recording history for the Safari label.

 

Featuring 102 tracks (50 of which are previously unreleased), the collection brings together rarities, alternate versions, outtakes, new mixes and revelatory gems from tape vaults and personal archives.

 

Housed in a clamshell box, the five themed discs are in full colour CD wallets with a 40-page booklet (featuring classic, rare and unseen images).

 

---------

 

CD1: ‘B-Sides’ contains, for the first time ever, the band’s complete run of 22 B-Sides and flexi-disc tracks, plus three completed/mixed outtakes not included on LPs, EPs or singles.

 

CD2: ‘Instrumentals’ offers an atmospheric and evocative journey through 20 Instrumental versions of the band’s music, featuring six tracks newly mixed from the multi-track master tapes.

 

CD3: ‘Alternate’ brings together 20 alternate versions (13 of which are previously unreleased) of hit singles, beloved B-Sides and album cuts. Notable inclusions are four new mixes by Joel Bogen utilising unearthed 1979 multi-track tapes from the ‘Sheep Farming In Barnet’ sessions at Chappell Studios.

 

CD4: ‘Rare’ compiles rarities and works in progress (13 of which are previously unreleased) from early sessions for ‘Sheep Farming In Barnet’ to studio outtakes and home demos. Backing tracks recorded in sessions for ‘Anthem’ and ‘Thunder In The Mountains’ are included alongside preparatory home demos for ‘The Changeling’ and ‘Love Is The Law’ albums. The disc closes with Toyah Willcox and Joel Bogen home demo covers of Alice Cooper’s ‘School’s Out’ and Lou Reed’s ‘Perfect Day’.

 

CD5: ‘Live’ presents 18 previously unheard recordings leading with a newly discovered recording of the band’s sold-out 20th May 1981 show on the Anthem Tour. Featuring rare performances of ‘Marionette’, ‘Obsolete’, ‘Jungles Of Jupiter’ and ‘We Are’, plus four more concert rarities recorded at a special pre-tour gig at Brixton Fairdeal, including the only public performance of ‘Life In The Trees’ and an unheard live version of ‘Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard)’ from the Christmas 1982 Warrior Rock Tour, featuring performances by the late Keith Hale and the late Phil Spalding.