Calling all Sandy Denny fans! There’s a strictly limited edition 19 CD box set on its way. 11 of the CDs feature Sandy’s studio recordings with Alex Campbell, Johnny Silvo, Fotheringay, Strawbs, Fairport Convention and solo with additional content; outtakes, demos and live recordings. As if that weren’t enough, there are also 8 CDs of bonus material; unreleased songs, demos, unreleased BBC recordings, alternate takes, live recordings, acoustic versions, and rare radio interviews. This set includes the legendarily ‘long lost’ Lord Bateman.

The set is lavishly packed and features all new artwork. It comes with a 72 page 11” square hardback book containing over 100 rare and mostly unseen photographs, Sandy’s handwritten lyrics (many of which are unrecorded songs) and fascinating memorabilia. The box also contains reproductions of: a beautiful original Island press pack, an exceptionally rare A3 promo colour poster for Northstar Grassman and the Ravens, a set of postcards, the receipt for the purchase of her first piano and one of Sandy’s handwritten notebooks.

There are 100 sets that will be available via the Island 50 store that come with a numbered and framed print of the artwork, signed by the artist. Each print will be personally addressed to the purchaser.

IN STORE NOW:
Limited Edition Box Set
Premium Limited Edition Box Set

Music Matters is a collective effort by artists and all those who work in and around music to remind listeners of its enduring value. People from across the industry are coming together for the first time, to highlight the profound value of music and to educate consumers on how to identify legitimate music services.

Allowing the music to speak for itself, Music Matters comprises a series of short animated films about inspirational artists who’ve dedicated their lives to music and helped shape our cultural landscape.

The films, including the stories of artists such as Sigur Ros, the Fron Choir, Blind Willie Johnson, The Jam, John Martyn, Nick Cave and Kate Bush, can be found on supporting artist and organisation websites, with more films to be rolled out later in the year.

A Music Matters trust mark will be launched to help audiences make the ethical choice when looking for new music. The trust mark is a widespread certification scheme which identifies legitimate music services, and will be displayed by leading music retailers.

The Music Matters website, www.whymusicmatters.org, hosts all of the films as well as advice on how to identify legitimate music sites. Happy ethical listening, Islanders!

On October 12th, Dionne Bromfield’s album, Introducing Dionne Bromfield, will become the first release on Amy Winehouse’s new label, Lioness Records. You can now pre-order the album from Island Tunes by clicking here. The album’s full tracklisting is as follows:

1. Tell Him
2. Mama Said
3. Foolish Little Girl
4. My Boy Lollipop
5. Beechwood 45789
6. Two Can Have A Party
7. He’s So Fine
8. With A Child’s Heart
9. Until You Come Back To Me
10. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
11. Am I The Same Girl
12. Oh Henry

On 10th May 2004 Island Records released the No.1 biggest selling album of the year ‘Hopes and Fears’, selling over 5.8 million copies worldwide, and garnering two Brit Awards and an Ivor Novello Award. The album was also voted one of the “Best British Albums” ever in a Q Magazine/HMV poll. It was to become one of the classic albums of our time, and one of the last multi-million selling albums of this generation.

This November Island Records are releasing a deluxe version of this classic album. It is a beautifully packaged 2 CD Deluxe Edition featuring the original album plus; 7 BBC Session recordings, 6 previously unreleased, and the cover of U2’s With or Without You recorded for Jo Whiley’s Live Lounge show.
Along with these it also includes the complete early singles released on the band’s own Zoomorphic label and Fierce Panda. Original copies of these singles change hands for serious money on ebay, usually around £1000 each!

A demo version of Into the Light, a track that never made the final album.
DJ Shadow’s remix of we Might As Well Be Strangers. Rare live recordings of Somewhere Only We Know, We Might As Well Be Strangers, This is the Last Time and Everybody’s Changing that originally formed part of the limited edition Live EP released in 2004. Artwork includes new, unseen photos and sleeve notes by Steve Lamacq.

Here are just a few of the many accolades the album received:

Q Awards Best Album 2004
Ivor Novello Composer of the Year 2004
Brit Awards Best Album and Best Breakthrough Act 2005

“…best new British band of the year.” Music Week, Dec 2003

“Chaplin has a truly exceptional voice… Keane’s future looks bright indeed.” NME, Sept 2003

“Destined to take over the world.” The Fly, Oct 2003

“Ridiculously confident, irresistibly melodic debut…” Q, June 2004

“Some of the new rock bands poised to break through in the UK are as exciting as anything I have heard in years, particularly the inspired songwriting of Keane…” Daily Telegraph, Oct 2003

“Keane are something very special.” The Independent On Sunday, 2004

“Hopes and Fears contains more hooks than most pop groups manage in their careers” Rolling Stone 2004

The 37-track Deluxe Edition is available to pre-order now from the Keane official store, for £14 (around $22 / €15).

We also have available to pre-order now containing the CD and a new T-shirt featuring the classic CP70 print. Plus, there is a very limited edition deluxe bundle, featuring the album, the T-shirt and a Hopes And Fears CP70 art print, signed by the band. Only 150 of these prints were made.

For further information head over to keanemusic.com.

GUESS I’LL TAKE MY TIME TOUR

First Tour Since 1976 for Elusive Yusuf (Cat Stevens)

After quite an extraordinary break of 33 years, Yusuf, the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens, strolls back on the stage. It’s been a long wait, and fans are about to see why. As one would expect from such an innovative and unpredictable artist it’s not a tour in the usual sense.

The legendary singer/songwriter is expected to offer audiences a taste of his timeless hits, like Wild World, Father & Son and First Cut Is The Deepest, as well as music from his highly acclaimed new albums, An Other Cup and Roadsinger. Expanding the music concert with his return to the acoustic guitar, Yusuf will present a preview of the latest step on his lifelong voyage. Incorporating an exciting mix of concert and musical storytelling, Yusuf’s unique performance will also showcase an exclusive debut of the new musical, Moonshadow.

“My songs always told a story, so it’s natural for me to extend that into a stage musical form.” Yusuf said. “It’s taken a long time to arrive, but it’s always been a dream of mine to write a musical. Growing up in the West End of London, surrounded by theatres and shows, obviously left a strong impression on me. I originally wanted to be a composer, not a pop star.” Strange how it’s taken almost a lifetime, but it had to – the story is somewhat a metaphorical mirror of my own journey, so I suppose it had to wait to reach where I am today.”

Arguably the greatest singer/songwriter to come out of the UK and one with a truly global following, Yusuf has certainly taken his time with these dates. He last toured with his Majikat shows in 1976, apart from a couple of intimate performances – events such as his incredible performance for Island Records’ 50th celebrations at Shepherds Bush Empire in May where U2 paid respects and became his support act! The reception obviously inspired him. This usually retiring performer is now primed to embark on another selective tour of UK and Ireland.

The four city tour will commence in Dublin and continue to Birmingham, Liverpool and end in London at the Royal Albert Hall.

November 15 – Dublin The O2
November 23 – Birmingham NIA
December 5 – Liverpool Echo Arena
December 8 – London Royal Albert Hall

Tickets are priced at £50/£60 & £75. Royal Albert Hall tickets are £45-£100 and are on sale now.

Tickets are available from www.aeglive.co.uk or on 08444 775 775.

The Very Best of Cat Stevens is out now on Island Records and available to purchase here on island50.com by clicking here.

The Slits have announced that they are to embark on a European tour in support of their first new full-length album for more than 25 years. The tour starts in Portugal on 3rd October before coming to the UK, the band will be debuting tracks from the new album ‘Trapped Animal’ that’s due out on 5th October.

The Slits will play

3/10 – Oporto, Portugal Casa Da Musica
7/10 – Colchester Arts Centre
8/10 – Liverpool Korova
9/10 – Cardiff Ifor Bach
10/10 – Brighton Concorde 2
11/10 – Sheffield The Corporation
12/10 – Manchester Deaf Institute
13/10 – Glasgow Stereo
14/10 – Birmingham Rainbow
15/10 – Southampton Talking Heads
16/10 – London ULU

Why not grab yourself one these fab t-shirts to support the band.

The Montreux Festival 2009 celebrated Island 50 with a number of tribute shows to Island founder Chris Blackwell. Over four nights, Island’s heritage was celebrated with performances from:

Grace Jones
Sly & Robbie
Marianne Faithfull
Baaba Maal
Angelique Kidjo
Monty Alexander
Ray Lima

Chris also held one of the most popular Q&A’s of the festival.

Here are some pictures from the shows…

Lungs, the acclaimed debut album from one of Island’s hottest new acts, Florence And The Machine, is released this week. Click below if you’d like to order a copy:

Buy from iTunes

Buy from Amazon

Buy from Play

Buy from HMV

Channel 4 came along and filmed the triumphant Island Life gig series at Shepherd’s Bush Empire and have put together a short series of ‘4 Music’ highlights shows which have been airing all this week.

You can watch Monday’s episode (featuring Grace Jones, Aswad, Baaba Maal, Paul Weller and The I-Threes ft Brinsley Forde) on Channel 4’s website by clicking here.

There are two more shows to go, airing at the following times:

4 Music: Island Life (featuring Ernest Ranglin, Steel Pulse, Kid Creole & The Coconuts and Yusuf)
Friday 19 June 12:10am Channel 4

4 Music: Island Life (featuring Keane, VV Brown, Ladyhawke, Baaba Maal and U2)
Saturday 20 June 12:05am Channel 4

This Sunday (June 20th) is Father’s Day and we’ve got plenty of goodies in the Island store which should keep your dad happy. Order before Friday and you’ll get them by Saturday.

Might we recommend the Island Life 3CD compilation, the critically-acclaimed Island Records: Keep On Running coffee table book or the rather nifty Island Record umbrella.

Click here to check it all out.