The Blue Meaning is the second album by Toyah

Toyah (band)

Toyah is the name of the band fronted by Toyah Willcox between 1977 and 1983. The only other consistent band member throughout this period was Joel Bogen, Willcox's principal co-writer and guitarist.-Background :...

, released in 1980 by Safari Records. Although not the first full-length release, this is often considered to be the band's first "proper" album.

It saw its first release on CD in 1990 on the Great Expectations label (As PIPCD 015), and was reissued in a double-CD package with Sheep Farming in Barnet

Sheep Farming In Barnet

Sheep Farming in Barnet is the debut album by Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1979 by Safari Records. The album was originally released as a 6-track extended EP, dubbed an 'Alternate Play' record by Safari, and was later expanded into full-album status...

in 2002. The latter release was remastered and included two bonus tracks.

Original LP and CD

1. "Ieya
   IEYA
   "Ieya" was the fourth UK single from the post-punk band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, and was released in 1980. It was later remixed and re-issued in 1982....
   
   " (Willcox, Bogen, Bush) - 8:15
2. "Spaced Walking" (Willcox, Bush) - 2:20
3. "Ghosts" (Willcox, Bogen, Bush, Francis) - 3:29
4. "Mummies" (Willcox, Bogen, Bush, Francis) - 2:58
5. "Blue Meanings" (Willcox, Bogen, Bush) - 5:03
6. "Tiger! Tiger!" (Willcox, Bray, Bogen, Francis, Bush) - 3:19
7. "Vision" (Willcox, Bogen, Bush) - 4:06
8. "Insects" (Willcox, Bogen, Bush) - 2:44
9. "Love Me" (Willcox, Bogen, Bush) - 3:02
10. "She" (Willcox, Bray, Bogen, Francis, Bush) - 6:03

2002 reissue bonus tracks

11. "Sphinx" (Willcox, Bogen)
- 3:15

12. "Street Addict" (Willcox, Bogen, Spalding)

Comments on songs

• Spaced Walking was recorded as Toyah inhaled helium gas to give her vocals a 'squeaky' demeanor (she can be heard inhaling between lines).
  In 2011 Toyah remembered: "Steve James, Keith Hale, Gem Howard and I were messing around in the Marquee Studio at about 2am and Gem ordered a large cylinder of helium gas because he thought it would be fun. So Gem and I were in the vocal booth with Steve and Keith in the mixing studio and we were just messing about. It was improvised, Keith was on keyboards, I remember Gem having a spanner to open and close the gas valve every time I needed to fill me lungs."
  The Helium Song", a b-side from this period, was simply an extended version of "Spaced Walking" with a longer introduction, and a proper ending - the album version simply fading out.
• Insects. "…Of course coz I am a woman they want to grab my body and do vulgar things. They want to fantasize about me which is fine because that's what my music is, it's pure fantasy. Insects was inspired by when ever I walked by the audience there would be hands clambering all over my body and I just thought 'Urgh- insects, insects!'. But on stage I go to the audience and just let them rip me to pieces". - Toyah speaking on ATV Documentary, 1980.

Personnel

• Toyah Willcox
  Toyah Willcox
  Toyah Ann Willcox is an English actress and singer. In a career spanning more than thirty years Toyah has had 13 top 40 singles, released 22 studio albums, written two books, appeared in over forty stage plays and ten feature films, as well as voicing and presenting numerous television shows...
  
   - verbals + unusual sounds
• Joel Bogen
  Joel Bogen
  Joel Bogen 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. Bogen also produced Heaven, the 1997 debut album of neo soul artist Jai, for M&G...
  
  - guitar
• Pete Bush - keyboards, trumpet
• Charlie Francis - bass guitar
• Steve Bray - drums

Production

• Arrangements: Steve James, Toyah Willcox, Pete Bush, Joel Bogen, Charlie Francis, Steve Bray
• Producers: Steve James, Toyah Willcox
• Assistant engineer: Perry Morgan