Since its beginnings in Jamaica in 1959, the story of the pioneering Island Records label has been inextricably linked to the story of its founder, Chris Blackwell. Now, Blackwell has curated a series of compilation LPs, featuring his hand-picked tracks that correspond with his and Island's legendary history. Volume One of The Vinyl Series, a 14-track album covering the years 1962 to 1969, includes contributions from The Pioneers, Toots & The Maytals, The Melodians, Derrick Morgan, Harry J. All Stars, Desmond Dekker & The Aces, Millie Small, The Spencer Davis Group, Charlie & Inez Foxx, Bob & Earl, and The Soul Sisters.
The first volume of The Vinyl Series includes such groundbreaking hits as Millie Small's "My Boy Lollipop" and "Israelites" by Desmond Dekker and the Aces – songs which introduced much of the world to the sound of Jamaican music. Several early singles set the context for these singles by Toots and the Maytals and "Forward March" by a teenage Derrick Morgan, the "first star of ska." The set also points to the expansive musical directions that Island would soon pursue, especially after the 1966 smash "Gimme Some Lovin' " by the Spencer Davis Group, whose lead singer, Steve Winwood, would later further influence the label's direction. Also included are some of the immortal R&B singles that Island released in the UK through its Sue Records subsidiary, like "Mockingbird" by Charlie and Inez Foxx and "Harlem Shuffle" by Bob and Earl.
The future volumes of The Vinyl Series will illustrate the visionary role that Island played in the folk, hard rock, singer-songwriter, glam, and progressive movements – and, of course, the records by Bob Marley and the Wailers and Jimmy Cliff, among others, that defined reggae around the world.
- Long Shot Kick De Bucket – The Pioneers
- Six and Seven Books of Moses – Toots & The Maytals
- Rivers of Babylon – The Melodians
- Forward March – Derrick Morgan
- Liquidator – Harry J. All Stars
- Israelites – Desmond Dekker & The Aces
- 007 (Shanty Town) – Desmond Dekker and The Aces
- My Boy Lollipop – Millie Small
- 54-46 Was My Number – Toots & The Maytals
- Keep On Running – The Spencer Davis Group
- Gimme Some Lovin' – The Spencer Davis Group
- Mockingbird - Charlie & Inez Foxx
- Harlem Shuffle – Bob & Earl
- I Can't Stand It – The Soul Sisters