Volume 3 of THE ISLAND BOOK OF RECORDS 1971-72
The Island Book of Records. Volume 3, 1971-1972
Edited by Neil Storey, Published by Manchester University Press
October 6, 2026
“I like to think of Island as a very classy delicatessen.
The bigger labels are like supermarkets, they’ll sell almost anything. And most of them do”
Chris Blackwell
At 480 vinyl-sized pages, the Island Book of Records Volume 3 is the most ambitious yet, although just like the previous edition, it documents only two years in the life of the label – 1971 and 1972.
This time, there are more albums to contend with – 80 on the main Island label alone among which are: Roxy Music’s debut, live albums from Traffic and Free, two more classics from Cat Stevens, the soundtrack to the finest Jamaican film of all time – The Harder They Come as well as Traffic’s era-defining The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys. There’s Sandy Denny’s Sandy housed in David Bailey’s front-cover portrait of the lady herself, The Incredible String Band and Colosseum together with Nick Drake’s slow-to-be discovered masterpieces Bryter Layter and Pink Moon. Both sit alongside Mountain’s Flowers Of Evil, Mott The Hoople’s Brain Capers and Bronco’s Ace Of Sunlight with it’s highly questionable front cover. Jethro Tull’s multi-million-selling, chart-topping Aqualung borders Mike Harrison’s under-performing solo debut as much as it does three albums which were recorded but never made the final cut – Carlisle’s very own Junkyard Angel, Jess Roden’s first solo album and… Neil Tucker’s The Indefinite You.
And then… a further ten on the newly introduced mid-price HELP imprint which opened its account with ELP’s Pictures At An Exhibition before continuing with Tibetan Bells, National Lampoon’s Radio Dinner as well as spawning a formidable series with Morris On. Factor in another eleven Chrysalis albums – who knew that Mike Batt got a gig working with Steeleye Span because of the drum sound he got with The Wombles? – as well as a handful of obscurities like a Brazilian-only Best Of Juicy Lucy offering and a couple of Norwegian-only compilations. The ICD series is also introduced which brings in The History of Fairport Convention and then there’s El Pea itself – the next in a series of great compilations but let down by dubious packaging. And, as usual, there is a full discography of 45s from the era as well.
Each album is fully illustrated to include labels, booklets, die-cut covers, long-forgotten press releases, posters and foreign editions as well as via gig adverts (many at venues which no longer exist). Magazine covers, concert tickets, and Island’s pioneering LP adverts – many of which became art in their own right – plus other artefacts and ephemera complete the picture.
But that’s not all. In amongst the albums, the life of the label is chronicled in different ways – for example John Wood and Geoff Frost tell the story of their studio – Sound Techniques as Jonathan Morrish looks back to the 1971 Glastonbury Fayre when Traffic headlined. As a label, Chrysalis starts to spread its wings by making independent moves as Emerson, Lake & Palmer, having achieved massive worldwide success leave for pastures new.
Fresh interviews uncover how The Wailers landed up broke at Basing St. yet managed to get back to Jamaica to record Catch A Fire and what hearing those in-progress recordings was like. The Round Table Principle documents the creative hub of Island while Soundtracking explains Perry Henzell’s choice of music for The Harder They Come in his own words.
The Origin of the Species outlines the creation of the first Island Book(s) of Records. Two in-depth time lines have been carefully plotted: A Year in the Life of Traffic (1971) and Cat Stevens on his Road To Find Out throughout 1971 and 1972. Then, A Resignation in the House sees David Betteridge taking over the day-to-day company reins as IBoR 3 looks at the significance of Chris Blackwell being one of the only record company founders who were also producers in their own right.
As has always been the case, the IBoR text combines contemporary commentary with interviews from years gone by whereby the stories behind the music and artwork are told only by those involved in their making: musicians, designers, photographers, producers, engineers, managers and record company personnel of the time.
Exclusive interviews for IBoR 3 include Chris Blackwell together with Designers: Richard Eckford, Peter Stimpson, Nigel Waymouth, Tony Wright, Ann Sullivan, Po Powell, Michael Trevithick, Phil Crennell, Terry Pastor, Roger Dean and Nigel Holmes; Photographers: Brian Cooke, Dick Polak, Barrie Wentzell, Lee Gaffe and Ray Rathborne; Music Publisher Lionel Conway; Producers and Studio Personnel: Joe Boyd, Paul Samwell-Smith, Mike Batt, Muff Winwood, John Wood, Phill Brown, Richard Digby Smith, Tony Platt, Brian Humphries and Phil Ault; Musicians: Dave Pegg, Mike Scott, Henry Priestman, PP Arnold, Mike Kowalski, Louis Cennamo, Mick Box, Ken Hensley, Leo O’Kelly, Ray Smith, Pete Gavin, Steve Winwood MBE, Jess Roden, Robbie Blunt, Claire Hamill, Simon Nicol, John Helliwell, Tony Catchpole, Luther Grosvenor, Iain Sutherland, Mark Clarke, Tony Hazzard, Kellie, David Hood, Gavin Sutherland, Mike McCartney, Andy Mackay, Phil Manzanera, Paul Thompson, Marianne Faithfull, Stu Mills, John Surman, Ian Anderson and Maddy Prior; Writers: Jon Savage, Kris Needs, Chris Charlesworth, Tony Stewart, Richard Williams, Adrian Whittaker and Pete Frame; Videographer Nigel Dick; as well as Island personnel and those associated with the label: Tim Clark, Tom Hayes, David Betteridge, Bob Bell, Jonathan Morrish, Martin Satterthwaite, Lee Ginty, Anna Capaldi-Gilbey, John McCoy, John Clare, Val Domleo, Stephen Mansbridge, Evert Wilbrink, Steve Diggle, Sally Henzell, John Glover, Fred Cantrell, David Suff, Graham Lawson and co-founder of Chrysalis, Chris Wright.
The IBoR is designed by Jayne Gould – former Creative Director of Associated Newspapers, Design Director for News Corp. and Art Director at Tatler.
IBoR 3 will be published worldwide by Manchester University Press on October 6.
Work is already underway on IBoR 4 which covers 1973-1975
THE SECOND ISLAND BOOK OF RECORDS 1969-70
Volume 2 of the Island Book of Records focuses on the vinyl albums and 45s released from Island Records during 1969-1970.
Well, what a lively time that was, with new work being released by music gods and demi-gods, including; Nick Drake, King Crimson, Fairport Convention, Jess Roden’s Bronco, Spooky Tooth, Cat Stevens, Jethro Tull and Steve Winwood was incredibly busy with Traffic disbanding, Blind Faith being created and then along came Ginger Baker’s Air Force… then there was a few albums released by the band Free – which caused a stir, as did Emerson Lake and Palmer.
Neil Storey has collated the stories behind the making of the sixty albums in this volume. Some of things would just not be able to happen today. It’s history alright. But mainly unleashed creativity lovingly facilitated by Chris Blackwell… talk about taking risks! Well done that man!
Beyond the stories behind the albums, the features...
“I am ex-army, broadminded and tolerant...”
It’s October 1969 and Pete Townshend writes an essay ” What Pete Townshend thinks of King Crimson” for an advert … and he used a naughty word… oh boy did that get a response.
Speakers corner
A feature about how a very famous album cover came together at Speakers Corner in Hyde Park on the way to the office
Robert Palmer
oooo… some very exclusive pictures from photographer Brian Cooke, showing Mr Palmer, then known as Allen Palmer, who clealry, was a very snappy dresser at a very young age. Brian was also manager of Palmer’s first band, The Mandrakes… there’s some tales
Papillon
the Ellis-Wright Agency to a fully formed Chrysalis label which was distributed by Island Records. Big bands too … Family, Jehtro Tull, Ten Years After, Yes, King Crimson, Led Zeppelin to name a few … of the quiet ones
Change of address
Island Record moved from their tiny offices in Oxford Street to a church in Notting Hill and a new studio at Basing Street
Marquee Nights
Some very fine pictures of Free at The Marquee club in London from Simon Kossoff… brother of Paul.
Keeping tracks
This is a bit behind-the-scenes “special”…the recording tracks notes from the making of Cat Stevens …Mona Bone and Tillerman from producer Paul Samwell-Smith)
The man in the tight trousers
About Guy Stevens… the hyperactive producer of Island Records
Woody’s box of tricks
Chris Wood’s Gibson Maestro What is that instrument he’s playing? Technology explained by Poli Palmer of Family fame
Convention ’70
A diary of dates on the road with Fairport Convention. no time for shopping then?
Starry, starry night
Reporting from the Hollywood Festival – in Newcastle – journalist Phil Shaw extols the virtues of Traffic… and then some
Prefix and suffix
An illustrated guide to all of the Island 45s from this era – inlcuding a rare portrait of the cat in King Crimson’s famous single
A–Y
An Island Book of People but no ones name begins with Z
Musique Concréte
You thought sampling started in the 1990’s…meet Pierre Henry who manipulated music for Spooky Tooth
For those viewing in black and white,the pink is behind the brown
This is a preface from editor Neil Storey about savage cats, dogs with beards and that call from Chris Blackwell
Well, alright…
The brief lives of Blind Faith, a Wooden Frog and Air Force – a story with a cast of big guns – Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Chris Wood, Ric Grech, Jim Capaldi, Dave Masob, Wynder K Frog, and more and more
Crash
The unitimely death of Martin Lamble. An accident on the M1 coming back from a Fairport Convention gig. He was 17.
Hidden Tarot
Have you been trying to work out the illustration on the back Free’s Fire & Water album? its in the cards!
Give thanks and praise
… to the people who helped us put this Volume together. Thank you
THE FIRST ISLAND BOOK OF RECORDS 1959-68
The Island Book of Records brings the early years of this iconic record label to life. A fifteen-year labour of love, the volumes will fully document the analogue era of Island.
Lavishly illustrated with album cover design and photography, together with the exclusive interviews with of the musicians, designers, photographers, producers, studio engineers and record company personnel that worked on each project.
The volumes show in unique depth the workings of the label, covering every LP.
Featuring material from recent interviews and from media interviews of the time, and each including a comprehensive discography of 45s, the books are lavishly illustrated with gig adverts (very many at venues which no longer exist), concert tickets, flyers, international LP variants, labels, LP and 45 adverts and never-seen-before photographs.
These LP-sized editions are a collector’s dream, offering a truly unparalleled resource for those interested in music history and a perfect gift for any music lover.
FEATURES inside Volume 1 – 1959-68
PREFACE
Genesis & Revelations
ESCAPING TORQUEMADA & Harrow on the Hill
Tracing Island founder Chris Blackwell’s roots
UNDERNEATH THE MANGO TREE WITH
Lance Hayward, Ernest Ranglin, Owen Gray, Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Byron Lee, Chris Blackwell and Dr. No
INDEPENDENCE SKA
Out of Many, One People: a skip, a book and Lord Creator.
Island is founded in the UK
LONDON CALLING
From Rutland Gate Mews to Cambridge Road via Connaught Square:
selling 45s out of the back of a Mini Cooper and a Mini Van
TOO MUCH TOO YOUNG
The Spencer Davis Group split
MILES FROM NOWHERE
Traffic’s Cottage on the Berkshire Downs
FEATURES inside Volume 1 – 1959-68
NORTH LONDON TO THE WORLD
The move to the scout hut on Neasden Lane
HOW’S YER ARSE SINCE THE PIG BIT YA?
Island’s first super-roadie, ‘Count Albert’ Heaton
SEASON OF THE WITCH
The formation of Joe Boyd’s production company
DID YOU EVER WONDER WHY ALL THE EARLY 45s WERE FADED BEFORE 2’50”?
Graeme Goodall beams in
PREFIX AND SUFFIX
The most comprehensive listing of all Island and sub-label 45s and EPs from this era
ONE LOVE
A-Y • The Island Book of People
Give thanks and praise
WITHERING TREE
Traffic grinds to a halt…whatever next?
EL PEAS
Every Island album issued between 1959–68 as well as those known and/or scheduled but not released including subsidiary labels Surprise, Big Shot, Studio One and the Reps’ samplers
…. and over 1200 images.