Sheep Farming in Barnet


Sheep Farming in Barnet is the debut studio album by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox. It was originally released in 1979 as a 6-track extended EP, dubbed an 'Alternate Play' record by Safari Records, and was expanded into full-album status the following year. The album was later reissued on CD, cassette and white vinyl by Great Expectations in 1990, and again on CD by Safari themselves in 2002, digitally remastered and coupled with the band's second album, The Blue Meaning.
The album was produced by Steve James and future band member Keith Hale and was released as an AP on 3 August 1979, with the album version following in February 1980. The album was originally compiled by the band's German record label, EMI Electrola, but the importation of the disc was so widespread, Safari decided to cash in and follow suit. The tracks added included several songs which did not make the original track listing and the début single "Victims of the Riddle", plus its B-side "Victims of the Riddle ".
The album's title refers to sheep being seen in a field in Finchley just off Regent's Park Road. According to John Craig of Safari, the cover featured Toyah at the RAF Fylingdales radar station near Whitby in Yorkshire, "a shoot achieved with considerable difficulty as, quite predictably, guards chased Toyah and the crew from the high-security site".
Several tracks from the album became firm live favourites, and featured on two later live albums. Toyah Willcox still performs the tracks "Danced" and "Neon Womb" in her live sets.

Track listing

All songs by Toyah Willcox, Joel Bogen and Peter Bush, except where indicated

Original EP

;Side one
  1. "Neon Womb" - 4:24
  2. "Indecision" ' - 2:44
  3. "Waiting" ' - 3:17
;Side two
  2. "Our Movie" - 3:04
  3. "Danced" - 4:42 *
  4. "Last Goodbye" - 3:00
* The EP version of this track has an edited intro; this edited version does not appear on any other release.

LP Version

;Side one
  1. "Neon Womb" - 4:24
  2. "Indecision" ' - 2:44
  3. "Waiting" ' - 3:17
  4. "Computer" - 3:06
  5. "Victims of the Riddle" ' - 3:38
  6. "Elusive Stranger" - 4:55
;Side two
  2. "Our Movie" - 3:04
  3. "Danced" - 5:13
  4. "Last Goodbye" - 3:00
  5. "Victims of the Riddle " ' - 3:52
  6. "Race Through Space" - 3:17

    2002 reissue bonus tracks

  8. "Bird in Flight" ' - 3:56
  9. "Tribal Look" ' - 3:25

    Personnel

;Production