The Pop Corporation

Island Records is one of the most legendary record labels in the history of rock, pop, reggae and more. Especially iconic is the ‘Island pink’ years, where the records sported a gorgeous baby pink label and was home to some of the finest records ever cut on the lathe.

With that, following first volume, there’s a second volume that focused on this period called Island Book of Records 1969-1970.

Some of the sleeves included in the book include Nick Drake, King Crimson, Free, Stevie Winwood, Fairport Convention, Spooky Tooth, Cat Stevens, Jethro Tull and so many more. It was a fertile period for the label and their signings.

Neil Storey has gathered the stories around these records, which total sixty in this particular collection.

The book is described as “lavishly illustrated”, which is perfectly reasonable given the artwork on the albums themselves, and there’s interviews with some of the musicians, designers, photographers, record producers and heads around the label at the time.

There’s also beautifully illustrated gig adverts from the time, tickets, flyers, international variants and loads more to geek out over.

Naturally, the book is LP-sized too, for the collector brain in you. What a magic thing!

Here a link to ISLAND BOOK OF RECORDS VOLUME ONE, and here’s a link to find out more about the ISLAND BOOK OF RECORDS VOLUME TWO. Perfect gifts for yourself or the record collector in your life.