Roots Archives Forum

ok but does anyone ever heard about a singer called bob marley ?

OK they did some mistakes. for example some of lee perry albums they refused to release like "the return of the super ape" and "heart of the congos". but they also released like capp said some real classics. I'm not just talking about Bob Marley. What about The Heptones, Junior Murvin, Max Romeo, George Faith.

I guess the reason why Island refused to sign antoher reggae artist, was just because they thought Marley is dead and so is Reggae. Or maybe the reason they just couldn't cope the digital era in the mid 80ies.

I heard that Chris Blackwell supported Luciano's "Messenger". I don't know if he produced it

The Messenger Album was not released on Island.

According to http://rootsdub.free.fr/Luciano-disco.htm

both Messenger and Where there is life (both by the great Luciano) were on Island.

Oh my fault, you're right. Didn't know they're still publishing reggae albums

In the last ten years they didn't publish anything in Reggae

Maybe Island didn't need to sign any more reggae talent. With Bob Marley making them plenty money for doing little more work.

And slightly off topic, but I had to pick up on the comment about Virgin Frontline being 'soft'.

Sorry, and I mean this in all humility, but I can't agree with that comment.

OK, a casula skim through the Virgin FL catalogue reveals some of the more pop-reggae stuff but...

Ranking Trevor 'In Fine Style', this LP is not soft.

And neither is 'Harder Than The Rest' by Culture.

Nor is 'International Herb' also by Culture.

Gregory Issacs, 'Cool Ruler' - Soft? No man.

I Roy, 'Cancer' (dub) this is no way soft in fact one of the hardest reggae Dub LPs that is in my collection.

Tappa Zukie, 'MPLA' harder!

The Revolutionaries, 'Vital Dub, Well Charge(d)' This aint soft, this is well charge...

So as you can see from this small selection of the VFL catalogue that the label was responsible for bringing many important artists and tunes fo the era to a wider (European) audience. And because the label also carried many Punk and New Wave artists, they were in the fore of taking Reggae across the divide to guys (like me) who were entrenched in Punk Music in the 70s.

Important work by Mr Branson and his crew and must be recognised.

hi guys
you never heard that island was sold to a cosortium(i think universal if iam not mistaken)long ago and chris blackwell founded a new label called palm tree.ah iam more aware of things that are going on in your western hemisphere as an african
fadel

If you would like more info on Island records see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_Records

All the best....