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Welcome to the '''Island Records''' research area for Discogs. If you have information about Island Records, put it here, and hopefully we can sort out the true history of this label.
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{{Island}}
  
==Incorporation==
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Welcome to the '''Island Records''' research area for [http://www.discogs.com/ Discogs]. If you have information about the Island Records label or its affiliated brands and companies (4th & Broadway, Mango, Antilles, Tuff Gong, etc.), then put what you know here, and hopefully we can sort out the true history of this label and improve the way it is handled in Discogs.
  
According to the Companies House WebCHeck database, '''Island Records Limited''' incorporated on May 8, 1962. On March 29, 1999, its name changed to '''Universal-Island Records Limited''' and its current address is 364-366 Kensington High Street, London W14 8NS.
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==Island information==
 +
Information collected so far includes the following:
  
Also according to Companies House, '''Island Records & Music Holdings Limited''', '''Island Records Manufacturing Limited''', and '''Island Records Finance Limited''' were previously incorporated in England/Wales. The former two dissolved on June 14, 1991, and the latter dissolved one day earlier. Further information on them is in archives that can only be accessed by calling Companies House at 0870 3333636.
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* An increasingly comprehensive [[Island Records timeline]].
 +
* A gallery of [[Island Records logo and label designs]].
 +
* A dumping ground for [[Island Records artifacts]]: images and fine-print details from actual releases, from which we can hopefully spot trends and deduce facts.
 +
* Information about [[Island Records corporations|corporations associated with the Island name and brand]].
 +
* A gallery of [[Island Records office buildings]].
  
According to the New York Secretary of State web site, '''Island Records, Inc.''' incorporated in New York on March 2, 1970. At some point, the company name changed to '''Island Entertainment Group, Inc.''' Also, '''Island Records, Inc.''' incorporated in New York on August 12, 1982. Both companies are now listed as inactive. The current contact address is PolyGram Holding, Inc., 825 Eighth Ave, New York NY 10019.
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Perhaps of particular interest to Discogs users are the following:
  
Additional New York "Island" incorporations:
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* An overview of how we handle [[Island in Discogs]].
* '''Island Music Company, Inc.''' - April 27, 1966; inactive
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* A guide to [[Island Records catalogue numbers]], derived mostly from Discogs data.
* '''Island Music, Inc.''' - April 11, 1985; inactive
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* A section where we identify [[Island Records questionable entries]] currently in Discogs and try to sort out what's going on with them.
* '''Island Entertainment Corp.''' - April 2, 1987 and February 3, 1994; inactive
 
  
According to the California Secretary of State web site, '''Island Records, Inc.''' incorporated in California on June 10, 1974, at 7720 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90046. The company ceased to exist when it merged with another company. Details of the merger are not available on the web site. Also, New York-based '''Island Records, Inc.''' incorporated in California on September 17, 1982. It voluntarily surrendered its right to do business in California at some later date. Details of the surrender are not available on the web site. The current contact address is 800 Third Ave, New York NY 10022.
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It should also be helpful to review the definition of a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Record_label record label].
  
==Logos==
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==Other information sources==
 +
Here are some useful, external sources of info on Island:
 +
* The articles on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_Records Island Records] at Wikipedia was mostly written based on research accumulated here
 +
* [http://islandrecords.co.uk/history.html Island Records history] at the Island UK site — '''dead link'''
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* [http://web.archive.org/web/20051215111357/http://www.gowpen.biz/labelUKind.htm independently researched UK record label info] was at Gowpen.biz
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* [http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/rep_pub/reports/1994/fulltext/356a5.1.pdf Some large acquisitions by record companies, 1983 to 1993] - appendix in a report by the Competition Commisson (UK)
 +
* [http://www.u2world.com/news/article.php3?id_article=280 Sigerson, Barbis Sail Into Top Island Posts] - 1989 ''Variety'' article that says Blackwell's departure from PolyGram was acrimonious and talks about his replacements — '''dead link'''
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* [http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_chris_blackwell_lp/index.html Chris Blackwell: From LP to DVD, still living the Island life] - interview in Dec 1999 issue of Mix magazine (US)
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* [http://exclaim.ca/Features/Timeline/chris_blackwell-savvy_svengali Chris Blackwell: Savvy Svengali] - lengthy Island and Chris Blackwell career timeline through 2004
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* [http://www.sudeepaudio.com/glossary.php?cat=Music%20Labels%20across%20the%20world Music Labels across the world] - says "In 1975 Blackwell launched Island Records in America with Joe South and War" but this is coming from a recording studio in India...is it reliable?
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* [http://www.aimeemanninprint.com/1998/ny122198.htm A Major Merger Shakes Up the World of Rock] - Dec 1998 ''New York Times'' article about the PolyGram-Universal merger.
 +
* [http://www.universalmusic.com/corporate/news35137 New Marketing and Promotion Structure at Universal Music Germany] - Jan 2003 PR about a pair of mergers within Universal Music Germany's divisions
 +
* [http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20050822/business/business1.html Music mogul optimistic] - Aug 2005 Blackwell interview
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* [https://www.musictank.co.uk/musictank/events/label-mergers-bigger-n-better-n-rougher-n-tougher Label Mergers: bigger 'n' better 'n' rougher 'n' tougher?] - transcript of a 2004 "think tank" session involving Marc Marot (former MD, Island Records); requires joining the site
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* Misc. discographic details at black-music-collectors.com (these have all moved to new URLs though):
 +
** [http://www.black-music-collectors.com/labels/island_uk.htm Island Records (UK)]
 +
** [http://www.black-music-collectors.com/labels/island_us.htm Island Records (US)]
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** [http://www.black-music-collectors.com/labels/4th_and_broadway.htm 4th & Broadway]
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** [http://www.black-music-collectors.com/labels/4th_bway.htm 4th & Bway]
 +
** [http://www.black-music-collectors.com/labels/antilles.htm Antilles]
 +
** [http://www.black-music-collectors.com/labels/mango.htm Mango]
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* [http://www.u2wanderer.org/disco/ U2 discography with lots of scans]
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* [http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/fcfansite/discography.htm Fairport Convention discography] with scans and good details
 +
* This [http://www.collectable-records.ru/labels/E_M/Island/index.htm Island label gallery] has many label scans
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* ''[http://www.collectable-records.ru/book/island.htm Island Book: 1962–1977]'' is a collector's book that provides images of nearly every pre-1978 UK release. Check out the [http://www.collectable-records.ru/book/55555.pdf sample pages] (PDF)
 +
* Someone has started an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_Records_Discography Island Records discography] at Wikipedia.
 +
People who might be able to give us more info:
 +
> Neil Storey (neilstorey@aol.com)has edited the following<
 +
You've listed Rob at Coalition... sadly, Rob died during December 2008...
 +
* '''Rob Partridge''' former Music Week, Record Mirror and Melody Maker staff-writer was appointed head of press during 1975 and later became a Director of the company until CB sold Island. During the latter years, Rob was also a Director of and ran the company's in-house jazz label, Antilles (signing Courtney Pine among others).
 +
Partridge & Storey (later to become Coalition) was founded the day Margaret Thatcher resigned. Our first staff-member was Gaylene Martin (who'd worked with RP at Antilles) and we began with three clients - none of whom did interviews (that seemed a good blue-print for a pr company). Ultimately, the company's roster grew and evolved in Coalition a couple of years later when David May (as a 3rd Director) joined. Neil Storey left in 1996/7 and DM not long after.
 +
Coalition grew into one of the most important multi-media companies and nowadays incorporates both be-spoke PR and a highly succesful Management division (run by Tim Vigon).
  
[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e9/Islandrecords.gif 1989 to present]: palm tree silhouette on round moon, over the word "ISLAND". The moon is sometimes yellow.
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[[Category:Island Records]]
 
 
==Timeline==
 
* 1959 - Island Records founded as reggae label in Jamaica by Chris Blackwell and Graeme Goodall
 
* 1959 - Laurel Aiken's "Boogie In My Bones" tops Jamaican chart for 11 weeks
 
* 1960 - ''Lance Heywood at the Half Moon Hotel'', the first LP on Island, released w/catalogue # CB 22 (22 being Blackwell's age)
 
* 8 May 1962 - Island Records Ltd. incorporates in the UK
 
* Mar 1964 - Island's first million-seller, "My Boy Lollipop", is recorded by Millie Small and released in the UK via Fontana
 
* 1964 - Blackwell & Guy Stevens launch Sue sublabel to promote US r'n'b in the UK
 
* 1965? - Blackwell signs Spencer Davis Group but licenses all material to Fontana
 
* Jan 1966 - Spencer Davis Group bumps Beatles from #1 spot on UK chart
 
* 1967 - Trojan Records label launched; most reggae artists are moved to it as Island moves toward progressive rock, signing Art and Traffic
 
* 2 Mar 1970 - Island Records, Inc. incorporates in New York state
 
* 1972 - Jimmy Cliff leaves Island in frustration at declining support for reggae artists
 
* late 1972 - The Wailers are signed to Island; Blackwell helps them record their first album for £4000
 
* 10 Jun 1974 - Island Records, Inc. incorporates in California, operating from Warner Bros. Records address
 
* 1975 - "No Woman, No Cry" becomes Bob Marley's first UK hit
 
* 17 Sep 1982 - Island Records, Inc. (New York) incorporates in California
 
* Mar 1980 - U2 signs to Island
 
* 1989 - Philips floats 16% of PolyGram on the Amsterdam stock exchange, valuing the whole company at $5.6 billion. PolyGram embarks on a new program of acquisitions, including A&M and Island Records in 1989.
 
* Jul 1989 - Island Records and Island Music acquired by PolyGram UK Group for £272 million. From this point on, Island is no longer an indie label.
 
* 1993 - Motown is bought by PolyGram
 
* 1994 - DefJam is bought by PolyGram
 
* Nov 1997 - Chris Blackwell resigns as CEO of Island Entertainment. (He later forms Palm Pictures.)
 
* 1998 - Universal Music: a new iteration in its complex history commences, when its parent company Seagram purchases PolyGram and merges it with UMG.
 
* 1999 - overview… The Island Def Jam Music Group is formed, thanks to Universal Music Group's desire to form a 'super label'. The Island and Def Jam imprints, meanwhile, continue to operate as their own respective labels underneath the larger IDJMG umbrella. The company also encompasses American Recordings, Lost Highway Records, Roadrunner Records, Tuff Gong and the pop and rock back catalog of Mercury Records and Casablanca Records.
 
* Jan 1999 - Universal announces a merger with Island and that Mercury (UK) will market Island's US repertoire
 
* 29 Mar 1999 - Island Records Ltd. (UK) changes its name to Universal-Island Records Ltd.
 
(point for discussion - it still trades under the Island Records brand?)
 
 
 
==Info sources==
 
Some good sources of info:
 
* [http://islandrecords.co.uk/history.html http://islandrecords.co.uk/history.html]
 
* [http://www.gowpen.biz/labelUKind.htm http://www.gowpen.biz/labelUKind.htm]
 
* [http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/rep_pub/reports/1994/fulltext/356a5.1.pdf http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/rep_pub/reports/1994/fulltext/356a5.1.pdf]
 
* [http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_chris_blackwell_lp/index.html http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_chris_blackwell_lp/index.html]
 
* [http://www.exclaim.ca/index.asp?layid=22&csid1=3352 http://www.exclaim.ca/index.asp?layid=22&csid1=3352]
 
* [http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20050822/business/business1.html http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20050822/business/business1.html]
 
 
 
==Packaging artifacts==
 
 
 
This section is a dumping ground for information that helps us get a better picture of the relationship between Island and other record companies by looking at aspects of the packaging. Hopefully we can spot trends and deduce facts about Island by transcribing, describing, and examining the catalogue numbers, countries, dates, logos, and fine print. At this point, copyright notices don't seem particularly relevant, but it can be included if you want.
 
 
 
;19?? UK LP: ILPS 9116
 
  Island Records Ltd.
 
  Manufactured and distributed by EMI Records Ltd.
 
  (Island logo: "i" outline only)
 
  (This is a reissue of a 1970 LP)
 
 
 
;1974 US LP: ILPS 9224 and ILPS 9251
 
  Manufactured and distributed by Island Records, Inc.
 
  7720 Sunset Blvd
 
  Los Angeles CA 90046
 
  (Island logo: "i" outline only)
 
  (ILPS 9224 has a Warner Bros sticker on the front, and blue center labels)
 
 
 
;1980 CA LP: XILP 9616
 
  Manufactured and distributed by WEA Music of Canada Ltd.
 
  (blue center labels)
 
 
 
;1980 US LP: IL 9630
 
  Manufactured and distributed by Warner Bros. Records, Inc.
 
  3300 Warner Blvd
 
  Burbank CA
 
  and
 
  3 E 54th St
 
  New York NY
 
  (blue labels)
 
 
 
;1980 UK LP: 12 WIP 6598
 
  Manufactured and distributed by EMI Records Ltd.
 
  (same album as IL 9630 above)
 
 
 
;198? US LP: 90091-1-B
 
  Distributed by Atco Records
 
  division of Atlantic Recording Corporation
 
  A Warner Communications Company
 
  75 Rockefeller Plaza, NY NY 10019
 
  (same album as IL 9630 above; copyrights say 1980)
 
  (purple labels w/rainbow sky behind skyscraper, green script "Island")
 
 
 
;1983 US EP: 0-96974
 
  Distributed by Atco Records
 
  division of Atlantic Recording Corporation
 
  A Warner Communications Company
 
  75 Rockefeller Plaza, NY NY 10019
 
  (labels have white-yellow-aqua pseudo-script "Island")
 
  (sleeve has hybrid "i" logo) TM owned by Antilles Communications Ltd.
 
 
 
;1984 US LP: 90179-1 (7 90179-1)
 
  Island Records Inc.
 
  Distributed by Atlantic Recording Corp.
 
  75 Rockefeller Plaza, NY NY 10019
 
  A Warner Communications Company
 
  (original red label w/black and yellow geometric shapes;
 
  gold-stamp promos have WEA sticker that says "Warner/Elektra/Atlantic Special Project Album - For Instore Play Only")
 
 
 
;1984 US 12": 0-96931
 
;1984 US 2xLP: 90232-1-H
 
;1985 US 12": 7 90288-1
 
  Island Records, Inc.
 
  Distributed by ATCO Records
 
  division of Atlantic Recording Corporation
 
  A Warner Communications Company
 
  75 Rockefeller Plaza, NY NY 10019
 
  (custom ZTT labels)
 
  (Island logo: palm/moon silhouette in "i" frame over "ISLAND") TM owned by Antilles Communications Ltd.
 
 
 
;1985 US 12": 0-96889
 
  Island Records, Inc.
 
  Distributed by ATCO Records
 
  division of Atlantic Recording Corporation
 
  A Warner Communications Company
 
  75 Rockefeller Plaza, NY NY 10019
 
  (purple labels w/rainbow sky behind skyscraper, green script "Island")
 
  (Island logo: palm/moon silhouette in "i" frame over "ISLAND") TM owned by Antilles Communications Ltd.
 
 
 
;1985 US CD: 7 90232-2
 
  Manufactured by Island Records
 
  Island Records, Inc.
 
  distributed by ATCO Records
 
  division of Atlantic Recording Corporation
 
  A Warner Communications Company
 
  75 Rockefeller Plaza, NY NY 10019
 
  (Island logo: palm/moon silhouette in "i" frame over "ISLAND") TM owned by Antilles Communications Ltd.
 
  (disc) made in USA by WEA Manufacturing Inc.
 
  (disc logo is diagonal blue "Island" script)
 
 
 
;1985 US 12": ST-53021
 
  '''Manhattan Island Records'''
 
  Distributed by Manhattan Records, a division of Capitol Records
 
  (Island logo: palm/moon silhouette in "i" frame over "ISLAND") TM owned by Antilles Communications Ltd.
 
  (Manhattan logo) Manhattan is a registered trademark of Capitol Records, Inc.
 
  ''Unfortunately, in Discogs we've been filing Manhattan Island under EMI-Manhattan Records.''
 
  ''I recently rejected user henkieee's [http://www.discogs.com/release/629203 submission] of this LP (which I own)''
 
  ''for trying to file it under Manhattan Island Records. Sigh.''
 
 
 
;1985 US 12": PR 794
 
  Distributed by Atlantic Recording Corp.
 
  75 Rockefeller Plaza, NY NY 10019
 
  A Warner Communications Company
 
  (blue script "Island" on generic sleeve; black script on center label (it's a white label promo))
 
 
 
;1985 US 12": 0-96859
 
  Island Records, Inc.
 
  Distributed by Atlantic Recording Corp.
 
  75 Rockefeller Plaza, NY NY 10019
 
  A Warner Communications Company
 
  (reissue single with plain yellow label; silhouette/"i" frame logo)
 
 
;1985 US 12": 0-96835
 
;1986 US 12": 0-96839
 
;1986 US 12": 0-98604
 
  Island Records, Inc.
 
  Distributed by Atco Records
 
  division of Atlantic Recording Corporation
 
  A Warner Communications Company
 
  75 Rockefeller Plaza, NY NY 10019
 
  (black label w/blue ring)
 
  (Island logo is palm/moon silhouette in "i" frame over "ISLAND") TM owned by Island Entertainment Group, Inc.
 
 
 
;1989 UK CD5": BRCD 136
 
  (p) 1989 Island Records Ltd.
 
  no further legal credits, no INT cat#
 
  4th & Broadway circular logo given greater prominence on sleeve and disc
 
  circular palm-tree-in-an-"i" Island logos also both on sleeve and disc
 
 
 
;1989 US CD: 7 91318-2 and 7 90179-2
 
  Island Records, Inc.
 
  14 E 4th St., NY, NY 10012
 
  (Island logo) TM owned by Island Entertainment Group, Inc.
 
  (disc) made in USA by WEA Manufacturing Inc.
 
  (disc logo is black palm silhouette on yellow moon over "ISLAND")
 
 
 
;1989 DE CD: 260 350
 
  (p) 1989 Island Records Ltd. © 1989 Island Records Ltd.
 
  Distributed by BMG Records. Vertrieb durch BMG Ariola.
 
  LC0407
 
  Printed in Germany by TOPAC
 
  (logo) 4th & Broadway circular logo given greater prominence on sleeve and disc
 
  (logo) circular palm-tree-in-an-"i" Island logos also both on sleeve and disc
 
  (spine) 4th & Broadway circular logo over "rainbow"
 
 
 
;1990 UK Cassingle: SIGH 4-3 / INT. 875789-4
 
  (p) & © 1990 Owned by Island Records Ltd.
 
  "An idea available through Sense (of Island) to be continued"
 
  (Sense logo, which is a derivative of the black palm silhouette on white moon)
 
 
 
;1990 UK CD: IMCD 88 / 842 546-2
 
  (p) 1990 This compilation owned by Island Records Ltd.
 
  (disc) made in France by PMDC
 
  (logo) Island Masters logo given prominence) 
 
  (secondary logo is black palm silhouette on white moon over "ISLAND")
 
  (spine) text over "rainbow" reads ISLAND
 
 
 
;1990 US CD: CCD 452 / 162-440 452-2
 
  4th & B'way&trade;, an Island Records, Inc. company
 
  400 Lafayette St., NY, NY 10003
 
  (mini logo is black palm silhouette on white moon)
 
 
 
;1991 (maybe 1992) US CD: 422-866 189-2
 
  Island Records, Inc.
 
  [http://www.luxuryloft.com/14East6.jpg 14 E 4th St.], NY, NY 10012
 
  (disc) made in USA by WEA Manufacturing Inc.
 
  (logo is black palm silhouette on white moon over "ISLAND")
 
 
 
;1992 US 12": 422-866 977-1
 
  Island Records, Inc.
 
  400 Lafayette St., NY, NY 10003
 
  (logo is black palm silhouette on white moon over "ISLAND")
 
 
 
;1992 US CD: 422-866 533-2
 
  Island Records, Inc.
 
  [http://www.mzarchitects.com/images/Projects/Laf1.jpg 400 Lafayette St.], NY, NY 10003
 
  (disc) made in USA by WEA Manufacturing Inc.
 
  (logo is black palm silhouette on white moon over "ISLAND")
 
 
 
;1993 US CD: 162-440 590-2
 
  4th & B'way&trade;, an Island Records, Inc. company
 
  400 Lafayette St., NY, NY 10003
 
  (mini logo is white palm silhouette on black moon)
 
 
 
;1995 US CD: 162-444 073-2
 
  QUANGO
 
  Manufactured and marketed by Island Records, Inc.
 
  825 Eighth Ave., NY, NY 10019
 
  Distributed by I.L.S.
 
  (logo is black palm silhouette on white moon over "ISLAND")
 
 
 
;1996 US CD: 162-531 046-2
 
  Axiom&trade;
 
  Manufactured and marketed by Island Records, Inc., a PolyGram Company
 
  825 Eighth Ave., NY, NY 10019
 
  Distributed by I.L.S.
 
  (logo is black palm silhouette on white moon over "ISLAND")
 
 
 
;2002 US CD:
 
  The Island Def Jam Music Group, a Universal Music company.
 
  Worldwide Plaza, 825 8th Ave, New York, NY 10019
 
 
 
;2002 UK CD: ### ###-2
 
  Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings Inc.
 
 
 
;2002 EU CD: ### ###-2
 
  The Island Def Jam Music Group, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
 
 
 
;2002 DE CD:
 
  Island Mercury, a division of Universal Music GmbH
 
  Strafauer Alice 1, 10245 Berlin
 
 
 
;2006 UK (EU?) CD: CID 922 / 987 753 3
 
  (p) Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company. LC00407.  www.islandrecords.co.uk
 
  (logo) primary: palm silhouette on moon over "ISLAND"
 
  (logo) secondary: black palm silhouette in a lower-case 'i' "Island Records Group"
 

Latest revision as of 20:54, 28 May 2013

Islandrecords.gif
This article is part of the Island Records research wiki at offset.skew.org.

Welcome to the Island Records research area for Discogs. If you have information about the Island Records label or its affiliated brands and companies (4th & Broadway, Mango, Antilles, Tuff Gong, etc.), then put what you know here, and hopefully we can sort out the true history of this label and improve the way it is handled in Discogs.

Island information

Information collected so far includes the following:

Perhaps of particular interest to Discogs users are the following:

It should also be helpful to review the definition of a record label.

Other information sources

Here are some useful, external sources of info on Island:

People who might be able to give us more info: > Neil Storey (neilstorey@aol.com)has edited the following< You've listed Rob at Coalition... sadly, Rob died during December 2008...

  • Rob Partridge former Music Week, Record Mirror and Melody Maker staff-writer was appointed head of press during 1975 and later became a Director of the company until CB sold Island. During the latter years, Rob was also a Director of and ran the company's in-house jazz label, Antilles (signing Courtney Pine among others).

Partridge & Storey (later to become Coalition) was founded the day Margaret Thatcher resigned. Our first staff-member was Gaylene Martin (who'd worked with RP at Antilles) and we began with three clients - none of whom did interviews (that seemed a good blue-print for a pr company). Ultimately, the company's roster grew and evolved in Coalition a couple of years later when David May (as a 3rd Director) joined. Neil Storey left in 1996/7 and DM not long after. Coalition grew into one of the most important multi-media companies and nowadays incorporates both be-spoke PR and a highly succesful Management division (run by Tim Vigon).