Keep on Running: The Story of Island Records [Hardcover]

A colorful, accurate and essential volume in the half-century history of rock'n'roll.

Before the multi-nationals took over the record business, there were a handful of entrepreneurs whose personalities and determination created impressive and unique bodies of musical work. David Geffen (first with Asylum and then his own moniker, Geffen Records) Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss with their famed A&M Records and Chris Blackwell's Island Records were three of the music world's leading progenitors.

It was the Island enterprise that was easily the one whose musical output was most defined by the taste and interests of its owner, Chris Blackwell. Beginning in the late 50's in his native Jamaica, and later upon arrival in the UK, it was Blackwell who was widely credited with bringing reggae music to the world stage. From his small base of operations, Blackwell began licensing Jamaican singles until he fortuitously had a worldwide hit with Millie Small's "My Girl Lollipop." The success of that record, lead to a series of even bigger successes with both English rock (Traffic, Cat Stevens, Roxy Music, King Crimson) and reggae music (Jimmy Cliff, Toots & the Maytals and of course the act that put Island into the stratosphere, Bob Marley & the Wailers.)

In this fitting visual history of the label, longtime Blackwell associate Suzette Newman and British rock author Chris Salewicz, take us on a journey of one of the most distinctive, powerful and successful independent record labels of the last 50 years. With essays contributed from those who were there as well as a chronological photo archive capturing most of the groups, single sleeves and album covers of the company's five decades of output, "The Story of Island Records" is a colorful, accurate and essential volume in the half-century history of rock'n'roll.

If Island was known for anything, it was the distinctive edge of its artist's style. Musicians from Mott the Hoople to Ultravox, Nick Drake to Brian Eno, and Grace Jones to P.J. Harvey all called Island home. But it was the world of reggae where Island had no peer. Not just the big stars, but somewhat lesser knowns like Aswad, Black Uhuru, Steel Pulse and Third World all had thriving careers on the label as well.

The history of Island Records is so robust, so colorful and this 222 page book captures the aura with perfect energy, detail and balance. And did I mention they signed a band called U2? Oh look, Blackwell changed the world... again.
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Hardcover 9.5" by 9.5" approximately,222 pages of text and graphics. Preface by label owner Chris Blackwell, edited by Suzette Newman and the well known (in Jamaican music circles) Chris Salewicz. The paper stock is semi-glossy which enhances the graphics, which are crisp and clean.

This wonderful book, released in conjunction with Island Records' 50th anniversary, is well worth owning by anyone who likes the label's artists, or wants to know what all the fuss was (is) about Island Records. The book is heavily weighted toward beautiful graphics and photographs-both in color and black and white. The text is informative in an easy to digest style, and paints a fairly complete picture of the label's history. There are so many fine graphics and photos that to single out any one in particular would be difficult and do an injustice to the rest.

The story (and illustrations) begins in 1959, when Blackwell was trying to spread the word about Jamaican (usually referred to as "reggae", which is incorrect) music to British listeners. Starting by releasing Jamaican singles, the label grew and was one of the labels at the forefront of the "underground" scene that was just beginning in England. Artist like Bob Marley, TRAFFIC, JETHRO TULL, FREE, Sandy Denny, Lee Perry, Burning Spear, Toots and the Maytals, John Martyn, SPOOKY TOOTH, MOTT THE HOOPLE, Nick Drake, Cat Stevens, FAIRPORT CONVENTION, and many others recorded some of their finest music while on Island Records. The book ends around the turn of the century, with groups like THE FEELING, Scott Mathews, and The Fratellis, and Amy Winehouse.

The book tells a concise yet informative story of the era and how these groups came to call the "Pink Label" (in the beginning) home. This book tells both the history of the label and, in part, the history of music in England during a specific era. For those lucky enough (like me) who remember purchasing "import" albums way back when, the Island Records logo and the "pink label" always meant you were in for some exciting music-and could be purchased with assurance, without hearing (which you could do in "listening" stations) the album first. If you've come to the label's artists later on-this book will give you insight into one of the best, eclectic labels of any period. As good as the text is in telling the history of the label, it's the beautiful color photos (including many album covers) of the many artists who recorded for the label, that bring this book up several notches over similar histories. This is a book that can sit alongside other fine music/label histories in anyone's library.

Please don't misunderstood... The book is actually great! I've been enjoying it a lot!
The problem was that even when I ask the sender (the_book_depository_) to ship it on a special packaging in order not to get the book damaged, I received it on a very poor packaging and my book was very damaged, even without any plastic warp on it.
The book i amazing!!!

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