TOYAH | Chameleon – the new Best Of compilation out soon on multiple formats…
- Cherry Red Records and Toyah are delighted to announce the release of Chameleon – The Very Best of Toyah on Friday 5 September 2025. This is the first career-spanning collection to encompass Willcox’s full recording history.
- Spanning 45 years of music, the impressive collection includes the top 40 singles ‘I Want To Be Free', ‘It’s A Mystery’, ‘Thunder In The Mountains’, ‘Brave New World’, ‘Good Morning Universe’, ‘Rebel Run’ and ‘Don’t Fall In Love’, alongside classic cuts right up to the 2021 Top 20 album Posh Pop. A pioneering figure in the UK’s new wave and post-punk movement, Toyah has made an indelible mark on the entertainment industry with her unique voice, electrifying stage presence, and artistic versatility.
- Chameleon lives up to its name and highlights Toyah’s musical longevity as a singer/actress that burst out of the punk/new wave scene in the late 1970s, became a pop icon in the 1980s and who has remained an ever-evolving creative force across five decades. Her music, which blends theatricality with powerful rock energy has earned her a devoted fan base, Gold-selling records and respect as an acclaimed live performer and songwriter
2CD EDITION
The 40-track double CD edition is presented in two chapters. CD1 collects 20 hits and classic cuts from 1979-1983 by Toyah – the band which she formed with composer and guitarist Joel Bogen, and Pete Bush. Toyah’s otherworldly lyrics and evocative vocals have ensured these songs have had a lasting legacy beyond the chart hits. Album cuts such as ‘Jungles of Jupiter’, ‘Race Through Space’, ‘We Are’ and ‘Angel & Me’ are as revered as those chosen as singles.
CD2 is dedicated to Toyah’s solo recordings from 1985’s Top 30 hit ‘Don’t Fall In Love’ up to most recent single ‘Roses In Chains’ which Toyah performed at Glastonbury 2024. Fans will delight in the inclusion of previously unreleased track ‘Worst In Me’. A personal favourite of Toyah’s, the song comes from the album sessions by Sunday All Over The World, the band which Toyah and Robert Fripp formed and toured with in the late 1980s.
The 2CD digipack and 24-page booklet is awash with the striking, inventive and chameleonic images that are synonymous with Toyah. The package is presented with meticulous photography of the iconic looks Toyah Willcox crafted herself alongside the world’s very best stylists and rock photographers. Sleevenote contributions come from Shirley Manson (Garbage) and Saffron (Republica) reflecting on the impact Toyah had on them personally.
2LP EDITION
The 28-track double LP is presented on gold colour vinyl and contains 28 tracks. LP1 collects 14 hits and classics from 1979-1983 by Toyah – the band which she formed with composer and guitarist Joel Bogen, and Pete Bush. The second LP is dedicated to Toyah’s solo recordings from 1985’s Top 30 hit ‘Don’t Fall In Love’ up to most recent single ‘Roses In Chains’ which Toyah performed at Glastonbury 2024. This is the first career-spanning collection to encompass Willcox’s full recording history and the first ‘best of’ available on vinyl since 1984.
Toyah’s otherworldly lyrics and evocative vocal performances have ensured the songs have had a lasting legacy beyond the chart hits. Album cuts such as ‘Jungles of Jupiter’, ‘We Are’, ‘Dance In The Hurricane’ and ‘Angel & Me’ are as revered as those chosen as singles. Fans will delight in the inclusion of the previously unreleased track ‘Worst In Me’. A personal favourite of Toyah’s, the song comes from the album sessions by Sunday All Over The World, the band which Toyah and Robert Fripp formed and toured with in the late 1980s.
The double gatefold sleeve vinyl is awash with the striking, inventive and chameleonic images that are synonymous with Toyah. The package is presented with meticulous photography of the iconic looks Toyah Willcox crafted herself alongside the very best stylists and rock photographers.
To date Toyah has recorded and released 23 studio albums and 6 live albums and was awarded Best Female Singer at the British Rock & Pop Awards in February 1982 and nominated for a BRIT Award for Best Female Singer the same year. Her impact on the entertainment industry has been recognised with an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Central England in Birmingham and a LIPA Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts Companionship for Outstanding Achievement in music, drama, performance and media presented by Paul McCartney.
3CD/Blu-ray Edition
CD1 collects 20 hits and classic cuts from 1979-1983 by Toyah – the band which she formed with composer and guitarist Joel Bogen, and Pete Bush. Toyah’s otherworldly lyrics and evocative vocals have ensured these songs have had a lasting legacy beyond the chart hits. Album cuts such as Jungles of Jupiter, Race Through Space, We Are and Angel & Me are as revered as those chosen as singles.
CD2 is dedicated to Toyah’s solo recordings from 1985’s Top 30 hit ‘Don’t Fall In Love’ up to most recent single ‘Roses In Chains’ which Toyah performed at Glastonbury 2024. Fans will delight in the inclusion of previously unreleased track Worst In Me. A personal favourite of Toyah’s, the song comes from the album sessions by Sunday All Over The World, the band which Toyah and Robert Fripp formed and toured with in the late 1980s.
CD3 is exclusive to this edition and collects 17 rarities and collaborations from 1980-2024. Remastered rarities include an alternate mix of ‘Rinaphobia’ recorded with Blood Donor in 1980 alongside the first version of ‘It’s A Mystery’ committed to tape. Previously unreleased 90s material with Kiss of Reality includes a rare demo and two unreleased songs from their 1992 UK gig at The Orange Club, London. Toyah’s ongoing story is brought up to date with previously unreleased rarities ‘Blue Pearl' and ‘Darkest Moment/Well Connected’, the latter recorded with Chris Guard (Indians In Moscow) for the radio drama Children Of The Circus but not heard in full.
The box set is completed by the first ever Toyah Blu-Ray that brings together 12 promo videos, 22 classic BBC appearances and 6 songs from recent concerts. The promo videos span ‘I Want To Be Free’ to ‘Roses In Chains’. The Safari-era promo videos appear in brand new transfers from the original master reels. A special bonus feature is an exclusive Extended video of ‘Brave New World’ with the iconic promo video edited to the full album version with previously unseen footage from the 1982 video shoot, without any AI processes.
A 48-page booklet includes rare photos, imagery and ephemera encapsulating the iconic looks Toyah Willcox crafted herself alongside the world’s very best stylists and rock photographers. Sleevenote contributions come from Shirley Manson (Garbage) and Saffron (Republica) reflect on the impact Toyah had on them personally.
