History Creator / IslandRecords

In 1959, Chris Blackwell was an English businessman working in UsefulNotes/{{Jamaica}}. He fell in love with the local music and culture, and formed the Island label to record {{Ska}}, {{Reggae}} and {{Jazz}} artists. In 1962, Island began marketing its releases in UsefulNotes/{{Britain}}, where they found a small but loyal following comprised of both West Indian immigrants and white [[ScooterRidingMod Mods]] who wanted to hear the latest in black music. When Blackwell signed a performer with mainstream potential, such as teenage reggae songstress Millie Small ("My Boy Lollipop") or R&B-influenced [[UsefulNotes/TheBritishInvasion British Invasion]] band The Spencer Davis Group ("Gimme Some Lovin'"), he licensed the act to a larger label that had the marketing muscle to get the records on the charts.

* Music/Anthrax

* Music/''Anthrax''

* Music/Anthrax

[[caption-width-right:350:Island's 1969-75 logo.]]

This started to change in 1967, as RockAndRoll began to evolve into GenreMotif/{{Rock}}. Steve Winwood, lead singer of Spencer Davis Group, left to form a PsychedelicRock band called Traffic; Island decided to release Traffic's records themselves, so they reaped the rewards when the group became popular with the hippie counterculture. While Island continued with reggae, in the late 60s and early 70s its focus began to shift to the new generation of British "underground" bands that played styles such as ProgressiveRock, HardRock and FolkRock. This paid off in a big way, as the label assembled an insanely impressive roster of talent, including Music/{{Free}}, Music/FairportConvention, Music/JethroTull, Music/KingCrimson, Music/MottTheHoople, Music/NickDrake, Music/RoxyMusic, and Music/EmersonLakeAndPalmer. Island's success led to several rivals aiming at the same audience, including indies such as [[Creator/ChrysalisRecords Chrysalis]] (which started as an Island offshoot) and Charisma, as well as major label imprints like [[Creator/HarvestRecords Harvest]] and [[Creator/VertigoRecords Vertigo]]. In the US, Island's acts were licensed to other companies until it established an American presence.

This started to change in 1967, as RockAndRoll began to evolve into GenreMotif/{{Rock}}. Steve Winwood, lead singer of Spencer Davis Group, left to form a PsychedelicRock band called Traffic; Island decided to release Traffic's records themselves, so they reaped the rewards when the group became popular with the hippie counterculture. While Island continued with reggae, in the late 60s and early 70s its focus began to shift to the new generation of British "underground" bands that played styles such as ProgressiveRock, HardRock and FolkRock. This paid off in a big way, as the label assembled an insanely impressive roster of talent, including Music/{{Free}}, Music/FairportConvention, Music/JethroTull, Music/KingCrimson, Music/MottTheHoople, Music/NickDrake, Music/RoxyMusic, and Music/EmersonLakeAndPalmer. Island's success led to several competitors aiming at the same audience, including indies such as [[Creator/ChrysalisRecords Chrysalis]] (which started as an Island offshoot) and Charisma, as well as major label imprints like [[Creator/HarvestRecords Harvest]] and [[Creator/VertigoRecords Vertigo]]. In the US, Island's acts were licensed to other companies until it established an American presence.

[[quoteright:223:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/island_records_logo_1969.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:223:Island's 1969-75 logo.]]

[[quoteright:223:https://static.tvtr-opes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/island_records_logo_1969.jpg]]

* Music/TheB52s*

* Music/UriahHeep (Europe only)

In the midst of all this, Island hadn't forgotten its roots, as Blackwell searched for a reggae artist who had the potential to become the genre's first superstar. The label groomed Jimmy Cliff for this role, but found more lasting success with Music/BobMarley, whose appeal helped bring the genre into the international mainstream. Island went on to sign other successful reggae acts like Toots and the Maytals, Steel Pulse, Black Uhuru, Burning Spear and Third World.

This started to change in 1967, as RockAndRoll began to evolve into GenreMotif/{{Rock}}. Steve Winwood, lead singer of Spencer Davis Group, left to form a PsychedelicRock band called Traffic; Island decided to release Traffic's records themselves, so they reaped the rewards when the group became popular with the hippie counterculture. While Island continued with reggae, in the late 60s and early 70s its focus began to shift to the new generation of British "underground" bands. This paid off in a big way, as the label assembled an insanely impressive roster of talent, including Music/{{Free}}, Music/FairportConvention, Music/JethroTull, Music/KingCrimson, Music/MottTheHoople, Music/NickDrake, Music/RoxyMusic, and Music/EmersonLakeAndPalmer. Island's success led to several competitors aiming at the same audience, including indies such as [[Creator/ChrysalisRecords Chrysalis]] (which started as an Island offshoot) and Charisma, as well as major label imprints like [[Creator/HarvestRecords Harvest]] and [[Creator/VertigoRecords Vertigo]]. In the US, Island's acts were licensed to other companies until it established an American presence.

* Music/KingCrimson

* Music/MottTheHoople

----

In 1959, Chris Blackwell was an English businessman working in UsefulNotes/{{Jamaica}}. He fell in love with the local music and culture, and formed the Island label to record {{Ska}}, {{Reggae}} and {{Jazz}} artists. In 1962, Island began marketing its releases in UsefulNotes/{{Britain}}, where they found a small but loyal audience comprised of both West Indian immigrants and white [[ScooterRidingMod Mods]] who wanted to hear the latest in black music. When Blackwell signed a performer with mainstream potential, such as teenage reggae songstress Millie Small ("My Boy Lollipop") or R&B-influenced [[UsefulNotes/TheBritishInvasion British Invasion]] band The Spencer Davis Group ("Gimme Some Lovin'"), he licensed the act to a larger label that had the marketing muscle to get the records on the charts.

This started to change in 1967, as RockAndRoll began to evolve into GenreMotif/{{Rock}}. Steve Winwood, lead singer of Spencer Davis Group, left to form a PsychedelicRock band called Traffic; Island decided to release Traffic's records themselves, so they reaped the rewards when the group became popular with the hippie counterculture. While Island continued with reggae, in the late 60s and early 70s its focus began to shift to the new generation of British "underground" bands. This paid off in a big way, as the label assembled an insanely impressive roster of talent, including Music/{{Free}}, Music/FairportConvention, Music/JethroTull, Music/KingCrimson, UsefulNotes/MottTheHoople, Music/NickDrake, Music/RoxyMusic, and Music/EmersonLakeAndPalmer. Island's success led to several competitors, including indies such as [[Creator/ChrysalisRecords Chrysalis]] (which started as an Island offshoot) and Charisma, as well as major label imprints like [[Creator/HarvestRecords Harvest]] and [[Creator/VertigoRecords Vertigo]]. In the US, Island's acts were licensed to other companies until it established an American presence.

When the music world was upended by PunkRock, Island wasn't any more prepared than their competition, although they managed to sign The Slits and Eddie and the Hot Rods. They did better with NewWaveMusic, particularly an Irish quartet whom Blackwell confidently hyped as Island's "most important signing since King Crimson." Considering that the band was Music/{{U2}}, Blackwell's brashness turned out to be justified.

* UK and Europe only

* Music/BlackUhuru
* Music/BurningSpear

* Music/EddieAndTheHotRods

* Music/GraceJones

* Music/RobertPalmer

* Music/SteelPulse
* Music/TootsAndTheMaytals
* Music/ThirdWorld

This started to change in 1967, as RockAndRoll began to evolve into GenreMotif/{{Rock}}. Steve Winwood, lead singer of Spencer Davis Group, left to form a PsychedelicRock band called Traffic; Island decided to release Traffic's records themselves, so they reaped the rewards when the group became popular with the hippie counterculture. While Island continued with reggae, in the late 60s and early 70s its focus began to shift to the new generation of British "underground" bands. This paid off in a big way, as the label assembled an insanely impressive roster of talent, including Music/{{Free}}, Music/FairportConvention, Music/JethroTull, Music/KingCrimson, Music/EmersonLakeAndPalmer, Music/CatStevens, Music/NickDrake and Music/RoxyMusic--and that's just scratching the surface. Island's success led to several competitors, including indies such as [[Creator/ChrysalisRecords Chrysalis]] (which started as an Island offshoot) and Charisma, as well as major label imprints like [[Creator/HarvestRecords Harvest]] and [[Creator/VertigoRecords Vertigo]]. In the US, Island's acts were licensed to other companies until it established an American presence.

In the midst of all this, Island hadn't forgotten its roots, as Blackwell searched for a reggae artist who had the potential to become the genre's first superstar. The label groomed Music/JimmyCliff for this role, but found more lasting success with Music/BobMarley, whose appeal helped bring the genre into the international mainstream. Island went on to sign other successful reggae acts like Toots and the Maytals, Steel Pulse, Burning Spear and Third World.

-->--'''Music/MelissaEtheridge'''

In 1959, Chris Blackwell was an English businessman working in UsefulNotes/{{Jamaica}}. He fell in love with the local music and culture, and formed the Island label to record {{Ska}}, {{Reggae}} and {{Jazz}} artists. In 1962, Island began marketing its releases in UsefulNotes/{{Britain}}, where they found a small but loyal audience comprised of both West Indian immigrants and white [[ScooterRidingMod Mods]] who wanted to hear the latest in black music. When Blackwell signed a performer with mainstream potential, such as teenage reggae songstress Millie Small ("My Boy Lollipop") or R&B-influenced UsefulNotes/BritishInvasion band The Spencer Davis Group ("Gimme Some Lovin'"), he licensed the act to a larger label that had the marketing muscle to get the records on the charts.

This started to change in 1967, as RockAndRoll began to evolve into {{Rock}}. Steve Winwood, lead singer of Spencer Davis Group, left to form a PsychedelicRock band called Music/{{Traffic}}. Island decided to release Traffic's records themselves, so they reaped the rewards when the group became popular with the {{Hippie}} counterculture.