2006 studio album by David Gilmour
On an Island Pink Floyd memberDavid 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 sinceAbout Face The Division Bell
The album featuresRobert Wyatt ,Jools Holland ,Georgie Fame ,David Crosby ,Graham Nash , Pink Floyd keyboardistRichard Wright , early Pink Floyd memberBob Klose and Pink Floyd session and touring musicianGuy Pratt . Chris Thomas andRoxy Music 'sPhil Manzanera assisted with production. Engineering duties were undertaken by long-time collaborator Andy Jackson. The lyrics were principally written by Gilmour's wife, writerPolly Samson .
Much of the album was recorded in Gilmour's private studio aboard his houseboatAstoria . The track "Smile " was heard briefly in an unmastered form on theBBC2 showThree Men in a Boat Mark Knopfler 'sBritish Grove Studios .
Orchestrations on the album were arranged by noted Polish film composerZbigniew Preisner and conducted by Robert Ziegler. The orchestra was recorded atAbbey Road Studios by Simon Rhodes.[ 12]
The album also featured two singles; the title track "On an Island" and "Smile," the latter peaking at #72 on theUK Singles Chart .[ 13] Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.[ 14]
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.
Copies of the album initially purchased fromBest 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"
On an Island entered the UK charts at #1,[ 13]
All music written byDavid Gilmour .
No. Title Lyrics Length 1. "Castellorizon " Instrumental 3:54 2. "On an Island" 6:47 3. "The Blue" Samson 5:26 4. "Take a Breath " Samson 5:46 5. "Red Sky at Night" Instrumental 2:51 6. "This Heaven " 4:24 7. "Then I Close My Eyes" Instrumental 5:26 8. "Smile " Samson 4:03 9. "A Pocketful of Stones" Samson 6:17 10. "Where We Start" Gilmour 6:45 Total length: 51:39
David Gilmour –guitars (all),lead vocals (all except 1, 5, 7, "Island Jam"),lap steel guitars ,electric piano (2),percussion (2, 3, 8, 9, 10),bass guitar (3, 8, 9, 10),piano (3, 8, 9),alto saxophone (5),cümbüş (7),bass harmonica (7),Hammond organ (7, 8, 9, 10),harmonica (3) Guy Pratt – bass guitar (2, 4, "Island Jam")Richard Wright – Hammond organ (2), co-lead vocals (3)David Crosby – vocals (2)Graham Nash – vocals (2)Rado Klose – guitar (2, 3)Chris Stainton – Hammond organ (3)Andy Newmark –drums (2, 3, 6, 10), percussion (7)Jools Holland – piano (3)Polly Samson – piano (3),backing vocals (8)Phil Manzanera – guitar (4, 6, 7)Leszek Możdżer – piano (4, 9)Ged Lynch – drums (4, "Island Jam")Caroline Dale –cello (4, 5, 7)Chris Laurence –double bass (5, 9)Ilan Eshkeri – programming (5, 9)Georgie Fame – Hammond organ (6)BJ Cole –Weissenborn guitar (7)Robert Wyatt –cornet (7), percussion (7), vocals (7)Willie Wilson – drums (8)Alasdair Malloy –glass harmonica (7, 9) Lucy Wakeford –harp (9) Chris Thomas – keyboards (9)Zbigniew Preisner – orchestration (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)Paul "Wix" Wickens – Hammond organ ("Island Jam")
Gilmour toured the album with Richard Wright, Phil Manzanera and long-time members of the live Pink Floyd band,Guy Pratt andJon Carin .Steve DiStanislao was brought in as drummer. The shows included the entireOn 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-rayRemember That Night Live in Gdansk
Chart (2006) Position Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[ 39] 49 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[ 40] 55 French Albums (SNEP)[ 41] 136 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[ 42] 93 Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[ 43] 83 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[ 44] 99
Certifications and sales [ edit ] Region Certification Certified units /salesCanada (Music Canada )[ 45] Gold 50,000^ France (SNEP )[ 46] Gold 50,000* Germany (BVMI )[ 47] Gold 100,000^ Italy 2006 sales — 100,000[ 48] Poland (ZPAV )[ 49] Platinum 20,000* Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[ 50] Gold 15,000^ United Kingdom (BPI )[ 51] Platinum 300,000^ United States — 96,000[ 52] * Sales figures based on certification alone.^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
^ On an Island Metacritic ^ On an Island atAllMusic ^ Enhanced with pretentious orchestration and filled with aimlessly pleasant acoustic ruminations, it attempts, and roundly fails, to replicate the magic of the Floyd in "Comfortably Numb" mode. [17 Mar 2006, p.111] ^ John L Walters (24 February 2006)."CD: David Gilmour, On an Island | Music" .The Guardian . ^ Hubbard, Michael (6 March 2006)."David Gilmour – On An Island" . musicomh.com/. ^ Blake, Mark (2008), "Raves from Dave",Mojo , p. 48 ^ Bergstrom, John (12 April 2006)."David Gilmour: On an Island" .PopMatters . Retrieved13 April 2025 . ^ A sumptuous record that leans heavily on familiar Floyd themes. [Apr 2006, p.111] ^ Hoard, Christian (12 April 2006)."David Gilmour - On An Island" .Rolling Stone . Retrieved13 April 2025 . ^ Writer, Guest."David Gilmour On An Island" .Tiny Mix Tapes . Retrieved13 April 2025 . ^ It's probably the most personal project of Gilmour's career. [Apr 2006, p.108] ^ "David Gilmour | Music | Live in Gdańsk | Official Website" .davidgilmour.com .^a b "David Gilmour | Artist" . Official Charts. Retrieved12 July 2012 .^ On an Island atAllMusic ^ "Australiancharts.com – David Gilmour – On An Island" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 July 2020.^ "Austriancharts.at – David Gilmour – On An Island" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 July 2020.^ "Ultratop.be – David Gilmour – On An Island" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 July 2020.^ "Ultratop.be – David Gilmour – On An Island" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 July 2020.^ "David Gilmour Chart History (Canadian Albums)" .Billboard ^ "Danishcharts.dk – David Gilmour – On An Island" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 July 2020.^ "Dutchcharts.nl – David Gilmour – On An Island" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 July 2020.^ Sexton, Paul (16 March 2006)."Gilmour's 'Island' Yields Chart Treasure" .Billboard . Retrieved8 January 2021 . ^ "David Gilmour: On An Island" (in Finnish).Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland . Retrieved 12 July 2020. ^ "Lescharts.com – David Gilmour – On An Island" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 July 2020.^ "Offiziellecharts.de – David Gilmour – On An Island" (in German).GfK Entertainment Charts . Retrieved 12 July 2020.^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2006. 12. hét" (in Hungarian).MAHASZ . Retrieved 12 July 2020.^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography David Gilmour" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 July 2020.^ "Italiancharts.com – David Gilmour – On An Island" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 July 2020.^ "Charts.nz – David Gilmour – On An Island" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 July 2020.^ "Norwegiancharts.com – David Gilmour – On An Island" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 July 2020.^ "Portuguesecharts.com – David Gilmour – On An Island" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 July 2020.^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100" .Official Charts Company . Retrieved 12 July 2020.^ "Spanishcharts.com – David Gilmour – On An Island" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 July 2020.^ "Swedishcharts.com – David Gilmour – On An Island" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 July 2020.^ "Swisscharts.com – David Gilmour – On An Island" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 July 2020.^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100" .Official Charts Company . Retrieved 12 July 2020.^ "David Gilmour Chart History (Billboard 200)" .Billboard ^ "David Gilmour Chart History (Top Rock Albums)" .Billboard ^ "Rapports Annuels 2006" . Ultratop. Retrieved12 July 2020 .^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2006" .dutchcharts.nl . Retrieved12 July 2020 .^ "Top de l'année Top Albums 2006" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved12 July 2020 .^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" .GfK Entertainment . Retrieved12 July 2020 .^ "Összesített album- és válogatáslemez-lista - eladási darabszám alapján - 2006" .Mahasz . Retrieved12 July 2020 .^ "Årslista Album – År 2006" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved12 July 2020 .^ "Canadian album certifications – David Gilmour – On An Island" .Music Canada . Retrieved20 May 2020 .^ "French album certifications – David Gilmour – On An Island" (in French).Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique .^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (David Gilmour; ' On An Island' )" (in German).Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved20 May 2020 .^ "LE CIFRE DI VENDITA 2006" (PDF) .Musica e dischi . Archived fromthe original (PDF) on 6 January 2014.^ "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2006 roku" (in Polish).Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry . Archived fromthe original on 6 February 2025. Retrieved17 March 2025 .^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (' On An Island' )" . IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved20 May 2020 .^ "British album certifications – David Gilmour – On An Island" .British Phonographic Industry .^ Orlof, Brian (15 March 2006)."Juvenile Takes the Top Spot" . rollingstone.com. Retrieved20 May 2020 .
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