The history and the discography of the Island Records label can conveniently be divided into three phases: The Jamaican Years, covering the label's releases from 1959 to 1966 The New Ground Years, covering 1967 to approximately 1980. The Consolidation Years, covering 1980 onwards. In 1989, Chris Blackwell sold Island Records to PolyGram, resulting in a remarketing of the Island back catalogue on compact disc under the Island Masters brand.
Jamaican releases (1959–1962) Blackwell released 32 singles and four LPs in this period.
Jamaican singles The very first records were issued on 7" 45rpm sides in Jamaica on a label simply called 'R & B'... No number – The Caribs: "Taboo" / "Matilda Cha Cha" (matrix: GRC.5725A/5725B; also issued on Starlite ST.45 012), June 1960 002 – Laurel Aitken: "Boogie In My Bones" / "Little Sheila" (matrix: GRC.5935A/5935B; also issued on Starlite ST.45 011), March 1960 006 – Laurel Aitken with the Caribs: "Honey Girl" / "Drinkin' Whisky" (matrix: GRC.6012A/6012B; also issued on Starlite ST.45 014), August 1960 007 – Lord Lebby with the Caribs: "One Kiss For My Baby" / "Caldonia" (matrix: IRB-6A/6B; also issued on Starlite ST.45 018), October 1960 008 – Wilfred "Jackie" Edwards and the Caribs: "We're Gonna Love" / "Your Eyes Are Dreaming" (matrix: GRC.6017A/6017B; also issued on Starlite ST.45 016), September 1960 (on red vinyl) 009 – Owen Gray and the Caribs: "Far Love" / "Please Let Me Go" (matrix: GRC.6018A/6018B; also issued on Starlite ST.45 015), August 1960 010 – The Champs: "Too Much Tequila" / "Chariot Rock", 1960 (Licensed from Challenge Records) 011 – The Jiving Juniors: "Tu-Woo-Up-Tu-Woo" / "Lovers Line" (matrix: IRB-9A/9B; also issued on Starlite ST.45 028), December 1960 012 – Charlie Babcock: "I Have a Feeling" / "Baby Baby Baby" (matrix: GRC.6140A/6140B), 1960 016 – Earl Hooker: "Do the Chicken" / "Yea Yea", 1960 (Licensed from C.J. Records) 017 – Wilfred "Jackie" Edwards and the Caribs: "I Know" / "Tell Me Darling" (matrix: IRB-8A/8B; also issued on Starlite ST.45 026), December 1960 018 – The Jiving Juniors and the Caribs: "Slop 'N' Mash" / "My Sweet Angel" (matrix: IRB-15A/15B; also issued on Starlite ST.45 049), July 1961 019 – Owen Gray (featuring Ernest Ranglin – Guitar): "The Plea" / "Jenny Lee" (matrix: IRB-7A/7B; also issued on Starlite ST.45 019), October 1960 021 – The Downbeats: "Thinkin' of You" / "Midnite Love" (matrix: IRB-16A/16B; also issued on Starlite ST.45 051), July 1961 022 – Owen Gray and the Caribs: "Mash It, Pt. 1" / "Mash It, Pt. 2" (matrix: IRB-11A/11B; also issued on Starlite ST.45 032), January 1961 023 – The Blues Busters: "The Spiritual (Jesus Is In My Soul)" / "Lost My Baby" (matrix: IRB-10A/10B; also issued on Starlite ST.45 031), January 1961 No number – Teddy Brown: "Pretty Little Baby" / "Genevieve (Jenny V)" (matrix: IRB-12A/12B; also issued on Starlite ST.45 033), January 1961 No number – Wilfred "Jackie" Edwards: "Whenever There's Moonlight" / "Heaven Just Knows" (matrix: IRB-13A/13B; also issued on Starlite ST.45 046), June 1961 027 – Keith and Enid: "It's Only a Pity" / "Never Leave My Throne" (matrix: IRB-14A/14B; also issued on Starlite ST.45 047), June 1961 028 – The Rhythm Aces with the Caribs: "Wherever You May Go" / "A Thousand Teardrops" (matrix: IRB-23A/23B; also issued on Starlite ST.45 061), November 1961 No number – Wilfred "Jackie" Edwards: "More Than Words Can Say" / "I Love You No More" (matrix: IRB-24A/24B; also issued on Starlite ST.45 062), November 1961 035 – The Blues Busters: "You Send Me Crazy" / "Your Love" (matrix: IRB-18A/18B; also issued on Starlite ST.45 072), January 1962 037 – A. [Audley] Williams: "Grisby" / "Clint's Theme", 1961 040 – Keith and Enid: "What Have I Done" / "You're Gonna Break My Heart" (matrix: IRB-17A/17B; also issued on Starlite ST.45 067), December 1961 041 – The Rhythm Aces: "C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S" / "Please Don't Go Away", 1961 No number – The Rhythm Aces: "Oh My Darling" / "Please Don't Go Away" (matrix: IRB-19A/19B; also issued on Starlite ST.45 066), December 1961 No number – Wilfred "Jackie" Edwards: "Never Go Away" / "Little Bitty Girl" (matrix: IRB-25A/25B; also issued on Starlite ST.45 076), February 1962 No number – Owen Gray: "I Feel Good" / "Someone To Help Me" (matrix: IRB-26A/26B; also issued on Starlite ST.45 078), March 1962 No number – Owen Gray: "Let Me Go Free" / "In My Dreams" (matrix: IRB-27A/27B; also issued on Starlite ST.45 088), October 1962 No number – Rico's Combo (Rico Rodriguez): "London Here I Come" / "Midnight In Ethiopia" (matrix: PLA-12/PLA-13), 1962 No number – The Champs: "Tequila Twist" / "Limbo Rock", 1962 (Licensed from Challenge Records) 1001 – Jim Hawthorn: "Gaucho" / "Walkin' To New Orleans", 1960 (Licensed from Bingo Records)
Jamaican LPs CB stands for Chris Blackwell; 21 for the age of Blackwell at that time; this is the first number in the LP catalogue series. CB 21 – Lance Hayward: Lance Hayward at the Half Moon Hotel, 1959 CB 22 – Lance Hayward: Lance Hayward at the Half Moon Hotel, Volume 2, 1960 CB 23 – Ernest Ranglin Trio: Guitar In Ernest, 1961 CB LP 24 – Owen Gray: Sings, 1961
UK releases 1960s After the company's start in London in 1962, Island Records diversified already in 1963 into various labels: Black Swan, Island, Sue, and Jump Up.
Singles of the 1960s The first Island "white and red" label was used mainly for Jamaican productions released in the United Kingdom. Catalogue numbers started at WI-001. Many of these records had been released previously in Jamaica and other territories on small local labels. For a variety of reasons details of the artists and songs printed on the labels do not always match what is actually to be found in the grooves of the record! The main Island label was soon joined by another three labels: Sue for black American music with catalogue numbers starting at WI-300, Black Swan for more Jamaican music starting with WI-400, and Jump Up, for Calypso and Trinidadian music, starting with 500, but using another prefix (JU). The Aladdin label was started in about 1965 and used numbers starting with 600, using the WI prefix.
Island (white and red label) Island singles were released with prefix WI and numbers starting with 001. The Island label itself was white with red lettering and logotypes – for the first 100 releases it had a round "Flaming sun" logo on a white label, then and for reprints of the early issues a red strip across the centre of the label like a "bow tie". The labels have the Rutland Gate Mews address on all first pressings up until about number 14; this was followed by the London England address which goes up to at least # 47, then came Cambridge Road.
(N.B. This discography has been expanded and corrected using the published discography in "Record Collector" magazine 201, published May 1996. Details can also be checked online, at the "45cat" database, which contains many label scans. As far as possible, the listings below reflect what is actually written on the record label. Known variations or labelling errors are given in brackets after the entry.)
WI 001 – Lord Creator: "Independent Jamaica" (later expanded to "Independent Jamaica Calypso" and later still corrected to "Independent Jamaica Calypso") b/w "Remember", 14/6/1962 (B-side actually titled "Remember Your Mother & Father";Record Collector 201, May 1996, p.76 ff a version released to celebrate the 1st Anniversary of Jamaican independence had the full title on the label.) WI 002 – Owen Gray: "Patricia" b/w "Twist Baby", 14/6/1962Officially released the same day as WI-001, although it is rumoured that this record may actually have been available first WI 003 – The Jiving Juniors: "Sugar Dandy" b/w "Valerie", 1962; WI 004 – Derrick Morgan: "Travel On" b/w "Teach Me Baby", 1962 WI 005 – Roy and Millie: "We'll Meet" b/w Roland Alphonso: "Back Beat", 1962 (B-side is with uncredited City Slickers); Collectable Records.ru WI 006 – Derrick Morgan: "The Hop" b/w "Tell It To Me", 1962 WI 007 – Lloyd Clarke: "Love You The Most" b/w Lloyd Robinson: "You Said You Loved Me", 1962 WI 008 – Wilfred Jackie Edwards: "All My Days" b/w "Hear Me Cry", 1962 WI 009 – Alton and Eddy: "Let Me Dream" b/w "My Love Divine", 1962 WI 010 – The Continentals: "Give Me All Your Love" b/w "Going Crazy", 1962 WI 011 – Derrick Morgan: "Forward March" b/w "Please Don't Talk About Me", 1962 (B-side act. with Eric Morris); Collectable Records.ru WI 012 – Jimmy Cliff: "Hurricane Hatty" b/w "Dearest Beverley", 1962 WI 013 – Derrick Morgan: "See The Blind" b/w "Cherry Home", 1962 WI 014 – Owen Gray: "Jezebel" b/w Owen & Millie: "Sugar Plum", 1962 WI 015 – Ernest Ranglin Orchestra: "Harmonica Twist" b/w "Nitty Gritty", 1962 WI 016 – Jimmy Cliff: "Miss Jamaica" b/w "Gold Digger", 1962 WI 017 – Errol Dixon: "Morning Train" b/w "Lonely Heart", 1962 WI 018 – Derrick & Patsy: "Housewife's Choice" b/w "Gypsy Woman", 1962 WI 019 – Wilfred Jackie Edwards: "One More Week" b/w "Tears Like Rain", 1962 WI 020 – Owen Gray with Ernest Rauglin (sic.) Orchestra: "Audrey" b/w Owen Gray: "Dolly Baby", 1962 WI 021 – Don Drummond Orchestra: "Schooling The Duke" b/w "Bitter Rose", 1962 (B-side act. Shenley Duffas) WI 022 – Emanuel Rodrigues Ork.: "Rico Special" b/w Bunny & Skitter: "A Little Mashin'", 1962 WI 023 – The Blues Busters: "Behold!" b/w "Oh! Baby", 1962 WI 024 – Martin & Derrick: "Come On" b/w Monty & the Cyclones: "Organisation", 1962 WI 025 – Jimmy Cliff: "Since Lately" b/w "I'm Free", 1962 WI 026 – Theo Beckford: "I Don't Want You" (actually by King Edwards All Stars) b/w "Seven Long Years", 1962 WI 027 – The Jiving Juniors: "Andrea" b/w "Don't Leave Me", 1962 WI 028 – Bobby Aitken: "Baby Baby" (actually with Patsy) b/w "Lonely Boy", 1962 WI 029 – The Hi-Tones: "Going Steady" b/w "Darlin' Elaine", 1962 WI 030 – Owen Gray: "Midnight Track" b/w "Time Will Tell", 1962; WI 031 – Wilbert Harrison: "Off To School" b/w "I'm Broke", 1962 WI 032 – The Rhythm Aces: "C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S" b/w Top Grant: "A Christmas Drink", 1962 WI 033 – Basil Gabbidon: "I Found My Baby" (actually by Roy Braham) b/w "No Fault Of Mine", 1962 WI 034 – Top Grant: "Searchin' (For You)" b/w "David And Goliath", 1963 WI 035 – The Vikings: "Maggie Don't Leave Me" b/w "Henchman" (both actually with Victor Wong), 1963 (The Vikings are actually The Maytals) WI 036 – Shenley Duffas: "Give To Get" b/w Shenley & Millie: "What You Gonna Do", 1963; WI 037 – Derrick Morgan: "Dorothy" b/w "Leave Her Alone", 1963 WI 038 – Lascelles Perkins & Yvonne: "Tango Lips" b/w Dennis Sindrey: "Rub Up" (B-side actually plays "Jamaica's Song"), 1963 WI 039 – Cornell Campbell: "Rosabelle" b/w "Turndown Date" (B-side act. "Under The Old Oak Tree"), 1963 WI 040 – King Edwards (Group): "Dear Hearts" b/w "Oh Mary" (b-side actually by Ransford Barnett), 1963 WI 041 – John Holt: "I Cried A Tear" b/w "Forever I'll Stay", 1963 WI 042 – Jackie Estick: "Since You've Been Gone" b/w "Daisy I Love You", 1963 WI 043 – The Moonlighters: "Going Out" b/w "Hold My Hands", 1963 WI 044 – Clancy Eccles: "Judgement" b/w Clancy & Paulette: "Baby Please", 1962 WI 045 – Lloyd Clarke: "Japanese Girl" b/w "He's Coming", 1963 WI 046 – Kent & Dimples: "Day Is Done" b/w "Linger A While", 1963 WI 047 – King Edwards: "Russian Roulette" (actually by King Edwards All Stars) b/w "You're Mine" (B-side actually by Douglas Brothers), 1963 WI 048 – Owen Gray: "I'm Still Waiting" b/w "Last Night", 1963 WI 049 – The Melody Enchanters: "Enchanter's Ball" b/w "I'll Be True", 1963 WI 050 – Roy & Millie: "This World" b/w "Never Say Goodbye", 1963 WI 051 – Derrick Morgan: "Blazing Fire" b/w Derrick & Patsy: "I'm In A Jam", 1963 WI 052 – Top Grant: "Suzie" b/w "Jenny", 1963 WI 053 – Derrick Morgan: "No Raise, No Praise" b/w "Loving Baby", 1963 WI 054 – Desmond Dekker & Beverleys All Stars: "Madgie" b/w Desmond Dekker: "Honour Your Mother And Father", 1963 WI 055 – Derrick & Patsy: "Sea Wave" b/w "Look Before You Leap", 1963