Four from Toyah

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Four from Toyah

| type = ep

| artist = Toyah

| cover = Toyah Four from.jpg

| released = February 1981

| recorded =

| genre = New wave

| length =

| label = Safari

| producer = Nick Tauber

| prev_title = The Blue Meaning

| prev_year = 1980

| year = 1981

| next_title = Anthem

| next_year = 1981

}}

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".

Background

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".{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c-N_eVZqLs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/_c-N_eVZqLs |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=Toyah At Home: Episode #17 |date=2020-10-10 |publisher=YouTube |accessdate=2021-06-13}}{{cbignore}}

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".{{cite web |url=https://www.toyah.net/fft30.html |title=Four From Toyah | It's A Mystery | 30 Years |publisher=toyah.net |accessdate=2021-06-23}} "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{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-top-50-best-selling-songs-of-1981__32604/ |title=The Official Top 50 best-selling songs of 1981 |publisher=Official Charts |date=5 March 2021 }} and was eventually certified silver in the UK.{{cite web |url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/2366-630-1 |title=Award: Toyah – Four From Toyah |publisher=British Phonographic Industry |accessdate=2021-06-25}} 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CNX3peyAbWu/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/toyahofficial/2546748857409189294 |archive-date=25 December 2021 |url-access=registration|title=Toyah Willcox (@toyahofficial) • Instagram photos and videos |date=2021-04-07 |publisher=Instagram |accessdate=2021-06-23}}{{cbignore}}

Track listing

=Original 7" release=

;Side A

  1. "It's a Mystery" (Keith Hale) – 4:13
  2. "Revelations" (Joel Bogen, Toyah Willcox) – 3:34

;Side B

  1. "War Boys" (Willcox) – 3:38
  2. "Angels & Demons" (Willcox, Hale) – 6:50

=2021 12" re-release=

;Side A

  1. "It's a Mystery"
  2. "Revelations"
  3. "War Boys"
  4. "Angels & Demons"

;Side B

  1. "It's a Mystery" (Original Version; Blood Donor feat. Toyah Willcox)
  2. "Jack & Jill"
  3. "The Merchant & the Nubile"
  4. "Angels & Demons" (Demo)

Personnel

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (1981)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| UK Singles (Official Charts Company){{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19810322/7501/ |title=Official Singles Chart Top 75: 22 March 1981 - 28 March 1981 |publisher=Official Charts Company |accessdate=2021-06-22}}

| 4

scope="row"| UK Independent Singles{{cite web |url=http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/t.htm |title=Indie Hits "T" |publisher=Cherry Red Records |accessdate=2021-06-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608045508/http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/t.htm |archive-date=2011-06-08}}

| 1

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (2021)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| UK Independent Albums (Official Charts Company){{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-albums-chart/20210624/131 |title=Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50: 18 June 2021 - 24 June 2021 |publisher=Official Charts Company |accessdate=2021-06-23}}

| 50

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Toyah|title=Four from Toyah|award=Silver|type=single|relyear=1981|certyear=1981|certref=}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Toyah (band)}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Four From Toyah}}

Category:1981 EPs

Category:Toyah (band) albums

Category:UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles