''Four from Toyah'' is the second EP by the

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

new wave band Toyah, fronted by

Toyah Willcox Toyah Ann Willcox (born 18 May 1958) 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 an ...

, released in

1981 Events January * January 1 ** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union. ** Palau becomes a self-governing territory. * January 10 – Salvadoran Civil War: The FMLN launches its first major offensiv ...

Safari Records Safari Records was a British independent record label based in London, England, and operating between 1977 and 1985. Safari Records was formed early in 1977 by Tony Edwards (former co-manager of Deep Purple), Andreas Budde (the son of German musi ...

. It reached the Top 5 in the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

on the back of its lead track, "

It's a Mystery ''It's a Mystery'' is the fifteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Seger, released in 1995 (see 1995 in music). As with his prior album, it is credited to the Silver Bullet Band, though many of the tracks feature a wide array ...

Background

It was the band's first release to feature the new lineup of Willcox,

Joel Bogen Joel Bogen (born 3 September 1958) is an English rock and punk guitarist. He worked with Toyah Willcox from the late 1970s to 1983 as the guitar player in her eponymous band and was the co-writer on nearly all of the material they recorded. B ...

Phil Spalding Philip Spalding (born 19 November 1957, London, England) is an English bass player. He is best known as a session musician and player of Fender Precision Bass guitars. He has played and appeared with performing artists such as Mick Jagger, Sea ...

Nigel Glockler Nigel Glockler (born 24 January 1953) is an English musician, best known as the longtime drummer for the heavy metal band Saxon, which he first joined in 1981. Career Glockler began his musical career in 1980 as the drummer for the British band ...

and

Adrian Lee Adrian Lee (born 9 September 1957, London, England) is an English musician, known especially for his brass instrumentation work with several well-known acts of the 1980s. Career Lee was first signed to Phonogram Records in the late 1970s as g ...

. 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 ''Four More from Toyah'' is the third Extended play, EP by the English new wave music, new wave band Toyah (band), Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1981 in music, 1981 by Safari Records. It reached the Top 20 in the UK and Ireland. Ba ...

'': "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". Apart from "

", the EP featured "War Boys" which Toyah wanted to be the lead track instead, "Revelations" with lyrics telling about

prediction A prediction (Latin ''præ-'', "before," and ''dicere'', "to say"), or forecast, is a statement about a future event or data. They are often, but not always, based upon experience or knowledge. There is no universal agreement about the exact ...

s, and "Angels & Demons" which Toyah said is about "growing up and everything you're told not to believe in". "It's a Mystery" would later appear on the album ''

Anthem An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to short ...

'', 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 The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

on the back of its lead track, "It's a Mystery", and becoming Toyah's first number 1 in the

UK Independent Singles Chart The UK Independent Singles Chart and UK Independent Albums Chart are charts of the best-selling independent singles and albums, respectively, in the United Kingdom. Originally published in January 1980, and widely known as the indie chart, the rele ...

. It is listed at number 49 on the official top 50 best-selling singles of 1981 and was eventually certified silver in the UK. In June 2021, ''Four from Toyah'' was re-released by

Cherry Red Records Cherry Red Records is a British independent record label founded in Malvern, Worcestershire by Iain McNay in 1978. The label has released recordings by Dead Kennedys, Everything But the Girl, The Monochrome Set, and Felt, among others, as well ...

in 12" vinyl format for

Record Store Day Record Store Day is an annual event inaugurated in 2007 and held on one Saturday (typically the third) every April and every Black Friday in November to "celebrate the culture of the independently owned record store". The day brings together fa ...

, with additional tracks and new artwork.

Track listing

Original 7" release

;Side A #"

" (

Keith Hale Keith Hale (born 6 November 1950) is an English songwriter, composer, record producer, performer and music teacher, most notable for his work with Toyah Willcox, Hawkwind and Ginger Baker. Biography The Yorkshire-born musician moved south when ...

) – 4:13 #"Revelations" (

) – 3:34 ;Side B #

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

2021 12" re-release

;Side A #"

" #"Revelations" #"War Boys" #"Angels & Demons" ;Side B #

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

Personnel

– vocals *

– guitar *

– bass *

– drums *

– keyboards

Charts

Certifications

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Four From Toyah 1981 EPs Toyah (band) albums UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles