Released 7 May 1981 Genre New wave Writer(s) [Willcox/Bogen] | Format 7" Label Safari Records | |
B-side "Walkie Talkie", "Alien" | ||
"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.
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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 Australia and New Zealand.
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.
Track listing
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.