I Want to Be Free
"I Want to Be Free" is the seventh UK single by the band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, and was released on 7 May 1981.
"I Want to Be Free" | ||||
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Single by Toyah | ||||
from the album Anthem | ||||
B-side | "Walkie Talkie", "Alien" | |||
Released | 7 May 1981 | |||
Format | 7" | |||
Genre | New wave | |||
Label | Safari Records | |||
Songwriter(s) | [Willcox/Bogen] | |||
Producer(s) | Nick Tauber | |||
Toyah singles chronology | ||||
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Backed by an appearance on Top of the Pops, and bolstered by the performance of the previous single, "I Want to Be Free" entered the UK Top Ten with a peak at #8, and helped push the album Anthem into the UK Albums Chart, where it reached number two. As well as peaking at #10 in South Africa (source: rock.co.za), the single also found Top 40 success in New Zealand and Australia, where it peaked at number 35 [1].
The two B-sides on this single were eventually included on the 1999 reissue of Anthem, and they were also featured on the 2005 compilation The Safari Singles Collection Part 2: 1981-1983.
"It was resonated with how I felt about my school years which was very strong even if I was only 22", Toyah said in a 2003 interview, speaking of the song's lyrics.[2]
Track listing
- 7" Vinyl
- A: "I Want to Be Free" (Wilcox/Bogen)
- B1: "Walkie Talkie" (Wilcox/Bogen)
- B2: "Alien" (Wilcox/Bogen/Glockler)
Catalogue Number: SAFE34
Produced by Nick Tauber. Published by Sweet 'n' Sour Songs Ltd.
Both sides ran at 45RPM. There were two variations of the single artwork - one with a black border, one with a white border.
Personnel
- Toyah Willcox – vocals
- Joel Bogen – guitar
- Phil Spalding – bass
- Nigel Glockler – drums
- Adrian Lee – keyboards
References
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. Note: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
- "Toyah - Rock Legends Documentary 2003 Part 2". Carlton television. Retrieved 2011-01-01.