The Island Book of Records 1969-70 Volume 2

21 November 2024 - Press release

“impressively curated, forensically detailed… I enjoyed it immensely. I look forward to Volume 2”
Neil McCormick - The Telegraph Best Music Books of 2023 

“Like entering the record shop of your dreams” David Hepworth

 

Following the release of the universally acclaimed Island Book of Records, archivist and former Island Records Head of Press Neil Storey is set to release Volume 2 of his multi- volume masterwork.  IBoR Vol 2, which will be available from November 26^th, covers 1969–1970 and runs to 432 vinyl-sized pages (Vol 1 was 392 pages). The book will feature 64 LPs, three of which were never released, and is lavishly illustrated – 1092 images, including each album of the era, international variants, labels, LP adverts alongside gig ads (once again, very many at venues which no longer exist), concert tickets, flyers, posters and so on. A fully illustrated discography of all the 45s from 1969/1970, as well as many released only overseas, is also included.  

Like its predecessor, the text is comprised solely from those who there at the time featuring 75 exclusive interviews with luminaries such as Chris Blackwell, Chrysalis co-founder Chris Wright, Joe Boyd, BP Fallon alongside producers Paul Samwell-Smith, Phill Brown, John Wood and the late Brian Humphries. Musicians interviewed include Ian Anderson, Steve Winwood, Michael Giles, Poli Palmer, Dave Pegg, Jess Roden among very many other while photographer’s recollections come from Po Powell, Dick Polak, Willie Christie, Gered Mankowitz, Julian Lloyd together with the late Keith Morris, Ron Rafaelli and Bob Seiderman. Comment from studio technicians, designers, artist-managers, graphic artists, record shop owners, publishers and record company personnel add up to around 150 interviewees in total. 

Major features in this volume include the move from Oxford Street to Basing Street (and the history of the church which was converted) plus detail on the two shiny new studios; Nick Drake and photographer Julian Lloyd going walkabout; the untimely death of Fairport's drummer Martin Lamble; the brief lives of Blind Faith, a Wooden Frog and Ginger Baker's Air Force; the growth of Chrysalis; the arrival of Robert Palmer; an explanation of musique concrète which brought Spooky Tooth to a halt; a year on the road with Fairport Convention; Pete Townshend causing mayhem in the pages of Record Retailer; the song which caused Traffic to snarl up – among others – alongside the first ever shots of Free taken at the Marquee by Paul Kossoff's brother Simon and the cat which appeared on the cover of King Crimson's Cat Food 45. 

IBoR 2 has been designed by Jayne Gould. 

Work is already underway on Volume 3 (1971-1972) which will be issued in the Spring of 2026.

 

https://theislandbookofrecords.com/