Islands (Mike Oldfield album)
Encyclopedia
Islands is the 11th album
by Mike Oldfield
, released in 1987
. Guest singers on the album are Bonnie Tyler
, Kevin Ayers
, Anita Hegerland
and Jim Price. A different track list and cover was used for the American
edition.
video album. For each track a video was made and released, often mixing state of the art
(for the time) computer generated images with real life images.
The album boasts the largest number of co-producers out of all of Oldfield's work; production was handled by Michael Cretu
(of Enigma
fame), Geoffrey Downes, Tom Newman
, Simon Phillips
, Alan Shacklock
and Oldfield himself. Guest singers on the album are Bonnie Tyler
, Kevin Ayers
, Anita Hegerland
and Jim Price.
The major single in Europe
was the title track, "Islands
", which was sung by Bonnie Tyler. In the United States, "Magic Touch
" was a top 10 hit on the Billboard
Album Rock charts in early 1988.
.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Mike Oldfield
Mike Oldfield
Michael Gordon Oldfield is an English multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, working a style that blends progressive rock, folk, ethnic or world music, classical music, electronic music, New Age, and more recently, dance. His music is often elaborate and complex in nature...
, released in 1987
1987 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1987.See also:Record labels established in 1987-January-February:*January 3 – Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
. Guest singers on the album are Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler is a Welsh singer, most notable for her hits in the 1970s and 1980s including "It's a Heartache", "Holding Out for a Hero" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart".-Early life:...
, Kevin Ayers
Kevin Ayers
Kevin Ayers is an English singer-songwriter and was a major influential force in the English psychedelic movement...
, Anita Hegerland
Anita Hegerland
Anita Hegerland , is a Norwegian singer famous for her childhood career in the Scandinavian and German markets and subsequent vocal contributions to amongst others Mike Oldfield's work.- Biography :...
and Jim Price. A different track list and cover was used for the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
edition.
Music videos, producers and singers
Islands was also released as a full-length VHSVHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
video album. For each track a video was made and released, often mixing state of the art
State of the art
The state of the art is the highest level of development, as of a device, technique, or scientific field, achieved at a particular time. It also refers to the level of development reached at any particular time as a result of the latest methodologies employed.- Origin :The earliest use of the term...
(for the time) computer generated images with real life images.
The album boasts the largest number of co-producers out of all of Oldfield's work; production was handled by Michael Cretu
Michael Cretu
Michael Cretu is a Romanian musician. He is known also as Curly, MC or Curly M.C. because of his fair curled hair . His peak musical activity was with the Enigma project, which was mainly based in Germany....
(of Enigma
Enigma (musical project)
Enigma is an electronic musical project founded in Germany by Michael Cretu, David Fairstein and Frank Peterson in 1990. The Romanian-born Cretu conceived the Enigma project while working in Germany, but has based his recording studio A.R.T. Studios in Ibiza, Spain, since the early 1990s until May...
fame), Geoffrey Downes, Tom Newman
Tom Newman (musician)
Not to be confused with Thomas Newman.Tom Newman is an English record producer and musician...
, Simon Phillips
Simon Phillips
Simon Phillips is an English jazz, pop and rock drummer.-Career:Phillips began to play professionally at the age of twelve in his father's Dixieland band for four years. He was then offered the chance to play in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar...
, Alan Shacklock
Alan Shacklock
Alan Shacklock is an English musician, composer, arranger and recording producer who currently lives and works in Nashville, Tennessee...
and Oldfield himself. Guest singers on the album are Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler is a Welsh singer, most notable for her hits in the 1970s and 1980s including "It's a Heartache", "Holding Out for a Hero" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart".-Early life:...
, Kevin Ayers
Kevin Ayers
Kevin Ayers is an English singer-songwriter and was a major influential force in the English psychedelic movement...
, Anita Hegerland
Anita Hegerland
Anita Hegerland , is a Norwegian singer famous for her childhood career in the Scandinavian and German markets and subsequent vocal contributions to amongst others Mike Oldfield's work.- Biography :...
and Jim Price.
Charts
The album peaked at #9 on Norway's album chart and at #29 in the UK Album Chart.The major single in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
was the title track, "Islands
Islands (Mike Oldfield song)
"Islands" is a single by musician Mike Oldfield, released in 1987 . It is from the album of the same name, Islands. "Islands" features Bonnie Tyler on vocals.- Track listing :# "Islands" – 5:35...
", which was sung by Bonnie Tyler. In the United States, "Magic Touch
Magic Touch (song)
"Magic Touch" is a single by musician Mike Oldfield, released in 1988 . It is from the album Islands.- Charts :The song charted at number 10 on the US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart.- Release details :...
" was a top 10 hit on the Billboard
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
Album Rock charts in early 1988.
| Chart | Position |
|---|---|
| Norway | 9 |
| UK Album Chart | 29 |
Album artwork
The UK front cover artwork was of a tropical island, and hidden in the surrounding sea is a large number of hand shapes. The American cover however is different; it displays two cube shapes. The photography on the back of the US version was by Jerry UelsmannJerry Uelsmann
Jerry N. Uelsmann is an American photographer.Uelsmann was born in Detroit, Michigan. When he was in high school, his interest in photography sparked. He originally believed that using a camera could allow him to exist outside of himself, to live in a world captured through the lens...
.
Side two
- "IslandsIslands (Mike Oldfield song)"Islands" is a single by musician Mike Oldfield, released in 1987 . It is from the album of the same name, Islands. "Islands" features Bonnie Tyler on vocals.- Track listing :# "Islands" – 5:35...
" – 4:19 - "Flying StartFlying Start"Flying Start" is a single by musician Mike Oldfield, released in 1988 . It is from the September 1987 album Islands.Unusually for an Oldfield 12-inch at that time, the extended duration was achieved simply by a short introductory instrumental that bears no musical relation to the rest of the song...
" – 3:36 - "North Point" – 3:33
- "Magic TouchMagic Touch (song)"Magic Touch" is a single by musician Mike Oldfield, released in 1988 . It is from the album Islands.- Charts :The song charted at number 10 on the US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart.- Release details :...
" (New Jim Price Vocal) – 4:14 - "The Time Has ComeThe Time Has Come (Mike Oldfield song)"The Time Has Come" is a single by multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield, released in 1987 on Virgin Records."The Time Has Come" features Oldfield's then partner and former child singer, Anita Hegerland, on vocals and is from the album Islands...
" – 3:51 - "When the Night's on Fire" – 6:41
Side two
- "Magic TouchMagic Touch (song)"Magic Touch" is a single by musician Mike Oldfield, released in 1988 . It is from the album Islands.- Charts :The song charted at number 10 on the US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart.- Release details :...
" (Original Max Bacon vocal) – 4:14 - "The Time Has ComeThe Time Has Come (Mike Oldfield song)"The Time Has Come" is a single by multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield, released in 1987 on Virgin Records."The Time Has Come" features Oldfield's then partner and former child singer, Anita Hegerland, on vocals and is from the album Islands...
" – 3:51 - "North Point" – 3:31
- "Flying StartFlying Start"Flying Start" is a single by musician Mike Oldfield, released in 1988 . It is from the September 1987 album Islands.Unusually for an Oldfield 12-inch at that time, the extended duration was achieved simply by a short introductory instrumental that bears no musical relation to the rest of the song...
" – 3:36 - "IslandsIslands (Mike Oldfield song)"Islands" is a single by musician Mike Oldfield, released in 1987 . It is from the album of the same name, Islands. "Islands" features Bonnie Tyler on vocals.- Track listing :# "Islands" – 5:35...
" – 4:19
Singles
- "IslandsIslands (Mike Oldfield song)"Islands" is a single by musician Mike Oldfield, released in 1987 . It is from the album of the same name, Islands. "Islands" features Bonnie Tyler on vocals.- Track listing :# "Islands" – 5:35...
" (as Mike & Bonnie) (7 September 1987)- Switzerland #22
- Germany #41
- Italy #41
- UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#100
- "The Time Has ComeThe Time Has Come (Mike Oldfield song)"The Time Has Come" is a single by multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield, released in 1987 on Virgin Records."The Time Has Come" features Oldfield's then partner and former child singer, Anita Hegerland, on vocals and is from the album Islands...
" (1987) - "Flying StartFlying Start"Flying Start" is a single by musician Mike Oldfield, released in 1988 . It is from the September 1987 album Islands.Unusually for an Oldfield 12-inch at that time, the extended duration was achieved simply by a short introductory instrumental that bears no musical relation to the rest of the song...
" (1 February 1988) - "Magic TouchMagic Touch (song)"Magic Touch" is a single by musician Mike Oldfield, released in 1988 . It is from the album Islands.- Charts :The song charted at number 10 on the US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart.- Release details :...
" (January 1988) USA/Australia/Germany- USA #10 Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks
Personnel
- Mike OldfieldMike OldfieldMichael Gordon Oldfield is an English multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, working a style that blends progressive rock, folk, ethnic or world music, classical music, electronic music, New Age, and more recently, dance. His music is often elaborate and complex in nature...
- Simon PhillipsSimon PhillipsSimon Phillips is an English jazz, pop and rock drummer.-Career:Phillips began to play professionally at the age of twelve in his father's Dixieland band for four years. He was then offered the chance to play in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar...
– drumDrumThe drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s (on "The Wind Chimes") - Anita HegerlandAnita HegerlandAnita Hegerland , is a Norwegian singer famous for her childhood career in the Scandinavian and German markets and subsequent vocal contributions to amongst others Mike Oldfield's work.- Biography :...
– vocals (on "The Wind Chimes", "North Point", "The Time Has Come", "When the Night's on Fire") - Bonnie TylerBonnie TylerBonnie Tyler is a Welsh singer, most notable for her hits in the 1970s and 1980s including "It's a Heartache", "Holding Out for a Hero" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart".-Early life:...
– vocals (on "Islands") - Kevin AyersKevin AyersKevin Ayers is an English singer-songwriter and was a major influential force in the English psychedelic movement...
– vocals (on "Flying Start") - Max BaconMax BaconMax Bacon is the former lead singer for 1980s arena rock supergroup GTR as well as the frontman for lesser known bands like Moby Dick, Nightwing, Phenomena, and Bronz....
– vocals (on "Magic Touch" (1987 Original Issue); backing vocals on "Islands") - Jim Price – vocals (on "Magic Touch" (2000 Reissue))
- Tony Beard
- Raf RavenscroftRaphael RavenscroftRaphael Ravenscroft is a Scottish saxophonist and author on saxophone play. He now resides in Exeter, Devon, England.He is best known for his work with Gerry Rafferty, performing the saxophone solo on "Baker Street". Ravenscroft was paid £27 for the session, with a cheque that bounced...
- Andy MackayAndy MackayAndrew "Andy" Mackay is an English multi-instrumentalist, best known as a founder member of the art-rock group Roxy Music....
- Mickey SimmondsMickey SimmondsMickey Simmonds is an English session keyboardist, arranger and composer. He is best known for his work with progressive rock acts, Mike Oldfield, Renaissance, Camel and Fish...
- Phil SpaldingPhil SpaldingPhilip Spalding also known as Phil Spalding, is an English bass player. He is best known as a session musician and player of Fender Precision Bass guitars...
- Micky MoodyMicky MoodyMichael Joseph "Micky" Moody is an English guitarist, and a former member of the rock bands Juicy Lucy and Whitesnake. He was also a founder-member of Snafu. Together with his former Whitesnake colleague Bernie Marsden he founded the Moody Marsden Band, and later, The Snakes...
- Rick FennRick FennRichard 'Rick' Fenn is an English rock guitarist. He is best known for being a member of the band 10cc since 1976. He has also collaborated with Mike Oldfield, Rick Wakeman, Hollies singer Peter Howarth and Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason....
- Bjorn J:Son LindhBjörn J:son LindhBjörn J:son Lindh is a Swedish flautist, keyboardist and composer. Lindh has scored music for films including Mannen på taket, directed by Bo Widerberg and Jägarna, directed by Kjell Sundvall...
- Mervyn (Spam) Fence
- Pierre MoerlenPierre MoerlenPierre Moerlen was a French drummer and percussionist, best known for his work with Gong and Mike Oldfield.-Biography:...
- Benoit MoerlenBenoît MoerlenBenoît Moerlen is a French percussionist, best known for his work in Gong, Pierre Moerlen's Gong and a later off-shoot Gongzilla.-History:...
External links
- Mike Oldfield Discography - Islands at Tubular.net
- Islands lyrics at Tubular.net
- Islands press kit at Tubular.net