We have been in touch with several people who worked at Island Records in 1971-72 for information and anecdotes for the third volume of The Island Book of Records.
Meet photographer Brian Cooke, who Chris Blackwell hired as the art director for Island Records , creating a zillon pictures and albums covers with his wife Marylin. You will have seen some of Brian’s photographs already in Volume 2, especially of a young good-looking singer called Allen Palmer in the band, The Mandrakes… but Allen changed his name to Robert Palmer. The rest is history.
In the third volume, Brian gave us real visual treasure… the photographs that were taken for album covers… but never made the final version.
For me, (Mrs IBoR and designer of the books) these photographs have a real connection. Here is one of Mott The Hoople which is just compelling.
and there are others… the ones of Mike Harrison are dramatic to say the least… .
Yes I am teasing you. This edition has a lot of great photographs … it is a very different edition.
