Mike Oldfield | Tubular Bells Part 1 | Reaction

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Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal

[@jessem470]

Anyone care to mention Mike Oldfield plays almost all instruments At the time this was a monumental feat of Multitracking Viv Stanshall played in band called Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band Their Song : The Intos and The Outros inspired the end where he gives shout out to instruments mike plays on this

[@bobcorbin3294]

Todd Rundgren's album something anything came out the year before, he played all the instruments on the first three sides of the double album

[@douglasmackinlay7574]

Used as the theme to, 'The Exorcist '.

[@noteverton]

The Intro and The Outro, singular.

[@emmamarshall5011]

He did, I grew up in a family who adore Mike Oldfield. Funny thing is, I'm only really appreciating the beauty of it now.

[@gzaq]

Mike was 18 when he wrote this music! This album was the first one published by Virgin Records and its enormous success helped Richard Branson establish his Virgin empire.

[@prltqdf9]

@@TONE11111 16

[@LaylaSpellwind]

Worth noting, Brandon didn't like this and demanded there be lyrics, so Mike got drunk and did Piltdown Man. XD

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

Branson loved the album, but was aware that in 1973 it would be difficult to sell a 25 minutes long instrumental. But he was certain that Tubular Bells was destined to be the first record in his new founded record company.

[@jute6317]

Was the Americans that wanted word not Branson

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

@@jute6317 And where should the americans have heard an album, yet to be finished, from a record company that didn’t exist?

[@rudyb.]

Wow, I never thought there would be a day when a YT reactor would have the patience to sit through this musical masterpiece! Especially this generation. Congratulations for reacting to Tubular Bells.

[@heinruh9788]

Amazing isn´t it?

[@kidallv]

JustJP makes reactions to albums in chronological order

[@samsonau8205]

@@kidallv He just finished Five Miles Out. Awaiting Crisis.

[@samsonau8205]

There is also a gentleman (composer) who goes through the entire score while listening to the album. I enjoyed his analysis of the piece.

[@timfeeley714-25]

Dr Doug Helvering does a great reaction and breakdown of the album

[@russellmorgan5611]

Pleased to say, I was into this before The Exorsist.

[@lesblatnyak5947]

Me too.

[@garri5108]

Same

[@toniyoung5131]

me too. In fact I regretted seeing that awful film.

[@samsonau8205]

I discovered TB when I was 15. My lifeguard supervisor invited me to a university cabaret. As I was strolling the hallways and the student rez, a guy was running around yelling "War of the Worlds at midnight!". Eventually, I made my way over to the room and they were played TB while everyone gathered. It was a mesmerizing experience. WotW was awesome too.

[@andrewwright9378]

My brother used to wack his huge 1970s headphones on my 8 year old ears and play this full blast (as well as Pink Floyd and all sorts). Then one day at Junior School my teacher put this on in the lesson they called “Music and Movement” and we would lie on the gym mats and wiggle and wobble as we saw fit! He seemed very old and teacherly to me at the time but he was probably just a 21 year old hippy! Not heard this for years and it’s making me feel really odd.

[@KevinRCarr]

Rather than listen again, check this out: on KZbin there is a live recording from BBC studio in 1973, that runs for just short of 26 minutes. Mike O is in it, wearing a tank top shirt, and trading off between bass guitar, acoustic guitar, and (I think) reed & pipe organ, with all other instruments by other musicians. It's fascinating to see them interact so precisely that it sounds almost as good as the studio recording that you just listened to. I highly recommend seeing it to get a better feel for the instruments and music. One thing you will note in watching that while listening, is that there are no synthesizers at all, just old time strings and percussion instruments and flutes and voices.

[@EiriUesugiKun]

Thank you! I don't think that I would have ever stumbled upon that gem without you!

[@KevinRCarr]

You're welcome!

[@coocoocachooglin]

We bought this album when it came out, and had it in our library for decades before I saw that KZbin video of him live, it was like going home. I was so happy to find that, and I wasn’t looking, it just popped up one day and it was the best thing I had seen in a long time.

[@jacquewilliams2996]

​@@coocoocachooglinI had it on 8 track

[@IvanStikic]

Yes yes, keep on going... Mike Oldfield is a Wizard. You won't regret diving into his music.

[@thomasaustirol9900]

The finale, when Mike introduces the different instruments one after another with the ongoing base line and then the end guitar tune still makes me get tears in my eyes after all these years..... one of my favorite albums and I think one of the gems in music history

[@davegardner5256]

Mike doesn't introduce the instruments - it's Viv Stanshall

[@darkpitcher5242]

Viven Stanshall is a documentary all of his own @@davegardner5256

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

I can’t remember if it’s 7 or 9 minutes the bass line runs, but Mike had to do it in one take and was close to cramps before it was over.

[@thomasaustirol9900]

@@kasperkjrsgaard1447 yeah, definitelly a musicians hands nightmare ;-)

[@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.

[@amarok9097]

You Sir are a man of taste

[@KNOPFLERSGOD]

@@amarok9097 Thank you.

[@shecaso]

Mike Oldfield is a musical genius! When I heard this for the first time in 1973 I was 11, it was magical and I still have the vinyl. Great reaction ❤

[@aitorgutierrez-cabello9809]

John, you have just born!

[@MilosDaddy]

One of my favorite recordings of all time! We bought the album when it first came out in the 70's. Still listening.

[@pedroalmeida9596]

MIKE IS GOD.

[@michelfroggy56]

The opening riff written in 15/8 is haunting, which is probably why they used it in The Exorcist.

[@SpuddySpud]

That fast-plucked string sound is a mandolin, or maybe a speeded-up guitar to sound like a mandolin. Balalaikas and bouzoukis get played a similar way.

[@JuniorFarquar]

The Exorcist! I, Robot by Alan Parsons is a good long instrument, too

[@petergrant7332]

He was an 18 year old kid when he recorded this mostly at home .

[@geoffw913]

Give the BBC live version a blast. Oldfield had to be persuaded to perform by Branson offering him his Rolls Royce as a gift! This record also launched Virgin as major label and the rest is history!

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

Avtually it was a Bentley 😏

[@scifimonkey3]

Keep on going through ‘Hergest Ridge’to the all time masterpiece that is ‘Ommadawn’ and if you ever catch a Virgin Atlantic plane to europe, consider the fact that it would not exist without the money raised from Tubular bells.

[@exilschwabegp3115]

You´re right: Philipp Glass was once mentioned by Mike as an influence!

[@MrSinnerBOFH]

“The Lord of the Rings of music”. Exactly, John, 100%. It’s always amazing to see a musician discover Tubular Bells. I’m pretty sure there were no synths used to record Tubular Bells. The original name was supposed to be “Opus One”, but was later changed to “Tubular Bells”. And without Tubular Bells there would be no Bohemian Rhapsody. My man, I recommend you to explore Mike Oldfield’s career from the 70’s to 1985. Plus his albums from ‘92, ‘94, ‘96 and 2017. You’re going to enjoy that trip, as every guitar/bass player does.

[@toniyoung5131]

The original vinyl record of this is still in my record cupboard, bought it in 1974. when I was 21. I was born with hearing loss and got hearing aids in the 1990's, in my 40s. This is the first time I've heard this in 49 years, I'm amazed at the sounds I never heard back then. Thank you for reminding me. I'm off th buy a cd of it now, as I don't have a record deck any more😢.

[@seajaytea9340]

"Magical" is perhaps the best, single word to describe this! I've always felt that the 'music' is in charge in this piece and it took Mike Oldfield (and by association the listeners) on a journey. Thank you for reacting to this.

[@benstatham9070]

Great reaction John. Glad you've found this masterpiece. FYI the guy introducing the instruments was Viv Stanshall (Bonzo Gog Doodah Band).

[@CyberDwarf1949]

*dog

[@simply_psi]

Viv Stanshall and Neil Innes of The Bonzo Dog Doodah Band what a pair of underrated musical geniuses/lunatics they were. RIP you pair of insane visionaries. I remeber watching The Innes Book of Records TV show as a young kid of around 12 it blew my mind.

[@leannmarshall28]

Saw The Exorcist in the theater when it came out, it still haunts me. The music was so fitting.

[@doplinger1]

Cheers to John for committing to a 26:00 song!!

[@Nidels]

You will have to take a much longer trip through Mike Oldfield's discography to see the tremendous evolution of one of the greatest musicians of the 20th and 21st centuries. When you get to albums like Onmadawn, QE2, Five Milles Out or the great Amarok, (for me the best album in history) you are going to be amazed. Un abrazo.

[@jefferytheis4157]

Underrated brilliance. As some people have said, he was basically a kid when he wrote this. I've read that he got in to his studio time a bit early, and in a couple of hours figured out how to play a couple of instruments there and added them in. Great reaction Bro!

[@Rowenband]

Brilliance YES, underrated, no.

[@HT-io1eg]

@@Rowenbandexactly, hardly underrated, this was a massive album, a masterpiece, everyone had it, everyone knew it, simply huge!

[@mikeflanagan2000]

What a delight to watch someone listen to Tubular Bells for the first time!

[@lilybee2955]

Fine reaction, John, and very perceptive of you to mention those “Halloween” vibes, as the intro was used as the theme to the scariest horror movie of the day called “The Exorcist”, back in 1973. Now, if you like long musical journeys, perhaps you'll enjoy Mike Oldfield's epic called “Amarok” (1990). It's an hour long suite of incredible music, full of twists and turns, and one that induces the happiest, most euphoric vibes you'll ever hear this side of heaven. Cheerio! 🐝

[@christianhansen3292]

music sounds very like the soundtracks even to TV shows in 70s as well as movies.

[@erickvermeulen9734]

There was a Dutch children tv program, with the clowns Bassie and Adriaan, that used the Tubular Bells theme extensively. I just hope all children that loved it later bought the album. I bought earlier this year the 50th anniversary edition of the album. It is timeless.

[@samsonau8205]

If you do MO in chronological order, it will be awhile before you get to Amarok...his big FU to Virgin Records.

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

@@samsonau8205 More precisely FO RB in morse. As far as I remember it’s around the 48’ minute.

[@user-fj4lt9wl9g]

It’s nice to meet someone who appreciates good music John. Check out Ommadawn by Mike Oldfield.

[@scifimonkey3]

Oh Yes……..those drums!

[@davegardner5256]

I think Ommadawn is even better than Tubular Bells

[@simongibbons1341]

Always a joy when someone gets introduced to Mike Oldfield, and appreciates him for what he's done - and it's an impressive collection. Looks like you've discovered Ommadawn too!

[@JohnWolfmeyer]

I love the patience you show when it comes to actually sit down and listed to music like this.

[@bobclarke1815]

Other great artists for you to check out are Jean-Michel Jarre`s "Oxygene" And on a slightly different tack is Rick Wakeman`s "Journey to the Centre of the Earth"

[@MDBowron]

Jean-Michel Jarre's "Oxygene" features prominently in the 1981 Australian film "Gallipoli" from 1981 starring a young Mel Gibson.

[@garyarnold3141]

This was one of the first records I ever owned. I was 13 when it came out. I've never really grown tired of it. Oldfield was / is a musical prodigy. His sister showed him some chords and when she came back in a few months he was close to mastering the instrument. Oldfield was in a terrible state when he wrote this and it's been said that the music was the grist of his pain. One of the greatest melodists England has ever produced.

[@davidjohnson00001]

It's interesting that this is a remastered version. Less compression and bass sounds than the original, which I bought on the day it was released in 1973. The first version also had some instruments slightly out of tune, these have been "corrected". However I prefer the original studio version as it had more grit and life to it. Incidentally, in 1971 I saw Mike Oldfield as a 17 year old bassist with Kevin Ayres and the Whole World; what a great band they were. Opening the bill that night were a new band called Queen, I wonder what became of them! Also playing were Genesis just before Steve Hackett joined them. What a night.

[@exilschwabegp3115]

Ahahahaaa! As a lifetime fan of M.O I had to smile all along watching you being (at least seamingly) at the edge of mental overload pretty often! :D But i also appreciate your passion while listening honestly! Yeah, Mike´s music is often pretty hardcore stuff! :D Greetings from Berlin, Germany

[@nestordgiorgio3103]

Es una obra maestra de la música !!!

[@peterbaines1964]

Welcome to the world of the modern day Mozart

[@routemaster19]

What a lovely reaction - so expressive. Always a huge joy seeing someone start the Oldfield journey that I also am on since 1984 when I was 11! If you stick with him and continue chronologically he will be an artist that both dumbfounds you and frustrates you in equal measure. You never know where he goes next and you will explore many different sub genres and experiments with him. Some work amazingly - some are not so good - but you move on to the next album and you can be blown away again. I will say though if you do continue - always try to listen to the Original mixes first - they are invariably the best. This reaction sounds like the 2009 Remix that Mike did when he got back the rights to the album. It's ok but it lacks the visceral raw feeling of the Original 1973 mix - where the Tubular Bells really "KLANG!"

[@lesblatnyak5947]

Love how you want to know the instruments and then your told.

[@mickdarcy3063]

If you can imagine being 15 when this was released on 8-Track, sitting around with other kids while the adults were downstairs getting drunk for Labor Day and we were getting high on this music, before I started getting high on the demon weed. Mind opening and horizon widening.

[@Thomas-BMLSales]

headphones....close your eyes...and you're on a magical journey....no drugs needed :)

[@nickj5451]

Been lurking on the channel from time to time but bow that you've listened to my favorite musician and loved it so much I just have to say I'm so happy you loved it!! Gave me a big dumb grin : ))) there's so much more from him to hear

[@reverts3031]

If you like instrumentals, the 1960s and 1970s had several top hits that had no lyrics, but would take the listener on a journey. If you ever get a yearning for some violin, please check out the albums from Jean Luc Ponty. (In the early 70s he was the violinist in Frank Zappa's band.) Favorite albums are Cosmic Messenger, Enigmatic Ocean, Civilized Evil.

[@thomasaustirol9900]

Thank you for the album suggestion

[@reverts3031]

@@thomasaustirol9900 You're welcome.

[@TenCapQuesada]

"Tubular Bells", "Hergest Ridge", "Ommadawn", "Incantations", "Crises"... all other great works by Mike Oldfield. I bought them all as they came out. He' was and is an absolute god - and don't forget, he played all the instruments himself, for the most part.

[@jeanphilippebaye1713]

It is a masterpiece. I remember like it was yesterday: I saw Mike Oldfield live on the "crises" tour in 1984. It was one of the most beautiful concerts ever. Of course in addition to the fabulous instrumental "crises", he played "tubular bells" = magnificent.

[@kitharley6159]

Fun Fact: Tubular Bells (Catalogue no. V2001) is the album that launched Virgin Records. He was 19 when he recorded it, and he did the whole thing virtually single-handedly. Mike Oldfield is my all-time favorite musician.

[@user-kn3gl8ie5e]

God damn. I’m 63 and always wanted hair like your’s dude.☺️

[@Nidels]

Mike Oldfield has always known very well the sound he wanted to get from each instrument. He made the part of the tubular bells by hitting them with a metal hammer and hitting them so extremely hard that they were completely dented.

[@harpingon]

Great reaction man. I grew up listening to this, it was inspiring at the time and still is.

[@user-zd4hl3ow2h]

I was in the Marines in 74. One of my all time favorites. 28:06 ❤😂😂🎉😢😢😮😮

[@francoisgrenier935]

Halloween is a close enough hunch, it was used in the Exorcist

[@peteharper2687]

I think Tubular Bells is like a primer for music that he made later. Fantastic.

[@Ludortudor]

Im still proud of having that tubular bells logo tattooed on my back =)

[@williamschrom1584]

11 years old, listening with the headphones...

[@milanstastny6799]

Dear John, please continue with Mike Oldfield albums, it is so nice to discover it again with you togheter. Thank you very much.

[@sergebrunet4218]

Hi ! you must watch the live show in 4K Tubular Bells 2 it s long but it s awesome ! music from the movie Exorcist 1

[@scifimonkey3]

NB the music was not written for the exorcist. They just sampled it

[@hopebgood]

I haven't listened to any Mike Oldfield stuff for years cos I can't be arsed listening to one song for half an hour any more. That's the brutal truth.

[@lakephillip]

This is one of my all time favorites.This was rereleased in 5.1 on SACD in 2001. The only original recording in multi-channel. It is incredible. Nobody has mentioned that Tubular Bells was for a time known as Theme from Exorcist. They had a 3 min release that had the tinkle part and the harsh guitar part you said was scary.

[@boojum]

I suspect it was a major influence on Caprenter's theme to Halloween.

[@mikewoodrow5878]

Theme from Police Woman, as well!

[@surferles589]

This album put Richard Branson and Virgin on the map - even Richard Branson admits it. That instrument is a mandolin. On the original album, Mike Oldfield was THE ONLY musician. He played the lot

[@glyngasson8450]

Mostly written at age 16 and recorded at age 18/19 unbelievable. Mike said when he was playing the bass part that takes up the last 6/7 minutes of the track that his arm started cramping 3 mins in but he had to just keep going

[@MrCharade66]

Hehe, you need to hear Mikes entire works.

[@Music-tg5is]

I can hear the influence on so many subsequent video game musicians from this music.

[@mik99D]

When it came out, it went straight to number 1 in the UK charts.

[@SpaceOdditiesLive]

... which was quite a feat considering that nobody had ever heard of Mike Oldfield. It was unheard of for a completely unknown artist to have such success.

[@routemaster19]

Actually it was a slow burner to begin with when released end of May 1973, it's use in The Exorcist gave it a huge push everywhere at the end of 73 start of 74. Mike's second album "Hergest Ridge" went straight to No. 1 in September '74 for 3 weeks. It got displaced by Tubular Bells - which finally reached No. 1 almost a year and a half after it's release. In doing so Mike was only the third artist to knock themselves off the No. 1 position!

[@fenderchamp8241]

Wait til side II.

[@JonseyWales]

Great to see you react to the musical genius that is Mike Oldfield; it's a deep rabbit hole. Hergest Ridge and Ommadawn were the two albums that followed this and they are both EXCELLENT, with more of a Celtic vibe to them. Amarok is a mind blower, with so many amazing theme changes. 'Tubular Bells 2' is a great reprise of the first album. 'Songs of a Distant Earth' - another great album 'Incantations'.....wonderful; I could go on & on...........

[@samsonau8205]

Regarding Phillip Glass, the 5th Mike Oldfield album is called Platinum and one "movement" is based on a Glass theme. Can't wait until you get there.

[@nicksmith9648]

In 1973 as a 15 year old going on 16 we were thoroughly spoilt for brilliant music as well as Tubular Bells there were also albums by Pink Floyd - Dark side of the Moon, Al Green - Call me, Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy, Stevie Wonder - Innervisions, Iggy Pop - Raw Power, Bob Marley - Catch a Fire (The Album Cover Showing Bob tugging on a big Rasta Spliff) also later that year - Burnin', The Who - Quadrophenia, The Great, Marvin Gaye - with the definitive - Let's Get It On, David Bowie - Aladdin Sane, Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and many many more that year

[@ostrichman]

havent listened to this in years - headphones on and rolling one.

[@HelenwildmouseShannon]

Your reaction was Awesome. I first listened to this at 10 years old , blow my innocent mind. I am now 61 and I have never tired of it. He has made 3 tubular bells albums . The second one is my fevered .

[@goytabr]

Four albums, actually. The original one, "Tubular Bells II", "III", and "The Millennium Bell". And that's not counting "The Orchestral Tubular Bells" with the Royal Philharmonic, the live version from "Exposed", and the "Live at Knebworth" bootleg. But as much as I love "Tubular Bells", my two favorite Mike Oldfield albums are "Ommadawn" and "Amarok".

[@vania1917]

"Hey, where have you been all my life?" - Barney Gumbel.

[@user-jg6tu2ee7b]

Mike play all instrument in this song , i listen this since 50 years and its my favorite song

[@ErlingL]

Basically the financing of the Virgin Empire. Well spottet, Richard Branson. My first record ever... played it SO many times on my old Lenco M75 turntable , and still love it.... it's just amazing music

[@zastavazastava6746]

Johann Sebastian Bach: Toccata in fuga (variation) John Carpenter used Tubular Bells for the film Halloween

[@piperjon]

Mike Oldfield is just 6 years older than I am. I remember when this came out. Blew me away that someone close to my age could compose something like this. Listened to this through my headphones going to sleep at night a lot back in those days. Hadn't listened to it in quite a while, so thanks for this. Brought back some good memories. Also happy to see the younger generation enjoying music from my generation. Good stuff!

[@jasonburger3533]

The song, "Tubular Bells", is most famous for having been used in the 1973 theatrical movie release, "The Exorcist", which has had many sequels. There currently is a new movie in the series, called "The Exorcist: Believer", and they use a more gothic version of this theme song. Linda Blair, who played the demon-possessed girl in the original film, and Ellen Burstyn, who played her mother in the original, are back 50 years later for the current version. Linda Blair is in her 60s and Ellen Burstyn is 90 years old in real life. A lot of strange occurrences were said to have occurred on set during the filming of the original film. That kind of information has been substantiated by many of the actors and actresses and behind-the-scenes personnel from the original theatrical release. The current version is similar, but more gothic themed. The basis is still there. It is a very long song in full about an hour in length. The movie used the spookiest sounds for the original and its sequels, the current sequel included.

[@twofarg0ne763]

Saw Mike play this in London in 1975. Great musician. Edited - he was playing in a very small venue and the sound of this song was brilliant.

[@MUSICLOVER72]

Mike is a genius. "So Mike, for the recording session, which instruments do you wanna play?" "Errrrr I'll play ALL of them thanks very much" 😊👍👍👍

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

Mike couldn’t get the tubular bells right, untill he got himself a heavy blacksmith type of hammer, and could give the tubes a solid whack. And a legend was created. 😊👌

[@mcasualjacques]

the length of comments is just a construct Me were there other versions, re-masters of remixes of tubular bells, i heard a version that was almost identical but some instrument parts seemed to have been replaced by other "takes" ChatGPT Yes, there have been several versions, remasters, and remixes of Mike Oldfield's iconic album "Tubular Bells" since its original release in 1973. Here are some notable ones: "Tubular Bells" (1973 Original): The original version, released by Virgin Records, which became famous for its use in the soundtrack of "The Exorcist". "Boxed" (1976): This is a quadraphonic mix of "Tubular Bells" included in a compilation box set, which provided a different listening experience due to the surround sound mix. "Tubular Bells 2003": Mike Oldfield re-recorded the entire album in 2003. This version is more precise and technically polished, benefitting from modern recording techniques and Oldfield's matured skills. "Tubular Bells II" (1992): While not a direct remake, this album is a sequel to the original and revisits many of the themes and styles from the 1973 version. "Tubular Bells III" (1998): Another sequel, which continues to evolve the themes and styles of the original "Tubular Bells". "The Millennium Bell" (1999): Released to celebrate the new millennium, it includes reinterpretations and new compositions inspired by the original. "Tubular Beats" (2013): This album features remixes of Oldfield's tracks, including some from "Tubular Bells", by Torsten "York" Stenzel, offering a more contemporary, electronic dance music take on the classic themes. Various Remasters: Over the years, the original "Tubular Bells" album has been remastered several times to improve sound quality with advances in audio technology. These remasters sometimes include slight variations due to the different mixing and mastering processes. "Tubular Bells - The Orchestral" (1975): An orchestral arrangement of the original album, performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by David Bedford. The version you heard might be one of these re-recordings, remasters, or remixes where some instrument parts were indeed replaced or performed differently, leading to a familiar yet distinct listening experience.

[@richardfurness7556]

This sounds as if parts of the original have been re-recorded, which I remember Oldfield did not so long ago. Nothing wrong with that, the album was made with 70s technology and occasionally it failed to keep up with the demands he made upon it. Viv Stanshall was one of the great English eccentrics. On tour with the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, the van Stanshall and the other musicians were travelling in was stopped at the USA/Canada border by a police officer who wanted to know what type of guns they'd brought with them. When informed that there were no firearms or other offensive weapons in the vehicle, the officer asked how they planned to defend themselves. "Good manners, sir," was Viv's response.

[@goodboy65]

the instrument at the begining is a Glockenspiel

[@jimmurphy4083]

My Dad played this for us at Christmas 1975 , I was nine, l still listen to it regularly . You should listen to" Mount Teidi " from the album, Five miles out, with Carl Palmer on drums, amazing track.

[@DaveinLedbury]

It was just an amazing feeling listening to this for the first time back in 1973/74. It shaped my musical tastes for life. It’s great to see someone’s reaction to listening to it for the first time. However, this is a re-recording of the original. I highly recommend listening to the original 1973 stereo version, which is where it all started. However, his isn’t even his best album - many (including me) will tell you that his best is Ommadawn (which I see you have already recorded your reaction!). I would also highly recommend his next album after Ommadawn, which was the four-part ‘Incantations’. That’s a musical journey I rate very highly!

[@AbsurdityViewer]

Mike actually broke the tubular bells during recording and that is what the album picture is.

[@papalaz4444244]

ahh good. This is another musical journey into Oldfield's mindset :)

[@kidallv]

Instant like for Oldfield

[@rev7verse14]

A CLASSIC John, bought in when it came out on LP

[@pirobot668beta]

I graduated High School in 1975...good times.

[@lubub9088]

I received this album shortly after its releasing - and Mike Oldfield were playing almost all instruments !!! It was fascinating . Later Mike made more modifications of this albums for better fitting concerts and all of them were super !

[@bobpat56]

Loved your reaction! Especially since you had no idea what was coming next. Another Oldfield album I enjoyed was "Hergest Ridge."

[@LifelikeFiction]

In those day, my favorite radio station announced that they will broadcast the whole song in full length without interruption. The day before the radio show I tried to buy a cassette tape - all sold out 🤪

[@adamelliott18]

Good thing you took a hit first! You may want another...😊

[@heinruh9788]

Epic!

[@AbsurdityViewer]

12:00 "This is the Lord of the Rings of music" well said; the one tubular bell to rule them all

[@davidbayley4331]

I believe he played every instrument on the album. the only other input was the narration on side 1. Interestingly this was Vivian Stamstall, he was a member of the “Bonzo Dog Do Dah Band”.

[@ursgeiser6570]

Back then, MO arrived as a multi-instrumentalist like a musical comet. You just had to be able to let yourself go, a kind of hypnosis, then you go on a musical surprise journey without limits. Within a week, most of the music was recorded alone. He was certainly a sound tinkerer at the mixing desk during his time. I own a box of 4 with the first 3 albums and a bonus. He then became more poppy, covering ABBA's instrumental Arrival and wrote hits such as Moonlight Shadow sung by his sister Sally and the rocking Shadow On The Wall with Roger Chapman, both on 1983's Crisis. A good start to the week for everyone; If things get hectic, the free solution is called Tubular Bells!!!

[@gzaq]

Moonlight Shadow was sung by Maggie Reilly

[@ursgeiser6570]

Thank you, you are right; Sally Oldfield released her own records, Maggie was a guest vocalist with MO. I admit that I only followed the 80s pop phase on the radio, how these titles were played up and down in Central Europe. Have fun with all kinds of good music!!!@@gzaq

[@gzaq]

@@ursgeiser6570 Thanks. :) Mike did have a folk music duo with her sister Sally back in 68, called Sallyangie, they did one album.

[@MisterWondrous]

You're right about its similitude to Philip Glass, but also Steve Reich, and other minimalists at the time. It was in some way spawned from meditative repetitions with slight changes over time, quite like the Indian ragas, from whence the idea came, at least in my case, and I would assume their as well. Beatles. Maharaja. Rama rama. Dhanyavadah.

[@GerardFitzpatrick]

Been listening to this album since 1973, between the original 73 vinly, which i still have, along with the quad remix from the boxed set in 76, which is my favourite versions of all his 1st 3 albums. I stiĺl hear melodies and sounds that i have never heard before, even after 1000s of listens. As said before check out ommadawn and amorak, as these 2 have been the fans favourite, amorak is 60 mins long. My personal favourite is the quad mix of hergest ridge part 1, my favourite piece of music is the paddy maloney on oillean (xcuse the spelling) pipes with mike on guitar from Ommadawn part 2, always makes me cry.

[@Nikioko]

21:33: No, tubular bells are just tuned metal tubes that hang in a scaffold and are hit with a mallet.