BBC - 1Xtra News - Documentaries - The 50th Anniversary of Island Records


	Last updated: Thursday 21 May 2009	1XTRA NEWS: THE REAL TALK OF THE STREETS

Island at 50

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Island Records is home to Bob Marley, Sugababes, Grace Jones and Amy Winehouse. Over the years it’s become one of the most successful companies in popular music. This year marks the label's 50th anniversary.

Listen as Tinchy Stryder, a new Island artist, tells the story of the label. We hear from its founder Chris Blackwell who started it on a ‘shoe-string budget’ in Kingston, Jamaica.

Island artists both old and new talk about what it’s like working for the label with such a respected history and how the legacy continues.

We also hear from Amy Winehouse, V V Brown, Shontelle, Kid Creole and Damien Marley.

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Who do you think is the most memorable Island artist? Island was well known for their album artwork, do you remember any of their best CD or album covers? Leave your comments here...

Thomas Laistow
Why no mention of Traffic? surely just as influencial as Free and other bands of the sixties...

jon
tinchy is sick 2bf.

Jimbo
My memories of Island in the late 60s/early 70s is of great acts and bands like King Crimson, Free, Traffic, Fairport Convention, Cat Stevens, Jethro Tull and Nick Drake. That glorious pink label with the white 'i' !!

Gladstone Virgo
Very informative indeed

Morgan Brown
GRACE JONES. She's the BEST!!!

Mel
Lets not forget that they gave us Mica Paris, our true first lady of UK soul back in the day with real commercial success.

REUBO
50 years of Island records' incredible legacy and the only comment prior to this one is about how much some girl fancies Tinchy Stryder! What?

Ebony
Tinchy is sexxxy!

Pete Jackson
Without a doubt it has to be FREE. They were one of the most underrated bands of their time and should have been a lot bigger and lasted longer than they did. Winwood and Martyn also get my vote. It shows what a major force in talent Island records was.

JORDAN
I LOVE TINCHY STRYDER HE'S SO SEXY AND GORGEOUS =]. EVEN DOE HE'S ONLY 5FT,11 HE'S SO SO CUTE AND HE'S SMILE IS TO PENG (L)