The song entered the
Billboard Hot 100 on 11 October 1975 at number 49, and reaching the top in four weeks. The week of 4 October 1975, the week before the "Island Girl" entered the charts, marked the first week in over two years in which Elton John did not have a single on the
Billboard Hot 100.
Billboards "Inside Track" column reported it as follows: "This week is the first time since August 1973 that Elton John hasn't had a single on the
Billboard Hot 100. If
Rocket had shipped the upcoming 'Island Girl' a few days earlier, Elton would still be in the running to beat
Pat Boone's all-time record of just over four years on the charts." The song which "Island Girl" replaced at number one was "
Bad Blood", by
Neil Sedaka. Elton had provided uncredited backing and duetting vocals on this collaboration. Upon the single release,
Record World said "Tropically splendid Elton and Bernie entering the RW charts at 42 this week...need we say more?" ==Chart performance==