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Paul Morley

The Islander: My Life in Music and Beyond Hardcover – 9 Jun. 2022

by Chris Blackwell (Author), Paul Morley (Contributor)

149 ratings

in Music Business

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'An adventurer, an entrepreneur, a buccaneer, a visionary' - BONO

As the founder of Island Records, fabled music producer Chris Blackwell has discovered and worked with some of the most important musicians of the second half of the twentieth century - from Steve Winwood to Cat Stevens, Bob Marley to Grace Jones, U2 to Roxy Music, plus countless others. He is also widely credited with having brought reggae music to the world stage.

Now, as he turns eighty-five, Blackwell takes us back to the island where it all began: Jamaica - the place where his family once partied with the likes of Noël Coward, Ian Fleming and Errol Flynn and where, as Jamaican local music began to adopt contemporary American trends, Blackwell's burgeoning musical instincts flourished. It was also the birthplace of the now-legendary Island Records, founded by Blackwell in 1959.

Five years later, while living in London selling Jamaican records to Caribbean immigrants, Blackwell came across the vocal talents of teenager Millie Small, who he paired with the song 'My Boy Lollipop'. The producer added a ska beat and released what would be a worldwide hit.

But this was just the beginning of a truly remarkable career. In this fascinating memoir, including up to fifty photos supplied by Blackwell's team, the music icon will discuss the many artists he's worked with over the years, as well as unpicking the initiatives, decisions and risks that ultimately brought such success to both Blackwell and his esteemed musical collaborators.

Print length

416 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Nine Eight Books
Publication date

9 Jun. 2022
Dimensions

16.2 x 3.8 x 24 cm
ISBN-10

1788705750
ISBN-13

978-1788705752
See all details

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From the Publisher

Chris Blackwell Music Autobiography Island Records

Chris Blackwell The Islander Music Autobiography

Product description

Review

'As you're about to find out through the pages in this book, Chris Blackwell - who looms large in U2's life and was in fact our lifeline into the music world - is an adventurer, an entrepreneur, a buccaneer, a visionary and a gentleman. I'm proud to know him.' -- BONO

'C.B. had this way of throwing me in the deep end knowing that I would thrive on being challenged. As you'll read in The Islander, he knows how to get the very best out of people - he's a mover and a shaker and a mischief-maker.' -- GRACE JONES

'I read Chris Blackwell's autobiography in one sitting, unable to tear myself away. From "My Boy Lollipop" and Bob Marley, via Swinging London and punk, all the way to Talking Heads and U2, I felt like I was reading the inside story of the music of my life.' -- SALMAN RUSHDIE

'A thoroughly quotable autobiography, a book that's hard to put down. ****' ― MOJO

'Fascinating. 8/10' ― UNCUT

'A rip-roaring yarn, the ultimate behind-the-scenes insider look at the coolest label ever on the planet.' ― THE QUIETUS

'Fascinating autobiography of the Island Records founder. The Islander is a treasure.' ― PROG

'Highly recommended.' ― KIRKUS

'There are amazing insights. If you want to know how it was...read The Islander.' -- BOB LEFSETZ

'Highly readable' ― The Guardian

'Highly entertaining, rapid fire, hard to put down memoir' ― Air Mail

'If you're even a minor fan of music books....buy this autobiography. Fascinating' ― Variety

'A compelling autobiography' ― The Observer

'A compelling juicy book' ― The Irish Times

'An absorbing read' ― Echoes

'An extraordinary story and a wonderful book. It couldn't be more enthusiastically recommended' -- Mark Ellen ― Word in Your Ear

Book Description

The definitive autobiography by renowned Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, looking back across his phenomenal life and career.

Start reading The Islander: My Life in Music and Beyond on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Nine Eight Books (9 Jun. 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1788705750
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1788705752
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 16.2 x 3.8 x 24 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 1,746 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 1 in Reggae Music
- 1 in Music Business
- 16 in Business Biographies & Memoirs (Books)

Customer reviews:
149 ratings

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Paul Morley

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Customer reviews

5 star		56%
4 star		32%
3 star		7%
2 star		3%
1 star		2%

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Top reviews from United Kingdom

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Harry Buckle

Easy reading & important document of one who influenced the style & taste of generations.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 June 2022

Verified Purchase

Chris Blackwell (whom I knew reasonably well & whose music businesses our company represented for 30 years in parts of Europe) was an influential tastemaker for generations...particularly from the early '60s to the turn of the century. This book tells his story in rather honest, low key, factual but entertaining fashion. I am relieved by this as it's a story needing documenting-and the usually 'me me me egotistical' Paul Morley- was expected by many in the know to insert too much of himself into the proceedings. So good taste -or strong editing has prevailed and this is an entertaining and well recomended read.

5 people found this helpful

Helpful

Amazon Customer

Music industry giant with really great taste

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 July 2022

Verified Purchase

For anyone who bought vinyl albums in the golden age between the late 60s and late 80s Island Records was a hallmark of quality, originality and great taste. In this fine autobiography Island's founder and spiritual guide Chris Blackwell tells tales of musical splendour encompassing Bob Marley, Traffic, U2, Grace Jones, Free, John Martyn, Roxy Music, Nick Drake and many many more. Essential reading for any music fan

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 July 2022

Verified Purchase

Superb book from start to finish. Great music industry biog. It probably helps that I bought in to the Island Records back catalogue over the years but I think would be a good read for anyone else interested in the music business. The early chapters are particularly fascinating about how things developed in Jamaica.

Helpful

Interesing Read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 July 2022

Verified Purchase

I bought this book on behalf of a friend who found it very interesting.
Chris Blackwell is an interesting person who touched many lives in
the international music scene. All Island Records fans will like this.

Helpful

J wray

Island records the best

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 July 2022

Verified Purchase

An excellent book About a maverick record label boss I loved the late 60s early 70s rock and folk output of island records which are covered well in this book class

Helpful

Zaploosh

Man In Flip Flops Fails To Entertain

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 June 2022

By the time I got to his first meeting with U2 my eyes started to glaze over. As a fan of Island Records and many of their amazing artists, Blackwell's biog has to go down as a drab disappointment. If you already know a reasonable amount about the man and his label, you may well be rather underwhelmed at the total lack of skeleton-ratlling, sensational reveals or score settling. It's an amiable pad through a rich entrepreneur's golden career, with a Rolls Royce here, a model girlfriend there and more property purchases than an average game of Monopoly. Imagine a tanned, elderly Caribbean gentleman sipping on a tot of rum with his own face on the label, fondly remembering his glory days without once wanting to upset the apple cart. Considering some of the nut jobs and maniacs he's worked with over the years, the lack of juice in this is rather astounding. Paul Morley must have been bored to death pulling this together.

6 people found this helpful

Helpful

D. V. Lawson

One Love - We Can All Join In

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 August 2022

In the years since the early 1960's there have been a number of highly influential record labels in both the US and the UK that gave us what we wanted and Island with Traffic, Nick Drake, Cat Stevens, Fairport Convention Roxy Music and others was for me always the best this side of the pond. I was therefore delighted to get the chance to read about it and even chanced upon an event in London where the authors were appearing. It turned out to be the book launch. Chris Blackwell was a gracious and pleasant man who had time for all of us that queued to get our books signed. The book is a very good read and it is very informative and at times emotional. I must admit one section about Grace Jones and the Compass Point musicians dragged on for far too long but overall it is a well worth reading. Long may he run.

Helpful

Denzil

Best audiobook I've heard

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 August 2022

I'd heard Chris' name over the years and thought this book could be interesting, however, once I started the book I could not stop listening. It surpassed my expectations. He has such an interesting back story so the usual problem with biographies was avoided, the boring early years! Every chapter was interesting and was subtlety made even better by the readers excellent reading voice (this is a bonus with quite a lengthy book). His story was told in a interesting but self deprecating way even though it was full of household names. The best and most interesting audiobook I've heard. Brilliant.

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