Business, Economics & Law
October 2026
1971-72
The third in the acclaimed Island Book of Records series chronicles 1971-72, two years that saw the label secure a position at the forefront of contemporary music around the world.
Major albums from Cat Stevens, Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Jethro Tull brought international success. Traffic released their era-defining The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys and Island returned to its roots with the soundtrack to the most important Jamaican film of all time, The Harder They Come. Nick Drake's masterpieces Bryter Layter and Pink Moon were yet to find their audience, but a new sensation emerged as Roxy Music released their first LP. Meanwhile, Bob Marley & The Wailers were beginning to record Catch A Fire - the album that will be the first to be detailed in IBoR IV.
Featuring material from recent interviews and comment of the time, and including a comprehensive discography of 45s, The Island Book of Records Volume III is lavishly illustrated with album art, gig adverts, tickets, flyers, international LP variants, rare photos, LP and 45 adverts and exclusive ephemera.