Mayhem (Toyah album)

Mayhem
Compilation album by Toyah
Released	1985
Recorded	c. 1979-1982
Genre	New wave, punk rock
Label	Safari Records
Producer	Nick Tauber, Steve Lillywhite, Steve James, Blood Donor, Keith Hale, Chris Wyatt
Toyah chronology
Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! (1984) Mayhem (1985) Minx (Toyah Willcox solo) (1985)

Mayhem is a compilation album by Toyah, released in 1985, a collection of previously unreleased material consisting mostly of demos and tracks not included on previous albums. When the band left Safari Records, the record company found enough material to compile one last album; this was apparently done without the consent of the band members. In spite of that, it was well received by the band's fans.

"Of all the albums I wish had not been released Mayhem is the one. It's sub standard, with songs not intended for release. In fact it makes my blood boil when I think of the plain exploitation of this album, but hopefully it never sold many copies. The songs on it were rehearsal demos, never intended for anything other than workshopping ideas", Toyah commented later.^[1]

Track listing

Original LP

1. "Clapham Junction" (Willcox/Bogen) (1981)
2. "Change of Scenery" (Hale) (1980)
3. "Problem Child" (Willcox/Bogen/Bush) (1980) †
4. "You're My Hero" (Hale) (1980) †
5. "Cotton Vest" (early version of "Walkie-Talkie") (Willcox/Bogen) (1981)
6. "Gaoler" (Willcox/Bogen/Bush) (1979)
7. "Paradise Child" (Willcox/Bogen) (1982)
8. "Israel" (Willcox/Bogen/Bush) (1979)
9. "Christmas Carol" (Willcox/Bogen/Bush) (1979)
10. "The Merchant and the Nubile" (early version of "War Boys") (Willcox) (1980)
11. "Danced" (previously unreleased version) (Willcox/Bogen/Bush) (1979) †
12. "I Believe in Father Christmas" (Greg Lake, Pete Sinfield, Prokofiev) (1982) *

1985 cassette bonus tracks

13. "Guilty" (Willcox/Bogen/Bush) (1979)
14. "Three Sided Face" (Willcox/Bogen/Bush) (1979)
15. "Island Race" (Hale) (1980)

2005 CD additional bonus tracks

16. "Love Me" (demo) (Willcox/Bogen/Bush) (1979)
17. "Tribal Look" (demo) (Willcox/Bogen/Bush) (1979)
18. "It's A Mystery" (demo) (Hale) (1980) ‡
19. "Run Wild, Run Free" (demo) (Willcox/Bogen) (1982)
20. "Rinaphobia" (Hale) (1980) ‡

Personnel

Toyah

• Toyah Willcox - vocals
• Joel Bogen - guitar except † and ‡
• Phil Spalding - bass on 1, 5, 7, 10, 19
• Adrian Lee - keyboards on 1, 5, 7, 10, 19
• Simon Phillips - drums on 1, 7, 19
• Nigel Glockler - drums on 5, 10
• Keith Hale - keyboards on 4, 6, 12
• Gordon Coxon - drums on 6
• Rikki Legair - bass on 6
• Mark Henry - bass on 8, 9, 13, 14, 16, 17
• Steve Bray - drums on 8, 9, 13, 14, 16, 17
• Pete Bush - keyboards on 8, 9, 13, 14, 16, 17

Blood Donor featuring Toyah Willcox

(Tracks marked ‡)

• Keith Hale - keyboards, guitar
• Simon Etchell - keyboards
• Gordon Coxon - drums

Other

• Line-up unconfirmed on †
• Line-up unconfirmed except for Bogen and Hale on *

References