- Rare French pressing on Black Dragon Records
"Babes In Toyland" is the 1985 studio album and was the debut album by the American Hard Rock band "Castle Blak"
Get ready to rock, because Castle Blak's debut album "Babes in Toyland" is a full-throttle, spandex-clad, hairspray-fueled glam metal assault on your senses!
Released in the heart of the Sunset Strip scene of 1983, where decadence and rock 'n' roll excess reigned supreme, Castle Blak exploded onto the scene with a sound that was as loud as their hair and as wild as their parties.
Big Hair, Bigger Guitars: A Musical Exploration
"Babes in Toyland" is a sonic rollercoaster of catchy hooks, blistering guitar solos, and pounding drums. This ain't no wimpy ballad album, folks! This is pure, unadulterated glam metal with a sleazy edge.
The album's lyrics are a celebration of the Sunset Strip lifestyle – fast cars, faster women, and enough booze to drown a rock star. It's a soundtrack for a generation that wanted to live fast, die young, and leave a beautiful corpse.
Glam Metal Mayhem: The Controversies
Of course, with such a hedonistic lifestyle and an in-your-face attitude, Castle Blak wasn't without their share of controversy. Parents' groups clutched their pearls, radio stations debated banning their songs, and the band just laughed all the way to the bank.
But hey, rock 'n' roll was never meant to be safe and predictable, right? Castle Blak embraced the controversy, fueled by it, and used it to create a larger-than-life image that captivated fans worldwide.
Behind the Scenes: The Production Team and Studio Magic
The album's raw energy and explosive sound can be attributed to the production wizardry of Tom Werman, who had worked with Mötley Crüe and Twisted Sister. Werman knew how to capture the essence of a band and translate it onto vinyl, and he did just that with "Babes in Toyland."
The album was recorded at the legendary Record Plant Studios, a haven for rock royalty where countless classic albums were born. The studio's state-of-the-art equipment and rock 'n' roll vibe undoubtedly contributed to the album's sonic power.
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Music Genre: Hard Rock |
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Album Production Information: The album: "CASTLE BLAK - Babes in Toyland" was produced by: Kevin Army , Tom McWilliams and Castle Blak This album was recorded at: Dangerous Rhythm in Oakland, CA and Starlight Sound Richmond, CA Album front cover : Bill White Jr Inner Sleeve drawing: Eric Larnoy Album cover photography: Bruce Lochrie , Bill Burkard Black Dragon Records, France. Distributed by T.O.M. Records |
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Record Label & Catalognr: Record Label: Black Dragon Catalognr: BD 006 P.A.I |
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Media Format: 12" LP Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram |
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Year & Country: 1985 Made in France |
Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: CASTLE BLAK - Babes in Toyland |
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Complete Track-listing of the album "CASTLE BLAK - Babes in Toyland" |
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The detailed tracklist of this record "CASTLE BLAK - Babes in Toyland" is:
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Castle Blak - Babes In Toyland LP album cover is a dramatic and theatrical piece of artwork featuring a haunting, highly stylized female doll or mannequin head. Her face is pale with exaggerated dark eye makeup, deep red lips, and sharply contoured cheeks, giving her a gothic and intense expression.
The doll's head is crowned with an ornate red feathered headdress, which forms a fiery halo effect around her face. Intricate gold beadwork and chains dangle from her neck and shoulders, ending in round red orbs resembling blood drops or poison beads. These decorations add to the sinister yet glamorous tone of the image.
The base of the figure is impaled on a polished steel sword blade pointing downward, symbolizing danger, sacrifice, or power. The sword merges with the black background, which enhances the eerie floating effect of the doll's face. The title Babes in Toyland is written in clean white capital letters at the bottom of the artwork, spaced evenly for a modern contrast to the gothic feel.
The band’s name, CASTLE BLAK, appears in bold red heavy metal-styled gothic typeface in the top corners—"CASTLE" on the left, "BLAK" on the right—both framing the face like a crown. The whole visual echoes glam metal theatrics with a touch of macabre cabaret.
Five individual photos of the Castle Blak band-members on the album back cover
This is the back cover of the Babes in Toyland LP by Castle Blak, filled with vibrant 1980s glam rock energy and classic metal attitude. The layout is a collage of band portraits, track listings, and production credits, all set on a split grey and black background.
In the top left, Regent, the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, is pictured in full glam attire with tight pants, a shiny silver jacket, and a hot pink-and-black bullseye striped guitar. He poses mid-performance, adding raw energy to the scene. On the top right, Chuck, the lead guitarist, appears in a red shirt with white frilly cuffs and a white electric guitar, striking a cool and confident pose in front of brick walls.
Bottom left features Kev, the bassist, wide-eyed and mid-roar, dressed in a glittery blue shirt and red glove while holding his black bass. To the bottom right, Scot, the drummer, is caught in the moment behind his kit, wearing a white tank top that says "London Crush" with mouth open in pure drumming fury.
At the center of the cover is a smoky, dramatic group photo showing all four members together in full glam regalia—leather, animal print, and big hair—posing with attitude against a purple-hued fog backdrop, giving off theatrical and rebellious vibes.
Track listings for Side One and Side Two are printed in clean black text boxes. Side One includes: Ten High, Babes In Toyland, Crazy, T.G.I.L. Side Two includes: Ready, Willing And Able, Throw The Book, Never Enough, Black Diamond.
Credits at the bottom mention: Front cover illustration by Bill White Jr. and Back cover photos by Bruce Lochrie and Bill Burkard. The iconic Black Dragon Records logo is centered along with their Paris address and distribution info. The overall design screams mid-80s glam metal in both aesthetic and attitude.
Illustration of a catles on the original custom inner sleeve
This custom inner sleeve artwork from Castle Blak’s Babes in Toyland LP features a highly detailed black-and-white fantasy-style illustration of a mysterious, medieval castle set in a surreal landscape. The castle is perched precariously on a jagged cliffside, with tall, narrow spires, battlements, and towered structures blending gothic and fantasy architecture. Some towers are broken or crumbling, adding a sense of decay and ancient mystery.
In the foreground, a snaking, organic-looking bridge extends toward the castle from the right. The bridge appears to be alive or made of gnarled wood and stone, winding its way toward the fortress. It crosses over deep chasms and rocky terrain with sheer vertical drops. On the left side, skeletal bridge ruins and fantasy-style spires add to the eerie and mythical atmosphere.
The sky above is filled with ominous clouds and flying bat-like creatures, possibly dragons, giving the entire image a feeling of motion and lurking danger. The distant sun (or moon) is visible through thin clouds, casting a hazy glow over the scene. The entire artwork is composed of fine cross-hatched ink lines, enhancing its texture and depth.
At the bottom, there is a large thank-you note block listing people, bands, and companies that supported the band, framed inside a rectangle. It includes acknowledgments to radio stations, recording engineers, family, and gear sponsors, reflecting the era's DIY rock community spirit. The artist's signature "Larnoy '85" is visible in the bottom right corner, indicating this artwork was custom-created for the release.
Lyrics of the songs on "Babes in Toyland" printed on the original custom inner sleeve
This inner sleeve of Castle Blak’s Babes in Toyland LP presents the complete printed lyrics for all eight tracks from the album. The design is clean and minimal, with bold black typography on a bright white background, organized in columns for easy readability. Song titles are printed in large uppercase letters, separating each track visually across the layout.
On the left, lyrics for Ten High, Babes in Toyland, and the first part of Crazy are shown. The middle column continues with Crazy, followed by T.G.I.L., and Ready, Willing & Able. On the far right, the lyrics for Never Enough appear prominently in bold, echoing the intensity of the song itself.
The lyrical content reflects classic glam metal themes—rebellion, lust, emotional turmoil, and youthful defiance—delivered with attitude and swagger. Phrases like "six from the hip" and "you make me crazy" ooze with glam bravado, while "this gun is loaded" and "listen to me" in T.G.I.L. suggest a deeper message of resistance and speaking truth to power.
At the bottom right, the sleeve includes detailed production and credit notes. It gives special thanks to contributors such as Keith Beattie, Charles Hundley, and Eric Larnoy (who also designed the fantasy castle art). Credits mention production by Kevin Army and Tom McWilliams, and recording at Dangerous Rhythm and Starlight Sound studios in California. The lyrics are noted as published by Paul Samuel Music/BMI and are registered under A.S.C.A.P.
The address for Castle Blak-mail is included (P.O. Box 27072, Concord, California), a charmingly analog touch from a pre-internet era of fan engagement. Overall, the layout balances function and form—giving fans the full lyrical experience while staying true to the band’s raw, DIY roots.
"Babes In Toyland by Castle Black" White and Blue Colour Black Dragon Records Record Label Details: BD 006 © 1985 T.O.M. Records Copyright ℗ Black Dragon Records Sound Copyright
This is a close-up photograph of Side One of the original 12" vinyl LP Babes in Toyland by Castle Blak, released on Black Dragon Records in 1985. The label features a striking, tri-color design: a white upper section, a deep sky blue bottom, and red graphic accents that cut diagonally across the center like racing stripes, giving it a retro yet aggressive visual tone.
Dominating the upper portion is the iconic Black Dragon Records logo—featuring a stylized black dragon mid-roar, with “Black Dragon” in gothic script and “records” in a bold red box beneath. This fierce emblem reinforces the heavy metal aesthetic of the release.
To the left, the catalog number BD 006 and designation P.A.I. are printed in bold black text. On the right, you see playback info: 33 RPM and Side One, along with an engraved pressing code (YPAR 91698), a typical mark of French vinyl pressings.
The album title, "Babes in Toyland", is listed in quotes, followed by the four tracks on Side One:
1. Ten High (3:30)
2. Babes in Toyland (4:00)
3. Crazy (4:05)
4. T.G.I.L. (3:50)
All songs are credited to Regent St. Claire, the band's frontman and primary songwriter. Publishing rights are held by Happy Camper Music (BMI). Beneath the tracklist are copyright notes:
© 1985 T.O.M. Records and
℗ 1985 Black Dragon Records, clearly identifying both the rights holder and the manufacturing label.
A fine-print ring encircles the label, listing French copyright language about duplication restrictions. The hole in the center shows a bit of spindle wear, adding to the authenticity and vintage charm of this collectible hard rock artifact.