The Changeling (album)

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The Changeling
The Changeling cover
Studio album by Toyah
Released 1982
Genre New Wave, Gothic rock, Rock music
Label Safari Records
Producer Steve Lillywhite
Toyah chronology
Anthem
(1981)		 The Changeling
(1982)		 Warrior Rock: Toyah On Tour
(1982)

The Changeling was Toyah's follow-up album to the critically acclaimed Anthem. Although it has a similar overall sound, the band's writing took a darker, almost gothic direction. Tracks such as "The Packt" and "Brave New World" take a rather dystopian although still hopeful view of the future, a theme which largely pervades the whole album.

The Changeling was not released on CD until 1999, although this long-awaited release did at least include six bonus tracks, four of which were previously unavailable on CD, and the video for "Thunder In The Mountains".

Original vinyl issues of the album came complete with a lyric insert, the background of which featured drawings of circuit boards. Around the lyrics of each song were sections of poetry written by Toyah Willcox, which were not included on the album.

The album was released internationally and sold particularly well in the UK (#6) and Norway (#22).

Contents

[edit] Track listing

[edit] Original LP

  1. "Creepy Room" (Willcox/Bogen)
  2. "Street Creature" (Willcox/Bogen)
  3. "Castaways" (Willcox/Bogen)
  4. "The Druids" (Willcox/Bogen)
  5. "Angel & Me" (Willcox/Bogen)
  6. "The Packt" (Willcox/Bogen)
  7. "Life In The Trees" (Willcox/Bogen)
  8. "Dawn Chorus" (Willcox/Bogen/Spalding)
  9. "Run Wild, Run Free" (Willcox/Bogen)
  10. "Brave New World" (Willcox/Bogen)

[edit] 1999 CD bonus tracks

  1. "Warrior Rock" (Willcox/Bogen/Spalding)
  2. "Thunder In The Mountains" (Willcox/Lee/Glockler)
  3. "Voodoo Doll" (Willcox/Bogen/Spalding)
  4. "Good Morning Universe" (Willcox/Bogen)
  5. "In The Fairground" (Willcox/Bogen)
  6. "Ieya 1982" (Willcox/Bogen/Bush)
  7. "Thunder In The Mountains" (video) (Willcox/Lee/Glockler)

On the cd reissue, the ending of 'Angel & Me' has been edited. After the song has faded out, the original vinyl version featured an echoed drum roll that resembled the sound of a door being locked - this was absent on the cd.

[edit] Personnel

  • Phil Spalding - bass, vocals
  • Simon Phillips - drums and percussion
  • Joel Bogen - guitar, additional keyboards, vocal
  • Toyah Willcox - vocals & noises
  • Andy Clarke - keyboards
  • Simon Darlow - additional keyboards
  • Nigel Bennett - backing vocals
  • Neil Hutchinson - brass
  • Vince Sullavan - brass
  • Dave Lord - brass

[edit] Production

  • Producer: Steve Lillywhite
  • Engineer: Mark Darnley
  • Assistant engineer: Neil Hutchinson, Ashley Howe