Take The Leap!
Encyclopedia
Leap! and Take the Leap! are the names for Toyah Willcox
's project subsequent to Ophelia's Shadow
. It consists of six new tracks, either previously unrecorded or written for the new album, and eight older tracks re-recorded with her new band.
It was originally released as Leap!, a cassette-only tour album, and was sold at concerts during her 1993 tour. A CD version called Take the Leap! was released in Japan the following year. A UK release finally happened in 2006, and consequently original copies of the album have become much sought after.
Again, it shows a change in style from previous recordings, and has a much more raw feel than the polished albums which preceded it. Many of the 6 'original/new' compositions had been written and demoed much earlier, including "Invisible Love" in 1989 with Simon Darlow. A glutch of demos recorded with Phil Nicholas in 1992, were also re-worked from their dancey ambient style into albums tracks with a rockier feel, namely "God Ceases to Dream" and "Now I'm Running". Another demo from these sessions with Nicholas, "Tears For Elie" found a home as a bonus track on the 2006 reissue CD, along with "Requite Me", a stray 1992 demo produced by Toyah and Simon Darlow.
"God Ceases to Dream" is a track which was written and recorded as an ambient electronic demo with Phil Nicholas. It contains lyrics and melodies Toyah had originally written and performed with collaborative band side-projects, as the songs "Born Again" with Sunday All Over the World, and "Broken Special (The Island)" with Kiss of Reality. The latter was recorded and appeared on the Kiss of Reality sophoremore studio album, whilst "Born Again" was never recorded in studio. The chanting at the beginning of this album's version of "Ieya" are lyrics (which crib The Lord's Prayer) which also appeared on the Kiss of Reality album opening track "Harlequin (Holy Day)".
"Lust for Love" had previously been written and performed live as a Strange Girls song, and later recorded as a demo by Cris Bonacci
and Toyah. The version found on this album is subtly altered.
"It's a Mystery" was due to appear on the album in a version recorded with Phil Nicholas and Friday Forever which was an African dance, tribal metal rock version. Complications at the time of original release meant this could not occur and a straightforward rock version featured. The 2006 reissue of Take the Leap! on Edsel includes this previously unreleased version.
NB Tracks 9-14 are completely re-recorded versions of tracks with same titles as earlier recordings. All bespoke to this album.
‡ members of Friday Forever
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...
's project subsequent to Ophelia's Shadow
Ophelia's Shadow
Ophelia's Shadow was the fourth solo album by Toyah Willcox, and showcases a new direction in her work. Moving on from the experimental Prostitute, it showcases a more progressive style of music....
. It consists of six new tracks, either previously unrecorded or written for the new album, and eight older tracks re-recorded with her new band.
It was originally released as Leap!, a cassette-only tour album, and was sold at concerts during her 1993 tour. A CD version called Take the Leap! was released in Japan the following year. A UK release finally happened in 2006, and consequently original copies of the album have become much sought after.
Again, it shows a change in style from previous recordings, and has a much more raw feel than the polished albums which preceded it. Many of the 6 'original/new' compositions had been written and demoed much earlier, including "Invisible Love" in 1989 with Simon Darlow. A glutch of demos recorded with Phil Nicholas in 1992, were also re-worked from their dancey ambient style into albums tracks with a rockier feel, namely "God Ceases to Dream" and "Now I'm Running". Another demo from these sessions with Nicholas, "Tears For Elie" found a home as a bonus track on the 2006 reissue CD, along with "Requite Me", a stray 1992 demo produced by Toyah and Simon Darlow.
"God Ceases to Dream" is a track which was written and recorded as an ambient electronic demo with Phil Nicholas. It contains lyrics and melodies Toyah had originally written and performed with collaborative band side-projects, as the songs "Born Again" with Sunday All Over the World, and "Broken Special (The Island)" with Kiss of Reality. The latter was recorded and appeared on the Kiss of Reality sophoremore studio album, whilst "Born Again" was never recorded in studio. The chanting at the beginning of this album's version of "Ieya" are lyrics (which crib The Lord's Prayer) which also appeared on the Kiss of Reality album opening track "Harlequin (Holy Day)".
"Lust for Love" had previously been written and performed live as a Strange Girls song, and later recorded as a demo by Cris Bonacci
Cris Bonacci
Cristina "Cris" Bonacci is an Australian-born producer, songwriter and musician. She is best known for her stint as lead guitarist in the British heavy metal band Girlschool and for her session guitar work.-Career:...
and Toyah. The version found on this album is subtly altered.
"It's a Mystery" was due to appear on the album in a version recorded with Phil Nicholas and Friday Forever which was an African dance, tribal metal rock version. Complications at the time of original release meant this could not occur and a straightforward rock version featured. The 2006 reissue of Take the Leap! on Edsel includes this previously unreleased version.
Track listing
- "Now I'm Running" (Nicholas/Willcox)
- "Lust for Love" (Bonacci/Willcox)
- "Invisible Love" (Darlow/Willcox)
- "Name of Love" (Beggs/Willcox/Askew)
- "Winter in Wonderland" (Beggs/Willcox/Askew)
- "God Ceases to Dream" (Nicholas/Willcox)
- "Ieya" (Willcox/Bogen/Bush)
- "Waiting" (Willcox/Bray)
- "Neon Womb" (Willcox/Bush/Bogen)
- "Elusive Stranger" (Willcox/Bogen/Bush)
- "Our Movie" (Willcox/Bogen/Bush)
- "Thunder in the Mountains" (Willcox/Lee/Glockler)
- "I Wanna Be Free" (Willcox/Bogen)
- "It's a Mystery" (Hale; additional lyrics: Willcox)
NB Tracks 9-14 are completely re-recorded versions of tracks with same titles as earlier recordings. All bespoke to this album.
2006 CD bonus tracks
- "Requite Me" (Demo) (Willcox/Darlow)
- Tears for Elie" (Demo)(Willcox/Nicholas)
- "Waiting" (Alternate Mix) (Willcox/Bray)
- "It's A Mystery" (Weybridge Mix) (Hale)
Personnel
- Toyah Willcox - vocals
- Paul Beavis - drums, percussion
- Jolyon Dixon - guitar ‡
- Paul Luther - guitar ‡
- John Wakefield - bass ‡
- Stuart Ross - additional drums ‡
‡ members of Friday Forever
Production
- Producer: Toyah Willcox
- Engineers: Paul Nicholson, Chris Binns, Dave Kingsley
- Arrangements: Willcox, Dixon, Luther, Wakefield, Ross