"Island of Lost Souls" is a song recorded by the band Blondie and released as the

lead single A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date. Release s ...

from their sixth studio album, '' The Hunter'', in April 1982.

Song information and chart success

Continuing the band's penchant for spanning different genres of music, including rock, disco, reggae and rap/hip-hop (all of which had given the band No. 1 hits), "Island of Lost Souls" saw Blondie delve into calypso music. The song was recorded in the autumn of 1981, and promotional copies of the single were sent to U.S. radio stations on 31 October 1981. Upon its release in 1982, "Island of Lost Souls" was not one of Blondie's biggest hits, only reaching the Top 10 in Belgium, although it did top the Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary chart. It peaked at No. 37 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 (becoming Blondie's final U.S. Top 40 hit on that chart to date), and also reached No. 11 in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

.Everyhit.co.uk
UK Top 40 database Accessed: November 29, 2006

Music video

The music video was filmed in the

Isles of Scilly The Isles of Scilly (; kw, Syllan, ', or ) is an archipelago off the southwestern tip of Cornwall, England. One of the islands, St Agnes, is the most southerly point in Britain, being over further south than the most southerly point of the ...

in the UK. It features three scenes interspersed with each other: a group of men dressed as undertakers in a Cornish gig boat, the band dressed in white monk robes (the members apart from Harry play horns and saxophones while wearing fish masks), and the band dressed as a Latin American band.

Track listing

US 7" (CHS 2603, April 1982)
UK 7" (CHS 2608 & 7" Picture Disc CHSP 2608, April 1982) #"Island of Lost Souls" (7" edit) (

Deborah Harry Deborah Ann Harry (born Angela Trimble; July 1, 1945) is an American singer, songwriter and actress, best known as the lead vocalist of the band Blondie. Four of her songs with the band reached on the US charts between 1979 and 1981. Born in ...

Chris Stein Christopher Stein (born January 5, 1950) is an American musician known as the co-founder and guitarist of the new wave band Blondie. He is also a producer and performer for the classic soundtrack of the hip hop film '' Wild Style'', and write ...

) – 3:49 #"Dragonfly" (Harry, Stein) – 5:47 UK 12" (12 CHS 2608, April 1982) #"Island of Lost Souls" (Album version) (Harry, Stein) – 4:44 #"Dragonfly" (Harry, Stein) – 5:47

Chart performance

Covers

Brazilian singer and hostess

Mara Maravilha Mara or MARA may refer to: Animals *Mara (mammal), a species of the cavy family * Mara the Lioness, in the movie ''Born Free'' Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Mara (''Doctor Who''), an evil being in two ''Doctor Who'' serials *Mara, ...

recorded a Portuguese version of the song titled "Na Ilha dos Sonhos Perdidos", on her 1990 album Deixa a Vida Rolar.

References

{{authority control 1982 singles Blondie (band) songs Songs written by Debbie Harry Songs written by Chris Stein Song recordings produced by Mike Chapman 1981 songs Chrysalis Records singles