Island Records - Definition and Overview

Island Records is a record label that was founded in Jamaica in 1959 by Chris Blackwell. Initially focused on Jamaican music, Island Records branched out establishing subsidiarys as Surprise Records, Sue Records, Jump Records, Black Swan Records and Aladdin Records. It became one of the more important record labels of the 1980s. Their distinctive palm tree logo has been on many famous discs from Bob Marley to U2 with the label being responsible for many of the big acts of the last four decades. The label was sold to PolyGram in 1989. After PolyGram's merger in 1998, Island Records' artists and back catalog were combined with those of Def Jam to create the Island Def Jam Records.

Notable artists and date of signing:

• The 77s
• Black Uhuru
• Burning Spear
• Jimmy Cliff
• The Cranberries (1993)
• Nick Drake
• Emerson, Lake and Palmer
• Fairport Convention
• Free
• Hoobastank
• Jethro Tull
• Grace Jones (1977)
• The Killers
• Bob Marley (1971)
• Mott The Hoople (1969)
• Pulp
• Quintessence
• Robert Palmer
• Roxy Music
• Saliva
• Steel Pulse
• Cat Stevens
• Sum 41
• Third World
• Thrice
• Thursday
• Traffic
• U2 (March 1980)
• Utada
• Tom Waits (1980s and 1990s)
• The Wedding Present (1994)
• Insane Clown Posse
• Gavin Christopher

External link

• Island Records home page (http://www.islandrecords.co.uk)
• Island Records US site (http://www.islandrecords.com)

See also

• List of record labels