Islands is the eleventh studio album by English musician Mike Oldfield, released on 28 September 1987 by Virgin in the UK. Guest singers on the album are Bonnie Tyler, Kevin Ayers, Anita Hegerland, Max Bacon, and Jim Price. A different track list and cover was used for the American edition.
Background Islands was also released as a full-length VHS 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. This was released as part of The Wind Chimes video.
The album boasts the largest number of co-producers out of all of Oldfield's work; production was handled by Michael Cretu (later of Enigma fame), Geoffrey Downes, Tom Newman, Simon Phillips, Alan Shacklock, and Oldfield himself. Singers on the album are Bonnie Tyler, Kevin Ayers, Anita Hegerland, Max Bacon, and Jim Price.
"Flying Start" was released as the third single from Islands on 1 February 1988. It features Kevin Ayers on vocals who had collaborated with Oldfield in his band, the Whole World, even prior to Oldfield's debut album, Tubular Bells. Oldfield used a Danelectro Coral sitar on this song, an instrument that does not feature on many of Oldfield's releases. A different version of the song produced by Colin Fairley was also released on Kevin Ayers' own album Falling Up in February 1988. The music video features various computer generated elements.
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 hand images are based on a still frame from the longform video released at the same time as the album; a couple of scenes in the video, which was mainly filmed in Bali, feature a group of natives performing a ritualistic dance which involves hand-waving movements. The American cover is completely different; it displays two cube shapes. The photography on the back of the US version was by Jerry Uelsmann.
Track listing All tracks composed by Mike Oldfield.
1987 UK release
Side one "The Wind Chimes (Part One and Part Two)" – 21:49
Side two "Islands" – 4:19 (vocals by Bonnie Tyler) "Flying Start" – 3:36 (vocals by Kevin Ayers) "North Point" – 3:33 (vocals by Anita Hegerland) "Magic Touch" – 4:14 (vocals by Jim Price) "The Time Has Come" – 3:51 (vocals by Anita Hegerland) "When the Night's on Fire" (Bonus track on CD version) – 6:41 (vocals by Anita Hegerland)
Original 1988 US release
Side one "The Wind Chimes (Part one)" – 2:33 "The Wind Chimes (Part two)" – 19:14
Side two "Magic Touch" (Original Max Bacon vocal) – 4:14 "The Time Has Come" – 3:51 "North Point" – 3:31 "Flying Start" – 3:36 "Islands" – 4:19
Personnel Mike Oldfield – guitars, Danelectro Electric sitar guitar on Flying Start, bass, keyboards, percussion, vocals Micky Moody – electric guitars Rick Fenn – acoustic and electric guitars Phil Spalding – bass Mickey Simmonds – keyboards Anita Hegerland – vocals (on "The Wind Chimes", "North Point", "The Time Has Come", "When the Night's on Fire") Bonnie Tyler – vocals (on "Islands") Kevin Ayers – vocals (on "Flying Start") Max Bacon – vocals (on "Magic Touch" [1988 US Issue]; backing vocals on "Islands") Jim Price – vocals (on "Magic Touch" [1987 UK Issue]) Mervyn Spence – (backing vocals on "Magic Touch") Raf Ravenscroft – saxophone (on "Islands") Andy Mackay – saxophone, oboe Björn J:son Lindh – flute (on "The Wind Chimes") Simon Phillips – drums (on "The Wind Chimes") Pierre Moerlen – drums, vibes Tony Beard – drums Benoit Moerlen – vibes, percussion
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1987) PeakpositionSpain (PROMUSICAE)4US Albums Billboard 138
Year-end charts Chart (1988) PositionGerman Albums (Offizielle Top 100)75
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 Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks charts in early 1988.
Certifications
References
Sources
External links Mike Oldfield Discography – Islands at Tubular.net Islands lyrics at Tubular.net