The Island Book Of Records - Volume II (1969 - 1970)

 

The Island Book Of Records

Volume II (1969 - 1970) 

 

If you love Island Records, and Free, this is for you. After the nonsense of Chris Blackwell's book 'Islander' (actually more by Paul Morley, and not great), here is a book about Island Records, and it's artists. that's actually worth buying. It's not cheap, but throw it at someone and you are likely to kill them, as it weighs a ton (3.75kg in fact). It's not small. You will not get it in your pocket. It's a hefty tome.

Quite a bit about Free in this volume, along with what I'd consider the prime of Island's history. Nick Drake, Mott The Hoople, Traffic, King Crimson, ELP, Spooky Tooth, Jethro Tull, Cat Stevens - blimey, a huge slice of my record collection just in this book (1969 - 1970 covered). So, yes. This includes three LPs by Free, as remarkably the released three in just under seventeen months!

Lots of information, new interviews, great photographs, stories behind the groups and the albums (sixty in this volume), lovingly edited, compiled and collated by Neil Storey. Someone who essentially knows his stuff having actually worked for Island. If you want something good in your Christmas stocking, you could do much worse than having this on your list. Just hope you have a friend who will buy it for you.

If that's not an option, and you need to buy it for yourself (well it is nearly Christmas) you can get it here;

https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526182241/

 

and get a whopping 30% off the price, if you subscribe to their newsletter (which is free).

It's also available from Amazon, Waterstones etc. But not with that deal.

You can check out the contents and features here:

https://theislandbookofrecords.com/

 Press promo type blurb...

'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.'