The Acoustic Album (Toyah Willcox album) explained

The Acoustic Album
Type:	studio
Artist:	Toyah
Cover:	toyahacousticalbum.jpg
Released:	October 1996
Length:	62:18
Prev Title:	Looking Back
Prev Year:	1995
Next Title:	Velvet Lined Shell
Next Year:	2003

The Acoustic Album is a studio album by the British singer Toyah Willcox, released in 1996. It is a collection of acoustic re-recordings of songs from her back catalogue.

Background

The material was recorded in 1994^[1] and consisted of new, stripped-down versions of classic hits as well as lesser-known, non-single tracks from the Toyah band and Willcox's solo repertoire. Some tracks feature string arrangements performed by members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.^[2] The material was originally conceived as part of a double album Toyah Classics which would have also comprised its 'electric' accompaniment Looking Back, slated for release in March 1995.^[3] The two sets would eventually be released individually as separate albums. In 2014, The Acoustic Album was re-released by Vertical Species in digital and CD formats, with a new artwork by Alan Sawyers and photography by Dean Stockings.^[4]

Track listing

1. "The Vow" (Toyah Willcox, Joel Bogen, Phil Spalding) – 3:19
2. "Moonlight Dancing" (Willcox, Bogen, Nick Graham) – 4:03
3. "Revive the World" (Willcox, Tony Geballe) – 3:13
4. "I Want to Be Free" (Willcox, Bogen) – 3:02
5. "It's a Mystery" (Piano Version) (Keith Hale) – 4:05
6. "Danced" (Willcox, Bogen, Peter Bush) – 4:44
7. "Good Morning Universe" (Willcox, Bogen) – 3:24
8. "Blue Meanings" (Willcox, Bogen, Bush) – 5:20
9. "Jungles of Jupiter" (Willcox, Bogen, Spalding) – 4:55
10. "It's a Mystery" (Up Tempo) (Hale) – 3:56
11. "Ieya" (Willcox, Bogen, Bush) – 4:35
12. "Angels and Demons" (Willcox, Hale) – 6:07
13. "I Am" (Willcox, Bogen) – 2:53
14. "Thunder in the Mountains" (Willcox, Adrian Lee, Nigel Glockler) – 4:02
15. "It's a Mystery" (String Version) (Hale) – 3:57

Personnel

• Toyah Willcox – vocals
• Tony 'Pooh' Kelly – guitars
• David Waddington – guitar
• Bob Skeat – bass, acoustic bass
• Andy Dewar – drums, percussion
• Tacye Lynette – additional vocals

Additional musicians

• The principal string players of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra headed by Jonathan Carney on tracks 1 and 15

Production

• Oliver Davis – producer
• Paul Maddens – engineer
• David Richardson – executive producer

External links

• Official audio stream on YouTube
• The official Toyah website

Notes and References

1. Web site: THE ACOUSTIC ALBUM . toyahwillcox.com . 2021-10-29.
2. Web site: DISCOGRAPHY >> ALBUMS . toyahwillcox.com . 2021-10-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131209094905/http://toyahwillcox.com/discography.html . 2013-12-09.
3. Web site: Pat Kenny Show: Toyah Interview (1995) . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/wGmJ7T5kpHg . 2021-12-15 . live. YouTube . 2021-10-29.
4. Web site: The Acoustic Album: Re-Available on CD . 2014-10-31 . toyah.net . 2021-10-29.