[2023-11-24] Lene Lovich "Toy Box: The Stiff Years 1978-1983" 4CD box set (Cherry Red UK)

Linda · **Posted:** Sun Sep 10, 2023 2:25 pm

Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CH9RF5BB/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CH9RF5BB/?tag=imwan-21

Description
• 4CD box set compiling everything Lene Lovich released for Stiff Records between 1978 and 1983 for the first time.

• 81 tracks in total, over 20 tracks making their debut on CD, including B-sides, early versions, 12-inch versions.

• Freshly mastered, with sleeve notes from Scott Davies and Michael Robson, with extensive words from ‘the first lady of Stiff’ herself.

• ‘Toy Box’ is the ultimate compilation of Lene’s years with Stiff; her name so synonymous with the label.

With a striking appearance and sound to match, Lene Lovich arrived at Stiff Records in the summer of 1978, surfing the new wave and the subsequent ‘Be Stiff’ UK tour. Travelling by train together with labelmates Mickey Jupp, Jona Lewie, Rachel Sweet and Wreckless Eric, Lene proved to be the hit of the tour, both on record and on stage, and so began a productive five-year spell with the label.

‘Stateless’ (Original Mix) is the debut album released in October 1978 to coincide with the ‘Be Stiff’ tour. It includes ‘Lucky Number’, ‘Say When’ and a gloriously retro cover of Tommy James & The Shondells’ hit, ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’. Bonus tracks include various versions of ‘Lucky Number’ in development (early B-side version, Instrumental and rare US Slavic Dance 12” version), together with a Japanese version of ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’.

‘Stateless’ (US/UK Remix) – released in 1979 to accompany a remixed ‘Lucky Number’ became a surprise Top 3 UK hit and its subsequent release in the States, the ‘Stateless’ US/UK remix includes the familiar ‘Lucky Number’ and ‘Say When’ hit versions. Bonus tracks include several live recordings from Lene’s UK and USA tours in early 1980, captured at the Lyceum in London and the Paradise Theater in Boston, USA.

‘Flex’ – the eagerly awaited follow up to ‘Stateless’ released at the dawning of the 80s and featuring singles ‘Bird Song’, ‘Angels’ and ‘What Will I Do Without You’ together with an inspired cover of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons’ Northern Soul favourite, ‘The Night’. Bonus tracks include 1981’s dancefloor friendly ‘New Toy’ penned by keyboard wunderkind Thomas Dolby (playing in Lene’s touring band at the time) plus tracks from the US only ‘New Toy’ mini-album.

‘No Man’s Land’ – Lene’s final album for Stiff Records in 1982 features her definitive version of Dutch band The Meteors’ ‘It’s You, Only You (Mein Schmerz)’. Bonus tracks include the original Sanremo Music Festival single version of ‘Blue Hotel’ and a plethora of UK and US dance remixes of ‘It’s You, Only You (Mein Schmerz)’ and ‘Blue Hotel’ maintaining Lene’s cult status, particularly in the States, both on college radio and an MTV in its infancy.

Tracklist
[CD1]
Stateless (LP – Original Mix):
1. Lucky Number
2. Sleeping Beauty
3. Home
4. Too Tender (To Touch)
5. Say When
6. Tonight
7. Writing On The Wall
8. Telepathy
9. Momentary Breakdown
10. 1 In A 1,000,000
11. I Think We’re Alone Now
Bonus Tracks:
12. Lucky Number (Early Version)
13. I Think We’re Alone Now (Japanese Version)
14. Monkey Talk (Early Version)
15. Be Stiff
16. Be Stiff (The Entire Ensemble Recorded Live At Leeds University)
17. Lene Lovich Speaks 1
18. Lucky Number (Instrumental Version)
19. One Lonely Heart
20. Big Bird
21. Lene Lovich Speaks 2
22. Lucky Number (Slavic Dance Version)

[CD2]
Stateless (LP – US/UK Remix):
1. Home
2. Sleeping Beauty
3. Lucky Number
4. Too Tender (To Touch)
5. Say When
6. Writing On The Wall
7. Telepathy
8. Momentary Breakdown
9. I Think We’re Alone Now
10. 1 In A 1,000,000
11. Tonight
Bonus Tracks:
12. Trixi
13. The Fly
14. The Fall
Live At The Lyceum, London 03.02.80:
15. Monkey Talk
16. The Night
17. Too Tender (To Touch)
18. You Can’t Kill Me
Live At The Paradise Theater, Boston 15.03.80:
19. Angels
20. Lucky Number
21. Home

[CD3]
Flex (LP):
1. Bird Song
2. What Will I Do Without You
3. Angels
4. The Night
5. You Can’t Kill Me
6. Egghead
7. Wonderful One
8. Monkey Talk
9. Joan
10. The Freeze
Bonus Tracks:
11. The Night (US Remix)
12. What Will I Do Without You (Single Version)
13. Bird Song (Edit)
14. Details (Original Version)
15. New Toy
16. Cats Away
17. New Toy (Extended Version)
New Toy (US Mini LP):
18. Cats Away
19. Details
20. Never Never Land

[CD4]
No Man’s Land (LP):
1. It’s You, Only You (Mein Schmerz)
2. Blue Hotel
3. Faces
4. Walking Low
5. Special Star
6. Sister Video
7. Maria
8. Savages
9. Rocky Road
New Toy (US Mini LP):
10. Savages
11. Special Star
Bonus Tracks:
12. Blue Hotel (Single Version)
13. It’s You, Only You (Mein Schmerz) (Remixed Extended Version)
14. Blue
15. It’s You, Only You (Mein Schmerz) (Instrumental Version)
16. It’s You, Only You (Mein Schmerz) (US Extended Dance Mix)
17. Blue Hotel (US Dance Mix)
18. O Seasons O Castles

Packshot (click for full size):

Robert Meagher · 30 Sep 2006

A must have.

GodsComic · 03 Aug 2006

In for sure. Has the original Stiff mix of Stateless been released before?

Jason Michael · 30 May 2012

GodsComic wrote:

In for sure. Has the original Stiff mix of Stateless been released before?

It was on the original British vinyl LP, but I think this is the first time on CD.

JohnG · 03 Aug 2006

For me her hit “Lucky Number” played often on WLIR was one of those songs that were the beginning of New Wave. Haven’t heard it in years but I can still hear it in my head.

GodsComic · 03 Aug 2006

Jason Michael wrote:

GodsComic wrote:

In for sure. Has the original Stiff mix of Stateless been released before?

It was on the original British vinyl LP, but I think this is the first time on CD.

Thank you. I failed to add "CD". I've long had the original LP but never remember seeing it on CD.

Ocean Doot · 25 Oct 2007

Christmas present for my pops!

GodsComic · 03 Aug 2006

Links active

Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CH9RF5BB/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CH9RF5BB/?tag=imwan-21

Linda · **Posted:** Fri Dec 08, 2023 12:15 pm

The packshot in the first post has been updated.

[2023-11-24] Lene Lovich "Toy Box: The Stiff Years 1978-1983" 4CD box set (Cherry Red UK)

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