Islands (Kajagoogoo album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Islands
Type = studio
Artist = Kajagoogoo/Kaja


Released = 1984 (LP/MC), 2004 (CD)
Genre = New Wave, Pop rock, Jazz, Synthpop, Soul, Ballad
Length = 39:36 (LP/MC), 69:55 (CD), 34:32 ("Extra Play")
Label = EMI
Producer = Colin Thurston, Kajagoogoo/Kaja
Reviews =
* Amazon.com Rating|4|5 [http://www.amazon.com/Islands-Kajagoogoo/dp/B0002FH6XM link]
* Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gsjgtq7ztu48 link]
Last album = "White Feathers
(1983)
This album = "Islands"
(1984)
Next album = "Crazy Peoples Right to Speak"
(1985)|

"Islands" is the second album by the British pop band Kajagoogoo, released in 1984 on the EMI label. It was recorded without singer Limahl, who had left the band to pursue a solo career. Bass player Nick Beggs, already the group's main backing singer, took over lead vocal duties, also writing the lyrics. The album was produced by the band themselves, now a four-piece group, along with Colin Thurston, who had also produced their debut, "White Feathers".

The album did not sell as well as its predecessor, and peaked at no.35 in the UK Albums Chart. The album's three singles performed moderately well in the UK: "Big Apple" (Number 8), "The Lion's Mouth" (Number 25), and "Turn Your Back on Me" (Number 47).

In the U.S., where the album was titled "Extra Play", and the band was called Kaja, it only reached Number 185 on the Billboard 200. On the U.S. edition, the version of "Turn Your Back on Me" was different from the original: it was remixed by Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero.

The original UK album was remastered and reissued, with seven bonus tracks, in [2004 in music|2004.

Track listings

All tracks music written by Steve Askew/Nick Beggs/Stuart Neale/Jez Strode, lyrics by Nick Beggs.

"Islands"

#"The Lion's Mouth" – 3:34 (**)
#"Big Apple" – 4:09 (**)
#"The Power to Forgive" – 4:44 (**)
#"Melting the Ice Away" – 5:15 (**)
#"Turn Your Back on Me" – 4:00
#"Islands" – 4:50
#"On a Plane" – 4:13
#"Part of Me Is You" – 3:55
#"The Loop" – 4:38
#"Turn Your Back on Me (Thompson and Barbiero U.S. Mix)" – 3:56 (*)(**)
#"The Pump Rooms of Bath" – 2:31 (*)
#"The Garden" – 2:51 (*)
#"Monochromatic" (Live) – 4:08 (*)
#"Big Apple (Metro Mix)" – 6:05 (*)(**)
#"The Lion's Mouth (The Beast Mix)" – 5:37 (*)
#"Turn Your Back on Me (Extended Dance Mix)" – 5:03 (*)

Tracks marked with one asterisk (*) only appear on the 2004 remastered CD reissue.

"Extra Play"

#"Turn Your Back on Me (Thompson and Barbiero U.S. Mix)" – 3:56
#"The Power to Forgive" – 4:46
#"Big Apple" – 4:02
#"Melting the Ice Away" – 5:18
#"The Lion's Mouth" – 3:30
#"Turn Your Back on Me (Flipped Disc Mix)" – 6:58
#"Big Apple (Metro Mix)" – 6:02

Credits

Band

*Nick Beggs: bass guitar, lead vocals, percussion
*Steve Askew: guitar
*Stuart Croxford Neale: synthesizer, vocals
*Jez Strode: drums, percussion

Additional musicians, vocals and production

*Colin Thurston: production, background vocals, percussion
*Guy Barker: trumpet
*Phill Todd: saxophones (solo "On a Plane"), flutes, brass arrangement
*Chris Hunter: saxophone
*Pete Beachill: trombone
*Annie "Arnie" McCaig: background vocals
*David Geawt: background vocals

Engineers and recording studios

*Rob Hahnet with Terry & Mark: engineer @ Jacob's Studios, Buckinghamshire
*Mark, Neil, Trevor & John: engineers @ Roundhouse Studios
*Robin & Chris: engineers @ Good Breath Studios
*Andy & Hutch: engineers @ Farmyard Studios, Chalfont St. Giles
*Steve Chase: engineer @ The Manor Studios, Oxfordshire
*Gordon Vickey: cutting engineer @ Townhouse Studios
*Kathy Bryan: mastering engineer @ Abbey Road Studios, London
*Dick Jones: assistant engineer

taff

*Paul Ryan: management
*Richard Haughton: band's photography
*Mick Karn: inner photo (Thai picture)
*Cream: original cover art
*The Red Room @ EMI: re-issue design
*Nigel Reeve: coordination re-issue project
*Ann Beggs: special collaboration
*Markus Robinson: lighting
*Tim - Gud Luc: make-up
*Toni & Guy: hairdresser

External links

* [http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,3022202,00.html Artist Direct: tracklisting, timings, credits]
* [http://www.kajagoogoo.com/discography/discography.html Kajagoogoo's official Website: page dedicated to the "Islands" album]
* [http://www.kajagoogoo.com/discography/discography.html Kajagoogoo's official Website: page dedicated to the "Extra Play" album]