Islands (Mike Oldfield album)

Infobox Album | Name = Islands
Type = studio
Artist = Mike Oldfield


Released = start date|1987|9|7|df=yes
Recorded =
Genre = Rock
Length = 48:11
Label = Virgin
Producer = Michael Cretu
Geoffrey Downes
Tom Newman
Mike Oldfield
Simon Phillips
Alan Shacklock
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ps867ue070jh link]
Last album = "The Killing Fields"
(1984)
This album = "Islands"
(1987)
Next album = "Earth Moving"
(1989)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Alternate cover
Type = studio


Lower caption = Original United States cover Singles
Name = Islands
Type = studio
Single 1 = Islands (as Mike & Bonnie)
Single 1 date = 7 September 1987
Single 2 = The Time Has Come
Single 2 date = 1987
Single 3 = Flying Start
Single 3 date = 1 February 1988
Single 4 = Magic Touch
Single 4 date = January 1988

"Islands" is the 11th album by Mike Oldfield, released in 1987. 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 also released as a 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 and 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 United States, "Magic Touch" was a top 10 hit on the Billboard Album Rock charts in early 1988.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Mike Oldfield.

UK release

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

Original 1987 US release

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

* Mike Oldfield
* 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))
* Tony Beard
* Raf Ravenscroft
* Andy Mackay
* Mickey Simmonds
* Phil Spalding
* Micky Moody
* Rick Fenn
* Bjorn J:Son Lindh
* Mervyn (Spam) Fence
* Pierre Moerlen
* Benoit Moerlen

External links

* [http://tubular.net/discography/Islands.shtml Mike Oldfield Discography - "Islands"] at Tubular.net
** [http://tubular.net/lyrics/Islands.shtml "Islands" lyrics] at Tubular.net