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Tubular Bells [Original recording remastered]

Mike Oldfield | Format: Audio CD
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Audio CD (29 May 2000)
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Format: Original recording remastered
  • Label: Virgin
  • ASIN: B00004T9AF
  • Other Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  Mini-Disc  |  MP3 Download
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 13,787 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

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1. Tubular Bells, Part 1 - Mike Oldfield
2. Tubular Bells, Part 2 - Mike Oldfield

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
70 of 73 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for technophiles and geeks 1 Sep 2002
By Doctor Wylkynson
Format:Audio CD
I'm a longstanding Oldfield fan, and I know this album intimately. I used to think that remastered releases were just a way for fleecing the record buying public. But I took a chance on this, and I was flabbergasted. The remastering makes all the difference, the sound quality is crystal clear and I can hear flutes and pedal basses that I didn't know existed. It's like hearing this album for the first time all over again!
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Grand Piano! 26 Mar 2008
By Stotty
Format:Audio CD
For a teenager to compose and record an album of this scale, playing every instrument himself, is quite an astonishing achievement and is something of a lost art these days. How many multi instrumentalists of this quality exist today?
Tubular Bells was the inaugural release on Richard Branson's fledging Virgin label in 1973 and is still arguably that label's biggest seller. It also started a trio of epic instrumental works that would continue with 'Hergest Ridge' in 1974 and end with 'Ommadawn' the following year.
Strangely, I prefer the flowing seamless music on the next two albums to 'Tubular Bells', which flits from one musical theme to the next with an almost jerky agitation. Having said that the music on offer is of alarming quality.
The opening sequence of 'Part 1' is still a haunting piece, used to great effect of course on 'The Exorcist'. The rest of the track is a good blend of folk and rock with uplifting acoustic guitar one minute, and thrashy electric guitar the next. The closing sequence is an entertaining melody which sees looney tunes Viv Stanshall introduce a diferent instrument each couple of bars in a tongue in cheek master of ceremonies role. It's an amusing idea, which unfortunately, outstays it's welcome by the end.
'Part 2' is a more relaxing, 'chilled out' piece, only really interrupted by the 'beast voice' section which sees Oldfield let rip with some top lead guitar. The whole thing ends bizarrely, with a version of 'The Sailor's Hornpipe'.
'Tubular Bells' is a unique, singular work by a hugely talented composer and musician. Ironically, the uneducated see Oldfield as a keyboardist, when he is arguably, one of the most talented guitar players this country has ever produced, with an amazingly distinctive playing style.... Read more ›
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27 of 29 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars A unique recording lovingly remastered 7 Jan 2002
By S. L. Carswell
Format:Audio CD
Tubular Bells should have failed. Oldfield had never recorded an album before. Tom Newman and Simon Heyworth had never produced an album before. Richard Branson had never released an album before. That the endevour succeeded at all is incredible. The fact that it has now sold more than 15,000,000 copies and been remastered speaks volumes about its endurence.
You cannot deny the majesty of the music. From the opening piano motif it grips the listener. The first part, some 20 minutes or so, contains everything from haunting layers of shimmering chords to out and out rock, never staying with one theme or idea long enough for it to become repetitive. It ends with a fine repeating tune, MC'd by Viv Stanshall, late of the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band.
Part 2 is more difficult to get into, but no less rewarding, beginning as it does with an incredibly hypnotic guitar figure which gradually expands into a fully fledged Highland tattoo-like tune (complete with "Guitars sounding like bagpipes"!) From there it explodes into the brilliant, if slightly odd, Piltdown Man sequence, where Oldfield grunts and howls caveman-like into the microphone. The ending is the only place it really falls down, with the forever gruelling Sailer's Hornpipe feeling tacked on.
One of the things I had forgotten about this record is how amateurish it all feels. Although Oldfield plays most of the instruments himself, he doesn't really appear particuarly adept at any of them. Occasional fluffs and mistimed notes abound (just listen to the Timpani behind the "Bagpipes" section - it's unbelievable!) Still, for me this just increases the charm of the record - like an old friend whose quirks you are willing to live with.... Read more ›
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37 of 40 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars No Tubular Bells, no Virgin Records 18 Mar 2004
By michael_m
Format:Audio CD
Virgin records would never have become the huge company that it is without this record - if it hadn't been the huge success that it was, the company would never have been responsible for some of the great music on that label. How this ever came about though is a mystery - why would anyone have given a complete unknown the chance to make an album like this?

The answer is - love him or hate him - Richard Branson. He decided to let Mike Oldfield have some studio time after being persuaded by Tom Newman, who was building Manor Studios for him, after Tom had heard a tape of ideas that were to be used for Tubular Bells. Part One was recorded in a week of studio time alloted to Mike, Tom and second producer Simon Heyworth, and Part Two was recorded in various sessions as studio time became available.

There are stories of the sessions being recorded at all times of the night, sometimes after long sessions in the local pub, and the 'Piltdown Man' vocals are apparently a slowed down version of Mike shouting into a mic after drinking large amounts of whisky that was found in the basement of the studios. However it happened, it was available technology being pushed to the limit. There were only 16 tracks available to record on, and so a lot of overdubbing took place. This meant making huge lists of instruments and notes and accurately mapping out which track they were recorded to. Any mistakes could mean recording over previously recorded material!

The result was one of the most original pieces of material to ever be recorded. It's easy now to forget how unique this was, as its influence is felt throughout most modern music, but at the time it became a huge hit because of popularity without being hyped by a huge publicity machine....

Most of this album is played by the multi-talented Mike Oldfield, with a few other musicians helping out here and there. It's quite an incredible achievement to think that Part One was recorded in only one week, but this is testament to the hard work of the three men who believed that this project could succeed. Read more ›

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars A classic one
wonderful to see the clip when this one came out. All these instruments that are summed up and all begin to play in that swelling stream of music: a pleasure to hear.
Published 11 days ago by Pierre Brewee
5.0 out of 5 stars Nostalgia reigns
I loved this when it as first released. Now it's a guilt pleasure 'cause my wife hates it. But IMHO it's a classic of the 70s.
Published 15 days ago by Michael Hill
5.0 out of 5 stars tubular bells revisited
I have not heard this music for a long while. Purchased it to bring back distant memories of years gone. Was not disappointed. Buy it for excellent sound.
Published 1 month ago by Mrs S. Ford
5.0 out of 5 stars Updated
I have always liked Mike Oldfield, and i have updated my van to a CD player,it sounds great with a bit of volume.
Published 2 months ago by AJ
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Album
I had this on vynyl years ago and my ex sold it. I have missed it greatly and am very pleased to own it again. Mike oldfield is brilliant.
Published 2 months ago by CarlArmy
5.0 out of 5 stars Great album
Great album, but wrong cover art on the MP3 release (showing 'The Collection' rather than 'Tubular Bells' (and nowhere else to report it on that page).
Published 4 months ago by J. Gianni
5.0 out of 5 stars Spellbinding music
I was very please with this CD - it arrived in great condition and the music didn't dissapoint either. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Andy
4.0 out of 5 stars A Classic
This is one of those albums that you just have to own. That's what I've been telling myself for at least 30+ years. And now I finally have it.
Published 6 months ago by M. Curston
5.0 out of 5 stars Brings back memories
I once owned this on vinyl when it was first released - the Olympics reminded me of how much I liked it - the full track is as good as I remember it.
Published 7 months ago by ATT
5.0 out of 5 stars Superbly Remastered
When I was young I had this album on vinyl; unfortunately the stereo system I had at that time wasn't good enough the reproduce the sound as it was meant to be heard. Read more
Published 10 months ago by will58
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