On an Island explained

On an Island
Type:Album
Artist:David Gilmour
Cover:David_Gilmour_On_An_Island.jpg
Released:6 March 2006
Recorded:2001–05
Studio:Astoria
David Gilmour's farm (Sussex)
British Grove Studios (London)
Abbey Road Studios (London)
Genre:
Length:51:36
Label:EMI (UK)
Columbia Records (US)
Prev Title:About Face
Prev Year:1984
Next Title:Live in Gdańsk
Next Year:2008

On an Island is the third solo studio album by Pink Floyd member David Gilmour. It was released in the UK on 6 March 2006, Gilmour's 60th birthday, and in the United States the following day. It was his first solo album in 22 years since About Face in 1984 and 12 years since Pink Floyd's 1994 album The Division Bell.

History

The album features Robert Wyatt, Jools Holland, Georgie Fame, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Pink Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright, early Pink Floyd member Bob Klose and Pink Floyd session and touring musician Guy Pratt. Chris Thomas and Roxy Music's Phil Manzanera assisted with production. Engineering duties were undertaken by long-time collaborator Andy Jackson. The lyrics were principally written by Gilmour's wife, writer Polly Samson.

Recording

Much of the album was recorded in Gilmour's private studio aboard his houseboat Astoria. The track "Smile" was heard briefly in an unmastered form on the BBC2 show Three Men in a Boat which retraced a trip on the River Thames that passed the houseboat. Other sections were recorded at David's farm in Sussex and Mark Knopfler's British Grove Studios.

Orchestrations on the album were arranged by noted Polish film composer Zbigniew Preisner and conducted by Robert Ziegler. The orchestra was recorded at Abbey Road Studios by Simon Rhodes.[1]

Singles

The album also featured two singles; the title track "On an Island" and "Smile," the latter peaking at #72 on the UK Singles Chart.[2] "On an Island" also peaked at #27 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

Promo Single edits of "Take a Breath" and "This Heaven" were issued to coincide with the U.S. leg of the tour, while "Smile" was the second single in the UK.

Other releases

Copies of the album initially purchased from Best Buy in the United States contained an exclusive bonus audio CD with the instrumental track "Island Jam," which was subsequently released on the CD single for "Smile" in Europe.

The album was re-released in November 2006 with a bonus DVD of live tracks and other material.

A 5.1 mix of the album was released as part of the deluxe edition of "Live In Gdansk"

Chart performance

On an Island entered the UK charts at #1,[2] giving Gilmour his first ever chart-topping album outside of Pink Floyd. It reached #1 on the European Chart, and #2 in Canada, Portugal and Iceland. It has also provided Gilmour with his first US Top 10 album, reaching #6.

Track listing

All music written by David Gilmour.

Personnel

Tour

See main article: On an Island Tour.

Gilmour toured the album with Richard Wright, Phil Manzanera and long-time members of the live Pink Floyd band, Guy Pratt and Jon Carin. Steve DiStanislao was brought in as drummer. The shows included the entire On an Island album plus Pink Floyd songs such as "Shine on You Crazy Diamond", "Echoes", "Fat Old Sun", "Arnold Layne", "High Hopes", "Wish You Were Here" and "Comfortably Numb" among others. No songs from Gilmour's two previous solo albums were played. The tour is documented on the DVD/Blu-ray Remember That Night and the live album & DVD Live in Gdansk.

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2006)Position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[4] 49
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[5] 55
French Albums (SNEP)[6] 136
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[7] 93
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[8] 83
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[9] 99

Notes and References

  1. Web site: David Gilmour | Music | Live in Gdańsk | Official Website. davidgilmour.com.
  2. Web site: David Gilmour | Artist . Official Charts . 12 July 2012.
  3. Sexton . Paul . Gilmour's 'Island' Yields Chart Treasure . Billboard . 16 March 2006 . 8 January 2021.
  4. Web site: Rapports Annuels 2006. Ultratop. 12 July 2020.
  5. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Album 2006. dutchcharts.nl. 12 July 2020.
  6. Web site: Top de l'année Top Albums 2006. SNEP. fr. 12 July 2020.
  7. Web site: Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts. de. GfK Entertainment. offiziellecharts.de. 12 July 2020.
  8. Web site: Összesített album- és válogatáslemez-lista - eladási darabszám alapján - 2006. 12 July 2020. Mahasz.
  9. Web site: Årslista Album – År 2006. Sverigetopplistan. sv. 12 July 2020.