June 26, 2020

Kajagoogoo - Islands (1984)

Islands is the second album by the British pop band Kajagoogoo, released on 21 May 1984 on the EMI label.
This was the band's first album without lead vocalist Limahl, who had been fired by the band in mid-1983 and went on to pursue a solo career. Bass player Nick Beggs, already the group's main backing singer, took over lead vocal duties, and also wrote the lyrics.
The album was co-produced by the band themselves, now a four-piece group, along with Colin Thurston, who had also produced their debut, White Feathers.
It is the final album to-date to feature founding drummer Jez Strode. The album also marked the first time Nick Beggs used the Chapman Stick on a recording.

Limahl departed Kajagoogoo at the earliest opportunity, leaving the group to pursue the stardom that was destined to be his.
Of course, fate decided that Limahl would be banished to obscurity after recording the theme for The Never-Ending Story, but his former band joined the ranks of the forgotten much sooner.
Replacing Limahl with vocalist Nick Beggs, the group replicated the lightweight, danceable synth-pop of its debut on their second album, Islands, with one crucial difference -- this time, there are no hooks. And without hooks or Limahl's campy, fey star appeal, Kajagoogoo's music just disappears into thin air.

The album did not sell as well as its predecessor, peaking at no. 35 in the UK Albums Chart. The album's first single, "Big Apple", reached no. 8 in the UK, but subsequent singles were less successful with "The Lion's Mouth" peaking at no. 25, and "Turn Your Back on Me" reaching no. 47.

In the U.S., the band had renamed themselves as Kaja and Islands was released as a mini-LP titled Extra Play. It contained only seven tracks (five from the album and two bonus remixes), and peaked at no.185 on the Billboard 200.

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


Islands

  1. "The Lion's Mouth" – 3:34
  2. "Big Apple" – 4:09
  3. "The Power to Forgive" – 4:44
  4. "Melting the Ice Away" – 5:15
  5. "Turn Your Back on Me" – 4:00
  6. "Islands" – 4:50
  7. "On a Plane" – 4:13
  8. "Part of Me Is You" – 3:55
  9. "The Loop (Instrumental)" – 4:38

CD Bonus Tracks (2004 Remastered Edition)

  1. "Turn Your Back On Me (Thompson & Barbiero US Mix)" – 3:56
  2. "The Pump Rooms Of Bath (Instrumental)" – 2:31
  3. "The Garden (Instrumental)" – 2:51
  4. "Monochromatic (Live)" - 4:10
  5. "Big Apple (Metro Mix)" – 6:05
  6. "The Lion's Mouth (The Beast Mix)" – 5:37
  7. "Turn Your Back on Me (Extended Dance Mix)" – 5:03

Extra Play (U.S. only release)

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

The U.S. album version (not Mini Album) of Extra Play was also released in the U.S. with 9 songs.
Tracklist:
A1 The Lion's Mouth 3:34 A2 Big Apple 4:10 A3 The Power To Forgive 4:46 A4 Melting The Ice Away 5:20 B1 Turn Your Back On Me (Edited By, Mixed By – Steve Thompson Remix, Engineer – Michael Barbiero) 3:58
B2 Islands 4:53 B3 On A Plane 4:14 B4 Part Of Me Is You 3:54 B5 The Loop 4:38

Band

Additional members

Engineers and recording studios

Staff

Notes
Released: 21 May 1984 
Genre: New wave, pop rock
Length: 39:36 (1984 release)
              69:55 (2004 CD-reissue)
              34:32 (Extra Play)

Label - EMI (United Kingdom) / EMI America Records (United States) 
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