From what I have read, there was some expectation that "Islands" would sell rather well when it was released in 1987. As a prelude to this success the title track was released as a single, but it sank without a trace.
Given Mike's track record, I can see why people at Virgin Records would be confident of success. Yet, as we have seen with other artists, they just didn't read the bellwether.
As "Islands" was released almost 15 years after Mike's debut, his core audience was clearly getting older and had potentially reached a stage in life where music represented an investment in time and money they could ill afford. Lots of people drift away from music as life becomes more complicated and this lead single was not likely to draw them back.
As for new listeners, this record was released at a time when a generational change was occurring. The charts of the era were full of Stock, Aitken and Waterman and artists such as Steve 'Silk' Hurley and MARRS were signalling the emergence of dance music as a commercial force. This new pop audience were never, ever, going to buy a ponderous ballad sung by someone as 'uncool' as Bonnie Tyler (I know because I was part of this new generation). "Islands" was doomed on both fronts.
If we put the God awful title track to one side, there are some highlights to be found on this record. Side one is occupied by "Wind Chimes" Part 1 and Part 2 which have flashes of real genius amongst their many phases and ideas. To some extent "Part 2" is a big tease as it plays with a few of the motifs from "Tubular
Bells" in a way that suggests the much anticipated "Tubular Bells II" was within reach. This must have pleased and frustrated Richard Branson in equal measure.
The b-side of the record has 5 pop songs which feature various singers. Anita Hegerland's vocals are a pretty close match to those of Maggie Reilly except for the strange pronunciation of certain words such as "north" which is off putting. Kevin Ayers' larynx are stretched to breaking point and beyond by the verses of the otherwise catchy "Flying Start" but the faux heavy rock of "Magic Touch" is a car crash in denim and poodle hair. This is a strange album with one side I enjoy and another that I really do not. 2/5
