Lene Lovich - Toy Box: The Stiff Years 1978-1983 (2023)

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. Including ‘Lucky Number’, ‘Say When’ and a gloriously retro cover of Tommy James and 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 and 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.