Bringing the early years of the iconic Island Records to life, The Island Book of Records (1959-1968) will document the label's analogue era. Edited by Neil Storey, Island’s former Head of Press, the book will be published through Manchester University Press on October 3, 2023.

The book is set to contain a comprehensive archive of album cover design and photography, alongside the voices of the musicians, designers, photographers, producers, studio engineers and record company staff that worked on each project.

In all, the books aims to show, in unique depth, the workings of the label and every LP created.

The first edition of The Island Book of Records will showcase the LPs from 1959 to 1968, with the aim to produce more, until the collection is completed. When complete, the individual volumes will represent the entire catalogue of Island’s records: from the company’s first release in Jamaica during 1959, to when Chris Blackwell sold the label in 1989.

Every album is fully illustrated to include labels, booklets, die-cut covers and foreign editions as well as scheduled but ultimately unreleased LPs.

The Island Book of Records will combine contemporary commentary with previous interviews, whereby the stories behind the records and their artwork are told by those involved in their making.

In volume one, the huge collections of interviewees include founder Chris Blackwell together with photographers Dick Polak, John Benton-Harris, Gered Mankowitz FRPS and Barrie Wentzell; graphic artists John Hurford and Burt Goldblatt; musicians Owen Gray, Ernest Ranglin, Muff Winwood, Jess Roden, Dave Pegg, Simon Nicol, Spooky Tooth’s Mike Harrison and Kellie, Patrick Campbell-Lyons, Don Letts and Steve Winwood; former Island staff members David Betteridge, Ann Sullivan, Rob Bell, Penny Massot, John Glover, Tom Hayes, Tim Clark and John Knowles; studio engineers Phill Brown, Brian Humphries and John Wood; and producers/managers Joe Boyd and Sandy Roberton.

Commentary from the time includes Ian Anderson, Terry Ellis, Barbara Lynn, Enid Cumberland and Linton Kwesi Johnson, while in memoriam are Guy Stevens, Sandy Denny, Elmore James, John Martyn, Lee Gopthal, Chris Wood, Byron Lee, Count Prince Miller, Millie Small, the Rt Hon Edward Seaga and Jim Capaldi.

The book is designed by Jayne Gould, the former Creative Director of Associated Newspapers, Design Director for News Corp. and Art Director, at Tatler.

Each vinyl-sized volume sits at approximately 390 pages, containing a comprehensive illustrated discography of 45s and EPs alongside gig adverts (many at venues which no longer exist), flyers, magazine covers, concert tickets, and Island’s pioneering LP adverts, plus other artefacts.

The unique project began over 15 years ago, becoming a labour of love, and a feat which no other label has taken on.

You can find all places to purchase The Island Book of Records, including prices, etc. - here!