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The second volume of this highly collectable series, covering the pivotal years of 1969–70.
The Island Book of Records Volume II documents the years 1969–70, during which Island sought to build on its success with the Spencer Davis Group by seeking out new British rock talent. By the end of the period, Island was emerging as a major British label, one that could boast releases from Jethro Tull, Nick Drake, King Crimson, John and Beverley Martyn, Fairport Convention and Cat Stevens.
Featuring material from recent interviews and from media interviews of the time, and including a comprehensive discography of 45s, The Island Book of Records Volume II is lavishly illustrated with gig adverts (very many at venues that no longer exist), concert tickets, flyers, international LP variants, labels, LP and 45 adverts and other ephemera collector’s dream.
'In a word this is perfection in print.'
Grahame Bent, Shindig! magazine
'I could spend hours poring over Neil Storey's handsomely designed Island Book of Records Volume II, the continuing story of one of Britain's greatest independent record labels.'
Neil McCormick, The Telegraph 'best music books of 2024'
'Packed with new interviews, artefacts and delicious details'
Jim Wirth, MOJO
'A rich and lovingly curated look at a particularly prolific year in Island Records history.'
Roisin O'Connor, The Independent
'One of the coffee table books of the year'
Dylan Jones, The Evening Standard 'greatest reads of 2024'
'Neil Storey has once again delved into his impressive archive of record sleeves, gig posters and press cuttings to curate The Island Book Of Records Volume 2, covering the years 1969-70: Blind Faith, Fairport, Free and all kinds of hairy goodness.'
UNCUT
'A hugely evocative read and a veritable treasure trove of facts, figures and trivia.'
Terry Staunton, Record Collector
'In Neil Storey the label has an archivist par excellence. [...] rather like Island itself, the vision, quality and attention to detail adds up to excellent value.'
Mark Hodkinson, Rock'n'Reel
'Epic and invaluable series — expensive but, to those with an interest, worth every penny.'
Richard Williams, thebluemoment.com
Praise for volume 1:
One of The Telegraph's Best Music Books of 2023
One of Shindig! magazine's Books of the Year 2023
'It’s like entering the record shop of your dreams.'
David Hepworth, author, podcaster and Radio Times columnist
'Eyewitness accounts underpin a vault-load of memorabilia across 390 elegant pages where the footnotes are as fascinating as major events in what is an exemplary piece of musical archaeology.'
Phil Alexander, MOJO
'I had the pleasure of running Island Records for a decent stretch, but in my time there I never saw such a staggering overview of the early years compiled like this new book! The images, the details, the stories, everything! Rather amazing!'
Ted Cockle, former head of EMI Records
'LP-sized and weighing in at 390 pages, it’s both an elegant coffee table book and a proper history, with a sizeable amount of written information to complement the fascinating photographs of record covers, artists and other ephemera, including gig adverts, concert tickets and flyers.'
Peter Mason, Morning Star
'This is the anecdote rich inside story of the eventful first decade in the life of the maverick label which carved a distinctive niche within the UK's booming record biz of the 60s' as told by a cast of label employees, photographers, musicians, producers, and the man who started it all, Chris Blackwell.'
Grahame Bent, Shindig!
'So, in sum, thanks Neil for it all, and now get back to work on those remaining volumes that will transport us all through the year of U2, Marley and so much else that closed out in 1989 when Chris Blackwell sold the company Phonogram. It’s been a great, contrarian run--and now we have in in what my fellow music trainspotters will surely embrace as a big helping of glorious detail.'
Fred Schruers, Dogtown Press
Preface – for those viewing in black and white, the pink is behind the brown
Well, alright – the brief lives of Blind Faith, a Wooden Frog and Ginger Baker's Air Force
El pea – every Island LP (including those scheduled but not released) issued during 1969 and 1970
Crash – the untimely death of Martin Lamble
The man in the tight trousers – Guy Stevens keeps on running
Change of address – the move from Oxford Street to Notting Hill
Men of Harlech – Julian Lloyd and Nick Drake go walkabout
On Old Church Street a dairy – the rise and rise of Sound Techniques
Mannequins and waxworks – a bespoke studio in Basing Street
Green wings – Chrysalis emerges
I am ex-army, broadminded and tolerant... – Pete Townshend causes mayhem in Record Retailer. October 11, 1969
I climbed on the back of a giant albatross – one song causes Traffic to snarl up
John Barleycorn – a song for summer
The maestro – Woody's box of tricks
Looking back – the Hollywood Festival (by Phil Shaw)
Keeping tabs – the track by track evolution of Mona Bone Jakon (by Paul Samwell Smith)
Plymouth Guildhall – Emerson, Lake and Palmer take their first bow
Full page – Island by design
Speakers Corner – an album cover is shot
Prefix and suffix – an illustrated guide to Island's 45s (1969–70)
Who's who – an A–Y of Island people
Give thanks and praise
Young gifted and black – Trojan go their own way