Mike Oldfield's
TUBULAR BELLSLIVE IN CONCERT

Tubular Bells – Deluxe Edition

It was late one evening in 1973, when, with the professional musicians resident at Richard Branson’s country estate The Manor finished up for the day, the unknown Mike Oldfield settled in for one night of frantic production on his debut record.

By the time dawn broke, Oldfield had created one of the most groundbreaking pieces in the history of modern music. Experimental and daring, technically advanced and sublimely crafted all at once, the phenomenon that is Tubular Bells was born.

Hergest Ridge

Originally released in 1974 and departing from the choppy mix of prog and folk-based influences explored for the first time on Mike Oldfield’s debut Tubular Bells, Oldfield’s much anticipated follow up, Hergest Ridge develops for itself a unique charm entirely its own. Softer and calmer, atmospheric and haunting, Hergest Ridge is a lament to the soothing environment Oldfield enveloped himself in directly after his debut’s overwhelming success.

Ommadawn Deluxe

Originally released in November 1975, Ommadawn, remains one of Oldfield’s favourite works. Recorded at his then home at Hergest Ridge, it again took the form of two lengthy suites of music, but here there are added Irish and African influences. Oldfield looked towards composition on traditional instruments; It is affecting music that acted as a precursor to the new age musical movement.

The Orchestral Tubular Bells

Released in 1975, The Orchestral Tubular Bells is an orchestral version of Mike Oldfield’s album Tubular Bells, arranged by David Bedford and recorded in 1974 by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring Oldfield himself playing the guitar.

Incantations – Deluxe Edition

Remastered by Oldfield himself, the 2011 packages contain a variety of rare material; and again, as with Tubular Bells, Hergest Ridge and Ommadawn, contain a brand new 5.1 mix on DVD, as well as footage from Oldfield’s 1979 concert tour that supported the album. Both CD formats also include ‘Guilty’, Oldfield’s legendary 1979 single recorded in New York City at the height of the disco movement. Few expected the man who crafted 25 minute sides of symphonic rock to hit the dancefloor with such élan.

The fourth instalment in his catalogue reissues, Incantations, was released on July 25th 2011. Incantations, originally released in November 1978 was Oldfield’s first and only studio double album. Comprising of four parts of the title track, it was a masterpiece of minimalism, with Oldfield again playing many of the instruments, with old friends including David Bedford conducting the choir and orchestra, Pierre Moerlen on drums and Mike’s sister Sally on vocals.

With new artwork overseen by Oldfield and extensive notes, Incantations is the marvellous next instalment of Mike Oldfield’s compelling catalogue.

Platinum – Deluxe Edition

Mike Oldfield’s fifth album was partially recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, and the title suite especially nods to the bustle of the city at the time. Impeccably arranged and produced, the album was released in November 1979. It was Oldfield’s first album that included shorter songs, including a beautiful version of George Gershwin’s I Got Rhythm, and a new arrangement of North Star by Philip Glass.The 2012 remastered edition contains three bonus tracks – a live studio session of Platinum, a 2012 mix of North Star by Mike and the single A side, Blue Peter. The second disc of the Deluxe edition, which contains an interview with Mike in its 16-page booklet, features nine previously unreleased tracks recorded on the Platinum tour at Wembley Arena in May 1980.

Exposed

Released in 1979, the album was a collection of Oldfield’s tours in Spain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and England from March to April 1979. It peaked at #16 on the UK Album Chart.

QE2 – Deluxe Edition

Mike Oldfield’s sixth album was a beautiful blend of instrumentals and songs that showed how he was able to adapt to the shifting musical mores of the new decade. Released in October 1980, it features two of his most loved instrumentals, QE2 and Taurus, as well as cover versions of Wonderful Land by the Shadows and, surprisingly perhaps for the time, Arrival by Abba.

The 2012 remastered edition contains three bonus tracks, the single edit of Wonderful Land, the live B-side ‘Polka’, and a 2012 reworking of Sheba, entitled Shiva. The second disc of the Deluxe edition, which contains an interview with Mike in its 16-page booklet, features nine previously unreleased tracks recorded on the QE2 tour in Essen, Germany in 1981.

Five Miles Out

Released in 1982, Five Miles Out is one of the first albums in Mike Oldfield’s wide-reaching musical career and it sees him take a diversion away from large-scale symphonic compositions towards the sound for which he became renowned throughout the ’80s – rock and pop electronica. Five Miles Out is an vibrant album and home to Oldfield’s first ever bona fide rock single, ‘Family Man’.

Crises

Released in 1982, Five Miles Out is one of the first albums in Mike Oldfield’s wide-reaching musical career and it sees him take a diversion away from large-scale symphonic compositions towards the sound for which he became renowned throughout the ’80s – rock and pop electronica. Five Miles Out is an vibrant album and home to Oldfield’s first ever bona fide rock single, ‘Family Man’.

Discovery

Discovery is the 9th record album by Mike Oldfield, released in 1984. It was recorded at Oldfield’s then-home in Villars-sur-Ollon in the Swiss Alps.

The Killing Fields

The Killing Fields is the 10th record album by Mike Oldfield, released in 1984. It was the soundtrack album for the film of the same name.

Islands

Islands is the 11th album by Mike Oldfield, released in 1987. Guest singers on the album are Bonnie Tyler, Kevin Ayers, Anita Hegerland and Jim Price.

Earth Moving

Earth Moving is the 12th record album by Mike Oldfield, released in 1989.

Amarok

Amarok is the 13th record album by Mike Oldfield, released in 1990. It is considered by fans to be his most distinctive work: a single sixty-minute track of continuous, uninterrupted but constantly-changing music.

Heaven’s Open

Heaven’s Open is the 14th record album performed by Mike Oldfield, released in 1991. It was his last album on Virgin, and also the only album he released under the name Michael Oldfield, instead of Mike Oldfield.

Tubular Bells II

Tubular Bells II is the 15th music album by Mike Oldfield, released in 1992, was conceived as a sequel to 1973’s Tubular Bells.

The Songs of Distant Earth

The Songs of Distant Earth is the 16th album by Mike Oldfield, released in 1994. It is based on Arthur C. Clarke’s science fiction novel Songs of Distant Earth.

Voyager

Voyager is the 17th music album by Mike Oldfield, released in 1996. It is a Celtic-themed album.

Tubular Bells III

Tubular Bells III is the 18th album by Mike Oldfield, released in 1998. A sequel to Oldfield’s 1973 Tubular Bells and his 1992 Tubular Bells II albums, it was released on the 25th anniversary of the first Tubular Bells album.

Guitars

Guitars is a record album written and performed by Mike Oldfield, released in 1999.

The Millennium Bell

The Millennium Bell is the 20th record album by Mike Oldfield, released in 1999. The theme of the album is a reflection of different periods of human history. The album borrows its name from the dawning of the 3rd millennium and Oldfield’s Tubular Bells series of albums.

Tr3s Lunas

Light + Shade

Released in 2005, Light + Shade is a double concept album consisting of two very differing parts. Heavily influenced by the Cafe del Mar style chill-out albums of Ibiza, Mike Oldfield takes this blueprint to create one album of ambience and another much darker, thrilling experience on the second album.

Music of the Spheres

Released in 2008 and working with legendary composer Karl Jenkins OBE, Music Of The Spheres is Mike Oldfield’s first classical release and features some of the main players from that musical world. New Zealand soprano Hayley Westenra lends her voice to the hauntingly beautiful ‘On My Heart,’ while the talents of Chinese pianist Lang Lang shine through on ‘The Tempest’ and ‘Prophecy.’

Two Sides: The Very Best Of Mike Oldfield

Highlights from this staggering collection – personally compiled and sequenced by Mike Oldfield – include the seminal Tubular Bells Part One, the pioneering Ommadawn, plus a string of classic singles including’Moonlight Shadow, Guilty and Family Man. Along the way the journey takes in from folk, progressive rock, , electronic, ambient, new age, world, pop and even disco!

As Mike says: “This collection is my own personal choice of what I consider to be my best instrumental and songwriting works to date. These tracks may not have been my most critically or commercially successful at the time but in my heart of hearts and in my judgement they represent the closest I have come to my best creativity.”

Classic Album Selection (Six Albums 1973-1980)

Released at the same time as Two Sides: The Very Best Of Mike Oldfield, is Mike Oldfield: Classic Album Selection.

Presented as mini-LPs housed in an attractive slipcase, Classic Album Selection (Six Albums 1973-1980), is a 6CD limited edition album mini box set that provides the perfect period-overview of Mike Oldfield’s amazing career.

Includes the legendary albums Tubular Bells, Hergest Ridge, Ommadawn, Incantations, Platinum and QE2.

Music From The Opening Ceremony

When Mike Oldfield stepped out onstage at the Olympic Park in Stratford, London, on Friday 27th July 2012, it marked his first major live concert performance in his home country in over a decade. However, this was no ordinary show. Oldfield’s music had been personally selected by Danny Boyle to play a central part in Isles Of Wonder, his specially-created work for the Opening Ceremony of the 30th Olympic Games.

In front of an estimated global viewing audience of a billion (not to mention the 80,000 in the stadium), Oldfield opened with the immediately familiar theme from his legendary Tubular Bells before he and his band lifted off into the incredible ‘Tubular Bells Swing’ section, which, as many will recall, accompanied the staff and patients of Great Ormond Street Hospital doing some remarkable choreography. Add into that newly-composed material to signal the arrival of the flying Mary Poppins, a spirited rendition of his 1975 UK Top Five single ‘In Dulce Jubilo’ and the beautifully wistful closing coda, and you have eleven-and-a-half minutes of premium Mike Oldfield. It was a extraordinary night to kick-start an extraordinary Olympics, and this is extraordinary music.

Already one of the most talked about tracks on the Isles Of Wonder CD, this strictly limited 12” coloured single will be the only place you can hear this on vinyl.