FIRST TIME HEARING Mike Oldfield- "Tubular Bells Part 1" (Reaction)

FIRST TIME HEARING Mike Oldfield- "Tubular Bells Part 1" (Reaction) | Wow, what a sophisticated journey and work of art! So incredibly unique. I loved being invited into Mike's deliciously strange sonic world...
Thank you for checking out this video and my channel. Don't forget to subscribe, like and comment to help the channel grow. I look forward to an amazing journey into the countless musical gems that came out of the 70s, 80s and 90s! Music is power, healing, joy, sadness, wonder and LIFE! The timeless songs from these 3 decades will live on forever...
#reaction #musicreactions #firsttimereaction #firsttimehearing #mikeoldfield #tubularbells
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[@retroreactions....]

Wow, what a sophisticated journey and work of art! So incredibly unique. I loved being invited into Mike's deliciously strange sonic world.. If I had $100 for every time I said "unique" LOL....Thanks so much for watching! 🥰

[@davidnorth4703]

19 he was only 19 - What a talent. I remember this album coming out to a cause a massive wave of approval & excitement

[@retroreactions....]

He must have been over the moon with that fact!

[@Coneman3]

Yes but he was in a dark place mentally. Just wanted to be left alone.

[@christianramirez8913]

17. He recorded at 17 what would become the base for Tubular Bells, a demo tape called "Opus one" which would be showed to a young Richard Branson later that year. So basically he wrote what we know now as Tubular Bells when he was 17. A pure genious indeed.

[@flubblert]

The first five or six minutes or this is the theme from "The Exorcist". For those of us who went to see it in theaters back in 1973 and were pretty damn near traumatized by it, this music has special almost PTS like significance. There were nightly reports of people all over the country fainting in the aisles and or walking out in the middle of the movie. I've got to admit, it is something I seriously considered doing myself. This music actually got a good share of airplay at the time, and is one of the things that drove people to the theater to see it. I had read the book prior, so I knew what I was in for. I can only imagine the poor slobs that walked in cold. I can honestly say there hasn't been anything quite so intense and horrific sense. And I'm a fan of the genre. It's only in the last 10 years or so that I've been able to watch it again... With the lights on and no surround sound, lol. If you've never seen it, you might want to check out the book. Then watch the movie if you dare. You'll never hear this music the same way again. The author of the book William Peter Blatty, who became world-renowned from it, just died a few years ago in 2017. RIP The story was supposedly based on real-life events, which made it all the more horrifying.

[@flubblert]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iX6rk6Ggi99qq8Usi=YX6v8SwZOvGDjsnJ

[@retroreactions....]

OMG..smelling salts ha! Not a laughing matter of course, but this further cements the fact that I will never watch it. I had no idea the hype around the opening was so huge though!

[@flubblert]

​@@retroreactions....It was nothing short of a phenomenon at the time. This is the version they played on the radio. It made it to #3 on the US Billboard charts and #1 in the UK where it remained in the top 10 for a year. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpSQmYiNg856bqMsi=Ny3rqQdc-6cex7bR

[@retroreactions....]

Thanks! Will give it a listen....

[@sagitt1856]

Mike Oldfield composed the main elements that will be found in "Tubular Bells" when he was only 17 years old. He would record the finished product at the age of 19 on the new label Virgin Records; and this, after being refused by all the other major producers who did not believe that there would be a receptive audience for such a long and only instrumental composition (with only the momentary presence of the singing voice, in Part 2, a short and unexpected throaty song similar to what we hear today in the black and death metal genres). However, upon its release in 1973, the album "Tubular Bells" (1973) was a huge success on an international scale. Still available today in a special vintage and deluxe (and limited) vinyl edition, it is released annually in cd format. A classic. Also, the piano opening will become the musical theme of the horror film “The Exorcist” (1973); curiously, throat singing also predisposed him to it. Moreover, its director will admit it himself, the film (which has also become a great classic of the genre) owes part of its impact at the box office to the disturbing and obsessive earworm composed by Oldfield. Thanks. [NB1: Mike Olfield will release, in 1992, a sequel album entitled "Tubular Bells II" (with Trevor Horn, of YES, as co-producer) more fragmented and disconcerting (which will be less well received), in which he will insert a choir and another brief guttural voice; note that it is his sister, Sally, who leads the chorus.] [NB2: Even the album cover illustration has become a classic!]

[@retroreactions....]

Hi, thanks for all the wonderful information! Sounds like Mike has quite an eclectic discography... Another musical genius on my channel!

[@jimralston7562]

Always a treat to hear Tubular Bells, and enjoyed your reaction to this very UNIQUE composition!

[@retroreactions....]

I feel like we're in Sesame Street..."The word of the day is...." 🤣 Thanks so much for tuning in Jim!

[@pub652]

First time for me listening to tubular bells was lying down on my carpet,stoned as hell. Best day of my then young life...

[@drmagic60]

Nice one buddy!! I’ve not listened to this entire piece in years! Too many people only relate to the small snippet that was in “The Exorcist”, when in reality it is such an epic piece. Part II will be another journey for you… it’s really good!

[@retroreactions....]

Ah yes, I keep spoiling myself haha....this one was long overdue though. Of course no clue which was the part in The Exorcist and I've never seen that movie. Is Part 2 similar or very different? Or is that cheating LOL....

[@yitzchakscott-thoennes]

@@retroreactions.... part 2 is different. very different "lyrics". in some ways, I think of part 2 as appendices to the part 1 main work.

[@retroreactions....]

Interesting...so there are some sort of vocals in 2....

[@scifimonkey3]

@@retroreactions....loving the anticipation of you hearing the vocals……..

[@chadheckman2693]

@@retroreactions.... "Vocals" in a very loose term. You will see (hear)! 😁🤪

[@willem-janageling3907]

This is another epic journey to be on. Mike Oldfield has so many great albums. This one, of course, but also Ommadawn and Hergest Ridge come to mind. Should be exactly the thing you like 🙂

[@retroreactions....]

Yup, looks like Mike is clearly going on the permanent rotation list for my channel 🙂 Thank you

[@michelcamino6290]

I've been listening to this since the mid 70s. I never grow tired of it. I always think of Ravel's Bolero when I hear the end section, adding a new instrument with each repeat of the melody. Awesome!

[@retroreactions....]

Great! Thanks for tuning in!

[@mrb.5610]

I personally think there's a bit of Benjamin Britten's 'Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra' in Tubular Bells - if Mike's primary school was anything like mine in the 60s and 70s, it would have featured quite heavily - played on a vinyl covered Dansette record player ..... ..

[@michelfroggy56]

I have to thank my art teacher in HS in 73/74 who allowed us to bring an album to listen to during the Friday afternoon class but, she one day, brought this for us to listen to. We were mostly silent during the playing and a few of us rushed to go buy it. For the ERA this was superior to anything else I had listened to and opened my mind to another genre.

[@retroreactions....]

Best teacher ever!!

[@ak99uk]

Ha ha! It was my physics teacher, who lent this album to me in 1973. Mr Sumner, what a legend.

[@KNOPFLERSGOD]

Mike Oldfield is one of the greatest and most unique musicians ever, a master of many instruments, but also one the greatest guitarists of all time, no one sounds like, and he plays in a unique style too. Tubular Bells is an amazing debut album it has so much going on. Make sure you listen to Part 2 aswell. He has many great works, check out Ommadawn Part 1 and 2 Moonlight Shadow, the track Crises from the album of the same name is great too.

[@retroreactions....]

Thanks, excited for more from him!

[@maxmaidment96]

Saw a copy of this at the flea market just yesterday, and now it pops up on youtube. Thinking I should have picked it up.

[@retroreactions....]

🙂

[@gphill3954]

Thanks for stirring this one up for me. There are 3 “music only” pieces that set me on my way..this one, Mikes next album “Ommadawn” and Rick Wakeman’s “Six wives of Henry VIII”. The rest as they say is history..excuse the pun. Great reaction again.

[@retroreactions....]

Thanks!

[@rael3109]

This is superb but controversial opinion Ommadawn is better.

[@retroreactions....]

Thanks!

[@johnpickstone9846]

Ah Brandon Welcome to the world of Mike Oldfield Such a creative musical genius He saved Richard Branson (virgin) and made him with this record Just wait until you hear his many other great albums Great video and insight again

[@retroreactions....]

Thank you John! His creative genius is crystal clear after hearing just 1 song. Huge rabbit hole I'm guessing. Thanks for watching and for the compliment 🙂

[@Musiquesaecouter]

Yes. I remember this Virgin label very much, maybe Richard Brandson was also saved by Tangerine Dream in a 10 years contract, or was it the other way around? Well from there the German band became famous in their own. Another music world to discover...

[@Ethelred77]

Listen to Mike Oldfields album Heaven's Open for his feelings about Virgin and Richard Branson: "We're on the make, make. All we do is take, take." 🎶

[@michaelbaucom4019]

It takes more than one listen to fully appreciate this album, but, even the first listen gives you plenty to appreciate, ponder, feel as though you get what's going on, and, most importantly, make you want to listen again. It has stood the test of time, still fresh, still alluring

[@caramba10]

So good to hear a reaction to this, but is this a remix version? some parts sound very different to my original 1973 vinyl recording (bought when it was released btw) which I played in my teens over and over - maybe it's just me getting old.

[@retroreactions....]

Hello. Yes, someone told me it's a remix. No worries 🙂 Thanks so much for watching!

[@CarlosPT-hb6zb]

As a Mike absolutely fan since 75 till now, I never forget the role of the also young Virgin records founder: Richard Branson. In 1973 nobody (nobody!) believed in Mike's music. All big producers have refused this Tubular bells. Only, really only, Branson, has accepted to produced this album.

[@Musiquesaecouter]

Thanks my friend coming to this special musical place. As you noticed it's a unavoidable journey masterpiece that made most of the fame of Mike Oldfield with a big help of Richard Brandson who founded Virgin records from there. Although he did several other albums (I liked particularly those he recorded in the turns to the 80's, check "Platinum" 1979 and "QE2" 1980) but he as much more as you guess, and you will discover that Tubular Bell will resurface again in versions 2 or 3, live replayed and remastered. It was his basis were he surfed on through life and music. It's an whole Instrumental Opera, or even like a sonic movie for your ears, heart and mind. As you see, I love coming by, listening to great music with you, in the past 😏Cheers!

[@retroreactions....]

Yes, I have noticed you being here a lot lately. I am SO grateful for your support and for taking the time to watch and comment. Much appreciated 😀 Another incredible journey ahead with Mike on the channel ...

[@Musiquesaecouter]

@@retroreactions.... Thanks. As the world happenings becomes a bit crazy and scary, we fortunately have the music that reminds us that every humans aren't lost, yet, and that creativity still exist, and that there is still hope and faith to keep.

[@retroreactions....]

Well spoken! Could go on for a while about how this channel and these 300+ discoveries have provided such therapy, education, emotion and pleasure to me, let alone all the amazing people I've met along the way so far! 💙

[@alistairmacdonald3813]

While this is famous and excellent you will also enjoy Ommadawn

[@retroreactions....]

Parts 1 and 2 are both as great?

[@Shads62]

if the opening doesnt scare the fking bejezuz out of you... you are to young

[@retroreactions....]

Born in '75, but conveniently "avoided" The Exorcist my whole life..🙂

[@bradleypaulus2926]

I like that you described it as a musical novel. Your use of words is very impressive. This really is like a musical journey. I really appreciate your reaction.

[@retroreactions....]

Hello! Thanks for the compliment. This song was not quite what I imagined sonically all these months (I'd just imagined a slew of beautiful bells doing different things melodically), but after finally experiencing it, it certainly gave me the wow factor and the musical/emotional fulfillment that I expected! Thanks for watching!

[@MisterWondrous]

As a kid growing up in the 60s and 70s, we would have Echoes, Moody Blues, Hendrix, Yes, ELP, King Crimson and etc. playing on the record player, or maybe playing this song on the piano, if not Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, Careful With that Ax Eugene, A Trip to the Fair, or some other catchy melody. Amazingly heady times, in retrospect. You would have been going apeshit. This song presages Glass, Reich, Riley, although they were probably contemporaries working in minimalism/Indian raga forms.

[@retroreactions....]

Sounds like the 70s was an amazing time to grow up for the music alone. I was there, but was more concerned with formula bottles and naps LOL. Luckily my intro to great music started fairly young at age 6 or 7 in '81/'82. Thanks so much for watching!

[@Rowenband]

Well this may be my favorite for Mike Oldfield but Ommadawn is almost as great. I say almost because you don't have that first feeling of discovery. Would I have listened to Omadawn first I certainly would have placed it above Tubular Bells. And then there is Five Miles Out, very good too…

[@retroreactions....]

Can't wait!

[@strange4you]

I Love mike oldfield... I love OMMADAWN.

[@steevenfrost]

I do too.

[@routemaster19]

First time viewer - just stumbled upon the channel and think I will stick around for a while. It's always great to see someone new connect to the work of Mike Oldfield and I envy them their voyage of discovery that they are just starting on. For me I first heard Tubular Bells back in 1984 when I was 11. I've pretty much enjoyed nearly everything of his ever since. Mike is a musical chameleon - and you never quite knew what he was going to produce next. Sometimes something incredible, sometimes something decidedly less so - but even those less than satisfactory works often had something of interest to consider re-listening to the album again. Mike is from a Folk music background but grew up in the 1960s with all that revolutionary music influencing his style. He also admires classical music, in particular the works of Sibelius. One thing most people don't realise when they listen to or review Tubular Bells is that when he recorded this he was a nobody, a jobbing session musician and when he got the opportunity to record the album (Part 1 was recorded and mixed in 1 week!) he probably thought this was going to be his only chance to put down on professional tape all these musical ideas and episodes that were in his head and on a very rough 2 track demo tape. No-one least of all Mike himself ever thought the album would become the success it was and the demand for follow ups quickly swamped Mike who was a quiet introverted fellow back then. I hope you do go on and listen to more of his work, chronologically is best and always try to listen to the Original mixes first. It sounded like you listened to the 2009 remix Mike did of Tubular Bells when he got the rights to the album back to himself again. It's not too bad this one but any and all remixes pale by comparison to the Original 1973 one which is notably rougher but has an incredible organic quality with a huge dynamic range where the Tubular Bells really "KLANG!"

[@retroreactions....]

Hello and welcome to the channel! Hope you enjoy more of my song picks. What an experience this was, excited for more from him. Thanks for the info and insight into Mike 🙂

[@Roboticgladiator]

50 years later this album still kicks ass.

[@retroreactions....]

Agreed! Thanks for watching..

[@lilybee2955]

Fun, fascinating and definitely audacious, even for 1973. I love those last 5 minutes, they're the natural denouement to the whole build-up: I love it! 🥰This being said, I tend to see "Tubular Bells Part 1" as the precursor to Mike Oldfield's 1990 epic “Amarok”, a 60-minute musical adventure I can only describe as “Pure joy set to music”. For those brave enough to undertake another trippy journey...😉

[@retroreactions....]

60 minutes? Heaven help me lol! Well I should get used to that...several on my to do list are close to and beyond 60, including The Lamb full album from Genesis! I'm sure Amarok is stellar! Thanks for watching..

[@goytabr]

@@retroreactions...., long story short, if you found that "Tubular Bells" was "unique" ($100, thank you! 🤣), it becomes dull and conventional in comparison with "Amarok". It redefines the concept of "unique" ($100, thank you! 🤣). "Amarok" is one of the most brilliant albums I've ever listened to, no less!

[@amarok9097]

Love Amarok

[@retroreactions....]

Haha, so it's gonna be raining cash during my Amarok reaction!!

[@retroreactions....]

Your KZbin handle proves it!! Added your vote.

[@MrSinnerBOFH]

Very nice reaction! I still remember the first time I listened to it, back in my teens. I was amazed to this new, incomparable piece. I was sure that, in the future, this was going to be in the books as “XX Century Classical Music”. You must do Part 2, and continue Mike Oldfield’s work through the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, seeing how he changes styles and delivers a marvelous set of records.

[@retroreactions....]

Thank you! Yes part 2 and more Mike to come for sure, thanks!

[@manfredbader4307]

Warum machen alle die neuen Versionen? Nicht 1974 ?😮

[@sophiapangloss2149]

It's a lovely album, can't take anything away from such a masterpiece... except to say that I tend to go to Ommadawn and Hergest Ridge, especially Ommadawn On Horseback, you should add that to your list 🙂

[@retroreactions....]

I will thanks!

[@mathiasosiriswoodhal]

his brother terry oldfield did music similar to mike and i believe his sister sally did music too i know she sang on some of terrys music

[@retroreactions....]

Thanks!

[@asgn14]

Sally Oldfield released 15 solo albums with her first being "Water Bearer" in 1978.

[@andyshan]

Another great reaction. Long before quantization became the norm iv recording studios, this has a warm organic home made quality. What stands out is Mike's distinctive guitar playing. He draws on minimalist composers such as Terry Riley to set this up and goes from there. Great melodies throughout. The follow up album to this is also excellent.

[@retroreactions....]

Thanks Andy! Excited for the Mike Oldfield journey. Always nice to see you..

[@garri5108]

Finally Mike! Crinimally underrated composer. This was the first album on Virgin record which later become one of the biggest company in the world even with space business, Richard Branson should be his whole life grateful to Mike

[@retroreactions....]

He blew me away, and all this from 17-19 years of age! That's really cool about the connection with Branson.... Thanks so much for watching!

[@douglasgraham9045]

There’s a live bbc video on you tube of Tubular Bells with a bunch of musicians. Worth checking out

[@sammybeck7794]

Hey Brandon, thanks for reacting to this tune. All I pretty much know about this is the repetitive piano intro from the Exorcist movie and part of the tune at the ending credits of the movie. I sat through this to listen to it all the way through it along with you. I can't believe I never really listened to it before. Loved it....again thanks. Oh and BTW, I hope you will be reacting to part II sometime in the near future? 😊

[@retroreactions....]

You're welcome! Glad it was new for you and that you loved it! I will definitely react to Pt. 2 and of course others by him in the future!

[@kellydelay18]

Got this album after seeing exorcist first time 1976 maybe

[@reverts3031]

One of my favorites. Used to have this on vinyl. Love it!

[@retroreactions....]

I can see why. Such a vibe not quite like anything else. Did the vinyl have that bell logo on it?

[@reverts3031]

@@retroreactions.... Yes. Same bell logo on the album cover. I can hardly wait for part 2.

[@helenespaulding7562]

Oh man, as soon as it started, I thought of The Exorcist. SUCH a scary movie. 😱

[@retroreactions....]

Haha, luckily I've never and will never see it. Gave up horror films a long time ago LOL. Happy Monday!

[@helenespaulding7562]

@@retroreactions.... well, it came out before you were even born. I just realized it came out 50 years ago! I gave up Horror films after that. I do not enjoy being scared. Why so many people seem to LOVE being terrified is beyond me.

[@retroreactions....]

I know I've seen clips lol, like the levitating and head spinning. Yea, I saw many traumatizing horror films in my youth. I don't need that kind of extra stress these days haha. To each their own... 😁

[@jorgecalderon48940]

Great Great reaction!!! Mike is the best musician of the XX century😊

[@Murfie-qe3pp]

The chap at the end announcing each instrument is Vivian Stanshall, a legend and well worth investigating further.

[@Divedown_25]

Long time since I listened to Mike Oldfield. Tubular Bell was an instant classic when it came out. I think this was the first instrumental album we had at home… well after my fathers old classic collection and his Herp Albert and the Tijuana Brass albums.

[@doplinger1]

This is awesome. And whenever I see you enjoy something like this it just reinforces my opinion that you’ll love those Alice Cooper tracks I mentioned before (but save them for October)

[@retroreactions....]

What a journey Mike took me on. Curious to know what all his other albums sound like. Clearly we have a genius musician/composer here. Halloween will be here soon! Can you let me know the order of the 3 Cooper from best to better in case I can't hit all 3?

[@doplinger1]

@@retroreactions.... “Years Ago”, “Steven” and “The Awakening”. I don’t recall hearing a lot of other Mike Oldfield, but while Tubular Bells was his magnus opus, I’m sure his other stuff is good.

[@retroreactions....]

Thanks!

[@mysticvirgo9318]

24:00 introduction of the players :)

[@retroreactions....]

So unexpected. The only song I've ever heard that does something remotely similar is "The Greatest Band" from the Mickey Mouse disco album (3:03 mark haha) kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJrJZpaQpbOSn80

[@kidallv]

Instant like for Oldfield. My favorits are Pink Floyd, Mike Oldfield, Muse, Babymetal, Porcupine Tree (Wilson) and Archive. Oldfield's least favorite albums - QE2 and Five Miles Out for me

[@retroreactions....]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@scifimonkey3]

A milestone in popular music. This did not just break the mold it ground it into dust. BTW it also was responsible for funding what was to become the media, banking and airline giant that is VIRGIN. Next up should obviously be side 2 and then ‘Hergest ridge’ (a homage to the British countryside) and IMHO his best work ‘Ommadawn.’ (Oh the drums, the drums). Aside from his composition he was a bl-dy good guitarist.

[@retroreactions....]

Thanks, excited for the MO journey!

[@annettemoore7264]

I was 13 when that came out, "our Thomas" (big bro) bought it, what used to infuriate me was because it wasn't "mainstream" a lot of people just connected that to The Exorcist and didn't have a fkn clue who Mike Oldfield was..😳 our radiogram was full of the wierdest collection of albums you could ever wish to see though 🙄 as you might remember, I'm a Scouser and growing up in Liverpool in the 60s we had the "Merseysound" bands, headed by the Beatles, Jerry and the Pacemakers, the Quarrymen and the Fourmost but we battled with the parents who where banging Frank Sinatra and Co out, then all of a sudden the Prog rock invasion started..you could spend all day just looking for a friggin album.😄

[@retroreactions....]

Thanks for sharing the memories!

[@volt9903]

WELCOME TO MIKE OLDFIELDS MUSIC WORLD.(BETTER LATE THAN NEVER)CONTINUE WITH THE SECOND L.P HERGEST RIDGE,AND THEN THE THIRD ALBUM THE STATE OF ART O M M A D A W N(NO WORDS TO DISCRIBE).....AND KEEP GOING ON TO THE MAGNIFICENT JOURNEY OF MIKE OLDFIELDS UNIQUE SOUNDS.....GREETINGS FROM ATHENS 🇬🇷. P.S. JUST SUBSCRIBED.

[@retroreactions....]

Hello! Oh, I am so excited for this Mike Oldfield journey! Thank you SO much for your subscription and welcome to the Retro Reactions community! Peace and blessings to you all the way over in beautiful Greece 🙂 (my sister went there a few months ago and I was beyond jealous haha)

[@rk41gator]

This is like listening to Bach. When music historians go back and analyze the late '60s and early '70s, they will say this period was unique in the creative explosion of music. There may never be another time when musicians were given so much freedom. It was before the recession of 1973. Record companies had not yet grasped how to monetize and control artists. Musicians called the shots. The result was a blossoming of rock into a higher realm of artistry that may rank with the highest eras of music development. This happens once in 100 years and aren't we blessed to be a part of it?

[@retroreactions....]

Excellent statement!

[@samsonau8205]

Recorded when he was 19...but first composed when he was 17!! Was rejected by music companies until he met Richard Branson to produce the 1st ever Virgin release.

[@retroreactions....]

Match made in heaven......what a beautiful stunning piece of art!

[@franckbizouard3357]

Masterpiece after masterpiece, Mike has put big pieces of art in Rock history, mostly between 1973 (TB) and 1983 (Crises). Can't wait for watch you listen more from Mike ;-) Enjoy the trip!

[@retroreactions....]

I will thanks!

[@chadheckman2693]

I bought this album in 1973 after seeing "The Exorcist" in a theater. I was in college, and it spooked the b-jebbers out of me! Beautiful music and I've been a fan of Mike Oldfield ever since. I think I have about four of his albums. Love them all. Thank you!

[@retroreactions....]

Awesome, can't wait for the journey..

[@peggys1140]

I knew you would appreciate this one! Original composition by an amazingly gifted young artist.

[@retroreactions....]

Yesss! Thanks for watching!

[@333wheeler]

About to climb down a large rabbit hole with Mike Oldfield . I got the impression he made this album to show case his talents to the Record Companies throwing everything into this one and blending it all together, It turned out way better than that.. The early albums are all about this style till the Record Company wanted pop singles then it veers off in a new direction which some do not like as much . Personally I like almost everything. ! Side two has a surprise at the end .. :)

[@retroreactions....]

Thanks!

[@RichardBain-lm1fh]

Listening to "Tubular Bells" can be quite challenging for me unless I'm in the right frame of mind. However, when I'm in the zone, with the lights off and headphones on, it truly reveals itself as a remarkable masterpiece.

[@retroreactions....]

Best way to experience it no doubt!

[@Chappomusic]

Well take a trip ( interprete it as you wish ) and go to listen to TB, Ommadawn and then Amarok. The last will destroy your mind .impossible to frame , explain and understand . You are in another dimension . No one ever has reviewed it .. btw : did you know Mike was rejected as bass player at British group Family early 70 ?

[@retroreactions....]

Thanks for the suggestions. No never read that about Mike and Family. Their loss!

[@Chappomusic]

@@retroreactions.... and while recording Shadow on the Wall Mike invited Roger Chapman , former frontman of Family as lead vocalist. And Roger is although his voice is distinctive, a expierienced singer . Mike let him do Shadow again and again .. “ no not good, try another take “ till late evening . So when Roger became fed up , Mike said : ow it was done at the first take . But wanted to catch you back for not hiring me in Family .it’s confirmed by Roger himself so the story is truth.

[@retroreactions....]

Haha, sweet revenge....

[@shecaso]

Mike Oldfield is a genius. This album brought me wonderful memories. I have this album and I’m going to listen to it right now. Thank you for reacting to this amazing musician.

[@retroreactions....]

You're most welcome, can't wait for more!

[@rpmfla]

A unique genius.

[@retroreactions....]

Absolutely!

[@rk41gator]

I have been meaning to go back and listen to this masterpiece. Thanks.

[@retroreactions....]

You're welcome!

[@mightyV444]

'Tubular Bells' also had been the very first album to be released on Richard Branson's _Virgin_ record label! And it's mind-blowing to me that there once was a time where it was possible for such experimental instrumental music to be massively popular 🤯 Loads of great music to discover, with Mike Oldfield! My personal favourite is his album 'Crises' from 1984 😊👍

[@retroreactions....]

Nice, I remember seeing Branson's name during my research on wiki. Oh, 80s Oldfield? I'm sure that's heaven! Do you have a favorite song from Crises?

[@mightyV444]

@@retroreactions.... - Yes, the title track 'Crises', = Side A of the album 😊 Side B consists of several short and radio-friendly songs, including the big Hit 'Moonlight Shadow'. As for 'Tubular Bells' , there's a great video by the all-female Brooklyn Organ Synth Orchestra covering the part with the instrument introductions; Very cool! 😀👍 Another _Virgin_ act had been XTC, and Branson even shows up in the clip to their song 'Generals And Majors'! 😀

[@StevenQ74]

@@mightyV444 Don't forget "To France" kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmSYnKWIi9yaqa8

[@goytabr]

@@mightyV444, the synth work Mike does in the "Crises" title track is one of the best I've ever heard. And "Moonlight Shadow" is my least favorite song from side B, though Maggie Reilly is an awesome and very much underrated singer (her best song IMO is "Talk About Your Life" from Mike's "Discovery" album). My favorite from "Crises" side B is "In High Places", with the incomparable Jon Anderson at his best.

[@mightyV444]

@@goytabr - 'Moonlight Shadow' had been a great song before it was getting over-played! 😄😉 There's an interesting story around the creation of that song on Phil Spalding's website (under 'Music & Mayhem'), who'd played bass on that song and who'd been Mike Oldfield's touring bassist for several years. Sadly, Phil passed away earlier this year, in the middle of writing his memoir.

[@sergebrunet4218]

about time ! lol

[@retroreactions....]

Very true statement! Thanks for stopping by and being first for this one! 🥇

[@sergebrunet4218]

Right ! lol ! i hope you can play the 4K live show of Tubular 2 it s mindblowing !🥴@@retroreactions....

[@retroreactions....]

You mean part 2 right, not the 1992 album?

[@retroreactions....]

Can you tell me what year the performance was from ?

[@sergebrunet4218]

Well at the time i talked to you about it there was the full 4k live show 1992 but i can t find it. It s gone , but there s all parts of it ! just try to find the part 1 then 2 and 3 and so on ! because if you play them randomly it s going to be weird , right ? There is one full show but it don t say 4k it s only on 720p ! then, when you finish the whole TB 2 there s Tub.Bells 3 full show in 4k that you can end wherever you wish and do it in parts ! that s my suggestions ! Love the Tub,Bells 2 but the 3 is wicked ! lol🤓@@retroreactions....

[@rechtschreib-exorzist8936]

Appreciated a lot your reaction to this masterpiece! Can so confirm that you´re really a great connoisseur of (great) music! ;-) To reach an ultimate expert level you finnaly only have to watch the great BBC-docu 'Mike Oldfield Story' due to the 40th anniversary here on KZbin - necesarry to unterstand completely the whole thing! Enjoy and best wishes from Berlin, Germany!

[@Dwarfman01]

Can't wait to watch you react to part 2 of Tubular Bells. I really like Oldfield's work. Needless to say when you're finished with Tubular Bells, you'll need to give Five Miles Out a listen. It's an album full of hits, like 'Moonlight Shadow', 'Family Man' and of course, 'Five Miles Out'. I would also recommend listening to Secrets & Far Above the Clouds from Tubular Bells 3.

[@goytabr]

"Moonlight Shadow" is from "Crises", though. It must have been 4 AM in the morning and you must have been carried away... 😉

[@retroreactions....]

Thanks for the suggestions

[@mysticvirgo9318]

12:45 a favorite part :)

[@retroreactions....]

Great guitar work there!...to me it sounds like another planet's version of Hawaiian music! Thanks for watching 🙂

[@garymoore4909]

Tubular Bells II next please! Its basically a more epic version of this album and always reminds me of Christmas!

[@retroreactions....]

That sounds awesome and lovely....!

[@nigelcraik2429]

@@retroreactions....It is really worth a listen. It takes all the thematic elements of Tubular Bells and reworks them into something which sounds quite new.

[@DeesoSaeed]

I can see how this was so new and refreshing back then and quite a feat for such a young boy doing almost everything on his own. However his next works are more cohesive. For me Hergest Ridge and Ommadawn are really impressive the latter being his inquestionable magnum opus.

[@goytabr]

Most hardcore Mike Oldfield fans are undecided between "Ommadawn" and "Amarok" as his magnum opus, and so am I. Both have an unsurpassed level of brilliance, curiously for opposite reasons: "Ommadawn" is Mike's simplest album, and "Amarok" the most complex.

[@Maitatron]

Mike Oldfield himself c0nsider Amar0k t0 be his best opus.

[@mysticvirgo9318]

20:00 ish .. yeap gets us all ramped up for something big ..Aaaaand .. nope

[@retroreactions....]

Ha, yea it just went right back down after that point, but loved that whole tambourine section! Thanks for watching

[@mysticvirgo9318]

@@retroreactions.... Two Words in part two "Klingon Rock" :) lol

[@lynnhoffman247]

Love this one…haven’t heard it in years.

[@retroreactions....]

Nice! So incredibly "distinctive" (won't say "unique" again haha). Thanks so much for stopping by! Really hope you are feeling better 🙂

[@lynnhoffman247]

@@retroreactions.... Yes, finally today, thanks. Back to work tomorrow…missed my mom’s 87th birthday tho 😢

[@retroreactions....]

Glad to hear the first part, sorry to hear the second part. Aw, our mothers are the same age by 2 months!

[@lynnhoffman247]

@@retroreactions.... Cool! Never would’ve guessed, lol.

[@65alef]

È un capolavoro...e nonostante faccia parte della mia personale discoteca l'ascolto raramente perché troppo oscuro ed inquietante ( non per niente è nella Colonna sonora di un film terrificante come " L' esorcista " . Di Mike Oldfield preferisco il fantasmagorico album " Ommadawn "

[@retroreactions....]

Abbastanza giusto! Cosa ti piace di più di Ommadawn, parte 1 o parte 2?

[@65alef]

@@retroreactions.... sono indecisa perché in OMMADAWN entrambe le parti hanno interessanti suoni e la parte finale con Mike Oldfield che canta un canto di stile natalizio con un coro di bambini è molto suggestivo. Però francamente è uno di quegli album da ascoltare tutto interamente in un unico ascolto perché non si può ascoltare solo la prima parte senza la seconda e solo la seconda parte senza aver già ascoltato la prima.

[@retroreactions....]

OK... 👍😁💙

[@goytabr]

Be happy, Brandon! You're going to be a rich man! Sooner or later you're going to find oil in your channel with so many rabbit holes being dug! 🤣And this is a DEEP one! Mike just turned 70 this year, and remember, he was 19 (!!!) when he recorded this. And he never stopped making music and evolving in this half century, though I do think he lost his touch in recent years. He has had many phases in his career. First came the classic tetralogy of instrumental albums without track divisions: "Tubular Bells", "Hergest Ridge", "Ommadawn", and "Incantations" (which is double and has four parts). "Hergest Ridge" was panned by the critics when it appeared. Very unfairly so, IMO, it's a great album! But Mike was still too young and he couldn't take criticism well. He responded by making a mutilated mix of it that became the ONLY available version of "Hergest Ridge" for many years. The original mix only became again available in 2010 (I think), when deluxe CD editions of his classics were released, and the "Hergest Ridge" one contained a bonus CD with the original version. So, be sure to find and react to the original mix, which may be hard to find. In my personal ranking, "Ommadawn" is tied in first place with another album I'll talk about later. I'm not alone, most Mike Oldfield fans are undecided between these two albums as being Mike's absolute all-time masterpiece. You said at least twice in this video that you didn't know which instrument was being played in some sections. Well, I've challenged many people to identify the instrument in the initial section of "Ommadawn part 2", and no one ever got it right. Hint 1: it's NOT a synth. Hint 2: it's a very trivial instrument, but played in a very unusual way, which makes it sound completely different and... unique ($100, thank you! 🤣). I only know what it is because I read it once in a critic's review. "Ommadawn" is hypnotic, it's involving, it's absolutely brilliant, despite paradoxically being the simplest of the classic four ("et pour cause"). "Incantations" is Mike's most mystical album, starting with the title, but not limited to it. It's extremely beautiful, but way too long, and some find it too repetitive. Yet when I listened to the abridged version from Mike's live double album "Exposed" I found it mutilated. Go figure... So, I can't decide whether "Incantations" is really too long or just the right length. Of one thing I'm sure, though: I count the ending of "Incantations part 4" (along with the ending of "Hergest Ridge part 2") among the most beautiful things I've ever listened to. Talking about "Exposed", later you MUST listen to the live version of "Tubular Bells" from it. It has a very rock-y feel, especially that precise guitar section where you paused this video, which gives you the urge to stand up and applaud! 👏 After that, starting from 1980, a shock: Mike's albums started having TRACKS! 😮First he made a very interesting jazzy work called "Platinum" (there is also a version called "Airborn" with a different cover and a replaced track), which includes covers of Gershwin and Philip Glass tracks. Then he made a string of very irregular albums in which he mixed his usual instrumental fare with catchy pop songs with many guest singers, both male and female: "QE2", "Five Miles Out", "Earth Moving" (probably Mike's worst album). But two albums from this phase stand out. The first one is "Crises", whose long title song has one of the most impressive uses of synths ever, to make even Vangelis open his mouth in wonder, and which also includes the track "In High Places" with none other than Jon Anderson as a guest doing one of his most brilliant vocals ever (and you know that's saying something!). The other is "Discovery", which is no masterpiece and only contains one typical instrumental Mike track ("The Lake"), but it's simply DELIGHTFUL to listen from start to finish. Pick up any track at random and it will be sure to please you! Then in 1990 came the watershed and the monument of an album, though this was by mere accident: "Amarok". Many fans consider it Mike's absolute masterpiece. I consider it a tie with "Ommadawn". If you found "Tubular Bells" a "unique" album ($100, thank you! 🤣), just wait until you listen to "Amarok"! But the story of "Amarok" goes back 17 years to "Tubular Bells". As you can imagine, it would be extremely hard for a then teenager to find a record company willing to finance the recording and release of such a unique and unconventional album ($100, thank you! 🤣). As luck would have it (for both parties), Mike eventually found a young entrepreneur who had just founded a record label, until then with no releases, "Tubular Bells" would be the first. Of course, it sold a gazillion records, and that's what capitalized and gave momentum to both guys' careers. The name of that entrepreneur was Richard Branson, the label was Virgin Records, and that was the start of the Virgin empire, which now even has Virgin Galactic sending rich people into space. By 1990, however, their relationship had soured. Branson was already a multibillionaire, the record label was his smallest business, and it was in the hands of professional executives with hearts of stone and dollar signs in their eyes. Mike felt that his records weren't being given due attention or promotion, and he wanted to leave Virgin, but he was contractually bound to make one more album for them. So, he decided to make it a matter of malicious compliance. He crafted an album that would be essentially unsellable and impossible to be played on the radio. "Amarok" is ONE single track with EXACT 60:00 minutes (the vinyl version is split evenly in exact 30-minute sides, and that's what you'll have to do if you ever react to it) with so many unconnected themes changing so often that it's impossible to get an excerpt or a radio edit from it. The level of sabotage was so refined that the album even has a passage where "F*CK OFF R.B." is played in Morse code! Unfortunately for Mike and fortunately for us, it backfired, because "Amarok" is so genius, so well played, and so nice to listen that its calculated randomness only adds to it. I don't think it was a best-seller, but it became Mike's masterpiece and a totally CULT album. I absolutely LOVED it from the first listen, and it's still on the list of my 10 favorite albums of all-time. A curious by-product was that a computer programmer who was a fan of the album created a media player specially to play it in tracks based on a customized list. This program, the Amarok Player, evolved to be one of the leading media players for the Linux system, though most Linux users don't know its origin or the reason for the name. And there are dozens of suggested tracklists with curious names on the Internet forums. Then Mike made several new albums inspired by "Tubular Bells" (similar, faintly recognizable, but none nearly as good): "Tubular Bells II", "III", "The Millennium Bell". He did some EDM (he was living on Ibiza, so...), and his best albums in his late phase include "The Songs of Distant Earth" (inspired by Arthur C. Clarke's sci-fi book with that title) and "Tres Lunas", but frankly, late Mike Oldfield is merely nice to listen at best. His period of greatness is over, but the legacy he left before that is incredibly rich, and we should be thankful for it!

[@retroreactions....]

Hello my friend. Thanks as always for the epicly informative comment! 🏆 Hergest Ridge album on Spotify is broken into just 4 songs. Is that the original version? I accept your Ommadawn challenge, though I will likely fail lol. Amarok sounds mindblowing to the nth degree. What a wonderful Mike Oldfield lesson you've given me today! (where do I send your check? 🤣)

[@goytabr]

@@retroreactions...., I replied to your comment above, but my reply disappeared. Did you delete it? If not and you couldn't read it, please let me know and I'll post the information again.

[@retroreactions....]

That's weird, can't find it anywhere....yes please repost when you have a chance, sorry for the YT mixup...

[@goytabr]

@@retroreactions...., here it goes. I hope KZbin doesn't delete it again... I don't have a Spotify account, but it allowed me to search for the songs and albums anyway. The search gave different results for just "Hergest Ridge" and for "Hergest Ridge Mike Oldfield". The former search included a similarly-named track by an unknown artist but omitted the original Part 2 of the real thing. The latter search was precise and gave the complete two versions from the 2010 deluxe CD edition - which I have, I imported it for a fortune just to have back the original 1974 version in digital format. Virtually all major Mike Oldfield works have alternative mixes, but in nearly all cases the differences are minimal, barely noticeable. "Hergest Ridge", his second album, however, is a different story. Mike was 21 years old when it was released, obviously not very emotionally mature (though a master musician already), and he couldn't handle well the almost overnight transition from a completely unknown young man to a platinum-selling star. "Hergest Ridge" is the result of the retreat he felt the need to have after all that emotional overload. The name comes from a ridge of hills on the England-Wales border where he liked to go to be alone and think (you can find it on Google Maps, next to the little town of Kington in Herefordshire). "Hergest Ridge" is a much quieter, calmer work than "Tubular Bells" (save for a very heavy and tense section of Part 2 that fans unofficially call "the storm" and I usually skip), more melodic, "pastoral" (as it has been called), and I find it absolutely beautiful and an AMAZING album. But some critics wrote very scathing reviews of it, and Mike didn't digest that well. So, he reneged on his own work and made a VERY DESTRUCTIVE remix of it. Unlike other remixed works by Mike, the remixed "Hergest Ridge" sounds VERY DIFFERENT from the original release, and I find it blander, colder, and not nearly as beautiful (though it still remains a respectable opus). And from a certain point on, that became the ONLY available version, making the original vinyl release a collector's item. It's also the only version available on a standard CD (other than the deluxe edition). The deluxe edition (which is what is available on Spotify) contains a "2010 remix, previously unreleased" and the original 1974 version. I urge you to listen to the latter. I find the 2010 remix slightly better than the "mutilated" version, but it's still much closer to it than to the original release, which I still find FAR better (and most Mike Oldfield fans agree with me). If it gets removed from Spotify until then, you can find it on KZbin. Also note that the 2010 remix is 2 minutes shorter than the original version, but I don't know what has been removed. A word of caution about "Ommadawn": in some editions (including the CD I have), the end section of Part 2 is a separate track called "On Horseback" (it's so cute!!!). You should consider it as belonging to Part 2 and include it in your reaction. So, when listening to "Ommadawn Part 2", check the length: it should be over 17 minutes. If it's shorter than that, you'll be missing "On Horseback" - and you definitely shouldn't! As for "Amarok", I gave it another listen today, and it's crafted to be able to be cut at exactly 30:00 for the vinyl edition without the interruption sounding too abrupt. But my guess is that you may edit it into 2 or 3 videos and publish them separately, but you'll WANT to keep listening and will probably react to the whole album all at once, even if you don't publish your entire reaction at once. You won't want to stop! Both the emotion and the curiosity will push you onward. And the first half of it is stunning, but the second half is even better! The finale alone is so uplifting that you may cry tears of joy, as I often do when I listen to it.

[@retroreactions....]

Me cry on the channel? Never! 🤣🤣 Thanks again. Seems a bit confusing with all these different versions, but I can revert back to your comment here when the time comes.

[@micknordstrom2591]

One of the most beautiful instrumental songs ever! He never reached this level after this. He peaked on his first album.

[@retroreactions....]

Agreed! Any other albums of his that you love?

[@adaddinsane]

@@retroreactions.... Ommadawn, Hergist Ridge, and the incredible Incantations. He did alternate versions of Tubular Bells, and there's the totally weird but still amazing "Amarok" (except the Margaret Thatcher bit, it didn't age well) plus Platinum, QE2, Islands. I didn't really like his ambient phase but it's his career and his music 😎

[@retroreactions....]

Thanks, looks like I have a long journey ahead....

[@yitzchakscott-thoennes]

yay! such an epic journey.

[@retroreactions....]

For sure, and so original. Felt like I was on another musical planet! Thanks for stopping by... 🙂

[@emiliacanet9960]

I had this on vinyl way back when. I loved it n now haven't heard it in decades

[@retroreactions....]

Nice! Glad you got to listen again! Thank you.

[@adaddinsane]

I still have it on vinyl...

[@sps6151]

🤘🤘😝😝🤘🤘

[@retroreactions....]

Thanks for tuning in!!

[@reneelyons6836]

Very much love this piece of music. Can't believe he was 19 when he made this. I'm so glad he won an award for it. Music history. 💙🥰🎼🎵🎶🎶

[@retroreactions....]

What a composer GOAT!!! Love him after just hearing this 1 song. Professor Brandon has spoken!... 😂🤣

[@anthonypalermo1837]

Dude! Great reaction and love your comments on the music and the way it evolves and changes. I know I felt the same way when I first heard it in ‘73 when I was fifteen years old and a budding musician. Unfortunately-and I may be an outlier on this-but I felt it was ruined by being used for the Exorcist and it was released as a single because the movie was hot which means it was chopped up and edited to the point of losing everything cool about it; the flow,the changes,etc.. The movie was a classic and I never understood why they didn’t just higher a composer to write an original score for it instead of just “pasting “ Tubular Bells over it. Hopefully Mr Oldfield got a good payday out of it.