Podcasts Other Word In Your Ear Why a sumptuous new book about the Island label is like entering the record shop of your dreams.

Why a sumptuous new book about the Island label is like entering the record shop of your dreams.

Published: Sept. 27, 2023, 5:42 p.m.

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Neil Storey is an old pal from our magazine days who worked in the press office at Island. He looked after U2, Bob Marley, Steel Pulse, the B-52\\u2019s and many others. About 15 years ago he began the mammoth task of compiling a series of books telling the story of virtually every record the label released in its pioneering history, tracking down and talking to all those involved - musicians, producers, designers, photographers, label staff \\u2013 and collecting old music press ads and ephemera from the time. The book\\u2019s almost a foot square so LP sleeves can be reproduced \\u2018actual size\\u2019. The first volume is just out, The Island Book Of Records 1959-1968, a thing of very great beauty. As David says, \\u201cit\\u2019s like entering the record shop of your dreams.\\u201d We talked to Neil at his home in France about this and much else besides \\u2026  

 

\\u2026 Chris Blackwell\\u2019s involvement in the making of Dr No and the single Jamaican beach shot that told them they had a hit movie.

 

\\u2026 the album they released that no-one involved could remember.

 

\\u2026 Shotgun Wedding by Roy \\u2018C\\u2019, Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, Lance Hayward, Millie Small\\u2019s \\u2018My Boy Lollipop\\u2019 \\u2026

 

\\u2026 the letter Blackwell sent to the workshy Spooky Tooth with threats of wage deductions.

 

\\u2026 the lucrative ascent of Jethro Tull.

 

\\u2026 the little-known compilations of Rugby songs, \\u2018Bawdy British Ballads\\u2019 and risqu\\xe9 adult comedy that \\u201csaved the label\\u2019s bacon\\u201d in the mid-\\u201860s.

 

\\u2026 the time Neil stumbled across Traffic\\u2019s fabled Aston Tirrold cottage on a school camping trip.

 

\\u2026 the highly collectable \\u201cBirth of Ska\\u2019 album that was never released.  

 

\\u2026 one immortal week at the Marquee Club.

 

\\u2026 and why Island were banned for Olympic Studios.

 

Order the Island Book of Records Vol 1 here \\u2026

https://www.roughtrade.com/gb/product/neil-storey/the-island-book-of-records-volume-i-1959-68?channable=409d926964003230353632383608&gclid=Cj0KCQjw06-oBhC6ARIsAGuzdw1pbKtxLGkjgkiJfcAll84H65dVQ1r_h7obky-QWlVtpr21UgiQP54aAk1BEALw_wcB#hardback-signed-plus


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