The Island Years (John Cale album)

The Island Years is a double CD compilation of John Cale's work during 1974 and 1975. The collection, released in 1996, is composed of the three previously released Cale albums issued by Island Records: Fear, Slow Dazzle and Helen of Troy. The album also includes some extra tracks, b-sides, and individual tracks from other albums but the Slow Dazzle's last and experimental track "The Jeweller" was shortened to 4:11 (The same length as on the original LP of Slow Dazzle. On the CD version of the album, the track's duration is 5:07). In 2007 The Island Years was reissued as a budget release, Gold, with the same track listing but reduced packaging.

The Island Years
Compilation album by John Cale
Released	July 1996
Genre	Rock
Length	133:11
Label	Island
John Cale chronology
Antartida (1995) The Island Years (1996) Walking on Locusts (1996)
Alternative cover
cover for Gold 2007 reissue

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic

Track listing

CD 1

Fear (1974) & outtake

1. "Fear Is a Man's Best Friend" – 3:52
2. "Buffalo Ballet" – 3:28
3. "Barracuda" – 3:46
4. "Emily" – 4:21
5. "Ship of Fools" – 4:36
6. "Gun" – 8:04
7. "The Man Who Couldn't Afford to Orgy" – 4:33
8. "You Know More Than I Know" – 3:34
9. "Momamma Scuba" – 4:23
10. "Sylvia Said" – 4:07 (single B-side, remixed; leaving the original single 45 a rarity)

Slow Dazzle (1975) & outtakes

11. "All I Want Is You" – 2:55 (outtake)
12. "Bamboo Floor" – 3:24 (outtake)
13. "Mr. Wilson" – 3:15
14. "Taking It All Away" – 2:56
15. "Dirty-Ass Rock 'N' Roll" – 4:41
16. "Darling I Need You" – 3:35
17. "Rollaroll" – 3:57

CD2

1. "Heartbreak Hotel" – 3:10
2. "Ski Patrol" – 2:05
3. "I'm Not the Loving Kind" – 3:07
4. "Guts" – 3:26
5. "The Jeweller" – 4:11

Helen of Troy (1975) & outtakes

6. "My Maria" – 3:48
7. "Helen of Troy" – 4:18
8. "China Sea" – 2:30
9. "Engine" – 2:45
10. "Save Us" – 2:20
11. "Cable Hogue" – 3:30
12. "(I Keep A) Close Watch" – 3:27
13. "Pablo Picasso" – 3:20
14. "Leaving It Up To You" – 4:33
15. "Baby, What You Want Me to Do?" – 4:48
16. "Sudden Death" – 4:36
17. "You & Me" – 2:50 (outtake)
18. "Coral Moon" – 2:14 (originally replaced "Leaving It Up To You")
19. "Mary Lou" – 2:46 (outtake that originally appeared on the 1977 Guts compilation)