Thanks for more Oldfield, I think it is a good idea to hear his albums sequentially, as you can hear him develop as a composer, producer and player. You are very perceptive with Mike's music. The thing with Mike is he always gives you something different, each album is not the same as the previous one. I look forward to hearing Part 2 Mike is influenced by classical music. His music is hard to fit into a genre, among his fans he is in his own genre called Oldfield Progressive.
The music is English pastoral. It exudes a sense of stillness, calmness, peace and tranquility. As you say, the music gives a better sense of being anchored to a place than Tubular Bells. I love it. I think that it's underrated. And with his next album, Ommadawn (which is his best, imo), you will observe his musical development through his twenties from Tubular Bells.
Knowing that he wrote this in part for his mom, the last movement always moves me close to tears, because it reminds me that my own late mother let me pick out this album AND TUBULAR BELLS as my Christmas presents, all the way back in 1975.
So, after like 25 years, I’m finally getting around to listening to Mike Oldfield thanks to your explorations. I have been missing out, this stuff is up there with Can and Pink Floyd as far as melodic ambient music goes. I don’t understand why nobody ever sat me down and forced me to listen to this, it’s right up my alley.
Oh my God! I was so pleasantly surprised when I saw you were doing Hergest Ridge. I bought this one the day it came out. Like you, I was even more impressed with this then Tubular Bells. Perhaps because it seemed a bit more serious. Time has given me an equal appreciation for both and, indeed his first four album which are all single compositions. Like Tubular Bells, there are several different mixes. The original 1974 mix is my favorite, but this one the 2010 mix is also excellent. Thank you. This was a real treat.
Glad you enjoyed Mike Oldfield again Justin. The 3 Hergest Ridge mixes... (original 1974, boxed 1976 quad mix and this 2010 remix) are all considerably different. It's like looking at a sculpture from 3 different angles. I recommend trying the other 2 mixes as well. Looking forward to joining you on your future discoveries of Mike Oldfield, one of my absolute favourite artists.
My absolute favorite Mike Oldfield album. His second one. Side Two is even better. There are parts of this album that make me cry because they're so beautiful! I just can't describe it! It's an emotional experience.
I love this, when I’m out walking around mountains I listen to this sometimes, this album is just beautiful. Incantations is my favourite Mike Oldfield album though, and Ommadawn is Great as well. Underrated album in my opinion, overshadowed by the success of Tubular Bells.
The original viny album was an Xmas gift for me in 1974. Still listen to it. The mix you listened to is very different and I haven't heard it before but am liking it. Thanks for sharing.
During lock down Justin, this album I played all the time.. It was my go to album. Reason.. It put me in such mellow, unstressed place.. Peaceful butty. It's a very overlooked, and under appreciated masterpiece IMHO ❤️ The hypnotic keyboards.... Mike s sublime.. Beautiful guitar work.. Stunning. ❤️ I'm so pleased you're doing Hergest Ridge. 😊 You've made my weekend butty.. Awesome choice imo. 😊 Only gripe I have, that this isn't the more delicate original version of side one butty. Please go and listen to the original butty. 😊 ❤️ But, I'm still smiling from ear to ear Justin. 👍 👍 👍 No one is doing this material.. Only YOU. ONE WORD.. CLASS Butty. Wonderful review, as always butty.. Have a wonderful day.. Weekend Justin.
Awesome review of this amazing offering from Mike Oldfield. I've been a fan of Mike Oldfield since the 70s and had his first three albums on vinyl. Hergest Ridge is my favourite and I'm glad you enjoyed it as well
Hi Justin, thanks for yet another great choice and review. I think you can see here how Mike is beginning to mature as a composer ( he was only 19 when he did TB dont forget!) and this continues onto his next one- Ommadawn, which remains for me his best work. Just a minor point- this I think ( looking at the cover youve pulled up) is the 2010 reissue, which to me isnt as good as the 1974 original. The same applies to Ommadawn, so if possible please try and find the 1975 version.
I really like Incantations as well. But have to admit that a few sections get a bit monotonous. Some really intense moments in it though, and why I like it so much.
I think Incantations has some truly great moments but so many parts are repeated too long. It would have made a great album if tightened up and released on one disk, as opposed toil being a double album release.
Mike Oldfield's Hergest Ridge gets me high on highland, such broad view, thin air, chill, and such loneliness, melancholy, seeking God on high mountain ridge. Such musical prodigy, who composed this piece when he was barely 21, who played most of the instruments on all tracks during production. How can such a soul divine the emptiness and joy away from the crowds?
I sometimes listen to Hergest Ridge if I am sleepless. Takes me to peace. Genius: simple melodies as always with Mike, woven into music of utmost beauty. Just love it 🥰
Awesome that you're doing this selection by Oldfield. If you can try the original mix...you'll hear the difference. This is one of my all time favorite albums...original mix. Justin you are amazing. So glad you're embarking on the journey many if us grew up on. Oldfield has soooo many great albums. Got to see Oldfield live when I lived in Norway. Oh yeah...thanks for checking out Nektar too (also seen live growing up in NY). Keep up the awesome job Justin.
I wish I could record my own reaction the 1st time I heard this masterpiece. One of my top Oldfield albums. Still have the vinyl. Tubular Bells is a show... this is a journey..
When i first heard this i liked it better than Tubular Bells, for me if i want to relax to any relaxing music id listen to this. Ommadawn and Incantations are Even Better though.
HOW DID I MISS THIS??? My favorite Mike Oldfield album, and one of my top albums outside of Rush, Yes, and Pink Floyd!!! This is what opened me up to music without a backbeat that WASN'T classical music, and made me want to be a composer of instrumental music. TUBULAR BELLS, HERGEST RIDGE, and OMMADAWN, a perfect trilogy.
@@mvjonsson Thanks, but I'll leave the reactions to Justin, he's much more articulate than wot I am. Anyway, thanks for the recommendation. I hadn't previously heard Incantations until you mentioned it just then, so I played it (on a well-known streaming service). Yes, nachenty, I like the album a lot, especially parts 1, 2 and 4. I think I kept hearing sections that seem similar to Tales From Topographic Oceans, by Yes. So, yes, perhaps Justin could react to Incantations after Ommadawn. Best wishes.
I absolutely love Mike Oldfield. Your Tubular Bells reaction on its own made me subscribe because you have good taste. Great album, and so is Hergest Ridge. Can't wait to see the reaction to Spaceship by Philip Glass. :P
I mentioned Philip Glass to him as well on his Brian Eno Ambient Music for Airports review. Interesting that you suggest it too. Mike Oldfield is awesome.
I love seeing a first time reaction to hearing Hergest Ridge!! My first time was about 5 years ago and I have been adding to my Mike Oldfield collection ever since then. Ommadawn was my absolute favorite and my first intro to Oldfield
I had this on a used 8-track and always loved side one. I never listened to side two more than once. I hope that someday you will react to two more of my all-time favorites, side one of "Ommadawn" (beautiful) and side one of "Airborn/Platinum."
To be quite honest I used to like Hergest Ridge - but this one was something different; I definitely like the "original" version more. Anyway, this kind of music unfortunately became kinda rare nowadays when people seem to have no time to pay attention to one matter for more than a couple of minutes. I have to admit that I even observe this with myself: I do remember listening to that album serveral times (and I mean the whole album) - now I wonder how I ever could find that plenty of time ... so - well, thanks Justin for this "reminder". Ommadown and Incantations are pretty similar albums in a structural way but I am pretty sure you will like Platinum very much. The best piece Mike Oldfield has ever done, however, is Amarok.
Keep going with Mike Oldfield Justin, you’ll hear how much he develops as an artist and composer. One of the few artists/groups I can listen to forever and never tire of. His compositions evoke emotion in me like no one else, except perhaps Beethoven.
I agree!! Also to the comparison with Beethoven. Sometimes Oldfield is called „Mozart of our time“ but no, I think „Beethoven“ would be more appropriate.
I’m glad you’re going chronologically. If you continue, This will save on the recommendations from me. For some point you will reach May favorites in about 3-6 albums. Happy travels. This Texan apparently has mispronounced “Hergest” for decades.
Towards the end you were commenting on Mike's playing. His best instrument is guitar. When he tours and does pieces like Tubular Bells, that's the instrument he plays live. He's really an awesome guitarist. There are some pretty intense segments in some of his works to follow, like in segments of "Incantations" or his collaborations with David Bedford in songs like "First Excursion", "Instructions for Angels", and segments of "Star's End", to name a few.
This really made my morning something special when I woke up and saw that you had decided to go further into the Mike Oldfield universe! Then I found myself thinking, "Man, I can't wait for Justin to listen to Ommadawn!" This was followed by two simultaneous thoughts: Whoa, did I just think of this RUclips guy as if he's a friend of mine? (lol) and: I just thought "I can't wait," not, "I hope." Thank you for the wonderful work you've been doing. Your channel (And a few others) have been helping to keep me sane in a weird time. 👍
The original album cover is a fisheye lens version of the Ridge, with a dog on it - the Irish Wolfhound who used to live at The Manor, Richard Branson's recording complex where both this and TUBULAR BELLS were chiefly recorded.
Prefer the original mix. This one provides some nice highlights I have not heared before but also has a really irritating scratchy rhythm intervention in the third quarter that distracts and overrides the main themes including a really good guitar solo and some great bass work. I agree that MO really captures the pastoral feel of the landscape and the majesty of the hills of the England / Wales border. I remember listening to it in the rockies on holiday though and it had a similar connection in the grander sections.
I hear what you mean about the scratchy strummed (mandolin?) rhythm. It sounds bloody awful - tinny and annoying - there's a dodgy lapse in rhythm at one point too. What was Mike thinking of when he brought that right up in the mix?
Yes. This is a completely different mix than the album I once bought back in the 1970's. I don't know how many times it's been remixed, but this is nothing like the original!
Always loved Mike Oldfield. The Box (his first 4 albums) often spinned on my turntable. Ommadawn is the favourite, and Songs from distant earth is the second favourite, thou he have a bunch of very good albums. Perfect for relaxing on the sofa and just let all worrying travel to another distant earth... Great review Justin !!
It's a long time since I listened to this, it's still good! A shout out to co producer Tom Newman who also did Hatfield & The North, I have his first solo album. Lindsay Cooper on oboe who played on some other great albums (of which I have several), and to David Bedford (strings and choir) I also have one of his albums. Very nice pick and review as usual JP.
Mikes sister Sally bought him his first Guitar when he was in his teens and due to Family problems due to his Mothers Mental health he retreated into his bedroom and she said a few weeks later he was playing like this,he himself suffered very badly with his Mental health whilst making these Albums love the Channel greating from the UK.
Great analysis, I havent listened to this in ages. Definitely classical, folk, choral influences, quintessentially English pastoral music. There are seeds of "world" music in this too.
I love Hergest Ridge. I have been listening to it since it first came out and I tend to go to this album more than Tubular Bells. I read Mike Oldfield's autobiography a few years ago, and if I remember right he had no formal musical training or influences. He completely came out of left field, or so it felt at the time.
With Ommadawn and Incantations, my soundtrack to reading The Lord of the Rings ! (As noted by others, i almost feel that this is a different piece, the original being even more "pastoral", if that is possible...) Oldfield came in right in the middle of the nascent ambient movement along with the Canterbury scene. (The musicians that did the live session of Tubular in 73: Steve Hillage, Mick Taylor (yes, THAT Mick Taylor), Mike Ratledge (Soft Machine), Fred Frith, John Greaves (National Health, Robert Wyatt), Pierre Moerlen (Gong). As for the classical influence: he incorporated a piece by Philip Glass on his last 70's album (Platinum), which was a huge influence on Incantations. So you're totally right about the general mood of the piece, with of course, a huge dollop of british folk. (And i'm sure you'd like his sister Sally's debut, Waterbearer.)
I wasn’t ready for such a long tune this morning. Luckily, VH and Redbone came along. Finally, got to hear it all before my lovely nap... now I’m ready to drift off to pastoral idyllic dreams. Very peaceful. Take care everyone, masks plszzzzzzzzz... so sleepy. Peace and zzzzzz Music
Thank you Justin, as always a wonderful experience to first listening with you 😊 For Oldfield‘s music, it would be nice if you gave the exact version or mix you listen to. There are several for every of his early albums.
Another excellent reaction/ review. Your musical sensibilities/insights same as mine and i enjoy revisiting each anew. Ommadawn album and other prog rock bands of the 70's you've reacted to marked a private awakening at this time. As tho they were more than mere music.
I love Oldfield’s first three albums. I must have listened to them a thousand times or more. It’s like each note is etched into my DNA. After 45 years I can never really decide which one I like best. That’s unique because with any other artist I have no problem deciding which order I would rank their albums. Your description of your “happy place” is perfect. For me, it’s the Isle of Skye. Can’t wait for side two and then Ommadawn.
Everybody has their preferred mix, and I like the original LP mix for Part 1 called Hergest Ridge Part One (1974 Stereo Mix), and the latest 2010 mix of Part Two. These can be found on the Hergest Ridge (Deluxe Edition),
This may not be my preferred mix of HERGEST RIDGE (I like the one without the prominent trumpet better), but still, it just warms my cockles to see a new generation discovering artists like Renaissance and Mike Oldfield. Warms them, I tells ya! A side long-minute piece of uninterrupted music, with no rock n' roll back-beat, no less...
Once again, you're bang on the money! Now you see why I recommended this above Tubular Bells. Of course, I like that album, but this is much better, I think. To my mind it - and Tubular Bells to an extent - are sort of Celtic stories, harking back to the mystical days of Druids, much like my novel Thirteen. In fact, my nom de plume on that and previous books is Hergest - Tabitha Hergest (if you must know, Tabitha was the name of my first girlfriend and Hergest... well, you see what effect the album had on me). But side 1, this side, was merely setting the scene - the action all happens in side 2, so look forward to reviewing that!
There exists a 4 lp box set that incorporates Mike Oldfield’s first 4 releases and the remixed Tubular Bells with the great Viv Stanshall ‘Sailors Hornpipe’ travelogue funfest. It includes Ommadawn and Hergest Ridge. I found the box in a half price book store a few years back in perfect shape for ~ 8$. I have noticed that it is readily available elsewhere and online. But if you must have the original release of Tubular Bells you may find yourself wondering where you have gotten to. Fortunately both versions are available. Another nice selection, Justin.
Dude, I am BLOWN away. I thought you'd be accessing the really not-good remix of the original 1974 album, but somehow, this manages to fall right in-between that remix and the original version. There's VERY subtle changes that make-or-break certain passages that fans who have listened to this a GAZILLION times (like me) and know every note. There were places in the 1974 version that were kind of muddy and could've used some clean up, and NOW I can hear where he did that, and yet - and this is just me - in the process, he short-sheeted some of his own intricate guitar work, while in other places he actually IMPROVED parts in a stunning and profound way. But you'd have to go back to the initial mix to discover what's different and what isn't.
You've got a long way to go to "Return To Ommadawn"! But keep going I would also suggest "Amarok" but it's all good!You wont get a lot of views,but screw it you'll will have at least one! Thank's for playing the great music and Peace.
At least 2 views... Amarok is a masterpiece, but you have to be a hard core fan or at least be very familiar with his work to get it. I think Justin should do the albums in chronological order so by the time he gets to Amarok he'll be ready lol.
A good album, but for me Ommadawn is his greatest work. This reminded me of a short sketch by British comedian Steve Coogan called Alan Partridge country walk. He's wandering through the British countryside, and, across the way, in the distance, he points out Hergest Ridge, saying " That's where Mike Oldfield lives,.named his second album after it. We did ask for an interview, but ,it being xmas, he wanted to be alone,with his family, which I understand. Bit smallminded though,..bit mean " check it out on RUclips..very funny British humour.
Just in case JP picks up on this, we'd better point out how far the comedy point was stretched for effect. Alan Partridge is synonymous with the county of Norfolk, and it's there that the sketch is set (and filmed, I believe, near Swaffham). Mike, himself, has never lived particularly close to that region; if they'd wanted to be authentic then they'd have found him in Buckinghamshire by that point in time!
@@gavingraham2851 A good point. The reason I mentioned it on here, an excellent music review sie { in case JP reads this } was because I'd just watched the Alan Partridge ramble, and then saw the music review the same day. If the mainly American audience are'nt familar with Alan P,..they're not gonna "get " it. If JP reviews Big Yellow Taxi I think I'll keep Mr Partridge's scathing musings on the song to myself. Funny though.
Echoing what many people have already said - it's great to hear your reactions to this wonderful music. I remember finding Mike's music myself in the 1980's and getting all the emotions it evokes. His music never stays still and you never know where he is going to go next. Even albums that seem to be connected (his first 3 are considered by many as the holy trinity) have their own identity. Your interpretations are also very perceptive ;-) TB Part 1 was recorded in 1 week. TB Part 2 over 3 months in between other bands using the studio. HR was recorded over the course of about 10 months mostly the demos in a mobile studio set up in Mike's new home in the middle of the English countryside then professionally at The Manor Studios in Spring 74 - so the difference between the 2 albums is quite marked in their production. As pointed out there are currently 3 released mixes (plus the demo's) of HR and even before this 2010 mix there was heated debates over which mix was better amongst the fans - the original 1974 or the Boxed remix from 1976. Personally I always listen to the original ;-) The 76 remix came about because Virgin wanted to re-release Mike's first 3 albums in Quad. Ommadawn was recorded and mixed in both Stereo & Quad at the same time in 1975, Virgin's engineer Phil Newell remixed Tubular Bells (Mike was sick of the album at that time) but Mike did the Quad remix of HR and stripped it right back to create an even more minimalist pastoral feel - which a lot of people love. Mike insisted that the 76 mix be the only one used in subsequent vinyl, cassette and then CD pressings. It was therefore a delightful surprise to get the Original mix (plus 4 track demos) on the deluxe edition in 2010. Most 74 vinyls suffered from poor quality (due to an oil crisis at the time) and HR with it's dynamic range was a victim of this. Mike has never been happy with this album. It was a tortuous development. Ironically in the UK this album stormed straight to No. 1 and then was knocked off by it's predecessor Tubular Bells! Mike being one of only 2 or 3 artists to achieve this! His next album, Ommadawn, seems like a cathartic purge of his pent up depression and it would be rare that he ever recorded anything as pastoral again.
The trumpet's "cantus firmus" has the force and majesty of some Bach's musical works It; s a haunting theme, masterfully continued by the classical guitar section and then by the oboe one. And all is happily completed by the impressive tone of the electric guitar, with its fuzz and poignant and colourful style. Indeed, it's better than "Tubular" because it has more unity as a suite, while "Tubular" seems much more a collage of good songs , put together.
"Oceanic" is how I would describe this album. This album is so lovely and, well, human. I love music that starts simply and gradually builds up with added instruments on top of each other, which is perhaps why I love the minimalist composers like Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Terry Riley, and others. (If you love the way this music ebbs and flows, then you should check out Simeon Ten Holt's "Canto Ostinato" for 2 or more pianos.) Interestingly, I believe Mike Oldfield was the first person Philip Glass gave permission to record his music (having reserved it for his own ensemble for economic reasons). By the way, I've been mispronouncing the title since 1974!
@@cornellrosiu8818 What an interesting connection! It's also the term some use to describe feeling of oneness and acceptance with the universe that comes through some forms of meditation. An overwhelming peacefulness, which I think this particular album expresses so well.
According to Wikipedia: "Hergest" should be pronounced to rhyme with 'hardest' with a hard "g" (as in "garden"). The local dialect pronunciation of the name is actually "Hargest"
That may be, but in ommadawn Mike himself says 'so if you feel a little glum, to Hergest Ridge you should come' in the lyrics of the horseback song. He pronounces it 'her-jest', so it can't be completely wrong. But he didn't have Wikipedia then...
@@arnoudrattink1572 As it seems likely that JustJP will progress to the 2010 version of Ommadawn, we will all hear - quite clearly - that Mike had picked up the local pronuncation with the hard "g", when it came to laying down his vocal for On Horseback.
Arnoud Rattink He pronounced it ‘Her-gest’ with a hard ‘g’ on Ommadawn, although the correct pronunciation is ‘har-gest’. I guess it’s on of the downside of a place having a name essentially based on Welsh being part in Wales and part in England. Anyone living on the English side will pronounce it in an English way, I suppose.
Another late comment...You asked what I (we) felt when the choir came up? Look at the cover: I was flying in that gliding plane from the cover slowly just over that ridge when the singing started, soaring over the quiet and undisturbing landscape that suddenly opened up before and under me. Soar - sooooaaar - sooooooaaaaaaaaring :)
Great review! (I much prefer the original mix though). You are correct about Mike classical leanings, a lot his music (including this album) has been fully orchestrated by Mike (and others) for classical concerts and recordings. Ommadawn is another step up, fantastic album! Then, maybe, just maybe, you'll be ready for the mind bending Amarok!!! (btw,Tubular Bells '2' is better than the original, he had matured as a composer). there's such a rich catalog of sublime albums from Mike.
I prefer Hergest Ridge (pronounced "Har-guest", it must be the proximity of Wales affecting he pronunciation) out of the three albums: Tubular Bells, and Ommadawn, (pronounce Om-ma-dawn and not Oh-ma-dawn). It is much gentler and quite beautiful. Side One is lovely, and the mix that I bought in 1974 is the best. But, music is very personal, so it is not to everyone's taste. I love the change at 9:03 and the very emotional playing that follows this, especially the Oboes; very rural, old England. The last part is so stirring, such a wonderful piece of music. It's his best work (side one). Such a great review too, Justin. You totally got the feel of this track.
Jean Sibelius was a strong influence on Mike's composing. Tubular Bells always seemed like a brilliant collection of interconnected tunes. Hergest Ridge was more coherent and seems to flow better. My favourite mix though is from the Boxed album. The annoying scratchy rhythm guitar is missing and you can hear Mike's amazing bass playing. I've walked up on the ridge, and I always hear this tune playing in my head. My favourite part is the oboe and trumpet piece.
I like Hergest Ridge a lot but in its original mix of 1974 or even that of 1976, however this mix realized in 2010 does not please me with its very dry aspect and the inclusion of instruments never heard on the previous mixes which gives a finish a little too muddled and plumb in some parts from my point of view, whereas conversely, these 'additional' instruments embellish other passages which only required that! Hergest Ridge is therefore very particular because if I like this work very much (much more than Tubular Bells), its weak point undoubtedly resides in its never completely satisfactory mix whatever the time at which it was conceived. It would undoubtedly have taken a subtle mixture of all these achievements to highlight this magnificent bucolic and introspective piece. Justin, you should try listening to the different mixes from 1974 and 1976 just for yourself to give you a better idea (and then tell us what you thought of them later in Part 2).
Yes, there are 3 different total remixes of this album and they are all so vastly different from eachother as to almost be entirely different works. I prefer the 1976 version myself. However I don't mind that he went back and worked with them a little more. After so much time it's neat to get another older perspective on something you did in the distant past. We still have all 3 versions :). And I believe in this release the original mix was included as well.
Another Mike Oldfield Album! Thanks JP. I'm glad you like him. The drumming peaks in Crises. Ommadawn is a great album. He just recently released a Return to Ommadawn album. It's a good album as well. His sound is definetely unique. He did write shorter, more popular songs. Moonlight Shadow is probably the best one of that genre. Maggie Reilly is a really good singer. Jon Anderson from Yes collaborated with him on a song on the Crises album.
The mighty Simon Phillips. I met him in line at UPS and I mentioned Crises. I think he was a bit surprised by the reference instead of talking about Jeff Beck or The Who.
@@jimhardiman3836 the build up and drum solo at the end of that song is awesome. I know Ommadawn, Incantations and Hergest Ridge are considered his classic work, but I really like the Crises album. It's almost where he found a perfect balance between his more popular songwriting, while still being "new age" or progressive with songs Crises itself.
Wow, I've never heard this mix before, completely different from what I remembered. The original was more cohesive with less unnecessary details jumping out of the mix. Sounds like it has some extra parts added.
The aircraft on the cover is a glider (reflecting Mike's hobby of flying model gliders at the time of recording), and his dissatisfaction with the original packaging is the least of his issues with the album! As much as it is treasured by its many fans, Mike felt pressured into its composition. He'd have preferred, with the benefit of hindsight, to have had the ideas seep in for as similarly long a time as it took Tubular Bells to take shape - but these are the ideas we got, from his demo and into the recording studio. With similar levels of success, it might have been more fondly remembered by him - he's more likely to remark that he and Tom Newman got bored making and refining it! The demo that he produced is key to understanding why the part 1 you've listened to is as it is. You'll only listen to that if you truly want to - but it basically IS the 2010 mix, in the way that Mike followed its ideas when making that version. He certainly doesn't feel as precious about the seventies mixes as many of us will. For my part, the treasured part is that I have all these variants to listen to and love. Original 1974 vinyl? Most complete, but can get muddled and sound dated. 1976 Boxed/2000 remasters? Fixes up some of those troubles and freshens the experience, but the first few minutes of part 1 are torture! 2010's 1974 stereo mix? Not quite the exact copy. 2010's new mix? Clean and very clear, yet so many changes inspired by revisiting his demo. I'll happily play any version, and just have to grit my teeth when 1976 rips the bass, tubular bells and heart out...😋
This is my favorite album by Oldfield. It evokes a very strong and consistent unique feeling I haven't got from any other piece of music. Although, if I'm not mistaken, Oldfield himself considered it to be the worst out of his first albums, so I guess I prefer him at his worst lol.
@@JustJP Do them in order. Side two of this is so bizarrely gorgeous and at times relentless; Ommadawn a step up yet again, Incantations a tremendous step forward and sideways...
Funny you should mention classical influences. Mike Oldfield guested on the Jools Holland programme once and revealed that the opening of Tubular Bells was based on turning the sheet music from a Bach fugue upside down.
This album, but not this version, is my favourite of all time because it is very spiritual and soothing. There’s such depth here. Some parts of this mix are ridiculous though 🙄
This is a VERY different mix than the one I know. It’s still cool, but elicits a very different emotional response. It’s not as melancholy/sentimental sounding. It’s more “harsh” than the original. Thanks for doing this piece though. I still have my autographed copy. I was lucky enough to catch M.O. in a rare record store performance in 1992.
When I started listening to this I had no idea there was a 2010 remix, I had always been familiar with the original 1974 recording from when it was originally released on vinyl (and from 1984 on cd). As I listened it started to dawn on me that there was some jiggery-pokery going on. Now I know! Oddly, although there seemed to be more obviously happening in the music, I found myself thinking that some sections were going on longer than I remembered, even outstaying their welcome! That motivated me to get out my original vinyl pressing and re-listen straight away, amazingly it seemed shorter. My feeling is that the original mix is better blended which improves the onward flow of the music instead of constantly slapping you round the head with the wet fish details. The details are mostly still there but more subtly integrated with the overall shape, which I think contributes to the understated power that seems to be the essence of this music.
Critics who pooh-poohed TUBULAR BELLS felt that Mike was little more than a "one-trick pony", and RIDGE was also his bid to be taken seriously as a composer. The album did NOT pull the numbers that BELLS did, because of THE EXORCIST, but it's still deeply beloved by his fans far and wide.
Try Oldfield's "Crises," and " Five Miles Out." My personal favourite is "Islands;" all of these feature wonderful vocals. Every record is great; there's also "Songs of Distant Earth,"
I'm looking forward to when you listen to Side Two, because there's a movement in there I want to get your thoughts on. It most directly references the "Piltdown Man" sequence from TUBULAR BELLS, and all I will say about it is that it's been nicknamed "The Electric Storm". You'll see why...
Here we go. I have always stood up for Hergest Ridge. A slow meander to a great guitar solo. Oddly on the back of Tubular Bells it topped the album charts I think but then disappeared. Still my favourite go to album - 1st side (albums had sides you know?) Vinyl or tape. This version of the Hergest Ridge recording is a 1st time for me. 2010 Mercury Records reissue perhaps? So let us call it a re-recording. New Age 1974 recording on my turntable. No reverberations.
On the original mix, Ted Hobart's trumpet solo was originally featured about an octave LOWER. The high part isn't mixed in until toward the end of that movement when both are joined.
A totally underappreciated work, I always felt. One of his masterpieces people seem to forget.
Agreed!
Me too.😢
Goosebump forever
BACK AGAIN TO THE CHANNEL, WATCHING, LISTENING....🌷🌷👏👏MIKE OLDFIELD IS A GOD OF MUSIC.
Thanks for more Oldfield, I think it is a good idea to hear his albums sequentially, as you can hear him develop as a composer, producer and player. You are very perceptive with Mike's music. The thing with Mike is he always gives you something different, each album is not the same as the previous one. I look forward to hearing Part 2 Mike is influenced by classical music. His music is hard to fit into a genre, among his fans he is in his own genre called Oldfield Progressive.
The music is English pastoral. It exudes a sense of stillness, calmness, peace and tranquility. As you say, the music gives a better sense of being anchored to a place than Tubular Bells. I love it. I think that it's underrated. And with his next album, Ommadawn (which is his best, imo), you will observe his musical development through his twenties from Tubular Bells.
I can't help thinking of my spent childhood in the 70s when I hear the end of this side. I get so emotional. I miss it so much.
@@joshbrown588 Well said, Josh.
@@joshbrown588 that effect must be universal.Almost too beautiful.
Knowing that he wrote this in part for his mom, the last movement always moves me close to tears, because it reminds me that my own late mother let me pick out this album AND TUBULAR BELLS as my Christmas presents, all the way back in 1975.
So, after like 25 years, I’m finally getting around to listening to Mike Oldfield thanks to your explorations. I have been missing out, this stuff is up there with Can and Pink Floyd as far as melodic ambient music goes. I don’t understand why nobody ever sat me down and forced me to listen to this, it’s right up my alley.
Awesome! I'm glad youre enjoying it!
Listen Boxed version of this. Way better imo
Oh my God! I was so pleasantly surprised when I saw you were doing Hergest Ridge. I bought this one the day it came out. Like you, I was even more impressed with this then Tubular Bells. Perhaps because it seemed a bit more serious. Time has given me an equal appreciation for both and, indeed his first four album which are all single compositions. Like Tubular Bells, there are several different mixes. The original 1974 mix is my favorite, but this one the 2010 mix is also excellent. Thank you. This was a real treat.
Thank you so much Dennis, glad you enjoyed this 😁
Glad you enjoyed Mike Oldfield again Justin. The 3 Hergest Ridge mixes... (original 1974, boxed 1976 quad mix and this 2010 remix) are all considerably different. It's like looking at a sculpture from 3 different angles. I recommend trying the other 2 mixes as well. Looking forward to joining you on your future discoveries of Mike Oldfield, one of my absolute favourite artists.
Ty Lee, will do!
My favourite is actually the 1976 mix
My absolute favorite Mike Oldfield album. His second one. Side Two is even better. There are parts of this album that make me cry because they're so beautiful! I just can't describe it! It's an emotional experience.
I feel there’s a spiritual quality to this album. It’s my favourite of all time for that reason.
I love this, when I’m out walking around mountains I listen to this sometimes, this album is just beautiful. Incantations is my favourite Mike Oldfield album though, and Ommadawn is Great as well. Underrated album in my opinion, overshadowed by the success of Tubular Bells.
Incantations for me too... I just hope MO hasn't added overdubs and new mixes since 1978 though.... why spoil a masterwork?
Perfect place to listen to this one
The original viny album was an Xmas gift for me in 1974. Still listen to it. The mix you listened to is very different and I haven't heard it before but am liking it. Thanks for sharing.
During lock down Justin, this album I played all the time.. It was my go to album.
Reason.. It put me in such mellow, unstressed place.. Peaceful butty.
It's a very overlooked, and under appreciated masterpiece IMHO ❤️
The hypnotic keyboards.... Mike s sublime.. Beautiful guitar work.. Stunning.
❤️ I'm so pleased you're doing Hergest Ridge. 😊
You've made my weekend butty.. Awesome choice imo. 😊
Only gripe I have, that this isn't the more delicate original version of side one butty. Please go and listen to the original butty. 😊 ❤️
But, I'm still smiling from ear to ear Justin. 👍 👍 👍
No one is doing this material.. Only YOU.
ONE WORD.. CLASS Butty.
Wonderful review, as always butty.. Have a wonderful day.. Weekend Justin.
Also, Switzerland looks stunning too butty. 😊
Thank you Neil😄
Awesome review of this amazing offering from Mike Oldfield. I've been a fan of Mike Oldfield since the 70s and had his first three albums on vinyl. Hergest Ridge is my favourite and I'm glad you enjoyed it as well
Hi Justin, thanks for yet another great choice and review. I think you can see here how Mike is beginning to mature as a composer ( he was only 19 when he did TB dont forget!) and this continues onto his next one- Ommadawn, which remains for me his best work.
Just a minor point- this I think ( looking at the cover youve pulled up) is the 2010 reissue, which to me isnt as good as the 1974 original. The same applies to Ommadawn, so if possible please try and find the 1975 version.
Gotcha, ty Peter!
This may be a bit strange but I've always had a soft spot for incantations all those strings beating in harmony has a trance like quality
Then, perhaps check out a Soul-balm composed by Ali Akbar Khan's 'Lullaby' - FYI, I am also of your same sentiment.
I really like Incantations as well. But have to admit that a few sections get a bit monotonous. Some really intense moments in it though, and why I like it so much.
I love this and Incantations
I like the part with the "Hiawatha" lyrics, beautiful...
I think Incantations has some truly great moments but so many parts are repeated too long. It would have made a great album if tightened up and released on one disk, as opposed toil being a double album release.
Mike Oldfield's Hergest Ridge gets me high on highland, such broad view, thin air, chill, and such loneliness, melancholy, seeking God on high mountain ridge.
Such musical prodigy, who composed this piece when he was barely 21, who played most of the instruments on all tracks during production. How can such a soul divine the emptiness and joy away from the crowds?
I sometimes listen to Hergest Ridge if I am sleepless. Takes me to peace.
Genius: simple melodies as always with Mike, woven into music of utmost beauty. Just love it 🥰
Really happy that you are going through Mike Oldfields albums. Cant wait for Ommadawn :) Good content sir :)
Ty ty🙃
Great commentary. Can’t wait for Ommadawn, Amarok and Tubular Bells 2!
Ty Phil!
Awesome that you're doing this selection by Oldfield. If you can try the original mix...you'll hear the difference. This is one of my all time favorite albums...original mix. Justin you are amazing. So glad you're embarking on the journey many if us grew up on. Oldfield has soooo many great albums. Got to see Oldfield live when I lived in Norway.
Oh yeah...thanks for checking out Nektar too (also seen live growing up in NY). Keep up the awesome job Justin.
Ty Fred!
I wish I could record my own reaction the 1st time I heard this masterpiece. One of my top Oldfield albums. Still have the vinyl.
Tubular Bells is a show... this is a journey..
When i first heard this i liked it better than Tubular Bells, for me if i want to relax to any relaxing music id listen to this. Ommadawn and Incantations are Even Better though.
HOW DID I MISS THIS??? My favorite Mike Oldfield album, and one of my top albums outside of Rush, Yes, and Pink Floyd!!! This is what opened me up to music without a backbeat that WASN'T classical music, and made me want to be a composer of instrumental music. TUBULAR BELLS, HERGEST RIDGE, and OMMADAWN, a perfect trilogy.
It's a quartet with Incantations!
Awesome album, once you finish it, you should go for mike´s masterpiece, ommadawn
That's right, Zabaglione.
@@tonyanderton3521 and after that react to Incantations.
And "Platinum."
@@mvjonsson Thanks, but I'll leave the reactions to Justin, he's much more articulate than wot I am. Anyway, thanks for the recommendation. I hadn't previously heard Incantations until you mentioned it just then, so I played it (on a well-known streaming service). Yes, nachenty, I like the album a lot, especially parts 1, 2 and 4. I think I kept hearing sections that seem similar to Tales From Topographic Oceans, by Yes. So, yes, perhaps Justin could react to Incantations after Ommadawn. Best wishes.
I'd die if anyone ever did a reaction to Amarok. This is still incredibly awesome though.
I absolutely love Mike Oldfield. Your Tubular Bells reaction on its own made me subscribe because you have good taste. Great album, and so is Hergest Ridge. Can't wait to see the reaction to Spaceship by Philip Glass. :P
Ty Allo!
I mentioned Philip Glass to him as well on his Brian Eno Ambient Music for Airports review. Interesting that you suggest it too. Mike Oldfield is awesome.
Philip Glass is the greatest composer/musician yet to be reacted to on RUclips. I want to reverse that trend. :P
I love seeing a first time reaction to hearing Hergest Ridge!! My first time was about 5 years ago and I have been adding to my Mike Oldfield collection ever since then. Ommadawn was my absolute favorite and my first intro to Oldfield
I had this on a used 8-track and always loved side one. I never listened to side two more than once. I hope that someday you will react to two more of my all-time favorites, side one of "Ommadawn" (beautiful) and side one of "Airborn/Platinum."
To be quite honest I used to like Hergest Ridge - but this one was something different; I definitely like the "original" version more. Anyway, this kind of music unfortunately became kinda rare nowadays when people seem to have no time to pay attention to one matter for more than a couple of minutes. I have to admit that I even observe this with myself: I do remember listening to that album serveral times (and I mean the whole album) - now I wonder how I ever could find that plenty of time ... so - well, thanks Justin for this "reminder".
Ommadown and Incantations are pretty similar albums in a structural way but I am pretty sure you will like Platinum very much.
The best piece Mike Oldfield has ever done, however, is Amarok.
Beautiful song by a talented musician..
Keep going with Mike Oldfield Justin, you’ll hear how much he develops as an artist and composer. One of the few artists/groups I can listen to forever and never tire of. His compositions evoke emotion in me like no one else, except perhaps Beethoven.
If you get as far as Crisis (title track) I predict that it will astound you.
Ty Rob, definitely planning to
I agree!! Also to the comparison with Beethoven. Sometimes Oldfield is called „Mozart of our time“ but no, I think „Beethoven“ would be more appropriate.
YES! I'll have to watch this later, but this is in my top 5 favorite albums!
I’m glad you’re going chronologically. If you continue, This will save on the recommendations from me. For some point you will reach May favorites in about 3-6 albums. Happy travels. This Texan apparently has mispronounced “Hergest” for decades.
Ty Dell!😃
Towards the end you were commenting on Mike's playing. His best instrument is guitar. When he tours and does pieces like Tubular Bells, that's the instrument he plays live. He's really an awesome guitarist. There are some pretty intense segments in some of his works to follow, like in segments of "Incantations" or his collaborations with David Bedford in songs like "First Excursion", "Instructions for Angels", and segments of "Star's End", to name a few.
My favorite of Mike Oldfield 👍🏻
This really made my morning something special when I woke up and saw that you had decided to go further into the Mike Oldfield universe! Then I found myself thinking, "Man, I can't wait for Justin to listen to Ommadawn!" This was followed by two simultaneous thoughts: Whoa, did I just think of this RUclips guy as if he's a friend of mine? (lol) and: I just thought "I can't wait," not, "I hope."
Thank you for the wonderful work you've been doing. Your channel (And a few others) have been helping to keep me sane in a weird time. 👍
Haha ty so much! I'm glad you enjoyed this one, and I'm looking forward to Ommadawn! Hope you had a great weekend🔆
The original album cover is a fisheye lens version of the Ridge, with a dog on it - the Irish Wolfhound who used to live at The Manor, Richard Branson's recording complex where both this and TUBULAR BELLS were chiefly recorded.
Don't forget sister Sally Oldfield's incredible work "Water Bearer" Amazing vocal range ala Annie Haslem
I can’t comment on the different mixes as I’ve never heard this before but for me
🦆bumps. Loved it.😁
Really cool, think the first chillout record ever dove. Funny video! My fav mikeoldfield record. Thanks!!!
Tt for watching!
Prefer the original mix. This one provides some nice highlights I have not heared before but also has a really irritating scratchy rhythm intervention in the third quarter that distracts and overrides the main themes including a really good guitar solo and some great bass work.
I agree that MO really captures the pastoral feel of the landscape and the majesty of the hills of the England / Wales border. I remember listening to it in the rockies on holiday though and it had a similar connection in the grander sections.
I hear what you mean about the scratchy strummed (mandolin?) rhythm. It sounds bloody awful - tinny and annoying - there's a dodgy lapse in rhythm at one point too. What was Mike thinking of when he brought that right up in the mix?
@@alanmatthews9945 I'm wondering if that was recorded in 1974 or 2010... was shocked to hear the differences.
I totally agree, just listened to both versions again, and the remastered is "ugly"
Justin, not sure whether the 2010 version of Ommadawn is similar but maybe try to listen to the 1975 version if you can
Yes. This is a completely different mix than the album I once bought back in the 1970's. I don't know how many times it's been remixed, but this is nothing like the original!
Second part is crazy, you will enjoy the "electric guitars storm".
Always loved Mike Oldfield. The Box (his first 4 albums) often spinned on my turntable.
Ommadawn is the favourite, and Songs from distant earth is the second favourite, thou he have
a bunch of very good albums.
Perfect for relaxing on the sofa and just let all worrying travel to another distant earth...
Great review Justin !!
Ty Gunnar!
It's a long time since I listened to this, it's still good! A shout out to co producer Tom Newman who also did Hatfield & The North, I have his first solo album. Lindsay Cooper on oboe who played on some other great albums (of which I have several), and to David Bedford (strings and choir) I also have one of his albums. Very nice pick and review as usual JP.
Thanks for this interesting review. Great stuff! I am amazed how Oldfield can create music that can be a bit mournful AND uplifting at the same time.
Agreed!
Mikes sister Sally bought him his first Guitar when he was in his teens and due to Family problems due to his Mothers Mental health he retreated into his bedroom and she said a few weeks later he was playing like this,he himself suffered very badly with his Mental health whilst making these Albums love the Channel greating from the UK.
Ty for the info Tim!
I've been to Hergest Ridge - such a peaceful place particularly on a Spring/Summers day...and yes, I did listen to this while there. album. :)
Nice! I'm sure you could hear where Mike got his inspiration 😄
Great analysis, I havent listened to this in ages. Definitely classical, folk, choral influences, quintessentially English pastoral music. There are seeds of "world" music in this too.
I love Hergest Ridge. I have been listening to it since it first came out and I tend to go to this album more than Tubular Bells. I read Mike Oldfield's autobiography a few years ago, and if I remember right he had no formal musical training or influences. He completely came out of left field, or so it felt at the time.
With Ommadawn and Incantations, my soundtrack to reading The Lord of the Rings ! (As noted by others, i almost feel that this is a different piece, the original being even more "pastoral", if that is possible...) Oldfield came in right in the middle of the nascent ambient movement along with the Canterbury scene. (The musicians that did the live session of Tubular in 73: Steve Hillage, Mick Taylor (yes, THAT Mick Taylor), Mike Ratledge (Soft Machine), Fred Frith, John Greaves (National Health, Robert Wyatt), Pierre Moerlen (Gong). As for the classical influence: he incorporated a piece by Philip Glass on his last 70's album (Platinum), which was a huge influence on Incantations. So you're totally right about the general mood of the piece, with of course, a huge dollop of british folk. (And i'm sure you'd like his sister Sally's debut, Waterbearer.)
I wasn’t ready for such a long tune this morning. Luckily, VH and Redbone came along. Finally, got to hear it all before my lovely nap... now I’m ready to drift off to pastoral idyllic dreams. Very peaceful.
Take care everyone, masks plszzzzzzzzz... so sleepy.
Peace and zzzzzz Music
Thank you Justin, as always a wonderful experience to first listening with you 😊
For Oldfield‘s music, it would be nice if you gave the exact version or mix you listen to. There are several for every of his early albums.
Another excellent reaction/ review. Your musical sensibilities/insights same as mine and i enjoy revisiting each anew. Ommadawn album and other prog rock bands of the 70's you've reacted to marked a private awakening at this time. As tho they were more than mere music.
Ty Cornell, more than mere music sounds about right to me!
I missed this review and was listening to pt 2 when I realized I needed to come back and listen to this first. Loving it.
Haha no problem!
What an amazing surprise! Now, I can’t wait until your review of Part 2.
Afterwards, pretty please, review Ommadawn.
I love Oldfield’s first three albums. I must have listened to them a thousand times or more. It’s like each note is etched into my DNA. After 45 years I can never really decide which one I like best. That’s unique because with any other artist I have no problem deciding which order I would rank their albums. Your description of your “happy place” is perfect. For me, it’s the Isle of Skye. Can’t wait for side two and then Ommadawn.
Ty Al!
This must be remastered because it sounds different than my Hergest Ridge.
It's the 2010 remix. There are now 3 versions of this album. Original 1974 mix, the boxed 1976 mix and this one.
This one is certainly.... different !
Everybody has their preferred mix, and I like the original LP mix for Part 1 called Hergest Ridge Part One (1974 Stereo Mix), and the latest 2010 mix of Part Two. These can be found on the Hergest Ridge (Deluxe Edition),
This may not be my preferred mix of HERGEST RIDGE (I like the one without the prominent trumpet better), but still, it just warms my cockles to see a new generation discovering artists like Renaissance and Mike Oldfield. Warms them, I tells ya! A side long-minute piece of uninterrupted music, with no rock n' roll back-beat, no less...
Ty Joe!
@@JustJP I"m betting OMMADAWN will blow your mind.
This is my go-to music for the beach.
I got this when it originally came out and prefer the original mix although still like this one.
Hergest Ridge takes you away - somewhere. The original mix sounds warmer, you can hear the handwork of Mike Oldfield
Once again, you're bang on the money! Now you see why I recommended this above Tubular Bells. Of course, I like that album, but this is much better, I think. To my mind it - and Tubular Bells to an extent - are sort of Celtic stories, harking back to the mystical days of Druids, much like my novel Thirteen. In fact, my nom de plume on that and previous books is Hergest - Tabitha Hergest (if you must know, Tabitha was the name of my first girlfriend and Hergest... well, you see what effect the album had on me). But side 1, this side, was merely setting the scene - the action all happens in side 2, so look forward to reviewing that!
Ty so much Andrew!
There exists a 4 lp box set that incorporates Mike Oldfield’s first 4 releases and the remixed Tubular Bells with the great Viv Stanshall ‘Sailors Hornpipe’ travelogue funfest. It includes Ommadawn and Hergest Ridge. I found the box in a half price book store a few years back in perfect shape for ~ 8$. I have noticed that it is readily available elsewhere and online. But if you must have the original release of Tubular Bells you may find yourself wondering where you have gotten to. Fortunately both versions are available. Another nice selection, Justin.
Beautiful Review Justin ! To your use of Ouroborus, perhaps check out the Album by Ray LaMontagne of the same Name. He's a Force also.
Dude, I am BLOWN away. I thought you'd be accessing the really not-good remix of the original 1974 album, but somehow, this manages to fall right in-between that remix and the original version. There's VERY subtle changes that make-or-break certain passages that fans who have listened to this a GAZILLION times (like me) and know every note. There were places in the 1974 version that were kind of muddy and could've used some clean up, and NOW I can hear where he did that, and yet - and this is just me - in the process, he short-sheeted some of his own intricate guitar work, while in other places he actually IMPROVED parts in a stunning and profound way. But you'd have to go back to the initial mix to discover what's different and what isn't.
Ty Sam!
You've got a long way to go to "Return To Ommadawn"! But keep going I would also suggest "Amarok" but it's all good!You wont get a lot of views,but screw it you'll will have at least one! Thank's for playing the great music and Peace.
At least 2 views... Amarok is a masterpiece, but you have to be a hard core fan or at least be very familiar with his work to get it. I think Justin should do the albums in chronological order so by the time he gets to Amarok he'll be ready lol.
@@leethomas2155 I agree,but have to plug Amarok wnenever I can!
An intro of JP knocking one out and not realising the camera is on would be youtube gold.
Excellent album btw. My first listen. Gets a bit Jazzy Jeremy Soule at the end
I really can not wait until you listen to Ommadawn. It, quite literally, leaves me breathless.
Looking forward to it!
@@JustJP The guitar solo at the end of side one was played when he heard his mother had died. You can literally hear the pain of his grief.
Love the trumpets section❤
A good album, but for me Ommadawn is his greatest work. This reminded me of a short sketch by British comedian Steve Coogan called Alan Partridge country walk. He's wandering through the British countryside, and, across the way, in the distance, he points out Hergest Ridge, saying " That's where Mike Oldfield lives,.named his second album after it. We did ask for an interview, but ,it being xmas, he wanted to be alone,with his family, which I understand. Bit smallminded though,..bit mean " check it out on RUclips..very funny British humour.
Just in case JP picks up on this, we'd better point out how far the comedy point was stretched for effect. Alan Partridge is synonymous with the county of Norfolk, and it's there that the sketch is set (and filmed, I believe, near Swaffham). Mike, himself, has never lived particularly close to that region; if they'd wanted to be authentic then they'd have found him in Buckinghamshire by that point in time!
@@gavingraham2851 A good point. The reason I mentioned it on here, an excellent music review sie { in case JP reads this } was because I'd just watched the Alan Partridge ramble, and then saw the music review the same day. If the mainly American audience are'nt familar with Alan P,..they're not gonna "get " it. If JP reviews Big Yellow Taxi I think I'll keep Mr Partridge's scathing musings on the song to myself. Funny though.
I love this album. So beautiful it hits my emotions.
Echoing what many people have already said - it's great to hear your reactions to this wonderful music. I remember finding Mike's music myself in the 1980's and getting all the emotions it evokes. His music never stays still and you never know where he is going to go next. Even albums that seem to be connected (his first 3 are considered by many as the holy trinity) have their own identity. Your interpretations are also very perceptive ;-)
TB Part 1 was recorded in 1 week. TB Part 2 over 3 months in between other bands using the studio.
HR was recorded over the course of about 10 months mostly the demos in a mobile studio set up in Mike's new home in the middle of the English countryside then professionally at The Manor Studios in Spring 74 - so the difference between the 2 albums is quite marked in their production.
As pointed out there are currently 3 released mixes (plus the demo's) of HR and even before this 2010 mix there was heated debates over which mix was better amongst the fans - the original 1974 or the Boxed remix from 1976. Personally I always listen to the original ;-)
The 76 remix came about because Virgin wanted to re-release Mike's first 3 albums in Quad. Ommadawn was recorded and mixed in both Stereo & Quad at the same time in 1975, Virgin's engineer Phil Newell remixed Tubular Bells (Mike was sick of the album at that time) but Mike did the Quad remix of HR and stripped it right back to create an even more minimalist pastoral feel - which a lot of people love. Mike insisted that the 76 mix be the only one used in subsequent vinyl, cassette and then CD pressings. It was therefore a delightful surprise to get the Original mix (plus 4 track demos) on the deluxe edition in 2010. Most 74 vinyls suffered from poor quality (due to an oil crisis at the time) and HR with it's dynamic range was a victim of this.
Mike has never been happy with this album. It was a tortuous development. Ironically in the UK this album stormed straight to No. 1 and then was knocked off by it's predecessor Tubular Bells! Mike being one of only 2 or 3 artists to achieve this!
His next album, Ommadawn, seems like a cathartic purge of his pent up depression and it would be rare that he ever recorded anything as pastoral again.
Thank you so much for that info! Gives me some perspective
The trumpet's "cantus firmus" has the force and majesty of some Bach's musical works It; s a haunting theme, masterfully continued by the classical guitar section and then by the oboe one. And all is happily completed by the impressive tone of the electric guitar, with its fuzz and poignant and colourful style. Indeed, it's better than "Tubular" because it has more unity as a suite, while "Tubular" seems much more a collage of good songs , put together.
"Oceanic" is how I would describe this album. This album is so lovely and, well, human. I love music that starts simply and gradually builds up with added instruments on top of each other, which is perhaps why I love the minimalist composers like Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Terry Riley, and others. (If you love the way this music ebbs and flows, then you should check out Simeon Ten Holt's "Canto Ostinato" for 2 or more pianos.) Interestingly, I believe Mike Oldfield was the first person Philip Glass gave permission to record his music (having reserved it for his own ensemble for economic reasons). By the way, I've been mispronouncing the title since 1974!
Oceanic is a good word!
"Oceanic" world view is the way psychologists describe a newborn's conscious as best they understand it.
@@cornellrosiu8818 What an interesting connection! It's also the term some use to describe feeling of oneness and acceptance with the universe that comes through some forms of meditation. An overwhelming peacefulness, which I think this particular album expresses so well.
Br. Martin Dally, OSB - - yes, i agree from my experience w/what u write 🧘🏻♂️🔛❤️
According to Wikipedia:
"Hergest" should be pronounced to rhyme with 'hardest' with a hard "g" (as in "garden"). The local dialect pronunciation of the name is actually "Hargest"
That may be, but in ommadawn Mike himself says 'so if you feel a little glum, to Hergest Ridge you should come' in the lyrics of the horseback song. He pronounces it 'her-jest', so it can't be completely wrong. But he didn't have Wikipedia then...
@@arnoudrattink1572 Great point. I've always pronounced it that way.
@@arnoudrattink1572 As it seems likely that JustJP will progress to the 2010 version of Ommadawn, we will all hear - quite clearly - that Mike had picked up the local pronuncation with the hard "g", when it came to laying down his vocal for On Horseback.
Arnoud Rattink He pronounced it ‘Her-gest’ with a hard ‘g’ on Ommadawn, although the correct pronunciation is ‘har-gest’. I guess it’s on of the downside of a place having a name essentially based on Welsh being part in Wales and part in England. Anyone living on the English side will pronounce it in an English way, I suppose.
Another late comment...You asked what I (we) felt when the choir came up? Look at the cover: I was flying in that gliding plane from the cover slowly just over that ridge when the singing started, soaring over the quiet and undisturbing landscape that suddenly opened up before and under me. Soar - sooooaaar - sooooooaaaaaaaaring :)
Great review! (I much prefer the original mix though). You are correct about Mike classical leanings, a lot his music (including this album) has been fully orchestrated by Mike (and others) for classical concerts and recordings.
Ommadawn is another step up, fantastic album! Then, maybe, just maybe, you'll be ready for the mind bending Amarok!!! (btw,Tubular Bells '2' is better than the original, he had matured as a composer). there's such a rich catalog of sublime albums from Mike.
Is anyone ready for Amarok? I have heard it many times but it still amazes me.
Rediscovered this album last September. Really blew me away.
I prefer Hergest Ridge (pronounced "Har-guest", it must be the proximity of Wales affecting he pronunciation) out of the three albums: Tubular Bells, and Ommadawn, (pronounce Om-ma-dawn and not Oh-ma-dawn). It is much gentler and quite beautiful. Side One is lovely, and the mix that I bought in 1974 is the best.
But, music is very personal, so it is not to everyone's taste. I love the change at 9:03 and the very emotional playing that follows this, especially the Oboes; very rural, old England.
The last part is so stirring, such a wonderful piece of music. It's his best work (side one).
Such a great review too, Justin. You totally got the feel of this track.
Jean Sibelius was a strong influence on Mike's composing. Tubular Bells always seemed like a brilliant collection of interconnected tunes. Hergest Ridge was more coherent and seems to flow better. My favourite mix though is from the Boxed album. The annoying scratchy rhythm guitar is missing and you can hear Mike's amazing bass playing. I've walked up on the ridge, and I always hear this tune playing in my head. My favourite part is the oboe and trumpet piece.
I like Hergest Ridge a lot but in its original mix of 1974 or even that of 1976, however this mix realized in 2010 does not please me with its very dry aspect and the inclusion of instruments never heard on the previous mixes which gives a finish a little too muddled and plumb in some parts from my point of view, whereas conversely, these 'additional' instruments embellish other passages which only required that!
Hergest Ridge is therefore very particular because if I like this work very much (much more than Tubular Bells), its weak point undoubtedly resides in its never completely satisfactory mix whatever the time at which it was conceived. It would undoubtedly have taken a subtle mixture of all these achievements to highlight this magnificent bucolic and introspective piece.
Justin, you should try listening to the different mixes from 1974 and 1976 just for yourself to give you a better idea (and then tell us what you thought of them later in Part 2).
I always listen to the 1974 version of part 1 followed by the 2010 mix for part 2 because of the thunderstorm section is bolder in that one.
It sucks Oldfield is never happy with a project. There should never be a definitive version of an album or film, Mr Lucas.
Yes, there are 3 different total remixes of this album and they are all so vastly different from eachother as to almost be entirely different works. I prefer the 1976 version myself. However I don't mind that he went back and worked with them a little more. After so much time it's neat to get another older perspective on something you did in the distant past. We still have all 3 versions :). And I believe in this release the original mix was included as well.
Another Mike Oldfield Album! Thanks JP. I'm glad you like him. The drumming peaks in Crises. Ommadawn is a great album. He just recently released a Return to Ommadawn album. It's a good album as well. His sound is definetely unique. He did write shorter, more popular songs. Moonlight Shadow is probably the best one of that genre. Maggie Reilly is a really good singer. Jon Anderson from Yes collaborated with him on a song on the Crises album.
Ty Jim!
The mighty Simon Phillips. I met him in line at UPS and I mentioned Crises. I think he was a bit surprised by the reference instead of talking about Jeff Beck or The Who.
@@jimhardiman3836 the build up and drum solo at the end of that song is awesome. I know Ommadawn, Incantations and Hergest Ridge are considered his classic work, but I really like the Crises album. It's almost where he found a perfect balance between his more popular songwriting, while still being "new age" or progressive with songs Crises itself.
@@jimhardiman3836 that's also cool you got to meet him. Jeff Beck is one of my favorites too.
Wow, I've never heard this mix before, completely different from what I remembered. The original was more cohesive with less unnecessary details jumping out of the mix. Sounds like it has some extra parts added.
The aircraft on the cover is a glider (reflecting Mike's hobby of flying model gliders at the time of recording), and his dissatisfaction with the original packaging is the least of his issues with the album! As much as it is treasured by its many fans, Mike felt pressured into its composition. He'd have preferred, with the benefit of hindsight, to have had the ideas seep in for as similarly long a time as it took Tubular Bells to take shape - but these are the ideas we got, from his demo and into the recording studio. With similar levels of success, it might have been more fondly remembered by him - he's more likely to remark that he and Tom Newman got bored making and refining it!
The demo that he produced is key to understanding why the part 1 you've listened to is as it is. You'll only listen to that if you truly want to - but it basically IS the 2010 mix, in the way that Mike followed its ideas when making that version. He certainly doesn't feel as precious about the seventies mixes as many of us will. For my part, the treasured part is that I have all these variants to listen to and love. Original 1974 vinyl? Most complete, but can get muddled and sound dated. 1976 Boxed/2000 remasters? Fixes up some of those troubles and freshens the experience, but the first few minutes of part 1 are torture! 2010's 1974 stereo mix? Not quite the exact copy. 2010's new mix? Clean and very clear, yet so many changes inspired by revisiting his demo. I'll happily play any version, and just have to grit my teeth when 1976 rips the bass, tubular bells and heart out...😋
Appreciate you explaining some of those differences!
This is my favorite album by Oldfield. It evokes a very strong and consistent unique feeling I haven't got from any other piece of music. Although, if I'm not mistaken, Oldfield himself considered it to be the worst out of his first albums, so I guess I prefer him at his worst lol.
Lol! If this is his worst, I have a lot to look forward to
@@JustJP Do them in order. Side two of this is so bizarrely gorgeous and at times relentless; Ommadawn a step up yet again, Incantations a tremendous step forward and sideways...
Should've listened to the original mix/1974.
I think Boxed version is best.
Funny you should mention classical influences. Mike Oldfield guested on the Jools Holland programme once and revealed that the opening of Tubular Bells was based on turning the sheet music from a Bach fugue upside down.
Well thats pretty cool lol
This album, but not this version, is my favourite of all time because it is very spiritual and soothing. There’s such depth here. Some parts of this mix are ridiculous though 🙄
This is a VERY different mix than the one I know. It’s still cool, but elicits a very different emotional response. It’s not as melancholy/sentimental sounding. It’s more “harsh” than the original. Thanks for doing this piece though. I still have my autographed copy. I was lucky enough to catch M.O. in a rare record store performance in 1992.
Nice!
I don't understand why all the old classics are getting "remixed." It's like taking some great cocaine and stepping all over it.
Porfle Popnecker In a lot of cases, it’s just trying to milk another dollar out of a catalog title.
@@porflepopnecker4376 Camel did it with the Snow Goose in 2013 and Floyd recently with Momentary Lapse. It nearly always looses the charm.
Yep this isn't Hergest Ridge as i've always known it, the main stuff near the start being played on trumpet instead of guitar is no way near as good
This record show the very delicate soul of M.O. I love this much more than pure rock or heavy metal
When I started listening to this I had no idea there was a 2010 remix, I had always been familiar with the original 1974 recording from when it was originally released on vinyl (and from 1984 on cd). As I listened it started to dawn on me that there was some jiggery-pokery going on. Now I know! Oddly, although there seemed to be more obviously happening in the music, I found myself thinking that some sections were going on longer than I remembered, even outstaying their welcome! That motivated me to get out my original vinyl pressing and re-listen straight away, amazingly it seemed shorter. My feeling is that the original mix is better blended which improves the onward flow of the music instead of constantly slapping you round the head with the wet fish details. The details are mostly still there but more subtly integrated with the overall shape, which I think contributes to the understated power that seems to be the essence of this music.
Critics who pooh-poohed TUBULAR BELLS felt that Mike was little more than a "one-trick pony", and RIDGE was also his bid to be taken seriously as a composer. The album did NOT pull the numbers that BELLS did, because of THE EXORCIST, but it's still deeply beloved by his fans far and wide.
I believe Tubular Bells was still number one in the UK when Hergest Ridge came out and went straight to number two!
Ommadawn is great too
Try Oldfield's "Crises," and " Five Miles Out." My personal favourite is "Islands;" all of these feature wonderful vocals. Every record is great; there's also "Songs of Distant Earth,"
+1 to “Crises”. An amazing , 1-side piece!
I'm looking forward to when you listen to Side Two, because there's a movement in there I want to get your thoughts on. It most directly references the "Piltdown Man" sequence from TUBULAR BELLS, and all I will say about it is that it's been nicknamed "The Electric Storm". You'll see why...
Here we go. I have always stood up for Hergest Ridge. A slow meander to a great guitar solo.
Oddly on the back of Tubular Bells it topped the album charts I think but then disappeared. Still my favourite go to album - 1st side (albums had sides you know?) Vinyl or tape. This version of the Hergest Ridge recording is a 1st time for me. 2010 Mercury Records reissue perhaps?
So let us call it a re-recording. New Age 1974 recording on my turntable. No reverberations.
On the original mix, Ted Hobart's trumpet solo was originally featured about an octave LOWER. The high part isn't mixed in until toward the end of that movement when both are joined.
More Hergest Ridge love
I can't wait to see your reaction to his next album, Ommadawn
Working towards it😄
I actually walked on Hergest Ridge once and I could certainly associate the opening movement with it.