Velvet Lined Shell is a 6 track mini-album by Toyah Willcox

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...

. It was cited as a return to her punk roots. Recorded in her home town of Birmingham, most of the tracks have a deliberately raw feel to them, with Willcox naming Nick Cave

Nick Cave

Nicholas Edward "Nick" Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and...

 and Garbage

Garbage (band)

Garbage are an alternative rock band formed in Madison, Wisconsin in 1994. The group consists of Scottish singer Shirley Manson and American musicians Duke Erikson , Steve Marker and Butch Vig . All four members are involved in songwriting and production...

 amongst her newer influences.

Like Toyah's first album, Sheep Farming In Barnet

Sheep Farming In Barnet

Sheep Farming in Barnet is the debut album by Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1979 by Safari Records. The album was originally released as a 6-track extended EP, dubbed an 'Alternate Play' record by Safari, and was later expanded into full-album status...

, Velvet Lined Shell was a compilation of tracks previously released on single

Victims of the Riddle

"Victims of the Riddle" was the debut single from the post-punk band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, and was released on July 27, 1979. The single, and its B-side, "Victims of the Riddle " were eventually featured on the LP version of Sheep Farming In Barnet, which was itself an extended reissue...

 and EP

Sheep Farming In Barnet EP

Sheep Farming in Barnet was the second single by Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1979 by Safari Records. Originally released as a 6-track extended EP, dubbed an 'Alternate Play' record by Safari, the single was later expanded into full-album status, including the previous single,...

 in their own right. Three tracks on this album first appeared on the 2002 Little Tears Of Love EP, which was sold exclusively via Wilcox's website, and strictly limited to 1000 signed copies. One track from that EP, the Tim Elsenburg composition "Experience", does not feature on the album.

Three of the musicians on this album, Anthony Bishop, Tim Elsenburg and Alistair Hamer, are members of experimental rock band Sweet Billy Pilgrim

Sweet Billy Pilgrim

Sweet Billy Pilgrim are an English Experimental Rock/ Folk band, composed of bassist/banjo player Anthony Bishop, guitarist and singer Jana Carpenter, guitarist and songwriter Tim Elsenburg, and drummer/percussionist Alistair Hamer.-Biography:...

.

Track listing

1. Every Scar Has A Silver Lining 3.25
2. Velvet Lined Shell 4.14
3. Little Tears Of Love 3.23
4. You're A Miracle 3.00
5. Mother 4.20
6. Troublesome Thing 4.21

All tracks written by Toyah Willcox and Tim Elsenburg.

Personnel

• Toyah Willcox - vocals
• Tim Elsenburg - guitars and backing vocals
• Anthony Bishop - bass guitar and backing vocals
• Alistair Hamer - drums
• Jon Cotton - keyboards

Production

Produced by Tim Elsenburg, Toyah Willcox and Jon Cotton.
Mixed by Jon Cotton and Tim Elsenburg.
Recorded at Artisan Audio, Birmingham.