41.1 Renjeaux Listens to Crises, from Mike Oldfield - Crises

The 41st stop in our cool-album-listening journey is Mike Oldfield's eighth studio album, 1983's "Crises."
The opening, title track is all of side A. It's over 20 minutes long, comprises several movements, with varying themes and variations, and contains some of the most sublime -- as well as some of the most annoying -- music that Oldfield created up to this point.
The other Crises episodes:
1. Crises: • 41.1 Renjeaux Listens ...
2-3. Moonlight Shadow+In High Places: • 41.2+3 Renjeaux Listen...
4-6. Foreign Affair+Taurus 3+Shadow on the Wall: • 41.4-6 Renjeaux Listen...
email: [e-mail]
twitter: @renjeaux
Opening and closing music: In Love, by Renjeaux, ©2020.

[@robertpearson8798]

I love every single note of this piece, one of my favourite Oldfield compositions and I love Oldfield.

[@Renjeaux]

this is just the start for MO on this channel. more to come some day.

[@Chappomusic]

It was Crises what brought me at the age 14 to Yes, Roger Chapman , Mike Batt and lots of other great musicians . Oldfield always has a special place in my hart . When you listen to Roger Chapman Shadow on the Wall , check out Imbecile and Run Like the Wind , Music by Mike Batt, sung by Chapman . Also a great band was Mountain search for Nantucket Sleighride . Especially live it's the best.

[@totomobil2033]

Hi guys. I come from France, more precisely from Brittany. I was born in 1980 and my father, like me, listened to a lot of Mike Oldfield albums. Crisis is a special album for me. Like a journey into a chimerical and surprising fantasy world. What I remember from Mike Oldfield is this desire to combine electronic/electric sounds with acoustic sounds. Recreate the dynamics of a symphony orchestra with new or incongruous material. I am very connected to Celtic music and Mike Oldfield represents a high point for me, particularly in terms of experimentation.

[@heinzbrommer251]

I am now 78 years old and I still listen to this album regularly. For me, Mike Oldfield is the greatest anyway. I have almost all of his records. For me, there is nothing better than headphones and listening to Mike Oldfield.👍

[@urmeli0815]

This is how you listen to Oldfield. Love your reaction!

[@Renjeaux]

Thanks urmeli!

[@murraybozinsky7067]

This is my favourite Mike Oldfield album, at the time I was a young boy reading The Hobbit with Crises playing, it was the perfect backdrop. I still listen to it, at least 2 or 3 times a year when I take a moment to myself.

[@leannetaylor3840]

I love your Joy! I feel the same when I listen to this , and have done since I was 11 when it was released. My mum and dad took me to see this being played by MO on the Tubular Bells 10th Anniversary tour at Wembley Arena in 1983. My first proper gig, and I will never forget it.

[@leethomas2155]

I'm a massive Mike Oldfield fan and Crises is a favourite piece of mine. Especially the first 5mins and the middle section. I met bass player Phil Spalding at the 40th anniversary of Tubular Bells convention in Reading England in 2013. He was such a great guy and very down to earth. We were friends on FB and communicated a few times until his very sad passing earlier this year. The Crises live performance is phenomenal for sure. Maybe even better than the studio version. Great video guys!

[@franckb8279]

Oh I love this track. My introduction to Mike Oldfield'music. A timeless masterpiece. The production is awesome and Simon Philips... Oh my Good!!!!

[@user-yw9zm3qw6i]

Crises ist einfach nur super genial. Ich war 18 Jahre alt als das Album raus kam. Bin jetzt 58 Jahre und habe das Album ich weiß nicht wieviel mal gehört. Der Zauber vergeht nie von Crises und das gilt für fast alle Alben von MO Mike Oldfield for ever 👍

[@rechtschreib-exorzist8936]

So isch es, (g´schmackvoller) Kerle! ;-)

[@kwikbit]

This was my second/third album (bought the vinyl at the same as FMO . QE2 was my first a few months before) which I bought during my early teenage years in the early 80's ... played it a lot back then, and when I play it now I am waay back there... its amazing how good music can capture a time and a place... I enjoyed you enjoying it also 😎 ..

[@MrSinnerBOFH]

OMG! You guys are my people! I love this piece so much, it’s probably the piece I’ve listened more times in my life. Wonderful Mike and Simon.

[@Renjeaux]

We’re so glad you enjoyed it, @Sinner! This is a massively cool track.

[@jans724]

As a 12-year old boy I listened to this over and over in the back of a van on a family holiday across central and eastern europe before the wall had come down. The mystery of the journey blended with the music as I discovered new landscapes and countries along with the music of Oldfield (and yes I'd heard TB before). I have since often revisited this great album. Oldfield has so many great albums so can't say if it's my favourite..., I have many favourites and depending on time.. but it's a brilliant album. And it has always been great for long-distance driving alone. The wheels move and the tunes fill the space of the car.

[@Renjeaux]

Ah, thanks for sharing this nice memory, Jan. Oldfield’s music does represent travel for me, too, but of course travel across America and Texas and Louisiana, in particular.. but also the growth of my young mind and heart in new, expansive directions. Your comment reminds me that I still hope to travel across Europe one day…

[@jans724]

@@Renjeaux .. he takes you on a musical journey and it goes well with spatial or other journeys :). I hope you get to see the places you want, my friend.

[@bthagan]

Really enjoyed watching you guys get carried away by this incredible piece of music... Oldfield and Philipps... What a dream team!

[@Renjeaux]

Lol, glad you had fun with us, @Brian -- just can't help getting carried away with this one!

[@MoJoeShoMo]

One thing about Mike Oldfield albums is, Don't compare them. Each one is to be taken for what it is. One of the most creative composers of our time. This one overall has been one of my favorite ones to listen to. If you draw for a living, his albums are the best to listen to while working. Simon Phillips contributes his own drumming ideas to this piece.

[@Renjeaux]

Hey, I like that! He has wandered so far throughout his career, trying a wide range of styles. I prefer to choose one and listen to it for a few weeks in different environments. That way you can feel it in many ways and find out how and if it maintains its strengths.

[@MoJoeShoMo]

@@Renjeaux He was forced by record companies to make more commercial stuff in order to get funding for his projects. He prefers to write things that let him explore his musical ideas. So often there's a mix of long instrumental and songs.

[@Nidels]

I love your energy. it is very contagious

[@thesound-chameleonman3580]

I messaged Maggie Reilly and Phil Spalding who both appear in the video and on the record, they both replied back! and agreed to sign my vinyl sleeve of Moonlight Shadow! Simon Phillips the drummer has NOW agreed and has insisted on paying for the freaking postage!!?? 3 beautiful people.. just missing Mike Oldfield now! Moonlight Shadow is an absolute masterpiece.

[@Renjeaux]

You are one lucky person, @Chameleon!

[@thesound-chameleonman3580]

@@Renjeaux just a bit! beautiful song, definitely a classic in my EARS! lyrically and musically just perfect. All 3 autographs are NOW on the vinyl sleeve! just missing the main man Mike Oldfield!

[@timgibson3461]

I love this album and have done so since it came out! Love to see you having fun and feeling it. Wonderful. Keep it up.

[@zoltandemeter919]

Your reaction is pure enjoyment for a man, who feeled the same way as a little boy while listening over and over to this giant song.

[@Renjeaux]

Haha, pure joy!

[@spoteach]

Is this channel still alive? I only discovered it a few days ago. And guess what? You guys are not only listening to the same kind of music as I do. You also seem to love the same artists and even the same albums. What a joy to listen along with Renjeaux. And some of these artists and albums weren't that big in America. Very cool of you to celebrate them on your channel. Two remarks though. I think your voices are a bit to deep in the mix. I have to play the videos really loud to hear your comments. And I think you should make longer videos: one for each record side like you (almost) did voor Crises. If a viewer wants to comment on an the entire album he now has to pick a song for his comment. When you split an album into two sides (instead of separate tracks) your video's might gather more comments. I hope you will continute because it seems almost a year now since your listened to you last cool album.

[@Renjeaux]

Thanks for the nice words, Gunter. We had some life issues arise about a year ago, so took a few months off. Then, summer of 2022, we changed track and wrote/produced a few originals of our own. Our first new music in 30 years! Two of them are here, with music videos: Foreign Wall and Perpetuous. Check them out if you want!

[@50greenwood]

Listened to mike since i was 12 yrs old have all albums and for crises 5milesout and songs from distant earth his best works....

[@Renjeaux]

QE2 and Five Miles Out are my faves.

[@tszirmay]

Foreign Affair doesn't get much love but it was way ahead of the times....

[@Coneman3]

Crises track is perfect.

[@MLCFonon]

What I love is the fretless bass moments

[@Renjeaux]

I (Keith) can't say as I specifically remember any fretless bass moments... and I'm fairly attuned to fretless' swoops and swoons. I'll listen more specifically for it next time. Thanks for pointing it out, @Fonon.

[@MLCFonon]

@6:44 in your stream

[@thesound-chameleonman3580]

Phil Spalding played the bass on Moonlight Shadow, that i know.

[@ajs41]

I must have listened to this at least a thousand times over the years. Very space age, especially the ending.

[@Renjeaux]

Space age jam?

[@leiper72]

A little hard to hear you two, but I love this album too, alreeady since mid 80s when I had this as a young teenager on a cassett band.. ;) Greetings from Sweden!

[@Renjeaux]

Suffice it to say we like this album, lieper! Say “hi” to Sweden for us! Hoping to visit your beautiful country someday.

[@Ifyoudonttakeitucantfakeit]

This takes me back thanks. Oldfield has some of the best relatively unknown vocalists singing most of his songs. I like the longs but in many ways prefer his short songs which are utterly brilliant. When Oldfield sings he becomes animal from piltdown man to screaming in 5 miles out. Like this but love Taurus 2 and Oribiddooooooo. Good review if a tad too much waffle.

[@Renjeaux]

Yeah I really prefer bothe QE2 and Five Miles Out, too. Especially Sheba: a Maggie and Mike duo, but Mike on vocoder!

[@amarok9097]

Loved watching you rock out to one of my favourite pieces of music. I've been air drumming to this for 40 years and, to tell you the truth, my arms are getting tired. If you get the chance try the eclectic genius of AMAROK

[@Renjeaux]

@Amarok, you need to take a break! I mean, I love air-drumming with Phillips here, but 40 years? Thanks for the Amarok recommendation. Just listened to it for the first time, it is packed with deliciousness!

[@amarok9097]

@@Renjeaux Its a masterpiece and every listen gets better. Happy

[@ianferguson3455]

@@amarok9097 you know it friend and understand 😊 happy?

[@Chappomusic]

@@Renjeaux it grows on you like wine .

[@leethomas2155]

Phil wasn't a member if 10cc that was Mike's other touring guitarist Rick Fenn.

[@lesnewsham6571]

Interesting Oldfield choice. I went to the 1983 concert at Wembley for the Tubular Bells 10th Anniversary. Showcased there (beside TBells) was the Crises album. The title track worked really well and for me the Simon Phillips drum solo on Crises was a massive stand out moment, and I’m not really a fan of drum solos. It can be found on KZbin. Good work fellas.

[@Renjeaux]

Thanks for the cool tip about the Crises concert at Wembley, @Les. And for the nice words. :-)

[@Chappomusic]

I am still searching for the 2nd part of the video of Wembley . I hope it shows up someday !

[@rafaelvazquez6144]

Fhillips fantastico

[@rafaelvazquez6144]

Simon Philips and Stewart copeland masters

[@Renjeaux]

For sure!

[@franciscojaviermoragregato2719]

¡AMAZING OLDFIELD!

[@robertpearson8798]

I love the way you guys do this. This music is front and centre but I can still make out your comments. Thumbs up.

[@Renjeaux]

Dude, you don't know how much we appreciate that!!!

[@leonardsimonis2376]

Cool video, I like that you put so much effort in the different parts of the video! The visualization of the audio-waves is nice. And you have fun doing those reactions - and it is fun to watch as well! And I like the Kate Bush T-shirt. The song reminds me a bit of the "Duke" album by Genesis, but with more guitar. I love the more 80s sound in this song, it is different from his early four longtracks but I think it is more adventurous and wild. That doesn't make it better, just different. The thing is, I would never airdrum to Ommadawn, but I also can't relax that easily to this song because Ommadawn is calmer.

[@Renjeaux]

Thanks for noticing the audio visualizations, Leonard! I quite like them, myself - I like having something to watch while the music is play - but it does take some effort and time. We do have fun, for sure, or else we wdnt do this!

[@rafaelvazquez6144]

Simon Phillips fantastic drummer

[@bobin1973]

He is God!

[@Renjeaux]

Indeed. As are we all… Namaste, pink!

[@ianferguson3455]

Will always love Mikes music, modern day Bach. You need to listen to Amarok to see if you really get what Oldfield is about

[@Renjeaux]

Thanks for recommending Amarok, @Ian. I just listened to it for the first time and it is full of nice stuff.

[@ianferguson3455]

@@Renjeaux it’s a chaotic beautiful musical journey, I love it. Thanks for great video btw I love it too. His album artwork has always captivated me too. Terry llott (deceased) was commissioned by Oldfield to paint a picture for crises that to my mind just completely captures the reality of the word imho

[@yvesandrethevenot3489]

Not the best of Mike's , but still pretty good.

[@torbenyj]

fairlight keyboard he used a lot

[@Renjeaux]

Yeah, @Torben, I hear the Fairlight a lot on this album.

[@fsgreton]

U boys e in moments as best ; injoiing with U and the Great MO

[@Renjeaux]

Lol, glad you’re jamming with us Tony!

[@thesound-chameleonman3580]

18:00 love THAT synth! mesmerising... what track?

[@Renjeaux]

The swirling synth strings are an Oberheim OB-Xa, I believe. And yes, mesmerizing!

[@SequentialCircuitProphet5]

A Side is marvellous. B side not intersting. Thé last Oldfield good album until TB 2.

[@lanfear63]

Mediocre Oldfield compared with his best works which were "Musical" and had good "Melody". One or two redeeming tracks as most of his albums had and Moonlight Shadow was a good song.

[@Renjeaux]

I’d like to hear you do better.

[@lanfear63]

@@Renjeaux A comment of no consequence. I am actually a composer of music but even an average layman can easily recognize musical content that is of merit as opposed to average stuff. If you asked all of Oldfield's fans what his best stuff was, I would be comfortably able to predict what the answer would be.

[@slappamathagh]

​@@lanfear63That doesn't make this 'mediocre'. I know music, like beauty, is down to the beholder, but this isn't mediocre. I'm loathe to even call that a valid opinion...!

[@lanfear63]

It's by comparison of what an artist can do at his or hers very best compared with when they were just chugging out sup par stuff because they are just fulfilling contractual obligations. Oldfields first work was written when he was very young, over a long period of time. First efforts are often the best Hergest Ridge was rushed and was dire and lacking much in the way of inspired musical substance. Ommadawn was written with emotion and angst because his mother died. Pity really, it should have been his second album, not Ridge. Then came patchy stuff and nothing great until the reworking of Tubular Bells which I thought worked better than the original. Songs Of Distant Earth was very good as well. Amarok had a fair bit of good Oldfield material. The rest of his albums were very hit and miss affairs, some inspired moments and flashes of brilliance none the less. I had a dream for Oldfield after listening to Tubular Bells, that he would become a serious modern day classical composer using modern day instruments. He never lived up to that and ventured into straight rock and indulgences. However, as I said before, it's mediocre by his standards of excellence that he could aspire too. I agree that there is still a lot more mediocre music out there than Oldfield at his worst. @@slappamathagh