Island Records catalogue numbers

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

As we view and compare more and more releases, we are getting a better sense of the relationship between the formats of Island's catalogue numbers and their corresponding labels, companies, territories, formats, and years of release.

Thus far, these are strictly trends we have observed, not info from official sources.

US releases via United Artists Records (early 1970s)

UAS #### = LP

These have United Artists branding. Island is only mentioned in the fine print.

On Discogs, these are filed under United Artists Records.

US releases via Asylum Records (early 1970s)

AS 1#### = 7"

AS 5#### = LP

These have both Asylum and Island branding. Island is mentioned in the fine print.

On Discogs, these are currently filed under Asylum Records.

US releases via Capitol Records (early 1970s)

SW #### = LP, digit formats vary

These have Island branding but mention Capitol in the fine print, sometimes as Island logo + "by Capitol"

On Discogs, these are currently filed under Island Records (US).

UK indie releases pre 1983, including many sublabels

(sublabel list to follow)

ILPS 7xxx albums all appear to have an affiliation with Ze Records

ILP 9## = LP (mono; 1962-1968 plus represses in 1969, 1970, 1975)

ILPS 9### = LP (stereo; 1967-?)

ZCI #### = Cassette

WI ### = 7" (1962-?)

WIP #### = 7"

12WIP #### = 12"

12XWIP #### = 12" remix

IEP # = 7" EP

there are also codes for more, eg 8-Tracks, the odd Cassettes with one blank side etc

need to confirm

limited edition codes found on UK 7" and 12" singles include:

DWIP = doublepack

PWIP = picture disc

On Discogs, these are currently filed under Island Records (UK) or a sublabel(?).

US releases via Warner Bros. Records (1974-1982)

ILPS #### = LP, # is the same as on original UK edition

IS 1### = 12" (not 100% certain these are exclusively US, some are Canada)

IS 49### = 7"

ISD #### = 12" (not 100% certain these are exclusively US: see http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?what=R&obid=518239)

PRO-A-### = promo 12", 1978-1982

These have only Island branding. Promos may have Warner Bros stickers.

On Discogs, these are currently filed under Island Records (US). Some may be misfiled under Island Records (UK).

UK albums 1983-present day (indie, PolyGram and Universal)

nb - releases up to the 1989 PolyGram merge only feature the UK code

issues after the merge, or later reissues also include a ### ###-# INT code

nb#2 - for a short period in the mid-90s, to be defined, Island dropped the ILPS / ICT / CID codes

and used only the generic INT code. The ILPS / ICT / CID codes were soon reinstated.

Albums in the ILPS/ICT/CID series continued 9000s, until ILPS 9999 - they then started again at ILPS 8000

CID #### = CDs

CIDD #### = 2xCD

ICM #### = Mid-price Cassette, number as ICT series

ICT #### = Cassettes, same numbering pattern as above

ILPM # to ILPM ### = Island Masters vinyl

ILPM #### = Mid-price LP, number as ILPS series

ILPS #### = LP

ILPSD #### = 2xLP

ILPSQ #### = 4xLP

IMA # = Mini-album (only used during '83 and '84?)

IMCD # to IMCD ### = Island Masters CD

IMCD #### = Mid-price CD, number as CID series

IMCDD ### = 2xCD (mid-price?)

IRG # = Island Reggae Greats album series

On Discogs, these are currently filed under Island Records (UK) or a sublabel, and sometimes also under PolyGram as a second label.

UK singles 1983-present day (indie, PolyGram and Universal)

nb - releases up to the 1989 PolyGram merge only feature the UK code

issues after the merge, or later reissues also include a ### ###-# INT code

IS codes possibly started at IS 101

IS ### = 7"

10IS ### = 10"

12IS ### = 12"

12IS ### DJ = 12" promo

12ISX ### = 12" remix

12ISX ### DJ = 12" remix promo

12ISZ ### DJ = 12" promo #3

CID ### = CD Single (nb, three not four digits)

CIDV ### = DVD Single

CIS ### = Cassingle

limited edition codes found on UK 7" and 12" singles include:

ISB = box set

ISD = doublepack

ISG = gatefold

ISJB = jukebox edition

ISP = picture disc

ISX = remix / limited edition

limited edition codes found on UK CD Singles include:

CIDX = remix / limited edition CD Single

CIDP = CD picture disc

CIDT = not sure, need to clarify

CIDDJ = promo

UK numbers sometimes appear on non-UK releases, usually alongside other numbers. Most often it is CDs with CID #s. It is not yet clear why these #s are present on non-UK releases.

onelittle - my theory is, after 1989 Island were part of a multinational. All the UK issues I have include EU signifiers such as BIEM/Stemra logos etc. Also, many are labelled "pressed in France" or similar, as Island was now using a multinationals' pressing resources. So, these releases stem from a UK label, but are marked as part of a pan-EU operation. Oggers often submit releases going on where things were pressed, rather than country of issue.

On Discogs, these are currently filed under Island Records (UK) or a sublabel, and sometimes also under PolyGram as a second label. Some are misfiled based on the country of manufacture. A French pressing for the UK market might've been filed under Island Records (France) for example. We are trying to migrate these back to Island Records (UK).

Canada releases via WEA Music of Canada (1980-1989)

XILP #### = LP

79 ##### = 12"

92 ##### = 12" or LP

On Discogs, these are currently filed under Island Records (Canada) and WEA Music Of Canada.

Canada releases via MCA Records (Canada) (1981-1989)

IS #### = 12"

ISP #### = 12"

On Discogs, these are currently filed under Island Records (Canada)

Canada releases via ? (1980s)

ISC #### = cassette maxi-single, may have 5 digits

ISL #### = LP, may have 5 digits

ISLC #### = cassette, may have 5 digits, format varies

ISM #### = 12"

ISX #### = LP

On Discogs, these are currently filed under Island Records (Canada)

Germany releases via Phonogram (?-1971)

6014 ### = 7"

6339 ### = LP

On Discogs, these are currently filed under Island Records (Germany)

Germany releases via Ariola/BMG

We're still pretty fuzzy on these.

On Discogs, these are currently filed under Island Records (Germany) or Ariola (Germany).

All Ariola/BMG numbers refer to the Ariola/BMG catalogue. The five figure numbers for LPs finished sometime in the late 70s. Then they were replaced by the six-figure numbers.

I've seen many German releases in the Island (UK) section. It seems that contributors are disturbed because they seen on the label: something like "(c) Island Records Ltd."

Germany releases via Ariola-Eurodisc GmbH (1971-c.1978)

## ### = ?

## ### AT = 7"

## ### DY = LP, ?

## ### GT = LP, ?

## ### XAT = LP, ?

## ### XCT = 2xLP, ?

## ### XOT = LP, ?

## ###-### = ?

Germany releases via Ariola-Eurodisc GmbH / BMG (c.1978-1992)

### ### = any format (center labels)

### ###-### = any format (sleeve)

• 1## ### > 7" single
• 2## ### > LP
• 3## ### > 2x LP
• 4## ### > MC
• 6## ### > Maxi Single/12"
• 8## ### > LP distributed by Ariola/BMG import service

Germany releases via BMG (1992-?)

74321 ##### #

Italy releases via Dischi Recordi S.p.A. (1970s-?)

ILPS 19### = LP

ORL 19### = LP

These have only Island branding on center labels. On sleeve: "Distribuzione Dischi Recordi S.p.A.". ORL ##### can have an additional "Orizzonte" logo on sleeve.

Netherlands releases via Ariola(?) (1970s-1980s)

## ### ILPS = LP

## ### XOT = LP

###.### = any format

As with Germany, still pretty fuzzy. Labels have STEMRA/Made in Holland on them.

On Discogs, these are currently filed under Island Records (Netherlands) or Ariola Benelux or maybe Ariola (Germany).

• It seems to me that Ariola Benelux is Ariola Netherlands. The 6-figure catalogue numbers are the same as for the German Ariola/BMG releases. But they are printed like ###.### with a dot between third and forth figure.
• In the Island Reggae Greats (IRG 1 - IRG 17, all 1985) series it's more interesting: Obviously the vinyl was manufactured in Germany, the labels were printed with the German numbers. But some sleeves were printed in the Netherlands or in Benelux with the "dot-numbers". And the whole things was distributed in Germany via Ariola Import service who uses small stickers on the back sleeve to cover the original number with typed catalog numbers starting with 8## ### (see Ariola Germany).

Netherlands releases via PolyGram (1989-?)

### ###-1 = 12"

Portugal releases via Dacapo (1980s)

10.######.## = 12" or LP

### ### = LP (maybe not actually via Dacapo)

ILPS ####-P = LP (maybe not actually via Dacapo)

This one seems to be kind of an odd one, with a German (Ariola) cat# in addition to Dacapo info.

US releases via Atco/Atlantic (1982-1989, and 1989-1990 w/PolyGram barcode stickers)

DMD ### = promo 12", may have 4 digits

PR ### = promo 7" or promo 12", may have 4 digits

0-##### = 12" or EP

7-##### = 7"

7 9####-1 or 9####-1 = LP

7 9####-2 or 9####-2 = CD

7 9####-4 = cassette

These have Island branding but mention Atco or Atlantic in the fine print. Promos may have WEA stickers. Non-promos may have a single-letter suffix on them, like 9####-1-Y, which may indicate some kind of special edition(?)

Australia and New Zealand releases via Festival Records (1980s)

The following are filed under Festival Records in Discogs:

C ##### = cassette or cassette single

C ###### = CD

CD ##### = CD

D ## or D ### or D#### = CD single

D ##### = CD or CD single

K #### = 7"

L ##### = LP

MX ##### = 12" special edition

PRX ##/## = promo 12"

PRX #####/# = promo 12"

X ##### = 12"

The following are 1960s-1970s formats and might not include any Island material:

AMX ##,### = 7"

CFR 10-### = 10"

CFR 12-### = LP

SAL-###,### = LP

SAML-###,### = LP

SFL-###,### = LP

SIL-###,### = LP

The following are filed under Festival Records Retail Marketing Ltd. in Discogs:

RMC ##### = cassette

RMD ##### = CD

RML ##### = LP

Occasionally the cat# from the original release will show up on Festival's editions alongside the Festival number.

In general, compared to releases from other regions, the Australia/New Zealand releases seem to be more heavily branded as being primarily on Festival rather than just Island.

US or Canada releases via PolyGram (1989-?)

162-### ###-1 = 12" on Island Red Label or 4th & Broadway

162-### ###-2 = CD or CD single on Island Red Label or 4th & Broadway

162-### ###-4 = cassette or cassette single on Island Red Label or 4th & Broadway

314-### ###-2 = CD or 2xCD

314-### ###-4 = cassette

422-### ###-2 = CD or CD single

We suspect that sometimes the prefix may be left off, e.g. ### ###-2

Catalogue #s may overlap between US and Canada editions if tracklists are same.

Sometimes the first hyphen is missing.

Germany releases via PolyGram (1989-?)

Still very fuzzy

Germany releases via Island Mercury Labelgroup (2001-2003)

### ###-# = any format

Germany releases via Polydor Island Group (2003-?)

9## ###-# = any format (last digit does not make a difference)

0## ###-# = 12" (only?)

#### ###-# = promo

US releases via Universal (2001?-present)

B000####-02 = CD or 2xCD

B000####-10 or B000####-50 = CD + DVD (?)

B000####-11 = 12" or 2x12"

B000####-21 = 7"

B000####-22 = CD maxi-single (?)

B000####-32 = CD single (?)

ISLF #####-2 = CD

ISLR #####-1 = 12" or 2x12"

ISLR #####-2 = CD or CD single

The B000#### series looks to be 2003-present.

US and Canada releases via Columbia House

I2 ##### = CD

South Africa releases via Priority Records Pty.

The following comes from Joerg Fitzner:

Island used the WIP catalog number prefix on their releases in Africa (through Priority Records Pty.) in the mid-80s. Thus the numbers might have gotten mixed up by lack of coordination (i.e. early-80s UK releases vs. mid-80s African releases) - especially when ZTT comes into play... ;)

Thus, it seems, we have:

WIP 6666

UK 7" = The Jags - "I Never Was A Beach Boy"

ZA 7" = Frankie Goes To Hollywood - "Two Tribes"

The same appears to have happened with:

WIP 6654

UK 7" = Basement 5 - "Last White Christmas"

ZA 7" = Frankie Goes To Hollywood - "Relax"

WIP 6675

UK 7" = Junior Tucker - "The Kick (Rock On)"

ZA 7" = Frankie Goes To Hollywood - "The Power Of Love"

Intensively surfing the web indicates, they also managed to produce a nice 'near-hit':

WIP 6653 UK 7" = Bob Marley & The Wailers - "Redemption Song"

12 WIP 6653 UK 12" = Bob Marley & The Wailers - "Redemption Song"

DWIP 6653 ZA 12" = Frankie Goes To Hollywood - "Relax"

I came across a noteworthy example for successful coordination with U2's "New Year's Day" 7": The UK release is WIP 6848, whilst the ZA release is WIP 6637 - and it seems the latter number had indeed not been used for any UK WIP release before.