Blondie - Island Of Lost Souls 7''

Released in 1982, the "Island of Lost Souls" 7-inch single serves as a breezy, calypso-inspired bookend to Blondie’s initial run, pairing the tropical pop of the A-side with the quirky, space-themed "Dragonfly" on the B-side. While some critics viewed the lead track as a safe, "pop-by-numbers" attempt to recapture the reggae-infused success of "The Tide Is High," the single remains a polished example of the band's late-era experimentation with global sounds. Despite the internal friction during the recording of The Hunter, the 7-inch captures a moment of lighthearted escapism, featuring bright horn arrangements and Debbie Harry’s signature cool vocals that helped it become their final Top 40 hit before their 15-year hiatus.

"Island of Lost Souls" serves as a breezy, calypso-inflected departure that captures Blondie attempting to bottle the tropical magic of "The Tide Is High" one last time. While it lacks the gritty New York edge of their earlier work, the track shines with its bright horn arrangements and Debbie Harry’s effortlessly cool, laid-back vocal delivery. It’s a polished piece of 80s sunshine pop that, despite the internal friction within the band at the time, manages to feel lighthearted and escapist.

However, critics often view the single as a symptom of the creative fatigue that permeated The Hunter. To some, the "pop-by-numbers" approach felt like a safe retreat into caricature rather than the genre-pushing experimentation seen on Autoamerican. While the A-side provided a comfortable Top 40 hit, the quirky B-side "Dragonfly" offered a glimpse of the band’s more eccentric, sci-fi interests, making the 7-inch a fascinating, if uneven, relic of the group’s final chapter before their long hiatus.

Ripped to MP3

A: Island Of Lost Souls (3:48) 

B: Dragonfly (5:58)