Toy E.P. - David Bowie

Toy is a studio album by the English musician David Bowie, recorded from July to October 2000 in New York City and featured re-recordings of songs Bowie recorded between 1964 and 1971, along with a couple of new tracks. Bowie's intention for the project was to rehearse the tracks, record them live and release them as quickly as possible, predating the idea of the surprise album. Intended for release in March 2001, the album was shelved by EMI/Virgin, leading Bowie to depart the label and begin work on his next album Heathen (2002). Various Toy tracks saw release as B-sides and bonus tracks in the ensuing years; two were remade for Heathen and two appeared on the Nothing Has Changed compilation in 2014. The album was posthumously released in November 2021.  

Then, in April 2022, this EP was released. The Toy E.P. features special versions of six of the tracks that appeared on Toy. Like the album, this EP features the ugliest sleeve artwork made in the history of mankind, but it was apparently conceived by Bowie while he was still alive. Whatever - it's still nice to have this EP for the reduced price I found it recently.

My collection: 10" single [unnumbered]
Found: Sounds, Delft, 4 May 2024
Tracks: 'You've got a habit of leaving (radio edit)', 'Shadow man (vocal and piano mix)', 'Silly boy blue (alternative ending mix)' / 'Can't help thinking about me (live BBC Radio 1 session)', 'I dig everything (live)', 'The London boys (live)'