Toy (Toy:Box)

The box contains three different discs, each containing a separate version of David Bowie's previously unreleased 2000 album, Toy. Disc One is the standard version of the album which was also included in the Brilliant Adventure box set released late 2021. Whilst some say this album is one of the worse Bowie albums (if there is such a thing), I would say that it is one of his strongest. The album provides early tracks from his career with a second chance with a more mature tone. Most of the songs featured greatly benefit from the experience that Bowie brought to them, and tend to be better than the original. Songs such as Karma Man, Conversation Piece, Shadow Man, and Can't Help Thinking About Me really stand out. Disc Two contains alternative mixes of the Toy tracks, as well as Liza Jane and In The Heat Of The Morning. Liza Jane, whilst not the greatest song Bowie made, is a vast improvement over the original. In The Heat Of The Morning is one of Bowie's best early songs and whilst I wouldn't say this version is as strong as the original, it is still great. Featured on this Disc are the Toy singles released on Heathen B-sides, and these tracks are good; however, the best mixes are those not released before. New mixes were produced for songs such as The London Boys. These new mixes are very strong, but perhaps not an improvement over the first Disc. Disc Three contains the "Unplugged and Somewhat Slightly Electric" mixes, which are acoustic recordings of Toy. The acoustic style matches the slower tracks on the album, such as Karma Man, and it provides an interesting listening experience, although, once again, I would say that this disc is weaker than the first. Overall, this isn't an essential collection. If you didn't like Toy, this isn't for you, but if you liked it, this set is for you.

In light of the bad reviews, which I do understand some of their points but to score so low is a little unfair (IMO). The vinyl set is absolutely beautiful which includes a booklet of never seen before photos. Love the idea of 10” vinyls, this includes the Toy album plus mixes and alternatives. I have to say I’ve very much enjoyed listening to this. Stand outs to me are You’ve Got A Habit of Leaving, Shadow Man, Silly Boy Blue, Let Me Sleep Beside You, and Liza Jane. I actually love all the songs and I do love the sound of Bowie during the 00s and 10s. Alternative rock which was experimented well and produces outstanding songs as always. Ok the price points may seem a little high and yes do understand the point that when artists don’t release songs/albums there is a reason behind this. I feel that his estate wants us to enjoy his legacy and this album does that.

I heard the leaked version about eight years ago, so musically I basically knew what to expect. I love it as an album. Price? I got it for £97, the 16% reduction price. For six vinyls, a really nice physical release, I can live with that, although Earthling at £277 is an outrage. I don't care if it's blue vinyl, what are they thinking? "TOY" I'm glad has finally got an official release. It's a lovingly made release with a strong box, quality paper, and really nice 10" heavy vinyls. The booklet is glossy and nicely put together. The music is great, for those who loved his Brecht/Weill love-in early days, through to the final releases. Everybody already knows that David put "TOY" forward as his first release with the new deal with Virgin, who rejected it as they wanted "new music". Bowie was hurt by this decision, but "moved on". I love it and am glad to see the lost album finally get a release. It was the first official release since "Blackstar" that reminded me that I miss him. I really miss him. Recommended.

Firstly, this is a well presented 3 cd set with nice packaging. If you are a David Bowie enthusiast like me, you will have been looking forward to this release. You get 3 cd's all with a similar track listing, the Toy album recorded after the triumphant Glastonbury appearance in 2000 on CD1 (but never officially released), alternative mixes on CD2 and mainly acoustic versions on CD3 (Unplugged and Somewhat Slightly Electric). CD1 was included as part of the Brilliant Adventure box set released in 2021. The tracks are mainly old songs that Bowie had written in the 60's/early 70's prior to commercial success, that he wanted to revisit and re-record. I wouldn't claim that this album is of the same standard as many of his main releases, but to my mind there are a few excellent songs on here that shouldn't be missed. 'Conversation Piece' originally recorded around the time of the David Bowie/Space Oddity album is on here and is great, as is the wonderful 'Shadow Man'. This is superb, why it was never released properly all those years ago is a mystery. I particularly like the 'acoustic' version featuring Mike Garson on piano, it really is excellent. Bowie's vocal performance is outstanding, a real tour de force. I wasn't going to buy the Brilliant Adventure box to get this album, but immediately pre-ordered this set when available & am pleased I did. A great band, well produced by Mark Plati and David Bowie, with additional work by Tony Visconti. Much more interesting and enjoyable than another arena style live album...

Para un fanático de Bowie, es una compra que no puede dejarse pasar. El booklet y sus fotos, el color y los acabados de los discos, y por supuesto, la música del Duque Blanco...

Cet artiste complet avait cela de génial de toujours se trouver là où on ne l’attendait pas ! En 2022, on possède enfin l’abum Toy, un album « perdu », « oublié » enregistré par Bowie à New York en 2000/2001. Cet album devait être la suite de l’excellent Hours mais n’est jamais sorti officiellement jusqu’à aujourd’hui, Bowie toujours aussi intransigeant ne le souhaitait pas, se disant pas totalement convaincu par la production, ou alors Virgin pas assez pressée de le commercialiser (les raisons de l'abandon de cet album ne sont pas claires, même pour les principaux protagonistes!)…Pourtant, les fans l’ont sans doute dans leur collection puisqu’il circule comme bootleg depuis pas mal d’années. On retrouve quelques titres de Toy sur Heathen en 2002. Cet album est enfin disponible en coffret 3 CD : l’album de 12 titres/ un CD de versions alternatives et d’extras/ un CD de magnifiques versions acoustiques. Le tout est accompagné d’un beau livret. Le but de ces sessions était de revisiter de vieux titres obscurs de son répertoire : You've Got A Habit Of Leaving, le premier extrait de Toy, a été retravaillé en 2000, mais le single date en réalité d'août 1965. Il a été enregistré par David Bowie - sous son premier nom de scène, Davy Jones - et le groupe The Lower Third. Quant à Baby Loves That Way, c’est un réenregistrement de la face B de son troisième single publié à l’origine en 1965. Elle est présente sur l'édition deluxe japonaise de Heathen, 22e album studio de Bowie. Let Me Sleep Beside You » est une belle chanson d’amour, enregistrée entre 1966 et 1968, et la version unplugged est supérieure à l’originale. Trois chansons n’ont jamais été publiées : « Toy (Your Turn to Drive) », « Hole in The Ground » et « Shadow Man », une chanson de Ziggy réenregistrée et mise au rebut. Bowie est secondé par Mark Plati, coproducteur de l’album, à la tête aussi des musiciens. Il s’agissait d’enregistrer l’album rapidement, sans fioriture, pratiquement dans les conditions du live, après avoir répété chaque morceau de façon très précise, Bowie ne laissant pas de place à l’approximation. Une production assez brute et simple, le contraire de ce que Plati appelait un « piecemeal process ». On est en effet loin, très loin, de la production complexe de Outside, Earthling ou Hours. Et c’est un vrai bonheur d’écouter ces titres, absolument excellents dans leurs versions alternatives du CD 2 ou unplugged du CD 3 : Liza Jane envoie fabuleusement ! Retrouver Bowie en 2022 fait un bien fou : quand il chante Conversation Piece ou Shadow Man en acoustique, on a l’impression qu’il est à côté de nous ! Peut-être plus que la production-prétexte, il s’agissait plus probablement pour Bowie de mettre fin à son contrat avec Virgin pour créer sa propre maison d’éditions, ISO, d’où sans doute l’abandon de Toy. Heureusement, les fans l’ont enfin entre les oreilles ! Allez, il reste encore de nombreux concerts fabuleux inédits, au hasard celui de Montreux en 2002 où il avait fait la surprise au public lors des rappels de reprendre ni plus, ni moins, que l’intégralité de Low !!! Un artiste hors-norme qui nous manque vraiment mais qui nous laisse des chansons et albums géniaux.

Es Bowie, la calidad de sonido y las composiciones están q un nivel muy alto, aun ir la portada es fea de narices, pero bueno, cuando se editó este disco nuestro Bowie ya lllevaba tiempo fiambre y sin poder de decisión. Lo recomiendo totalmente. Ya he perdido la cuenta de las veces que ir lo he escuchado. Muy muy bueno y muy bien presentado.

Es ist für mich schwierig objektiv zu sein, da ich schon seit Jahrzehnten absoluter Bowie Fan bin. Aber ich bin der Meinung, dass es sich hierbei um eine lohnende Anschaffung auch für alle anderen Musikinteressierten handelt (Aufmachung der Box, Sound Qualität, Sammlerstück und natürlich die tollen Songs, die hier zu hören sind). Als Fan kennt man diese Songs grösstenteils aus den 60er Jahren, aber sie sind grandios von Bowie neu aufgenommen worden und leider jetzt erst erschienen. Empfehlenswert!

Trovato in offerta a 36 € e rotti, preso al volo. Audio perfetto, packaging veramente bello ed elegante, non e' il Bowie che tutti conoscono ma si ascolta, per intero in tutti e 6 i dischi, molto volentieri. Da avere per i fan, da prendere per chi ama la musica se lo si trova sotto i 40 €