I'm so glad you did this!! He doesn't get the recognition he deserves. He changed my musical life, didn't realize he is only 3 years older than me, I still work every day, by myself in my studio, writing and recording thanks to Mike. Thank you for making people aware of his accomplishments!
I'm so glad that John Peel was mentioned in this video. It's often forgotten how influential he was in bringing new bands and music to public attention. He is so dearly missed.
John Peel as the serious late night influence in the UK but Kenny Everett as the frivolous influence that made the Beatles less "pop" albums available to those who listened during the daytime, and so many others that became household favourites.
Probably not missed by the underage girls he groomed and slept with however and flippantly joked about "not asking for ID". Yes his contribution to music was fantastic and finding talent but his contribution to life - not so much.
Tubular Bells was the first piece of music I actually stopped the car I was driving and listened in awe to when I heard it. It was so moving. It gets me every single time.
I can't understate what effect this album had on me. I was fortunate to snag a ticket to Tubular Bells II, live at Edinburgh castle - an experience that I'll never forget.
I've been lucky to see Mike Oldfield on several occasions, Knebworth, Paris, Frankfurt, Edinburgh, London x2. I'm 1 year younger than Mike, but due to illness the last concert I attended was at Horse Guards parade at the Tubular Bells 3, the premier. Despite being soaked through it was a brilliant gig. Between Mike Oldfield and Peter Gabriel I am spoilt for choice. My passion for their music is as strong now as it was in the 70s.
TB surely changed my musical world. I was 14 when I bought the record and knew only pop music, folk rock and classical music. Oldfield‘s music opened the horizon for what music can actually be. I played all his records endlessly for the next decade.
I am a huge fan of Oldfield, even had the rare chance to see him perform in 1983 (I was 12 then) he was introduced by my Scout Leader who was a big fan too . Tremendous musician he is
Bach, Mozart, Oldfield. I thought the same thing many years ago and I still do. Tubbular Bells is an incredible piece of music (history). Thank you for this video.
I remember seeing Oldfield and his band in Auckland last century. Was stunned to discover each band member rotating through the instruments at each tune
I was 15 and the world of Mike Oldfield was like magic. Watched him live in Belfast and thought "There is no way you can create that sound live" Oh yes he did! I still listen to Ommadawn and believe it's the best album ever.
My father is close in age to both Branson and Oldfield. He talked about this record all the time when I got into music in my teens. Honestly this is a timeless piece and I’m glad you gave it the credit it’s due, much love Warren
Such an amazing album, as are Ommadawn and Incantations. It wrecks my head that someone so young could conceive such a complex opus, and that Branson had the vision to see that something so alien to the popular music of the time could capture the imagination of a generation. It was the album that birthed a billionaire.
I also loved five miles out. I remember marvelling at the sleeve notes that mapped out the 24 tracks of the A side. As a kid a 24 track tape for me was always the holy grail.
I'm the same age as Mike. I remember Tubular Bells shaking our musical foundations at the time. I still love it. Mike also is one of those iconic guitarists, you know, the ones you instantly recognise, like Gilmour, Clapton, Knopfler, Santana.
My favorite album of all time. I had read the book The Exorcist, but I was too young to get in to the theater without a parent/guardian (trust me, I tried). A local radio station had played side one on air. I ran out to get a copy and loved it. Then, in 10th grade, I took a music appreciation class and the teacher put on TB. I was instantly stoked, but no one else in the room seemed to care. The teacher and I sat over the record player, listening. When the announcer came on, she asked me what he was saying, and I explained it. TB has always seemed like my private joy in life--even though it was huge--I didn't meet people who knew what it was or cared. Thanks for the vid!
I saw an ad for the Exorcist. Heard the clip of mikes portion of the soundtrack. Caught my ear. Few days later a?local fm station played the entire "song" used in the movie. The next day i was at my local record store. Took it home. Stayed in my rotation for years. As a father my kids grew up with tubular bells as a preferred christmas album along with ommadawn. My older son grew to appreciate mike and my grandson was recently gifted al 3 of mikes first albums for his 14th bday.
I was born in 1965. I'm a performing electric guitar operator who's listened to lots of music my whole life. I've never heard of Mike Oldfield or Tubular Bells. Must be from some kind of alternate timeline that is now intersecting with the one I'm in.
I was 13 years old to find the record at 1973 which still is in my mother's house. My classmate was so excited to hear it since nothing like this. My life has been with Mike's music and every album released with my memory that time.
I am 42 days younger than Mike but still remembering the chills I felt when I enter that record Shop in Boulevard S. Michel in Paris in May 1973 to buy some record as usual at saturdays. By the time it was playing on the sound sistem another fantastic record (Tales from T. Oceans) witch impressed me a lot but then when the beginning of Tubular Bells started on the Wharfedale speakers I almost paralized.....and it was it. I ran off home with the 2 albums (Yes & Oldfield) to spend the weekend listening to that Glorious Sound .
My favourite and most influencing album of all time. I was born when Mike was writing the album. I was 1 years old when it was released. Even at that age I remember my brothers playing Tubular Bells every day for years. On the 1st January every year I watch the BBC live performance on UA-cam. Its the first thing I do on the strike of 12am. A timeless masterpiece. Mike Oldfield, a true hero and Legend.
Loved this here in the U.S. Was floored when I first heard it on a good stereo. I bought it the next day. I play it every year in the winter when it first snows and watch the snow falling as it plays.
great video, thanks Warren! As a young teen I'd already been overdubbing myself by going between 2 cassette machines (the sound was horrible but I had a lot of fun). When Tubular Bells came out it was very inspiring to learn that this beautiful piece of music was created almost entirely by just one person overdubbing all the instruments. It still sounds fresh and haunting . . .
Mike Oldfield will always be my favourite musician of all time. He went on to create records the size of Ommadawn, Amarok, Platinum. Gracias Mike por tanto, perdón por tan poco.
Totally amazing, a meandering cascade, the early 70s had their own vibe, was just before I was born, but it was everywhere in England as a child. The whole Oldfield family are musically inspired, Terry is amazing too. Huge influence, thanks so much so much depth, always amazing and beautifully edited 🙏. Thank you for the music Mike , you rock Warren.
I got into Oldfield's music in the early 80's and so experienced the utter contempt he and we fans suffered at the hands of the music press. It's good to see he's getting the credit he deserves now. Thanks for this video, it's excellent even by your standards.
1976 in school dinning hall and the school dance group was rehearsing in the assembly hall nearby. Dancing to Tubular Bells, i didn't know the music at the time so asked the dance teacher...Tubular Bells she said, that weekend went out and got it, igniting my love of music and still litening to it regularly to this day. Also I'm still playing in various bands. Thank you for the video and thank you Mike Oldfield for your music.
I cannot believe I saw this! I was literally in my car an hour ago, thinking to myself, I wonder if there's an episode of "songs that changed music" available, featuring Tubular Bells. Hey, presto!
Its funny your experience with the album coming into the house. My father bought this on LP when he bought the families first proper stereo system. This was a man who listened to classical music, who listened to Irish & Celtic folk music. Rock and popular music was completely foreign to him and never entered the conversation. But Tubular bells. I think you summed it up perfectly - it was complex enough to be considered a classical piece of music. To this day, this record is well entrenched in my personal top 50 albums.
I used to ride my skateboard as a kid to the local Tower Records just to immerse myself in the mysterious and unique genre that Mike Oldfield created. My cassette Walkman didn’t cut it😂. Thanks for reminding me of this beautiful gem. Oh, to answer your query, I believe The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway to be a game changer in prog rock album concepts..
Great vid. I interviewed Branson in the late 1990s and the first thing I hit him with was: 'I'm going to ask you a question that will define you as a human being: What's your favorite album?' Being a businessman, he tried to fob me off with one of Virgin's current bands (Stereophonics) but he clearly wasn't prepared for the question. After a lot of to-ing and fro-ing and pushing from me, he settled on Ommadawn.
As a huge Mike Oldfield fan, this video is a must watch for all of us. Funny enough here in Latinamerica (I'm mexican), Oldfield is unknown, with people only knowing the exorcist song, and immediately relating it to Halloween and spooky stuff (I have even met people who got panic attacks when hearing the melody).
Bert Jansch and John Renbourn. Extraordinary individual talent and as part of Pentangle, possibly the greatest collective of musical talent ever conceived.
My dad also bought it and I got into the second side of the album and then eventually the whole thing when I was older. Truly amazing album and i love watching the TV performance every so often.
I first heard the album when I was 14, Warren. it was like nothing I had ever heard in my life. Bought my own copy around a year later ( second pressing) I have since acquired a first, and the gold anniversary 24BIT Cd, which sounds amazing. My parents , like many in the early 70's had this and Dark Side of the moon in their collection. Both were played to death I remember. it is timeless and magical beyond words! Thanks for the great analysis video. another great one along with your stunning video about Slave to the Rhythm!
I saw The Exorcist at a drive in sitting on a tire because we snuck in 3 people in the trunk, it was the 70"s the trunks were large. Love the album, I have the original vinyl
Tubular Bells rewired my 12 year old brain when it came out. I listened to it repeatedly to the point where I could hum every part (but not all at once!). So much of my sense of melody, harmony and counterpoint can be attributed to that record.
In early 1971 when Oldfield was making demos in his flat, I was about six and living a few miles to the northeast. My name's Mike, and I even have a sister called Sally! But seriously, I've long thought that the album has a strange magic to it that's very hard to pin down. When I hear it, I feel as if I've time-travelled back to a past that never really existed and I'm hearing its music. I've likened it to Tolkien's attempt to create "missing folklore of Britain" in his Middle Earth tales - only Oldfield seems to have created some sort of "missing music that should always have been there and wasn't". Why is it so hard to describe how this makes me feel? It's a very odd thing. A young person making some of the greatest music ever made... reminds me of Kate Bush. What is it about the children of doctors? Haha!
I like the bit at the end where you mention that you hadn't seen The Exorcist and neither had any of your friends because you were all far too young, but you loved the album anyway. I had a similar thing in my childhood with the Clockwork Orange soundtrack. It's the first cassette I ever bought with my own money. My older brother had the LP and I wanted my own copy. I was far too young to have seen the film, but I loved the music.
Mr. Oldfield Tubular Bells is the soundtrack of my life. Mike his in my umble opnion the best XX composer. Great and amazing video. Thanks to you and to Mike. MUITO OBRIGADO
I got this album for my 17th Birthday back in 1975 , and played it nearly everyday , use to drive my Sister crazy . And i'm ashamed to say it is only 1 of 2 vinyl records that i managed to wear out , the other being Free Bird by Lynard Skynard . I now possses the CD , with original 1972 recording and album relese recording .
Warren, the audio chain you described as being used on Oldfield’s guitar is nuts! Was that at all normal? To even think of something like that - it’s hard to imagine!
Thank you, Warren - this seems to be really well-investigated !!! Although I'm of the same musical background like you (classical/Jazz...) Mike Oldfield (specially his first 9 Albums) is possibly my fav' musician of all time !!!
I was born in '51 and Mike Oldfield's music has had an enormous impact on my life. The last chapter in the first side of "Platinum" reminds me of an experience I had of riding a horse at full gallop in a raging thunderstorm. I've collected a lot of his music and now I can hear it on You Tube...I wore Hergest Ridge cassette out decades ago. Thanks for this video. I've always wanted to know more about this man but didn't know where to look. I've also noticed that others have copy cat sound alikes like the theme music to "Halloween" (original).🤩💕👍
Music that changed the world and also are modern day Beethoven’s that will also be Timeless. MIKE OLDFIELD. PINK FLOYD and SKY. GENESIS. QUEEN. BEETLES. GLEN CAMBEL. ELVIS. THE SHADOWS. SANTANA. FLEETWOOD MAC. MADONA. CUTTING CREW. ANDREA SEGOVIA. CREAM. JOHN WILLIAMS. ABBA. ELO. MOODY BLUES. JOHN DENVER BEETHOVEN. To mention but a few and many more Very talented Musicians and Vocalists. Thank you for sharing this Splendid insight into the Very very Gifted Mike Oldfield. Thank You Mike for your Brilliant music. Wishing you a Healthy Happy Peaceful 2024. all through. JB. Surrey. UK.
73 i was six my mum played it on sundays while doing house work. I loved it .also remember staring at the cover while listening to the music and drifting off to worlds my six year old brain conjured up.through interpreting the music .
Thank you Warren for the great video. Mike Oldfield has been an inspiration in my life as well. The songs of Distant Earth was an album that me and my son would listen in one of the earliest Sony portable cd players that could be used in a car.
Side one is definitely one of the the best things he's done - from hesitant acoustic guitar intro through to the orgasm of African drums, pseudo-Celtic chanting and searing lead guitar at the end. A textbook example of things that shouldn't work together, but do.
I first ran across this album when I went off to college in 1981. I knew of the album from the Exorcist but had never heard the whole thing until then. I have revisited it often over the years. A truely remarkable piece of music.
Sharing a bedroom with my 9 year older brother brought me to Mike Oldfield and especially Tubular Bells. Seeing Oldfield Live in Frankfurt in 1993 performing Tubular Bells II was a magical moment for both of us. His music is iconic...
Thanks for doing a video on Mike Oldfield. While Tubular Bells unquestionably stands on it’s own merits, Ommadawnis endlessly enjoyable. Discovery is an amazing album, and the guitar solo in the title track deserves recognition. And the list goes on with Oldfield’s musical achievements.
A totally amazing and very informative review of the iconic album and it's an album that has never once left my turntable since I brought it in the year of its release. The young Mike Oldfield was a true GENIUS! and went on to write so many more iconic albums during his career.
I still have the Quadraphonic version in my collection, listening in 4 channels was a sensation. Unfortunately I don't have a quadraphonic sound system any more, so have to settle for stereo.
Great video as usual. I discovered Mike Oldfield and eventually Tubular Bells in a rather convoluted way. I think my first memories of him were the track Guilty, then he did the Blue Peter theme. I'd have been about 7 years old at the time. It wasn't until my uncle bought The Complete Mike Oldfield around 1985 that I was intorduced to more of his work, which I really liked. I'd started buying records around this time and shortly after bought Tubular Bells.
I have listened to this album off/on since it's release. I never realized Mike Oldfield wasn't even 20 years old when he created this masterpiece. Damn.
A very informative presentation on one of my favourite albums in which I first heard not long after it was released and still today one of my favourite listens.
I used to work at a mobile phone repair workshop in the 90's back when they were first becoming popular and affordable when I was a teenager. It was my job to distribute the phones and for the newer, popular digital phones we had a team of 4 repair guys all sharing the same workshop, listened to radio 1 and all had a lot of banter but for the older analogue phones we still covered we had one guy in a dimly lit small workshop (apart from his work desk light) on his own was this guy called Mike, a bit older than he others and he had his own CD player that would play Tubular Bells over and over and over again while he worked, I asked him why he never listened to anything else and he said it relaxed him to the extent where it helped focus his mind on the task at hand and he would work quicker and more efficiently. I'll be honest I hated the album at first as I was a 90's teen into the Indie scene at the time but after awhile the album completely won me over. I've never tried working to it but always wonder what became of Mike as at the time I thought he was kind of creepy but looking back he was probably the most interesting person in that place
The first experience I had with TB was as music from "The Exorcist". I later had to buy it on CD, and many years later I still give it a spin from time to time.
You briefly mentioned Tubular Bells being used in TV series. I remember a series called "The Tommorow People" and the artwork of the Album was used in the story. It would change colour when something sinister would happen. I have played this music so many times....👌
I still remember the first time I heard this. It was the mid seventies, & we were on a holiday in the West Country, & my Uncle (a teenager at the time) bought it along on his portable cassette player. I would have been 9 or 10 at the time, and was familiar with pop & classical, but this just blew my mind. It was the first time I'd heard music that whilst clearly modern, was not in the pop charts, the first time I realised that the pop charts were not the be all and end all of modern music al all!
My fifth grade music teacher "lost" my cassette tape of tubular bells i loaned her in 1975. It was all i had been listening to along with the original LP Broadway soundtrack to Hair. Still two of my favorites.
Great review on the one of the most iconic albums. Thank you also for the very detailed introduction of his career, collaborators and of the equipments he used. You are amazing. Probably someone might be derisive about this but, actually, I got to know his music for the first time through the movie "The Exorcist" that was screened in 1974 here in Japan...I immediately felt that the music was unlike any I had ever heard...then went to the record shop to buy that album....since then he’s been a great source of inspiration for me.
My dad worked with Richard Branson around 74 to 77 and so this record was a massive part of my childhood. I still watch the Knebworth House live show quite regularly. Great video, thanks for the deep dive
I’ve always enjoyed the performance of this in Montreaux 1981. His guitar playing is so good on that. I still think Incantations part 4 is one of his best compositions though.
I remember saving up enough in Jr High to buy this album and then playing it on the HiFi console while laying on the floor. The first side was like listening to a dream. I turned the record over and listened to side 2 with the same emotions, when suddenly, the Piltdown Man section came on and almost gave me a heart attack! I literally thought someone else was in the house. Also, is Mundy Ellis actually Lauren Bacall?
"Tubular Bells" took prog and stretched it all around to where it could not be recognized. An LSD trip without the acid. "Tubular Bells reminds me of "Kind of Blue." Both can be done as surface level or deep level listening and be amazing. You can hear new things all the time. Then I realize that "Tubular Bells" was made by one man doing all of it and I just can't process that idea. Mike Oldfield took the state of the art and used it beyond what was thought possible. At 19-20, I was immature. At that age, Mike Oldfield was changing everything. Words are not adequate, but we try anyway.
I'm 38 and I've loved this album as far back as i can remember. It's of my favorite pieces of music ever. It's a shame Oldfield never could make anything close to it afterwards.
Wonderful video. Thank you for highlighting the importance this album. Mike Oldfield deserves the recognition. Did anyone notice Sonja Kristina of the band Curved Air.. pictured in the Hair musical photo at 5:05.
My father had it on vinyl as he bought it when it came out. I started learning music and at the age of 13/14 (1993/1994) he said listen to this. So I sat down at the record player with headphones and it changed the way I perceived music and how to approach to this very day. That album changed my life.
I bought the Exposed live album, must have been early 80's, without knowing anything about Mike Oldfield, other than perhaps heard the name. Such a wonderful album it turned out to be
Ahh the sweet sound of analog:) I spent the first 7 or 8 years of audio recording on strickly analog, like 1 inch 8 trk and 2 inch 24. This recording really has maintained that sweet sound. Been a while. Thanks Warren!
Fantastic documentary, thank you! I grew up listening to Tubular Bells. Wonderful. One point: Mike Oldfield may have played a Martin D35 on Tubular Bells but the guitar pictured at 22:39 and labelled as a Martin is in fact a guitar made by English luthier Andy Manson.
What are some albums that you think changed music? Share below!
A Walk Across The Rooftops by The Blue Nile
is there something about Joe Jackson on your channel ?
Metallica black album or master of puppets
The Alan Parsons' Project - I Robot (almost more than Tales Of Mystery)
Dark Side of the Moon 👍
As a studied musicologist, to me, Tubular Bells is on the level of the greatest symphony movements written. What a piece of music.
Thanks ever so much for sharing
I agree like electric classical music
Have you listened to his other work?
@@lapelcelery42 I grew up with him. So, yes. But nothing captivated me like Tubular Bells.
@@lapelcelery42 QE2 and Platinum are right up there for me.
I have listened to this 1973. And still amazed I am now 75.
I'm so glad you did this!! He doesn't get the recognition he deserves. He changed my musical life, didn't realize he is only 3 years older than me, I still work every day, by myself in my studio, writing and recording thanks to Mike. Thank you for making people aware of his accomplishments!
Thanks ever so much! That really means a lot to me!! I’m a huge fan
I'm so glad that John Peel was mentioned in this video. It's often forgotten how influential he was in bringing new bands and music to public attention.
He is so dearly missed.
I loved John Peel, will be happy to continually mention him! Thanks for pointing that out
John Peel as the serious late night influence in the UK but Kenny Everett as the frivolous influence that made the Beatles less "pop" albums available to those who listened during the daytime, and so many others that became household favourites.
Well said👏👏👏
Probably not missed by the underage girls he groomed and slept with however and flippantly joked about "not asking for ID". Yes his contribution to music was fantastic and finding talent but his contribution to life - not so much.
@@johnb8566 are you sure you're not confusing him with Jimmy Savile? 🙄
Also love Hergest Ridge, still play Tubular Bells on vinyl. Great program.
Thanks ever so much! Yes, Hergest Ridge is wonderful
Not _quite_ as good, but Ommadawn was, to me, incredible. I've loved nearly everything he has done since, as long as he doesn't sing!
Tubular Bells was the first piece of music I actually stopped the car I was driving and listened in awe to when I heard it. It was so moving. It gets me every single time.
That’s wonderful to hear
I can't understate what effect this album had on me. I was fortunate to snag a ticket to Tubular Bells II, live at Edinburgh castle - an experience that I'll never forget.
Wow! Thanks for sharing Dennis! I wish I'd seen that
I saw him in Chicago in 1982. Loved it!
@@stefanbuscaylet amazing! I never got to see him live unfortunately
Seeing a good show in Ireland or Scotland like that is a bucket-list item for me.
I can’t overstate how much you meant to say overstate.
I've been lucky to see Mike Oldfield on several occasions, Knebworth, Paris, Frankfurt, Edinburgh, London x2. I'm 1 year younger than Mike, but due to illness the last concert I attended was at Horse Guards parade at the Tubular Bells 3, the premier. Despite being soaked through it was a brilliant gig. Between Mike Oldfield and Peter Gabriel I am spoilt for choice. My passion for their music is as strong now as it was in the 70s.
TB surely changed my musical world. I was 14 when I bought the record and knew only pop music, folk rock and classical music. Oldfield‘s music opened the horizon for what music can actually be. I played all his records endlessly for the next decade.
Of all the musical stories ever told, this is the greatest story ever told..
Thanks for sharing
I am a huge fan of Oldfield, even had the rare chance to see him perform in 1983 (I was 12 then) he was introduced by my Scout Leader who was a big fan too . Tremendous musician he is
Thanks ever so much for sharing!
Bach, Mozart, Oldfield. I thought the same thing many years ago and I still do. Tubbular Bells is an incredible piece of music (history). Thank you for this video.
Thanks ever so much for sharing
I remember seeing Oldfield and his band in Auckland last century. Was stunned to discover each band member rotating through the instruments at each tune
I was 15 and the world of Mike Oldfield was like magic. Watched him live in Belfast and thought
"There is no way you can create that sound live" Oh yes he did!
I still listen to Ommadawn and believe it's the best album ever.
My father is close in age to both Branson and Oldfield. He talked about this record all the time when I got into music in my teens. Honestly this is a timeless piece and I’m glad you gave it the credit it’s due, much love Warren
Thanks ever so much Maxwell
What do you call a guy who keeps rabbits down his trousers...Warren!
Such an amazing album, as are Ommadawn and Incantations. It wrecks my head that someone so young could conceive such a complex opus, and that Branson had the vision to see that something so alien to the popular music of the time could capture the imagination of a generation. It was the album that birthed a billionaire.
Ommadawn side 1 my favorite of all time. Just love his first 4 albums.
I also loved five miles out. I remember marvelling at the sleeve notes that mapped out the 24 tracks of the A side. As a kid a 24 track tape for me was always the holy grail.
Absolutely! What an incredibly talented Artist. One of my favourite musicians of all time.
@@stefanbuscaylet masterpiece
@@realraven2000 it still is the Holy Grail! So amazing!
Its really emotional music, I think that's it's greatest gift. You don't have to recognize the virtuosity of it to love it.
Thanks for sharing that! Agreed
I'm the same age as Mike. I remember Tubular Bells shaking our musical foundations at the time. I still love it.
Mike also is one of those iconic guitarists, you know, the ones you instantly recognise, like Gilmour, Clapton, Knopfler, Santana.
My favorite album of all time. I had read the book The Exorcist, but I was too young to get in to the theater without a parent/guardian (trust me, I tried). A local radio station had played side one on air. I ran out to get a copy and loved it. Then, in 10th grade, I took a music appreciation class and the teacher put on TB. I was instantly stoked, but no one else in the room seemed to care. The teacher and I sat over the record player, listening. When the announcer came on, she asked me what he was saying, and I explained it. TB has always seemed like my private joy in life--even though it was huge--I didn't meet people who knew what it was or cared. Thanks for the vid!
I saw an ad for the Exorcist. Heard the clip of mikes portion of the soundtrack. Caught my ear. Few days later a?local fm station played the entire "song" used in the movie. The next day i was at my local record store. Took it home. Stayed in my rotation for years.
As a father my kids grew up with tubular bells as a preferred christmas album along with ommadawn. My older son grew to appreciate mike and my grandson was recently gifted al 3 of mikes first albums for his 14th bday.
Genius ! Great Musician ! Great Multi-instrumentalist ! Poland Love Mike Oldfield ;-)
Thanks ever so much
Yes, Poland does!
I think my older sister brought the album home. My dad and I loved it too. I have all MO’s albums and I listen to them often still. ❤️
Thanks ever so much for sharing
I was born in 1965. I'm a performing electric guitar operator who's listened to lots of music my whole life. I've never heard of Mike Oldfield or Tubular Bells. Must be from some kind of alternate timeline that is now intersecting with the one I'm in.
I was 14 when it came out and, seeing the Exorcist 🤔, bought the album.....still have it on vinyl.
Thanks for sharing Ron!
I was 13 years old to find the record at 1973 which still is in my mother's house.
My classmate was so excited to hear it since nothing like this.
My life has been with Mike's music and every album released with my memory that time.
I am 42 days younger than Mike but still remembering the chills I felt when I enter that record Shop in Boulevard S. Michel in Paris in May 1973 to buy some record as usual at saturdays. By the time it was playing on the sound sistem another fantastic record (Tales from T. Oceans) witch impressed me a lot but then when the beginning of Tubular Bells started on the Wharfedale speakers I almost paralized.....and it was it. I ran off home with the 2 albums (Yes & Oldfield) to spend the weekend listening to that Glorious Sound .
I absolutely adore the tubular bells albums, my dad is a huge Mike Oldfield fan. He's managed to make me a huge fan of Mike's music
My favourite and most influencing album of all time. I was born when Mike was writing the album. I was 1 years old when it was released. Even at that age I remember my brothers playing Tubular Bells every day for years.
On the 1st January every year I watch the BBC live performance on UA-cam. Its the first thing I do on the strike of 12am. A timeless masterpiece. Mike Oldfield, a true hero and Legend.
Similar. I was born in 72 and tubular bells is one of my earliest music memories 👍
@@mcbastie ❤🙏
Loved this here in the U.S. Was floored when I first heard it on a good stereo. I bought it the next day. I play it every year in the winter when it first snows and watch the snow falling as it plays.
Amazing to see Mike Oldfield on this channel!
Thanks ever so much!
Love these in-depth dives into classic modern music.
Thanks ever so much
great video, thanks Warren! As a young teen I'd already been overdubbing myself by going between 2 cassette machines (the sound was horrible but I had a lot of fun). When Tubular Bells came out it was very inspiring to learn that this beautiful piece of music was created almost entirely by just one person overdubbing all the instruments. It still sounds fresh and haunting . . .
Mike Oldfield will always be my favourite musician of all time. He went on to create records the size of Ommadawn, Amarok, Platinum. Gracias Mike por tanto, perdón por tan poco.
Mike is the genius of bringing music to an amazing climax.
Yes, indeed Annette!
Totally amazing, a meandering cascade, the early 70s had their own vibe, was just before I was born, but it was everywhere in England as a child. The whole Oldfield family are musically inspired, Terry is amazing too. Huge influence, thanks so much so much depth, always amazing and beautifully edited 🙏. Thank you for the music Mike , you rock Warren.
I got into Oldfield's music in the early 80's and so experienced the utter contempt he and we fans suffered at the hands of the music press.
It's good to see he's getting the credit he deserves now.
Thanks for this video, it's excellent even by your standards.
I cannot hear "Tubular Bells" without getting the shivers. It is always connected with "The Exorcist".
1976 in school dinning hall and the school dance group was rehearsing in the assembly hall nearby. Dancing to Tubular Bells, i didn't know the music at the time so asked the dance teacher...Tubular Bells she said, that weekend went out and got it, igniting my love of music and still litening to it regularly to this day. Also I'm still playing in various bands. Thank you for the video and thank you Mike Oldfield for your music.
I cannot believe I saw this! I was literally in my car an hour ago, thinking to myself, I wonder if there's an episode of "songs that changed music" available, featuring Tubular Bells. Hey, presto!
One of my favorite things. I was ten years old.
Thanks ever so much for sharing!
Its funny your experience with the album coming into the house.
My father bought this on LP when he bought the families first proper stereo system. This was a man who listened to classical music, who listened to Irish & Celtic folk music. Rock and popular music was completely foreign to him and never entered the conversation.
But Tubular bells. I think you summed it up perfectly - it was complex enough to be considered a classical piece of music.
To this day, this record is well entrenched in my personal top 50 albums.
I used to ride my skateboard as a kid to the local Tower Records just to immerse myself in the mysterious and unique genre that Mike Oldfield created. My cassette Walkman didn’t cut it😂. Thanks for reminding me of this beautiful gem.
Oh, to answer your query, I believe The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway to be a game changer in prog rock album concepts..
I picked this up randomly at garage sale fell in love instantly
Thanks ever so much for sharing!
Great vid. I interviewed Branson in the late 1990s and the first thing I hit him with was: 'I'm going to ask you a question that will define you as a human being: What's your favorite album?' Being a businessman, he tried to fob me off with one of Virgin's current bands (Stereophonics) but he clearly wasn't prepared for the question. After a lot of to-ing and fro-ing and pushing from me, he settled on Ommadawn.
As a huge Mike Oldfield fan, this video is a must watch for all of us.
Funny enough here in Latinamerica (I'm mexican), Oldfield is unknown, with people only knowing the exorcist song, and immediately relating it to Halloween and spooky stuff (I have even met people who got panic attacks when hearing the melody).
Bert Jansch and John Renbourn. Extraordinary individual talent and as part of Pentangle, possibly the greatest collective of musical talent ever conceived.
Mikes a legend . Happy retirement 😊
Thanks Warren for an excellent review of Tubular Bells; a masterpiece of composition, performance and production.
Agreed 100%!
My dad also bought it and I got into the second side of the album and then eventually the whole thing when I was older. Truly amazing album and i love watching the TV performance every so often.
This song evoke so much memory. I first heard it in The Movie The Excorcist. It made the movie's mood.
I first heard the album when I was 14, Warren. it was like nothing I had ever heard in my life. Bought my own copy around a year later ( second pressing) I have since acquired a first, and the gold anniversary 24BIT Cd, which sounds amazing. My parents , like many in the early 70's had this and Dark Side of the moon in their collection. Both were played to death I remember. it is timeless and magical beyond words! Thanks for the great analysis video. another great one along with your stunning video about Slave to the Rhythm!
I saw The Exorcist at a drive in sitting on a tire because we snuck in 3 people in the trunk, it was the 70"s the trunks were large. Love the album, I have the original vinyl
Tubular Bells rewired my 12 year old brain when it came out. I listened to it repeatedly to the point where I could hum every part (but not all at once!). So much of my sense of melody, harmony and counterpoint can be attributed to that record.
In early 1971 when Oldfield was making demos in his flat, I was about six and living a few miles to the northeast. My name's Mike, and I even have a sister called Sally! But seriously, I've long thought that the album has a strange magic to it that's very hard to pin down. When I hear it, I feel as if I've time-travelled back to a past that never really existed and I'm hearing its music. I've likened it to Tolkien's attempt to create "missing folklore of Britain" in his Middle Earth tales - only Oldfield seems to have created some sort of "missing music that should always have been there and wasn't". Why is it so hard to describe how this makes me feel? It's a very odd thing.
A young person making some of the greatest music ever made... reminds me of Kate Bush. What is it about the children of doctors? Haha!
Such an amazing record and I love how the song was used in The Excorcist.
I like the bit at the end where you mention that you hadn't seen The Exorcist and neither had any of your friends because you were all far too young, but you loved the album anyway.
I had a similar thing in my childhood with the Clockwork Orange soundtrack. It's the first cassette I ever bought with my own money. My older brother had the LP and I wanted my own copy.
I was far too young to have seen the film, but I loved the music.
Mr. Oldfield Tubular Bells is the soundtrack of my life. Mike his in my umble opnion the best XX composer. Great and amazing video. Thanks to you and to Mike. MUITO OBRIGADO
I got this album for my 17th Birthday back in 1975 , and played it nearly everyday , use to drive my Sister crazy . And i'm ashamed to say it is only 1 of 2 vinyl records that i managed to wear out , the other being Free Bird by Lynard Skynard . I now possses the CD , with original 1972 recording and album relese recording .
Warren, the audio chain you described as being used on Oldfield’s guitar is nuts! Was that at all normal? To even think of something like that - it’s hard to imagine!
I know! Incredible
Thank you, Warren - this seems to be really well-investigated !!!
Although I'm of the same musical background like you (classical/Jazz...) Mike Oldfield (specially his first 9 Albums) is possibly my fav' musician of all time !!!
I was born in '51 and Mike Oldfield's music has had an enormous impact on my life. The last chapter in the first side of "Platinum" reminds me of an experience I had of riding a horse at full gallop in a raging thunderstorm. I've collected a lot of his music and now I can hear it on You Tube...I wore Hergest Ridge cassette out decades ago. Thanks for this video. I've always wanted to know more about this man but didn't know where to look. I've also noticed that others have copy cat sound alikes like the theme music to "Halloween" (original).🤩💕👍
Music that changed the world and also are modern day Beethoven’s that will also be Timeless.
MIKE OLDFIELD. PINK FLOYD and SKY. GENESIS. QUEEN. BEETLES. GLEN CAMBEL. ELVIS. THE SHADOWS. SANTANA. FLEETWOOD MAC.
MADONA. CUTTING CREW. ANDREA SEGOVIA. CREAM.
JOHN WILLIAMS. ABBA. ELO.
MOODY BLUES. JOHN DENVER
BEETHOVEN.
To mention but a few and many more Very talented Musicians and Vocalists.
Thank you for sharing this Splendid insight into the Very very Gifted Mike Oldfield.
Thank You Mike for your Brilliant music.
Wishing you a Healthy Happy Peaceful 2024. all through.
JB. Surrey. UK.
Thank you for this beautiful video. Mike's albums in the 70s were out of this world! ❤
73 i was six my mum played it on sundays while doing house work.
I loved it .also remember staring at the cover while listening to the music and drifting off to worlds my six year old brain conjured up.through interpreting the music .
Thank you Warren for the great video. Mike Oldfield has been an inspiration in my life as well. The songs of Distant Earth was an album that me and my son would listen in one of the earliest Sony portable cd players that could be used in a car.
Thanks ever so much! So glad you enjoyed the video.
Songs was definitely underrated...
@@adamgranger5725 yes, agreed
I'm so happy to see people mentionning Ommadawn in the comments. I think it was Mike's favorite album.
Side one is definitely one of the the best things he's done - from hesitant acoustic guitar intro through to the orgasm of African drums, pseudo-Celtic chanting and searing lead guitar at the end. A textbook example of things that shouldn't work together, but do.
No only did he produce innovative music like this but he brought back some ancient and almost forgotten instruments.
Thanks ever so much for sharing!
The biggest inspuration of my life 👍👍👍
Marvellous
I first ran across this album when I went off to college in 1981. I knew of the album from the Exorcist but had never heard the whole thing until then. I have revisited it often over the years. A truely remarkable piece of music.
Sharing a bedroom with my 9 year older brother brought me to Mike Oldfield and especially Tubular Bells.
Seeing Oldfield Live in Frankfurt in 1993 performing Tubular Bells II was a magical moment for both of us.
His music is iconic...
Hands Down one of my most Favourite Albums
Thanks ever so much!
I have always liked long ambient music and Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield is what got it all started.
That's wonderful to hear! Thanks for sharing!
It was so great hearing how this record opened up so many doors and served as a bridge for you!
inspired... yes, indeed; thanks Mike Oldfield for many hours of inspiration and joy.
Thanks for doing a video on Mike Oldfield. While Tubular Bells unquestionably stands on it’s own merits, Ommadawnis endlessly enjoyable. Discovery is an amazing album, and the guitar solo in the title track deserves recognition. And the list goes on with Oldfield’s musical achievements.
Still as good as ever!
Marvellous
A totally amazing and very informative review of the iconic album and it's an album that has never once left my turntable since I brought it in the year of its release. The young Mike Oldfield was a true GENIUS! and went on to write so many more iconic albums during his career.
Thanks ever so much Lee! I really appreciate it
I still have the Quadraphonic version in my collection, listening in 4 channels was a sensation. Unfortunately I don't have a quadraphonic sound system any more, so have to settle for stereo.
Great video as usual. I discovered Mike Oldfield and eventually Tubular Bells in a rather convoluted way. I think my first memories of him were the track Guilty, then he did the Blue Peter theme. I'd have been about 7 years old at the time. It wasn't until my uncle bought The Complete Mike Oldfield around 1985 that I was intorduced to more of his work, which I really liked. I'd started buying records around this time and shortly after bought Tubular Bells.
I have listened to this album off/on since it's release. I never realized Mike Oldfield wasn't even 20 years old when he created this masterpiece. Damn.
Yes, a masterpiece
This documentary is truly a fitting, in-depth appreciation of this fantastic album and Oldfield's work. I share your love for this music. Thanks!
Wow! Thanks ever so much, I really appreciate it
A very informative presentation on one of my favourite albums in which I first heard not long after it was released and still today one of my favourite listens.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I used to work at a mobile phone repair workshop in the 90's back when they were first becoming popular and affordable when I was a teenager.
It was my job to distribute the phones and for the newer, popular digital phones we had a team of 4 repair guys all sharing the same workshop, listened to radio 1 and all had a lot of banter but for the older analogue phones we still covered we had one guy in a dimly lit small workshop (apart from his work desk light) on his own was this guy called Mike, a bit older than he others and he had his own CD player that would play Tubular Bells over and over and over again while he worked, I asked him why he never listened to anything else and he said it relaxed him to the extent where it helped focus his mind on the task at hand and he would work quicker and more efficiently.
I'll be honest I hated the album at first as I was a 90's teen into the Indie scene at the time but after awhile the album completely won me over. I've never tried working to it but always wonder what became of Mike as at the time I thought he was kind of creepy but looking back he was probably the most interesting person in that place
The first experience I had with TB was as music from "The Exorcist". I later had to buy it on CD, and many years later I still give it a spin from time to time.
Thank you so much for definitely the best piece on TB I've ever watched. A must-watch for Mike Oldfield and Tubular Bells fans!
Wow! Thanks ever so much! I really appreciate it
You briefly mentioned Tubular Bells being used in TV series.
I remember a series called "The Tommorow People" and the artwork of the Album was used in the story.
It would change colour when something sinister would happen.
I have played this music so many times....👌
I still remember the first time I heard this. It was the mid seventies, & we were on a holiday in the West Country, & my Uncle (a teenager at the time) bought it along on his portable cassette player. I would have been 9 or 10 at the time, and was familiar with pop & classical, but this just blew my mind. It was the first time I'd heard music that whilst clearly modern, was not in the pop charts, the first time I realised that the pop charts were not the be all and end all of modern music al all!
My fifth grade music teacher "lost" my cassette tape of tubular bells i loaned her in 1975. It was all i had been listening to along with the original LP Broadway soundtrack to Hair. Still two of my favorites.
Great review on the one of the most iconic albums.
Thank you also for the very detailed introduction of his career, collaborators and of the equipments he used. You are amazing.
Probably someone might be derisive about this but, actually, I got to know his music for the first time through the movie "The Exorcist" that was screened in 1974 here in Japan...I immediately felt that the music was unlike any I had ever heard...then went to the record shop to buy that album....since then he’s been a great source of inspiration for me.
My dad worked with Richard Branson around 74 to 77 and so this record was a massive part of my childhood. I still watch the Knebworth House live show quite regularly. Great video, thanks for the deep dive
I’ve always enjoyed the performance of this in Montreaux 1981. His guitar playing is so good on that.
I still think Incantations part 4 is one of his best compositions though.
Thanks ever so much for sharing!
I remember saving up enough in Jr High to buy this album and then playing it on the HiFi console while laying on the floor. The first side was like listening to a dream. I turned the record over and listened to side 2 with the same emotions, when suddenly, the Piltdown Man section came on and almost gave me a heart attack! I literally thought someone else was in the house.
Also, is Mundy Ellis actually Lauren Bacall?
"Tubular Bells" took prog and stretched it all around to where it could not be recognized. An LSD trip without the acid.
"Tubular Bells reminds me of "Kind of Blue." Both can be done as surface level or deep level listening and be amazing. You can hear new things all the time.
Then I realize that "Tubular Bells" was made by one man doing all of it and I just can't process that idea. Mike Oldfield took the state of the art and used it beyond what was thought possible. At 19-20, I was immature. At that age, Mike Oldfield was changing everything.
Words are not adequate, but we try anyway.
I'm 38 and I've loved this album as far back as i can remember. It's of my favorite pieces of music ever. It's a shame Oldfield never could make anything close to it afterwards.
Wonderful video. Thank you for highlighting the importance this album. Mike Oldfield deserves the recognition.
Did anyone notice Sonja Kristina of the band Curved Air.. pictured in the Hair musical photo at 5:05.
My father had it on vinyl as he bought it when it came out. I started learning music and at the age of 13/14 (1993/1994) he said listen to this. So I sat down at the record player with headphones and it changed the way I perceived music and how to approach to this very day. That album changed my life.
I bought the Exposed live album, must have been early 80's, without knowing anything about Mike Oldfield, other than perhaps heard the name. Such a wonderful album it turned out to be
Ahh the sweet sound of analog:) I spent the first 7 or 8 years of audio recording on strickly analog, like 1 inch 8 trk and 2 inch 24. This recording really has maintained that sweet sound. Been a while. Thanks Warren!
Fantastic documentary, thank you! I grew up listening to Tubular Bells. Wonderful.
One point: Mike Oldfield may have played a Martin D35 on Tubular Bells but the guitar pictured at 22:39 and labelled as a Martin is in fact a guitar made by English luthier Andy Manson.