Islands (Mike Oldfield album)

Untitled

Islands is a album written and mostly performed by Mike Oldfield, released in 1987 (see 1987 in music). Guest singers on the album are Bonnie Tyler, Kevin Ayers, Anita Hegerland and Jim Price. A different track list and cover was used for the American edition.

Islands was possibly the full first video album produced. 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.

The album boasts the largest number of co-producers out of all of Oldfield's work; production was handled by Michael Cretu (of Enigma fame), Geoffrey Downes, Tom Newman, Simon Phillips, Alan Shacklock and Oldfield himself.

Charts

The album peaked at #9 on Norway's album chart. It peaked at #29 in the UK Album Chart.

The major single in Europe was the title track "Islands" which was sung by Bonnie Tyler. In the U.S., "Magic Touch" was a top 10 hit on the U.S. Billboard Album Rock charts in early 1988.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Mike Oldfield.

UK Release

1. "The Wind Chimes (Parts one & two)" – 21:49
2. "Islands" – 4:19
3. "Flying Start" – 3:36
4. "North Point" – 3:33
5. "Magic Touch" (New Jim Price Vocal) – 4:14
6. "The Time Has Come" – 3:51
7. "When the Night's on Fire" – 6:41

Original 1987 US Release

1. "The Wind Chimes (Part one)" – 2:33
2. "The Wind Chimes (Part two)" – 19:14
3. "Magic Touch" (Original Max Bacon vocal) – 4:14
4. "The Time Has Come" – 3:51
5. "North Point" – 3:31
6. "Flying Start" – 3:36
7. "Islands" – 4:19

Singles

• "Islands" (as Mike & Bonnie) (September 7, 1987)
  • Switzerland #22
  • Germany #41
  • Italy #41
  • UK #100
• "The Time Has Come" (1987)
• "Flying Start" (February 1, 1988)
• "Magic Touch" (January 1988) USA/Australia/Germany
  • USA #10 Mainstream Rock Track

Personnel

• Simon Phillips – drums (on "The Wind Chimes")
• 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" (1987 Original Issue); backing vocals on "Islands")
• Jim Price – vocals (on "Magic Touch" (2000 Reissue))
• Mike Oldfield – all other instruments

External links

• Mike Oldfield Discography - Islands at Tubular.net
  • "Islands" lyrics at Tubular.net