Solid Air advert

27 Jan 1973
Cash Box

Cash Box was a US based weekly magazine for the music industry trade publishing record charts. This two page advert was to support sales during the stadium tour with Traffic and Free.
The text is clearly written for shop owners.
Part of the campaign was also a special promo album, 'An Island Sampler', with ten sample tracks of the artists mentioned. It has two catalogue numbers, one for each side: SPRO-6619 and SPRO-6620.

IT'S ISLAND (eye-land) MONTH

... with a fantastic release of new product, massive merchandising and sales support, and a magnificent tour.
THE TOUR began January 17 and will continue through February... featuring, on one bill:

  • TRAFFIC, who have a new album, SHOOT OUT AT THE FANTASY FACTORY (SW-9323).
  • FREE, who have a new album, HEARTBREAKER (SW-9324).
  • JOHN MARTYN, who has a new album, SOLID AIR (SW-9325).

Beginning January 19th is another tour, featuring Badfinger and

  • AMAZING BLONDEL, who have a new album, ENGLAND (SW-9327).

The two remaining new albums are also very special.

  • MIKE HARRISON'S new one is SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING (SW-9321), which MELODY MAKER calls more than a cut above the first. It was completed just prior to Mike's reforming Spooky Tooth with Gary Wright. Especially listen to the 12½ minute version of Smokestack Lightning, the Chester Burnett (Howlin' Wolf) classic.

Last, and by no means least,

  • THE WAILERS with CATCH A FIRE (SW-9329). The very special package encases a very special music -some will call it Reggae, but we prefer to call it Jamaican Underground Music- it's the music of the people in Jamaica. This form of music has enjoyed wide popularity in England, and has been reflected here in Paul Simon's Mother & Child Reunion and Johnny Nash's I Can See Clearly Now. The Wailers have toured in England with Johnny Nash, and produced the hit Stir It Up, written for him by Bob Marley of The Wailers. Listen to Catch A Fire a couple of times - it'll make you do more than smell salt air...

Island Month is also an excellent time to re-stock past Island product:

From Traffic, Jim Capaldi's OH HOW WE DANCED (SW-9314) and Reebop's REEBOP KWAKU BAAH (SW-9304). Don't forget our first (and still best-selling) TRAFFIC Lp, LOW SPARK OF HIGH-HEELED BOYS (SW-9306).

From FREE, the KOSSOFF/ KIRKE/ TETSU/ RABBIT Lp, (SMAS-9320).

As noted, support for this major label release is massive, including complete store merchandising kits (for windows and in-store), lots of print and broadcast advertising, touring, extensive press and PR plans, and some of the best new albums from anyone... anywhere.

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