The most remarkable thing about listening to these 48  tracks is that, even though they cover a range of styles from folk to progressive and heavier material, there is a certain coherence in that every track sounds as if it belongs in this collection. The tracks are a mix of well-known artists and less-well-known or even unknown. Fairport Convention, Jethro Tull, Traffic and Emerson Lake & Palmer rub shoulders with the likes of Wynder K Frog, Dr Strangelely Strange and Heavy Jelly. There are some real gems in here and it is certainly worthwhile listening to the better-known tracks but not skipping and opening up to these new sounds.

The wonderful Supernatural Fairy Tales by Art sets the tine for the remainder of the album. This is the highlight of the one album that the band made before evolving into Spooky Tooth. The latter is represented through Sunshine Help Me and Lost in My Dream as well as the cover of I am the Walrus. These tracks are certainly worth checking out in their own right, not just because they feature Greg Ridley who later turned up in Humble Pie.

Traffic's contributions have been covered elsewhere in Making Time. The band is represented by the hit single Paper Sun as well as Feelin' Alright, No Time to Live, The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys as well as Tramline's version of Pearly Queen. Traffic are arguably the best-known artist on this compilation with Steve Winwood's vocals well to the fore on the hit single Paper Sun.

Another recognised artist on the Island label was Cat Stevens. He appears twice in this set with Wild World and Peace Train

One of musical genres that fed into Island was folk. This is well-represented here with tracks by Fairport Convention and its lead singer Sandy Denny as well as John Martyn and Fotheringay. The Incredible String Band moved to Island later in their career and Liquid Acrobat as Regards the Air provides Painted Chariot for this set. Robin Williamson is also featured with Dark Dance from his debut solo album Myrhh. Also, moving from the folk idiom towards rock are Jethro Tull who started on Island Records. A Song for Jeffrey will be known to those who have seen The Rolling Stones' Rock 'n' Roll Circus. This superb track showcases Glen Cornick's harmonica playing. Blodwyn Pig are worthy of more listening judging from the two songs here. This band was based around guitarist Mick Abrahams who had previously been in Jethro Tull.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer will also be a band that is familiar to many. Knife Edge is an excellent track driven by Keith Emerson's keyboards.

Vinegar Joe included two excellent vocalists in Elkie Brooks and Robert Palmer.

Release Date: 2005

Essential Tracks:

• Painted Chariot
• Strangely Strange but Oddly Normal
• Supernatural Fairy Tales

Track Listing:

Disc One

1. Art - Supernatural Fairy Tales
2. Traffic - Paper Sun
3. Wynder K Frog - Harpsichord Shuffle
4. Nirvana - Rainbow Chaser
5. Tramline - Pearly Queen
6. Spooky Tooth - Sunshine Help Me
7. John Martyn - Dusty
8. Fairport Convention - Meet on the Ledge
9. Jethro Tull - A Song for Jeffrey
10. Clouds - The Carpenter
11. Heavy Jelly - I Keep Singing That Same Old Song
12. White Noise - Black Mass (Electric Storm in Hell)
13. Free - Over the Green Hills (Part 1)
14. Free - Worry
15. Quintessance - Giants
16. Amazing Blondel - Queen of Scots
17. Traffic - Feelin' Alright
18. Blodwyn Pig - Sing Me a Song That I Know So Well
19. Fairport Convention - A Sailor's Life

Disc Two

1. Jethro Tull - A New Day Yesterday
2. Traffic - No Time To Live
3. Nick Drake - Three Hours
4. Spooky Tooth - Lost in my Dream
5. John & Beverley Martyn - Stormbringer
6. Dr Strangely Strange - Strangley Strange But Oddly Normal
7. Quintessance - Notting Hill Gate
8. Fortheringay - Banks of the Nile
9. Cat Stevens - Wild World
10. The Incredible String Band - Painted Chariot
11. King Crimson - Cat Food
12. King Crimson - Groon
13. Sandy Denny - The North Star Grassman and the Ravens
14. McDonald & Giles - Suite in C including Turnham Green, Here I am and others
15. Amazing Blondel - The Siege of Yaddelethorpe

Disc Three

1. Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Knife Edge
2. Mott the Hoople - Thunderback Ram
3. Nick Drake - Northern Sky
4. Alan Bown - Thru The Night
5. Robin Williamson - Dark Dance
6. Spooky Tooth - I Am The Walrus
7. John Martyn - Glistening Glyndebourne
8. Free - Fire and Water
9. Blodwyn Pig - See My Way
10. Vinegar Joe - See The World (Through My Eyes)
11. Cat Stevens - Peace Train
12. Clouds - Watercolour days
13. Traffic - The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys
14. Heads Hands & Feet - Song for Suzie