I was 15 and living in England when the record came out in May 1973. Its success had nothing to do with the Exorcist. Oldfield is English. John Peel was a BBC DJ who had a national radio show. He first played the record in May 1973 and championed the music. It became a phenomenon in Britain. Most of the buyers were teenage rock fans. It was played live in London in June 1973 with a lot of well-known rock musicians playing the instruments. Mick Taylor of the Stones played guitar. The Exorcist came out in Britain in March 1974, ten months after the record became a hit in the UK. Most of the Brits who bought it never saw the Exorcist.
Believe Mike played all the instruments on this, over a period of time spent at Richard Branson's new recording venture (Virgin). Instruments and time were used by mike during the downtime at the studio where I believe orchestral work was in progress, hence the plethora of instruments available at no extra cost. This record I believe has 001 serial number for Virgin's catalog and Richard Branson's 1st major financial success in his eventual empire. Mike & Richard became good friends and shared a love of hot air balloons. Mike never liked performing live and was enticed to perform Tubular Bells live with a gift of Richards old Rolls Royce car
I wasn’t even born when this was first released. Just growing up in the area I did, I got to experience a lot of music and people that were way out of my league. I’m so glad I did because this is absolutely a modern classic. The time signature is what makes it feel almost emotionless, it’s just so repetitive that it feels like it lacks emotion until the emotion just pops in in that reed organ at the end.
The vocal stuff at the end, for example 'Spanish guitar and introducing acoustic guitar' was provided by Mister Vivian Stanshall from the Bonzo Dog Doodah Band - the last great English eccentric. RIP Viv.
To think he wrote it at 17, recorded it at 19, played almost all the instruments, recording each track over another, keeping it all straight, it was simply amazing.
@@dfo132Whoda thought that what would go on to become one of the biggest record labels in the world, one that signed pop acts as huge as people like Janet Jackson, would get its start by releasing an unconventional instrumental album made by an unknown 19-year-old guy?
So I have a son with severe learning disabilities and epilepsy. As a young child he would spend a lot of time crying, this album without fail always soothed him.
@@ThePereubu1710 Exactly the same here, I suppose it was because I never got to see The Exorcist until later. Poor innocent moi !! I was 15 when this came out but it went straight into the collection.
Mike Oldfield is an eccentric man, a musical genius, who had severe difficulty dealing with the attention TB brought him. Some of the pain was evident in certain compositions. He really is a top class guitarist in particular
Oldfield's achievement is even more remarkable when you realize that he had no formal musical education, couldn't read or write music, and actually wrote most of Tubular Bells when he was 17. It took him two years to finish it, record it, and get it released.
Mike Oldfield recorded this in Richard Branson's studio when HE was just starting out... He played virtually all of the instruments and used an 8 track tape recorder to overlay each piece... The Tubular Bells were an accident that Mike decided to 'borrow' as her saw them being brought out of the studio as he was recording....
Please acknowledge Mike’s producer and collaborator, Tom Newman. If it weren’t for his enthusiasm and determination to get this recorded, you wouldn’t be here now doing this. This video is fascinating and for me. I was part of the first live performance in 1973, but I’ve never seen the full score. Fabulous.
One thing I like to point out is how much of this piece is actually great guitar work. We think of Mike as doing all kinds of unusual instruments, and can lose sight of the fact that he's a top-notch guitarist in his own style.
I love the live at Montreux version, it just showcases his playing so well. The guitar tone is also great, violin-esque in places ruclips.net/video/_86Gm9iclAg/видео.html
@@joesteel7837 - The video which includes the music score is the obvious choice for Doug doing his video, but the Montreux video does a great job of showing that Mike is an excellent guitarist.
My husband pointed me in the direction of this video, and I am so glad he did. Tubular Bells is one of my absolute favourite pieces. My dad adored it, I heard it so many times during my childhood. We played the last part with the bells at his funeral. It was the thought that we had done our best and left,heads high, to face the next phase of our lives to the bells our dad adored. I have a copy of the official music book, but the notation is poor. It’s not “as the piece flows”, more it’s composite parts. Many years ago I had wanted to sequence it via midi, but have never quite got around to it. Tubular Bells was another piece that really made the most of multi tracking, bouncing down tracks and generally trying new emerging techniques. It was one of the reasons I fell in love with music technology, and had originally planned to study to degree level. It was not to be though. You must listen to the Hornpipe, it has a very drunk Vivian Stanshall describing the studios at 4am after a recording session. Mike Oldfield could only use the studio when it was not being used by paid customers. That meant most of it was recorded at night. It almost wasn’t called Tubular Bells. The bells were on loan and hadn’t been collected at the right time, so Mike Oldfield took advantage of them. I really like the whole of Incantations. We played the last part at Dad’s funeral too, again, it was one of his favourites. The whole piece has a very different feel to Tubular Bells, more ethereal. A few years back my husband got me a first pressing vinyl. It’s a beautiful listen on headphones too.
Incantations is my 9th favorite album in all music history. Right up there with Magnification, Hold Your Fire, The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, Novella, Wind And Wuthering, Abbey Road, and the masterpiece of all masterpieces, Tales From Topographic Oceans. Mike is in good company with his Incantations.
Without doubt, the warmest channel on the internet. What a wonderful place to end up at half 10 on a Friday night. Congratulations on the 150k (still pending), you deserve every one of those and a whole lot more. Peace from the UK :D
Doug, do you realize that this is the music that has launched spacecraft? Built an amazing financial empire? This song / album started Virgin and Sir Richard Branson's rise! Music does change the world! Sending love and perspective. Thank you for what you do!🥰
Yep, my number 2 of his for me Incantations side 4 just clips it and also followed by Ommadawn 2 part one - the climatic build-ups he achieves are truly fantastic
I love Ommdawn so much that when I hear that he made Return to Ommadawn I bought it without listening it first. Hope I'd had. Threw it away (ok sold it) after one listening. It was not a return to Ommadawn. Just nothing like Ommadawn at all.
That climax is freaking awesome you are right. I've always loved that part just before the final drums which fade away. Dunno how Mike does that. Freaking awesome he's a genius
Is curious because the only times there are so many outstanding musicians in the same room is to play and just have fun. Like Hey Jude or Johnny B Goode. This is a rare case of top tier musicians playing top tier music
One day many will remember the talent of Mike Oldfield, Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Jean-Michel Jarre, Vangelis...etc...(Mostly for their albums out in the 70's and 80's and who are astounding...) Merci.
Interestingly, the director of the exorcist later heard Tangerine Dream, and said he would have used them instead if he’d known at the time! Used them afterwards eg Sorcerer
I have an original 73 pressing and wonder if anyone has noticed the sleeve note in the bottom left corner on the reverse of the sleeve. It reads, 'This stereo record cannot be played on any old tin box no matter what they are fitted with. If you are in possession of such equipment please hand it in to the nearest police station'.
It's Mr Blue Sky by ELO @@karenturner9423 . It's the last track on side one of the album so there's a vocodered voice at the end which says 'Please turn me o ver' 🙂
I was in my local record store and they were playing this. All of the sudden I thought the guy next to me was talking "Grand Piano...etc" it took a while for me to figure out it was the music. Bought the album that day.
Also remember well Stanshall’s Rawlinson End when I was a Uni student in the early 80’s and the butler whose name that dare not be mentioned in polite society
@@abrarahmed1888 aka "The wrinkled retainer" 😁 Anyone who hasn't heard the Bonzos, a sampler.... ruclips.net/video/2SHS0dBBUiM/видео.html And you have a new subscriber Doug!
This album is legendary.....he started recording in 1970......completed in 1973.....this was the very first album released in the Virgin Records label, in 1973. I had it on cassette.....and this is still a timeless classic!
We your audience love to watch your ear connect to each instrument, each note, simultaneously. Been listening to this music since the 60's and beyond. And to see you react to it is awesome. Thank you for your channel and reactions. 🎼
Loved the insight about your experience with encountering composers during their sponge-like creative development at 19, not to mention insight into your own experience at that age 💥 so great to see this with sheet music too 🤘
Doug, I’ve been listening to this for nigh on 50 years, my older brother bought the album. I can’t remember not knowing every sound that is coming next. It’s beautiful watching you experience it for the first time. Thank you for your enthusiasm and expertise
So glad you ended up landing on this one and some of Mike's work. I've been listening to TB and the rest of his music for over 40 years and it's still captivating. Here's another vote for Ommadawn as another reaction. It's my fave and a firm fave of many Oldfield fans. Incantations is also superb. Very glad you gave Mike a go. Here's hoping you find scores to some of his other longer pieces. ;) Thanks a lot, this was a cool video and reaction.
Congrats Doug! Awesome reaction, I remember when this album was released. Bought it right away, Was always a classic to chill put on the headphones & drift away! Super glad you did this as well that you enjoyed this. Thanks, Kevin from Canada
Hi Doug, Im not a musician but been loving TB since its first release in the UK in 73. You can get too familiar with things you love. What you have done is make it new and exciting again. So thankful Doug, well done mate.
Doug I sure hope you're listening to this on big old speakers with double 15" woofs, about three feet away on each side of you! it's the only way to experience the 40-50 Hz lows. love it! Thanx
Tim Feeley... Way back in the early 70's I had a good Kenwood component system and I had the usual two speaker set up. Each speaker had a 16" woofer, a 6"mid-range ( yep...6"..and what great vocals & other mid-range sounds it had..!! ), and a 1 1/2 " ( I think ) tweeter. Yes, those woofers could really 'thump' it out..!!
@@marbleman52 yep. I had the same thing. 10 inch deep throw woofers, 5 inch midrange, two crossovers I built myself, and a Radio Shack Supertweeter mounted on top. I used the boxes from my big brother's old JVC all-in-one from before he went separate components. The crossovers each had a high pass and a low pass filter designed for the f range of the woofer and midrange. I ended up making two pairs and plugging one set into a separate Amp hooked into the cassette line outs. Had it tuned so the rear set emphasized the lower range and the front pair a little higher. Sounded almost as good as Dolby surround which was new back then.
Sorry to be late to the party. Congratulations!!! Thanks for sharing. Thanks for your work. Completely enjoyed the first 5 minutes with the bourbon... I have only listen to this album a few times. I know nothing of musical composition or reading music... Your reaction was so utterly enjoyable for me. Really this was great. I've watch a few dozen of your videos and this has convinced me to never miss a new release again, as well as motivated me to sort by date and go through what I've missed. Wish I was retired and had more time. Thanks again. All the best.
Having learned the part myself I've enjoyed seeing a couple of bands play it live and watching the enormous feat of concentration and finger stretching the bassists have to endure for this part. I once saw a guy do it on a fretless - can't imagine doing that.
About seven minutes in one take, technology at that time didn’t allow to use a loop. The result is magic, the repetitive pattern souds new an human every turn
Worthwhile remembering that Mike Oldfield was 17 /18 years of age and doing this! Oh and he played practically all of it and overdubbed it. Took a week!
He did, however, work on the compositions for two years or so, which is why it was possible for him to knock it all out so quickly :) Extremely impressive feat nonetheless, as someone creating electronic/experimental music, I cannot imagine even doing it this quickly with all of the modern technology, let alone analog TAPE back in '73.
I concur with the folks who recommend Ommadawn. Awesome stuff. I love the Introduction to the Instruments section of Tubular Bells. I'm glad you enjoyed this.
The person 'speaking' and introducing the various instruments is called Viv Stanshall. He collaborated with the Bonzo Dogs, a group that would start recording in the same recording studio that Mike Oldfield did the next day. They were already there (musicians lived there while recording; it's called the Manor and was owned by Richard Branson, Virgin Records). Mike asked him if he could do it. He agreed.
Hey Doug, I along with gazillions of others probably have every note of this piece etched into our 1970's auditory receptors, and being a little familiar with musical notation I thoroughly enjoyed being able to follow the little black marks on the stave, oh joy! Of course, your analysis made it all the more enjoyable.... Fantastic job from the beautifully lispy, Mr. Muthic for the score. .... Mr. Vivian Stanshall (R.I.P) is a wonderful English eccentric, artist, multi-instrumentalist, lover of words, and founder member of the ever-delightful Bonzo Dog Doo-Da Band, and the gorgeously surreal, Sir Henry at Rawlinson End. Was, Master of Ceremonies. He features in the Sailors Hornpipe at the end of the box set version of T B. Marvellous! Love your channel. Yuletide greetings from Liverpool.
Tubular Bells has been one of my favorite pieces of music since it was first released. Your added commentary and music knowledge just helped me learn more about how this “little” tune came to be. While my high school vocal music classes and choir performances taught me some good basic music understanding your explanations made me appreciate music even more. At 69 I’m a long way from high school choir but now I have a place to better understand the music I’m hearing and how it comes together. Thank you.
Mike Oldfield. My favourite artist. The reason I became a guitarist and one of the top inspirations for my taking up composition in general. Would have also enjoyed your reaction to Side B.
Oldfield was actually 16 when he wrote a got on a demo. There is a great interview when he said the repetitive bass part at the end of the piece nearly finished him. It's over 8 mins and he said his arm started cramping at 6 mins, but he had to keep on going.
That Mike Oldfield was all of 19 when he recorded this - is itself amazing. He likely started writing it when younger. The piano riff was a family homage. That the entire recording was done in about a weeks time - so cleanly - adds to how impressive he is.
Right, he composed it over 2 years prior to the recording for which he has given the first week in November 1972 from Richard Branson the Manor recording studio back in the day. One week! And he was around 17 when he composed this Masterpiece in his kids room.
There is a story (possibly apocryphal) that say that when he was 17 he approached a young Richard Branson (who was at that time just selling remaindered records by mail-order) with the ideas for this music, and was told ‘go away kid, come back when you are a bit older’. He came back at around the time that Branson was establishing Virgin Records. The rest is history. What is also lesser known is that this album, was, and still to this day is, Virgins biggest ever selling record (although it was briefly eclipsed by Mariah Carey), and that Mike Oldfields albums are all hugely popular often reaching multi-platinum sales worldwide in incredibly short times (sometimes even just on pre-release pre-sales) with little or no publicity.
@@MarvalentAudio-01 When he was 17 he was playing in Kevin Ayers' band The Whole World. Whilst touring with the band he wrote several tunes and riffs that would end up in TB. There is a CD of Kevin Ayers' appearances for the BBC called Too Old to Die Young: the track Why Are We Sleeping? contains an extended solo by Mike that has several themes that are in TB Part 2. Mike had made several demo's of parts of TB on a tape recorder borrowed from Kevin Ayers, and those were heard by Branson.
The Master of Ceremonies is the late Viv Stanshall, from The Bonzo Dog Band, which is a tribute to a Bonzo track from their first album, called "The Intro and the Outro".
A double-speed guitar in this context: a lot of the guitar lines were recorded with the tape at half-speed and Mike playing fast up the ‘dusty end’ (AKA high up the fretboard. When the tape is returned to normal speed the resulting guitar line is an octave higher than played and thus outside of the normal range of the instrument. I’ve spent the last 3 years playing this piece on the Tubular Bells 50th anniversary re-imagined by Robin A Smith. For a guitarist, it’s a roast: the octave up is easily achieved with a transpose pedal (followed by an EQ to remove tha aliasing artefacts generated by the pedal but as far as getting the speed, you’re on your own. I would also commend side 2 of the record: the melodies are sublime and it feels to me that he relaxed once side 1 was out of the way. Side 2 is my preferred side by far.
I saw The Exorcist when it came out during Christmas break of my senior year with classmates. After we got over being scared shitless, the first thing I did was find out wtf that music was and buy the album. Being a Floyd & ELP fan it definitely hit a sweet spot and I played it over & over. My parents were pretty annoyed 😆 I remember seeing a live performance on TV that just killed. It was definitely one of those moment in time things! Big memories 🤘
Yep. I had the soundtrack to The Exorcist and the first Halloween movie on LP. Those were top quality. Played them every Halloween night all evening for the neighbors. Had an automatic turntable and it would play one side over and over until I changed the record. 😁
HeyMan, You always have a really good put together video. Now that I'm retired, I watch your analysis of (always one of my favorite) songs/albums from when I was most influenced by those great musicians you share with your viewers. Thank you, Doug it's fun and even exciting to listen to your opinions on the real great music of our time.
Oh wow I cant wait to hear this. The first four albums, all extended suites of music, are worthy of analysis :) #4 Incantations has a 4 side 'symphonic' structure, for example.
Thank you for reminding me of one of the most underrated musitians. The guy wrote this at 19 yrs! And played almost all the instruments. And there are plenty of them. And I love and respect him.
Back in the day when this was released in 1973, it was a musical revelation and was one of the go-to LPs regularly being played everywhere that year, along with Dark Side Of The Moon. The fact that he played all the instruments and managed to layer the parts so well, in order to bring colour and texture to the repeating motifs, led to endless hours of repeated immersion in what is a unique musical odyssey. It's so fabulous following the musical score with your detailed explanation as it unfolds. Truly a joy to revisit this with your input, like all of the other episodes from my musical awakening as a youth, thank you man.
I still remember watching this being played live on a BBC arts show (2nd House) in January 1974 and being absolutely mesmerised. And then I watched Tubular Bells 2 live from Edinburgh Castle in September 1992.
During a programme celebrating the 40th anniversary of Tubular Bells, Mike recalled the agony of playing the bass guitar almost non-stop for the performance.
@@JayStapley Big fan of your guitar work on that show. I remember seeing the vocalists breath, and thinking how hard that must be on the ol' digits for the guitarists.
Cheers m8. Mike Oldfield is such an exellent composer. One of the most atmospheric instrumental melodies i've heard in my 50 years of existence comes from him. Exellent choise for a celebration.
DOUG: Double-speed guitar. A guitar that's recorded with the tape playing back at half-speed. Then, when you return to normal playback speed, the guitar comes back sped up to twice the speed, and in doing so, takes on a different tone from just recording it at normal speed an octave higher.
Indeed. I have played this many times including last August’s shows at London’s Festival Hall. I also played the Tubular Bells II live shows in 1993/4. The problem with playing these double speed guitar parts live is not the pitch (that can be mimicked with a pitch-shifter pedal,) but the speed:-)
Sir, I have no idea what you're talking about. I can recognise a bass and treble clef, but that's the extent of my knowledge. HOWEVER, I have to say I found this video fascinating. Your technical analysis of a piece of music I've heard hundreds of times (my father would play it over and over) and grown rather bored of, has opened my ears to it again! Thank you! Oh, and you were correct: I've read that Mike used a hammer (one for knocking nails) on the tubular bells because he couldn't get the sound he wanted by hitting them with whatever you're meant to hit them with.
Thanks Doug for Tubular Bells. You gotta do Ommadawn as well as side 2 of Tubular Bells. I think a double speed guitar is when you record something in half speed then play it at double speed. Half speed and double speed keeps the the same pitch but at different octaves. Sir Richard Branson owns his empire to Mike and Tubular Bells.
I’ve grown to enjoy Side 2 more than Side 1 over the years. There’s a section in it that I still feel to be some of the most beautiful music ever recorded.
Yep you're right. 👍 That's exactly what double speed guitar means. Recorded down the octave at half speed like the 12-string acoustic solo in Hard Day's Night.
The announcer on the original recording was Vivian Stanshall. In 2003 Oldfield re-recorded the entire album, and this time the announcer was John Cleese. The reason for the re-recording was to correct some flaws (some parts out of tune etc.) in the original recording. Oldfield recorded TB at Richard Branson's studio at the Manor in December 1972 but only had about a week to do it, hence there were some mistakes/imperfections that were left in. Part one was based on demo Oldfield recorded on a re-wired home tape recorder in 1971, while Part Two was a new composition.
First I was a little disappointed that you only played part 1, because part 2 is my favourite. But when I realised how much work you did, I was stunned. You went far deeper into the time signature changes and chords than most can even attempt. Keep going back to rehear what you missed. I can't read music, but I appreciate someone way more knowledgeable to explain why the music I love is so good.....(Listen to more old Genesis).
I 'found' you yesterday, Doug. Subbed. I'm adding this here as a total non-musician - I've never played any instrument, can't read music etc. However, I can appreciate great music! TB was one of my first albums in summer 1973, and I played it over and over... I can repeat every note of this in my head Doug, though you're 'talking a foreign language' (i.e. 'music') to me, I have still been engrossed with listening to you dissect the various LPs ('Long Players,' kids! - look it up!) of the bands of my youth. I was into - and still enjoy now - ELP, (early and all) Genesis, Steeleye Span etc. What you're showing me, Doug, is the massive complexity and depth of much of the music that I love... so you have helped me to deepen my ... AWE... (I think is the only word) for these musicians as I still listen to all of your explanations about each piece. Thank you so much. (P.S. I'd never want to see 'The Exorcist' either!)
When you want to reach 300.000 subscribers give more reviews on Mike Oldfield . He has got so many hidden admirers around ,for me he is one of the greatest musicians of the past 50 years. .
That was an absolute joy to watch - thank you so much! I have loved this music since the 1970s - so to see you experience it in its entirety (do side 2!) for the first time was wonderful - to see it as a score was fascinating although i am not a musician myself - I truly believe this music has significance and is important and will live a long long time. Interesting that your impression of it began with the Exorcist - it is so much more than that - it launched the Virgin Empire for Richard Branson - it was also a means of expression for Mike as a young man but it remains a significant, complex wonder of a piece to this day - and I adore it - it centres me - I would love to see you discover Hergest Ridge And Ommadawn - save Amarok for when you have a new bottle of Bourbon - that will help! it is also one of my all time favourites Truly I have just spent time well watching this - re-igniting a passion for this music - thank you Doug - i will check out your other videos - with much respect and gratitude - t
Awesome that you're tackling this one. What a classic, love this piece and remember the first time I listened to it in its entirety...mind blowing. There was a great documentary about Mike that talked about the production of this and how the live special where they performed it came to happen. He almost didn't go on due to stage fright/nerves, but was able to pull through. Fantastic.
TB was a game changer for me. Bought it on the cover alone! Walked past a record shop on my way back from school, saved up and got it. Seen Oldfield play many times, the best was a free gig in a park in London with David Bedford & choir, MOs guitar that day was blistering! I briefly spoke to him. Ommadawn is my favourite album. I also Love "First Excursion" and the title track from "Instructions for Angels" with Bedford on organ, a mind melt piece.......................
dunno why, but for me, "Ommadawn" just flips all my switches. I become a numb wreck listening to that album. And afterwards, I rise again, revived. Music, man. It's soul food.
Ommadawn is absolutely the best thing Oldfield has done. Hergest Ridge a close second. TB and Incantations get a special mention too. All of them amongst the best of the best in recorded music history. Everything after that was wank.
That was the first album I heard of mike oldfield and has a special place in my heart, Doug's comparison to Vaughan Williams would apply to this, it is one of the most British of all rock albums and draws its inspiration from the English (or Welsh|) landscape.
. . . and after a long, long time, due to resistance by Mike Oldfield, himself, the original (and best, of course) mix of Hergest Ridge was finally released on CD with the remasters.
Congrats for the first 150K. For a really weird musical trip consider doing AMAROK. It is a 60 minutes journey, but well worth taking. And. ... maybe you should cloud your senses before embarking ;)
@@HenrikWittenberg I didn't forget them, Hergest Ridge=Special. Incantations=Beautifully Excellent. There aren't enough adjectives to describe his work. QE2=10 out of 10 and so on, you get the point.
@@HollowGolem I remember when The Millennium Bell was released I couldn't stop listening to it and still to this day it's one of my favourites, as is Tubular Bells II & III
Loved that ! Have you heard Swiss harpist Andreas Vollenweider? I would love to hear your take on his stuff.Especially his albums 'Behind the garden....' or 'White winds' Very much like 'Tubular Bells' they are musical journeys,incorporating many different stylings,and I doubt the harp has ever sounded so interesting !
Thank you for your time and analysis of this genius-level piece. Back when Google Play Music was a thing, I bought _Tubular Bells_ and loved listening to it while walking. The first time I heard the verbal introduction of the various instruments, for some reason I found it quite humorous, in the good way.
Mike Oldfield is a pioneer and the pride of rock guitar players, for he simply shattered the presumptions and perceptions that such intricate, symphonic pieces are (can be?) exclusively composed by piano/keyboard players. "Guitar players of the world; yes, we can do it as well as any of those hoity-toity keyboard people." this piece tells me. :))
I'll second what all the others say about Ommadawn. Add in Incantations too. And TB2 - I remember watching on TV the live performance at Edinburgh Castle, which coincided with its release. The reaction of the 60k Scots crowd to "Tattoo", when the pipe band was lit up, said it all! As did the knowing smiles on various faces just before! All that said, TB1 remains THE iconic album that started it all. As well as setting Richard Branson on the road to billionairedom. So Doug HAS to do it! Hopefully others can follow.
There is a documentary on Oldfield and what was happening in his life while writing and recording Tubular Bells. He wrote most of this in his bedroom when his mom was in a sanitarium. There was a documentary on this that is fascinating. The tubular bells were just by a chance encounter. I think he played just about all the instruments. A major achievement by this young man.
I think you meant to type ‘richer’. He was born into wealth and his family paid his £70,000 fine for failing to pay export duty (for his early record store business) in the early 70’s. An incredible amount of money when you consider an average house cost less than £4,000.
I'm a female from the 70s along with my regular rock I love to see you listen to that talent that the progressive rock bands had they were extremely talented
Not much to say, but I'm drinking a single malt at the moment and listening to great music - I love you Doug. That's it. Thank you for sharing your wisdom!
So glad you finally chose Mr Oldfield. We all have those albums that helped us through our crazy up and down teenage years - Mike Oldfields first 3 albums got me through those years, constantly on my player. Beautiful music. Ommadawn next please ☺
I was a bit young to have picked this up when it came out but I picked up two vinyl copies this past summer at garage sales on back to back weekends. As usual, Doug’s commentary is fascinating.
Thanks Doug for all these reviews mainly prog rock music as Génesis, Yes, Pink Floyd and now Mike Oldfield. I love all your reviews. On the other side I would be more than grateful if you would try another masters as Tangerine Dream and the album Tangram. It is other kind of music, electronic music, but I think very interesting to be commented by a classic composer. Thank you
I really enjoyed your analytical approach, i have heard that piece the first time about 25 years ago. I can't read the sheet notes very well but with your help i catched some concepts. Thanks for your very cool channel and your effort you put into your videos.
An interesting insight into the times and state of the technology of the early 70’s, is that true multi track recording was still in its early stages. And of course they were recording on tape. With Mike playing nearly all the instruments and bouncing each track down onto the master tape, the constant overdubbing wore the original master tape down so much that it eventually snapped. Apparently it was so thin parts of it were becoming almost opaque. Can you imagine a 19 year old Mike recording with todays digital technology where you can have an almost infinite number of tracks playing at the same time. However, it’s the fact that Tubular Bells was recorded at that particular time with that particular technology, by such a brilliant multi instrumentalist, that makes it such a seminal recording in the history of rock.
This is a refreshing channel and I enjoy watching .It's informative and on a good wavelenghth. There is always substance to your analysis and it's great that I discovered these music analyses...entertaining and informative thanks .
I think Mikes sister Sally was one of the 'choir'. Check her out on 'Shadow of the Hierophant' by Steve Hackett (Voyage of the Acolyte album). She has quite some voice.
Ah you stole my thunder :) Hackett's first solo album, Voyage of the Acolyte (released 1975, three years before Hackett left Genesis). Shadow of the Hierophant is the largest piece on the album, cowritten with Mike Rutherford. It's a miniature opera, really. The vocalist back then was Sally Oldfield, sister of Mike Oldfield. Hackett and his legacy band have been doing it for the last decade or more, and I've heard it live twice. The vocalist now is Amanda Lehman, sister of Jo Lehman, Hackett's current (third) wife.
Previous to TB Mike was paired with his sister Sally in the duo Sallyangie, which I find unlistenable, Sally Oldfield's bird warbly tremolo style of singing drives spikes through my head!!
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I was 15 and living in England when the record came out in May 1973. Its success had nothing to do with the Exorcist. Oldfield is English. John Peel was a BBC DJ who had a national radio show. He first played the record in May 1973 and championed the music. It became a phenomenon in Britain. Most of the buyers were teenage rock fans. It was played live in London in June 1973 with a lot of well-known rock musicians playing the instruments. Mick Taylor of the Stones played guitar. The Exorcist came out in Britain in March 1974, ten months after the record became a hit in the UK. Most of the Brits who bought it never saw the Exorcist.
Agreed, I also heard it way before the Exorcist. I think Doug may be talking of when it was heard in the US :)
Believe Mike played all the instruments on this, over a period of time spent at Richard Branson's new recording venture (Virgin). Instruments and time were used by mike during the downtime at the studio where I believe orchestral work was in progress, hence the plethora of instruments available at no extra cost. This record I believe has 001 serial number for Virgin's catalog and Richard Branson's 1st major financial success in his eventual empire. Mike & Richard became good friends and shared a love of hot air balloons. Mike never liked performing live and was enticed to perform Tubular Bells live with a gift of Richards old Rolls Royce car
I loved it long before the movie. Definitely before my mother EVER would have let me see the movie. I had just turned 9 when the music came out.
I wasn’t even born when this was first released. Just growing up in the area I did, I got to experience a lot of music and people that were way out of my league. I’m so glad I did because this is absolutely a modern classic. The time signature is what makes it feel almost emotionless, it’s just so repetitive that it feels like it lacks emotion until the emotion just pops in in that reed organ at the end.
I was 13 and played it to death too!
The vocal stuff at the end, for example 'Spanish guitar and introducing acoustic guitar' was provided by Mister Vivian Stanshall from the Bonzo Dog Doodah Band - the last great English eccentric. RIP Viv.
With that in mind, I think Doug should next analyze The Bonzos' 'Jazz. Delicious Hot, Disgusting Cold'.
Great to know, thanks so much!
Away from his music lets not forget Rawlinson End
He did also vocals on Robert Calvert"s album Captain Lockheed And The Starfighters.
@@harrymc9263 Sir Henry he was.
To think he wrote it at 17, recorded it at 19, played almost all the instruments, recording each track over another, keeping it all straight, it was simply amazing.
Thus, a genius. Dot.
Got his break via Richard Branson , they knew each other .
Branson created Virgin Records specifically to release this record.
@@dfo132Whoda thought that what would go on to become one of the biggest record labels in the world, one that signed pop acts as huge as people like Janet Jackson, would get its start by releasing an unconventional instrumental album made by an unknown 19-year-old guy?
So I have a son with severe learning disabilities and epilepsy. As a young child he would spend a lot of time crying, this album without fail always soothed him.
Here's how good Tubular Bells is; about four minutes in you've completely forgotten any association with The Exorcist.
Exactly
It is bloody well baffling is what it is. And that is before you know about how it was recorded.
Had this album since it's release and didn't even know it was used as a movie theme... LOL
@@marcelob4132 I've never seen The Exorcist so only knew about TB being used through word of mouth
@@ThePereubu1710 Exactly the same here, I suppose it was because I never got to see The Exorcist until later. Poor innocent moi !! I was 15 when this came out but it went straight into the collection.
Mike Oldfield is an eccentric man, a musical genius, who had severe difficulty dealing with the attention TB brought him. Some of the pain was evident in certain compositions. He really is a top class guitarist in particular
is authistic asperger👍 autor composit and interprete musician😳😍.... ommadawn is other masterpiece and incantation.. in 70's top
Oldfield's achievement is even more remarkable when you realize that he had no formal musical education, couldn't read or write music, and actually wrote most of Tubular Bells when he was 17. It took him two years to finish it, record it, and get it released.
Mike Oldfield recorded this in Richard Branson's studio when HE was just starting out... He played virtually all of the instruments and used an 8 track tape recorder to overlay each piece... The Tubular Bells were an accident that Mike decided to 'borrow' as her saw them being brought out of the studio as he was recording....
I’d kill to hear this for the first time again.
Masterpiece.
Just wait till you get Alzheimer's and you will
Please acknowledge Mike’s producer and collaborator, Tom Newman. If it weren’t for his enthusiasm and determination to get this recorded, you wouldn’t be here now doing this. This video is fascinating and for me. I was part of the first live performance in 1973, but I’ve never seen the full score. Fabulous.
The score is available as a songbook, I once borrowed it from the public library and xeroxed it about 36-37 years ago.
He was actually 17 when he composed this masterpiece. But was recorded two years later.
Recommend tracking down a copy of Fine Old Tom, the album Newman recorded at the Manor in what I imagine was his off time.
One thing I like to point out is how much of this piece is actually great guitar work. We think of Mike as doing all kinds of unusual instruments, and can lose sight of the fact that he's a top-notch guitarist in his own style.
I love the live at Montreux version, it just showcases his playing so well. The guitar tone is also great, violin-esque in places ruclips.net/video/_86Gm9iclAg/видео.html
@@joesteel7837 - The video which includes the music score is the obvious choice for Doug doing his video, but the Montreux video does a great job of showing that Mike is an excellent guitarist.
Well said, an bass player which was what he started out doing as his first pro job
My husband pointed me in the direction of this video, and I am so glad he did.
Tubular Bells is one of my absolute favourite pieces. My dad adored it, I heard it so many times during my childhood. We played the last part with the bells at his funeral. It was the thought that we had done our best and left,heads high, to face the next phase of our lives to the bells our dad adored.
I have a copy of the official music book, but the notation is poor. It’s not “as the piece flows”, more it’s composite parts. Many years ago I had wanted to sequence it via midi, but have never quite got around to it. Tubular Bells was another piece that really made the most of multi tracking, bouncing down tracks and generally trying new emerging techniques. It was one of the reasons I fell in love with music technology, and had originally planned to study to degree level. It was not to be though.
You must listen to the Hornpipe, it has a very drunk Vivian Stanshall describing the studios at 4am after a recording session. Mike Oldfield could only use the studio when it was not being used by paid customers. That meant most of it was recorded at night. It almost wasn’t called Tubular Bells. The bells were on loan and hadn’t been collected at the right time, so Mike Oldfield took advantage of them.
I really like the whole of Incantations. We played the last part at Dad’s funeral too, again, it was one of his favourites. The whole piece has a very different feel to Tubular Bells, more ethereal. A few years back my husband got me a first pressing vinyl. It’s a beautiful listen on headphones too.
Incantations is my 9th favorite album in all music history. Right up there with Magnification, Hold Your Fire, The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, Novella, Wind And Wuthering, Abbey Road, and the masterpiece of all masterpieces, Tales From Topographic Oceans. Mike is in good company with his Incantations.
Without doubt, the warmest channel on the internet. What a wonderful place to end up at half 10 on a Friday night. Congratulations on the 150k (still pending), you deserve every one of those and a whole lot more. Peace from the UK :D
Warm indeed. I almost feel like Doug is a friend, and I'm at best only a casual follower (although starting to look forward to Fridays!)
You hit the nail on the head. Doug’s like an old friend!
Best comments on the internet.
the only hate we have here is hating on double kick drum 16th notes
Doug, do you realize that this is the music that has launched spacecraft? Built an amazing financial empire? This song / album started Virgin and Sir Richard Branson's rise!
Music does change the world!
Sending love and perspective.
Thank you for what you do!🥰
I love Tubular Bells, but Ommadawn pt. 1 is my desert island disc. I think it is Mike at his finest. The climax at the end is just sublime.
Yep, my number 2 of his for me Incantations side 4 just clips it and also followed by Ommadawn 2 part one - the climatic build-ups he achieves are truly fantastic
I love Ommdawn so much that when I hear that he made Return to Ommadawn I bought it without listening it first. Hope I'd had. Threw it away (ok sold it) after one listening. It was not a return to Ommadawn. Just nothing like Ommadawn at all.
@@topilinkala1594 It has grown on me, but I agree it is not in the same league.
Incantations.
That climax is freaking awesome you are right. I've always loved that part just before the final drums which fade away. Dunno how Mike does that. Freaking awesome he's a genius
That was one MATURE 19 year-old. Stands up after 50 years.
There's a video where Mike and friends play this live, and I'm astonished it's almost flawless. And btw, that's some impressive sight reading
See my comment above
I’ve watched that video a thousand times.
Is curious because the only times there are so many outstanding musicians in the same room is to play and just have fun. Like Hey Jude or Johnny B Goode. This is a rare case of top tier musicians playing top tier music
One day many will remember the talent of Mike Oldfield, Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Jean-Michel Jarre, Vangelis...etc...(Mostly for their albums out in the 70's and 80's and who are astounding...)
Merci.
RIP Klause Schulze.
RIP Vangelis (17 May 2022)
@@_steffinwolf_
Thanks, I completely missed that info. Klaus Schulze died last month and now Vangelis , so sad , but it's life...
Or maybe not, Frederic. In Spanish we have a saying taken from "Don Quijote": "Honey is not for the mouth of the ass."
Interestingly, the director of the exorcist later heard Tangerine Dream, and said he would have used them instead if he’d known at the time! Used them afterwards eg Sorcerer
As has been suggested, the Live BBC performance is glorious, mesmerizing, and a must see. Congrats on the 150k.
You are correct, I watched it live. Simply brilliant.
Simply put, Mike Oldfield is a genius!
Now you got me and my husband reminiscing about how exactly to turn an LP over without touching the tracks... happy days y'all!
I have an original 73 pressing and wonder if anyone has noticed the sleeve note in the bottom left corner on the reverse of the sleeve. It reads, 'This stereo record cannot be played on any old tin box no matter what they are fitted with. If you are in possession of such equipment please hand it in to the nearest police station'.
And don't forget Amarok's cloth-eared nincompoops! 🤣🤣🤣
This reminds me of the very last bit of (sorry, I forget what band) where the end sez "Turn me over, turn me over" by (I think) Joe Walsh.
I have that vinyl also!
It's Mr Blue Sky by ELO @@karenturner9423 .
It's the last track on side one of the album so there's a vocodered voice at the end which says 'Please turn me o ver' 🙂
Vivian Stanshall's clipped accents are doing the master of ceremonies job introducing the instruments. He was from the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.
I was in my local record store and they were playing this. All of the sudden I thought the guy next to me was talking "Grand Piano...etc" it took a while for me to figure out it was the music. Bought the album that day.
Also remember well Stanshall’s Rawlinson End when I was a Uni student in the early 80’s and the butler whose name that dare not be mentioned in polite society
@@abrarahmed1888 aka "The wrinkled retainer" 😁 Anyone who hasn't heard the Bonzos, a sampler.... ruclips.net/video/2SHS0dBBUiM/видео.html
And you have a new subscriber Doug!
The late Mr Stanshall was a thoroughly decent and hilarious chap. He used to live near me in Muswell Hill. Often saw him staggering home from the pub.
@@abrarahmed1888 I saw the Movie! it was Faaaarrrrr-Ouuuuut!
This album is legendary.....he started recording in 1970......completed in 1973.....this was the very first album released in the Virgin Records label, in 1973. I had it on cassette.....and this is still a timeless classic!
So excited for the reaction & analysis of this master piece.
We your audience love to watch your ear connect to each instrument, each note, simultaneously. Been listening to this music since the 60's and beyond. And to see you react to it is awesome. Thank you for your channel and reactions. 🎼
Loved the insight about your experience with encountering composers during their sponge-like creative development at 19, not to mention insight into your own experience at that age 💥 so great to see this with sheet music too 🤘
There is reaction channels and then there is the Daily Doug. Curious if you saw the Haken extended play @John Franek ?
Doug, I’ve been listening to this for nigh on 50 years, my older brother bought the album. I can’t remember not knowing every sound that is coming next. It’s beautiful watching you experience it for the first time. Thank you for your enthusiasm and expertise
So glad you ended up landing on this one and some of Mike's work. I've been listening to TB and the rest of his music for over 40 years and it's still captivating.
Here's another vote for Ommadawn as another reaction. It's my fave and a firm fave of many Oldfield fans. Incantations is also superb.
Very glad you gave Mike a go. Here's hoping you find scores to some of his other longer pieces. ;) Thanks a lot, this was a cool video and reaction.
Congrats Doug!
Awesome reaction, I remember when this album was released.
Bought it right away, Was always a classic to chill put on the headphones & drift away!
Super glad you did this as well that you enjoyed this.
Thanks, Kevin from Canada
Hi Doug, Im not a musician but been loving TB since its first release in the UK in 73. You can get too familiar with things you love. What you have done is make it new and exciting again. So thankful Doug, well done mate.
Tubular Bells, Vivian Stanshall.
Tubular Bells 2003, John Cleese.
Doug I sure hope you're listening to this on big old speakers with double 15" woofs, about three feet away on each side of you! it's the only way to experience the 40-50 Hz lows. love it! Thanx
You want to make him poop his pants lol
Hopefully. Good woofs just push you against the wall when hearing this.
Tim Feeley... Way back in the early 70's I had a good Kenwood component system and I had the usual two speaker set up. Each speaker had a 16" woofer, a 6"mid-range ( yep...6"..and what great vocals & other mid-range sounds it had..!! ), and a 1 1/2 " ( I think ) tweeter. Yes, those woofers could really 'thump' it out..!!
@@marbleman52 yep. I had the same thing. 10 inch deep throw woofers, 5 inch midrange, two crossovers I built myself, and a Radio Shack Supertweeter mounted on top. I used the boxes from my big brother's old JVC all-in-one from before he went separate components. The crossovers each had a high pass and a low pass filter designed for the f range of the woofer and midrange. I ended up making two pairs and plugging one set into a separate Amp hooked into the cassette line outs. Had it tuned so the rear set emphasized the lower range and the front pair a little higher. Sounded almost as good as Dolby surround which was new back then.
Sorry to be late to the party. Congratulations!!! Thanks for sharing. Thanks for your work.
Completely enjoyed the first 5 minutes with the bourbon... I have only listen to this album a few times. I know nothing of musical composition or reading music... Your reaction was so utterly enjoyable for me. Really this was great. I've watch a few dozen of your videos and this has convinced me to never miss a new release again, as well as motivated me to sort by date and go through what I've missed.
Wish I was retired and had more time. Thanks again. All the best.
Welcome. Check the Daily Doug Directory for a list of songs that can be searched by bands. The link is in this video's description.
As someone that has attempted to actually play this I cannot overstate how ridiculously tricky, and exhausting, that bass guitar at the end is.
Just Relentless isn't it .
Mike himself told in an interview that it is all one long take! 😱
He played the riff a few minutes and expressed the strain it took…
Having learned the part myself I've enjoyed seeing a couple of bands play it live and watching the enormous feat of concentration and finger stretching the bassists have to endure for this part. I once saw a guy do it on a fretless - can't imagine doing that.
@@ThomasWilliamsMusik It's weirdly easier with a pick as opposed to fingers
About seven minutes in one take, technology at that time didn’t allow to use a loop. The result is magic, the repetitive pattern souds new an human every turn
Worthwhile remembering that Mike Oldfield was 17 /18 years of age and doing this!
Oh and he played practically all of it and overdubbed it.
Took a week!
He did, however, work on the compositions for two years or so, which is why it was possible for him to knock it all out so quickly :) Extremely impressive feat nonetheless, as someone creating electronic/experimental music, I cannot imagine even doing it this quickly with all of the modern technology, let alone analog TAPE back in '73.
I concur with the folks who recommend Ommadawn. Awesome stuff. I love the Introduction to the Instruments section of Tubular Bells. I'm glad you enjoyed this.
The person 'speaking' and introducing the various instruments is called Viv Stanshall. He collaborated with the Bonzo Dogs, a group that would start recording in the same recording studio that Mike Oldfield did the next day. They were already there (musicians lived there while recording; it's called the Manor and was owned by Richard Branson, Virgin Records). Mike asked him if he could do it. He agreed.
Hey Doug, I along with gazillions of others probably have every note of this piece etched into our 1970's auditory receptors, and being a little familiar with musical notation I thoroughly enjoyed being able to follow the little black marks on the stave, oh joy! Of course, your analysis made it all the more enjoyable....
Fantastic job from the beautifully lispy, Mr. Muthic for the score. ....
Mr. Vivian Stanshall (R.I.P) is a wonderful English eccentric, artist, multi-instrumentalist, lover of words, and founder member of the ever-delightful Bonzo Dog Doo-Da Band, and the gorgeously surreal, Sir Henry at Rawlinson End. Was, Master of Ceremonies. He features in the Sailors Hornpipe at the end of the box set version of T B. Marvellous!
Love your channel. Yuletide greetings from Liverpool.
asnd to think that this was ALL played by one 18 yr old guy , laying down track upon track , ON TAPE, no computers at all, bloody amazing!!!!
Tubular Bells has been one of my favorite pieces of music since it was first released. Your added commentary and music knowledge just helped me learn more about how this “little” tune came to be. While my high school vocal music classes and choir performances taught me some good basic music understanding your explanations made me appreciate music even more. At 69 I’m a long way from high school choir but now I have a place to better understand the music I’m hearing and how it comes together. Thank you.
Mike Oldfield. My favourite artist. The reason I became a guitarist and one of the top inspirations for my taking up composition in general. Would have also enjoyed your reaction to Side B.
Oldfield was actually 16 when he wrote a got on a demo. There is a great interview when he said the repetitive bass part at the end of the piece nearly finished him. It's over 8 mins and he said his arm started cramping at 6 mins, but he had to keep on going.
Yes and he was sort of a professional musician at 14. Hard to imagine if you have kids, having your kid play at night in bars at 14
@@oliviermalhomme9923 He was in Kevin Ayers band when he was 15
That Mike Oldfield was all of 19 when he recorded this - is itself amazing. He likely started writing it when younger. The piano riff was a family homage. That the entire recording was done in about a weeks time - so cleanly - adds to how impressive he is.
Right, he composed it over 2 years prior to the recording for which he has given the first week in November 1972 from Richard Branson the Manor recording studio back in the day. One week! And he was around 17 when he composed this Masterpiece in his kids room.
There is a story (possibly apocryphal) that say that when he was 17 he approached a young Richard Branson (who was at that time just selling remaindered records by mail-order) with the ideas for this music, and was told ‘go away kid, come back when you are a bit older’.
He came back at around the time that Branson was establishing Virgin Records. The rest is history.
What is also lesser known is that this album, was, and still to this day is, Virgins biggest ever selling record (although it was briefly eclipsed by Mariah Carey), and that Mike Oldfields albums are all hugely popular often reaching multi-platinum sales worldwide in incredibly short times (sometimes even just on pre-release pre-sales) with little or no publicity.
@@MarvalentAudio-01 When he was 17 he was playing in Kevin Ayers' band The Whole World. Whilst touring with the band he wrote several tunes and riffs that would end up in TB. There is a CD of Kevin Ayers' appearances for the BBC called Too Old to Die Young: the track Why Are We Sleeping? contains an extended solo by Mike that has several themes that are in TB Part 2. Mike had made several demo's of parts of TB on a tape recorder borrowed from Kevin Ayers, and those were heard by Branson.
Also, he only had a week to record Part One. Astonishing.
His brother and sister are no musical slouches either.
The Master of Ceremonies is the late Viv Stanshall, from The Bonzo Dog Band, which is a tribute to a Bonzo track from their first album, called "The Intro and the Outro".
A double-speed guitar in this context: a lot of the guitar lines were recorded with the tape at half-speed and Mike playing fast up the ‘dusty end’ (AKA high up the fretboard. When the tape is returned to normal speed the resulting guitar line is an octave higher than played and thus outside of the normal range of the instrument. I’ve spent the last 3 years playing this piece on the Tubular Bells 50th anniversary re-imagined by Robin A Smith. For a guitarist, it’s a roast: the octave up is easily achieved with a transpose pedal (followed by an EQ to remove tha aliasing artefacts generated by the pedal but as far as getting the speed, you’re on your own. I would also commend side 2 of the record: the melodies are sublime and it feels to me that he relaxed once side 1 was out of the way. Side 2 is my preferred side by far.
I saw The Exorcist when it came out during Christmas break of my senior year with classmates. After we got over being scared shitless, the first thing I did was find out wtf that music was and buy the album. Being a Floyd & ELP fan it definitely hit a sweet spot and I played it over & over. My parents were pretty annoyed 😆 I remember seeing a live performance on TV that just killed. It was definitely one of those moment in time things! Big memories 🤘
Yep. I had the soundtrack to The Exorcist and the first Halloween movie on LP. Those were top quality. Played them every Halloween night all evening for the neighbors. Had an automatic turntable and it would play one side over and over until I changed the record. 😁
Cheers from the bourbon trail in Kentucky! BT is very good, isn't it? I'm toasting with the Woodford double-oaked today. Happy New Year!
Oh man, super excited for this one!! Been requesting this for a while now..
HeyMan, You always have a really good put together video. Now that I'm retired, I watch your analysis of (always one of my favorite) songs/albums from when I was most influenced by those great musicians you share with your viewers. Thank you, Doug it's fun and even exciting to listen to your opinions on the real great music of our time.
Oh wow I cant wait to hear this. The first four albums, all extended suites of music, are worthy of analysis :) #4 Incantations has a 4 side 'symphonic' structure, for example.
Thank you for reminding me of one of the most underrated musitians. The guy wrote this at 19 yrs! And played almost all the instruments. And there are plenty of them. And I love and respect him.
You have made my day Doug ! , Mike Oldfield is my favourite musician ! You must do Ommadawn as well !
and Hergest Ridge
Back in the day when this was released in 1973, it was a musical revelation and was one of the go-to LPs regularly being played everywhere that year, along with Dark Side Of The Moon. The fact that he played all the instruments and managed to layer the parts so well, in order to bring colour and texture to the repeating motifs, led to endless hours of repeated immersion in what is a unique musical odyssey. It's so fabulous following the musical score with your detailed explanation as it unfolds. Truly a joy to revisit this with your input, like all of the other episodes from my musical awakening as a youth, thank you man.
I still remember watching this being played live on a BBC arts show (2nd House) in January 1974 and being absolutely mesmerised. And then I watched Tubular Bells 2 live from Edinburgh Castle in September 1992.
I think that Jan 1974 show is the BBC video which is available here on RUclips. Impressive performance from everyone involved!
During a programme celebrating the 40th anniversary of Tubular Bells, Mike recalled the agony of playing the bass guitar almost non-stop for the performance.
I played on the Edinburg Castle show- it was f&£*@#g cold!
@@JayStapley Big fan of your guitar work on that show. I remember seeing the vocalists breath, and thinking how hard that must be on the ol' digits for the guitarists.
Cheers m8. Mike Oldfield is such an exellent composer. One of the most atmospheric instrumental melodies i've heard in my 50 years of existence comes from him. Exellent choise for a celebration.
DOUG: Double-speed guitar. A guitar that's recorded with the tape playing back at half-speed. Then, when you return to normal playback speed, the guitar comes back sped up to twice the speed, and in doing so, takes on a different tone from just recording it at normal speed an octave higher.
That saved me some typing!
Indeed. I have played this many times including last August’s shows at London’s Festival Hall. I also played the Tubular Bells II live shows in 1993/4. The problem with playing these double speed guitar parts live is not the pitch (that can be mimicked with a pitch-shifter pedal,) but the speed:-)
It's actually a guitar that can run twice as fast as the other ones. They're pretty rare but they do pop up on Reverb every once in a while.
@@VodkaSelekta Rare, but not unheard of. I have a double speed lie detector, and it just triggered :)
Why doing it easy when you can do it the hard way? 😄
Sir, I have no idea what you're talking about. I can recognise a bass and treble clef, but that's the extent of my knowledge. HOWEVER, I have to say I found this video fascinating. Your technical analysis of a piece of music I've heard hundreds of times (my father would play it over and over) and grown rather bored of, has opened my ears to it again! Thank you! Oh, and you were correct: I've read that Mike used a hammer (one for knocking nails) on the tubular bells because he couldn't get the sound he wanted by hitting them with whatever you're meant to hit them with.
Thanks Doug for Tubular Bells. You gotta do Ommadawn as well as side 2 of Tubular Bells.
I think a double speed guitar is when you record something in half speed then play it at double speed. Half speed and double speed keeps the the same pitch but at different octaves.
Sir Richard Branson owns his empire to Mike and Tubular Bells.
I’ve grown to enjoy Side 2 more than Side 1 over the years. There’s a section in it that I still feel to be some of the most beautiful music ever recorded.
Yep you're right. 👍 That's exactly what double speed guitar means. Recorded down the octave at half speed like the 12-string acoustic solo in Hard Day's Night.
The announcer on the original recording was Vivian Stanshall. In 2003 Oldfield re-recorded the entire album, and this time the announcer was John Cleese. The reason for the re-recording was to correct some flaws (some parts out of tune etc.) in the original recording. Oldfield recorded TB at Richard Branson's studio at the Manor in December 1972 but only had about a week to do it, hence there were some mistakes/imperfections that were left in. Part one was based on demo Oldfield recorded on a re-wired home tape recorder in 1971, while Part Two was a new composition.
First I was a little disappointed that you only played part 1, because part 2 is my favourite. But when I realised how much work you did, I was stunned. You went far deeper into the time signature changes and chords than most can even attempt. Keep going back to rehear what you missed. I can't read music, but I appreciate someone way more knowledgeable to explain why the music I love is so good.....(Listen to more old Genesis).
I 'found' you yesterday, Doug. Subbed. I'm adding this here as a total non-musician - I've never played any instrument, can't read music etc. However, I can appreciate great music! TB was one of my first albums in summer 1973, and I played it over and over... I can repeat every note of this in my head
Doug, though you're 'talking a foreign language' (i.e. 'music') to me, I have still been engrossed with listening to you dissect the various LPs ('Long Players,' kids! - look it up!) of the bands of my youth. I was into - and still enjoy now - ELP, (early and all) Genesis, Steeleye Span etc.
What you're showing me, Doug, is the massive complexity and depth of much of the music that I love... so you have helped me to deepen my ... AWE... (I think is the only word) for these musicians as I still listen to all of your explanations about each piece. Thank you so much.
(P.S. I'd never want to see 'The Exorcist' either!)
When you want to reach 300.000 subscribers give more reviews on Mike Oldfield . He has got so many hidden admirers around ,for me he is one of the greatest musicians of the past 50 years. .
That was an absolute joy to watch - thank you so much! I have loved this music since the 1970s - so to see you experience it in its entirety (do side 2!) for the first time was wonderful - to see it as a score was fascinating although i am not a musician myself - I truly believe this music has significance and is important and will live a long long time. Interesting that your impression of it began with the Exorcist - it is so much more than that - it launched the Virgin Empire for Richard Branson - it was also a means of expression for Mike as a young man but it remains a significant, complex wonder of a piece to this day - and I adore it - it centres me -
I would love to see you discover Hergest Ridge And Ommadawn - save Amarok for when you have a new bottle of Bourbon - that will help! it is also one of my all time favourites
Truly I have just spent time well watching this - re-igniting a passion for this music - thank you Doug - i will check out your other videos - with much respect and gratitude - t
Tubular Bells II needs to get more love. It is fantastic.
I actually prefer it to TB1! Both are great though!
Having seen the world premiere of TB II live at Edinburgh Castle, in 1998, I agree. A wonderful piece of music.
I actually like Tubular Bells III more - maybe because it’s so different.
Nice to know@@kenhendricks2124 , I played the bass guitar on that album.
Great job Steven!!!
Awesome that you're tackling this one. What a classic, love this piece and remember the first time I listened to it in its entirety...mind blowing. There was a great documentary about Mike that talked about the production of this and how the live special where they performed it came to happen. He almost didn't go on due to stage fright/nerves, but was able to pull through. Fantastic.
TB was a game changer for me. Bought it on the cover alone! Walked past a record shop on my way back from school, saved up and got it. Seen Oldfield play many times, the best was a free gig in a park in London with David Bedford & choir, MOs guitar that day was blistering! I briefly spoke to him. Ommadawn is my favourite album. I also Love "First Excursion" and the title track from "Instructions for Angels" with Bedford on organ, a mind melt piece.......................
dunno why, but for me, "Ommadawn" just flips all my switches. I become a numb wreck listening to that album. And afterwards, I rise again, revived. Music, man. It's soul food.
Ommadawn is absolutely the best thing Oldfield has done. Hergest Ridge a close second. TB and Incantations get a special mention too. All of them amongst the best of the best in recorded music history. Everything after that was wank.
@@gilessteve Taurus II
YES! Please do Hergest Ridge next! I never got it when I was younger, but one day it just clicked, and it is a majestic piece of music.
That was the first album I heard of mike oldfield and has a special place in my heart, Doug's comparison to Vaughan Williams would apply to this, it is one of the most British of all rock albums and draws its inspiration from the English (or Welsh|) landscape.
Personally, I think it is better than TB.
. . . and after a long, long time, due to resistance by Mike Oldfield, himself, the original (and best, of course) mix of Hergest Ridge was finally released on CD with the remasters.
Congrats for the first 150K. For a really weird musical trip consider doing AMAROK. It is a 60 minutes journey, but well worth taking. And. ... maybe you should cloud your senses before embarking ;)
Tubular Bells=Great. Ommadawn=Amazing. Amarok=Masterpiece. Thanks Doug for this, try Amarok next!
You forgot "Hergest Ridge" and "Incantations".
@@HenrikWittenberg I didn't forget them, Hergest Ridge=Special. Incantations=Beautifully Excellent. There aren't enough adjectives to describe his work. QE2=10 out of 10 and so on, you get the point.
@@NizzinnyIf you mention QE2, don't forget Platinum! 😉
I feel like some weird heretic who likes _Tubular Bells III_ and _Return to Ommadawn_ more than the originals.
@@HollowGolem I remember when The Millennium Bell was released I couldn't stop listening to it and still to this day it's one of my favourites, as is Tubular Bells II & III
Cheers Daily Doug.
I’m glad you did this piece. Please do more Mike Oldfield.
I've never heard anything like this. What a masterpiece. Thanks for getting this into my youtube algorithm.
Loved that ! Have you heard Swiss harpist Andreas Vollenweider? I would love to hear your take on his stuff.Especially his albums 'Behind the garden....' or 'White winds' Very much like 'Tubular Bells' they are musical journeys,incorporating many different stylings,and I doubt the harp has ever sounded so interesting !
Good suggestions!
And 'down to the Moon'
Thank you for your time and analysis of this genius-level piece. Back when Google Play Music was a thing, I bought _Tubular Bells_ and loved listening to it while walking. The first time I heard the verbal introduction of the various instruments, for some reason I found it quite humorous, in the good way.
Mike was 19 when he recorded this but he was 17 when he wrote it.
Mike Oldfield is a pioneer and the pride of rock guitar players, for he simply shattered the presumptions and perceptions that such intricate, symphonic pieces are (can be?) exclusively composed by piano/keyboard players. "Guitar players of the world; yes, we can do it as well as any of those hoity-toity keyboard people." this piece tells me. :))
For those that haven't heard it I recommend Oldfield's album Hergest Ridge! 😎👍
!!!
Tubular Bells, Hergest Ridge, Ommadawn, and Amarok are all absolute classics.
Doug is my friend. We listen to music together and my life is better in knowing him.
I'll second what all the others say about Ommadawn. Add in Incantations too. And TB2 - I remember watching on TV the live performance at Edinburgh Castle, which coincided with its release. The reaction of the 60k Scots crowd to "Tattoo", when the pipe band was lit up, said it all! As did the knowing smiles on various faces just before! All that said, TB1 remains THE iconic album that started it all. As well as setting Richard Branson on the road to billionairedom. So Doug HAS to do it! Hopefully others can follow.
...I watched the live performance of TB2...recorded it on cassette...and eventually converted it to MP3
...its wonderful
Yes, Incantations is for me the masterwork, although I could really do without Maddy Prior's adenoidal Hiawatha bit in part 2
There is a documentary on Oldfield and what was happening in his life while writing and recording Tubular Bells. He wrote most of this in his bedroom when his mom was in a sanitarium. There was a documentary on this that is fascinating. The tubular bells were just by a chance encounter. I think he played just about all the instruments. A major achievement by this young man.
Timeless masterpiece. I was ten when I first heard this. I had shivers when the Bell came in, and still have at 51.
First time I've seen you react with the notation, great to see you in your element, Doug.
The song that made Richard Branson rich. Absolutely classic.
I think you meant to type ‘richer’. He was born into wealth and his family paid his £70,000 fine for failing to pay export duty (for his early record store business) in the early 70’s. An incredible amount of money when you consider an average house cost less than £4,000.
Not a song. It is an album.
@@mistressanya36ff It is both.
@@mistressanya36ff He only reviewed Part 1 and not the whole Album.
Thank you so much. I haven’t heard this since I bought the album back in my childhood.
I'm a female from the 70s along with my regular rock I love to see you listen to that talent that the progressive rock bands had they were extremely talented
Not much to say, but I'm drinking a single malt at the moment and listening to great music - I love you Doug. That's it. Thank you for sharing your wisdom!
So glad you finally chose Mr Oldfield. We all have those albums that helped us through our crazy up and down teenage years - Mike Oldfields first 3 albums got me through those years, constantly on my player. Beautiful music. Ommadawn next please ☺
100% agree
Ommadawn, IMHO, is one the most significant compositions of the 20th century. Absolutely brilliant!!!
I was a bit young to have picked this up when it came out but I picked up two vinyl copies this past summer at garage sales on back to back weekends. As usual, Doug’s commentary is fascinating.
The Tubular Bells part they actually used a metal claw hammer to get the desired sound and really make them ring!
He started composing it when he was 16 years old, finally recording at 18. Mindblowing.
Thanks Doug for all these reviews mainly prog rock music as Génesis, Yes, Pink Floyd and now Mike Oldfield. I love all your reviews. On the other side I would be more than grateful if you would try another masters as Tangerine Dream and the album Tangram. It is other kind of music, electronic music, but I think very interesting to be commented by a classic composer. Thank you
Zeit would probably be closer to Doug's heart.
Tangram Set 1 (vinyl album side 1) is a masterpiece on electronic music. Just incomparable!
Tanks for that Doug! I listened a lot to Mike Oldfields "Taurus 2" when I was young. Good piece to analyse!
I think I remember an interview with Oldfield where he said that the first section is actually a Bach piece played backwards.
I really enjoyed your analytical approach, i have heard that piece the first time about 25 years ago. I can't read the sheet notes very well but with your help i catched some concepts. Thanks for your very cool channel and your effort you put into your videos.
An interesting insight into the times and state of the technology of the early 70’s, is that true multi track recording was still in its early stages. And of course they were recording on tape. With Mike playing nearly all the instruments and bouncing each track down onto the master tape, the constant overdubbing wore the original master tape down so much that it eventually snapped. Apparently it was so thin parts of it were becoming almost opaque. Can you imagine a 19 year old Mike recording with todays digital technology where you can have an almost infinite number of tracks playing at the same time. However, it’s the fact that Tubular Bells was recorded at that particular time with that particular technology, by such a brilliant multi instrumentalist, that makes it such a seminal recording in the history of rock.
opaque / transparent?
No, that was Ommadawn. TB tape was fine. It was all recorded very quickly in one week.
I'm kind of glad it wasn't recorded now - I love the warmth and muddiness which the bouncing brings to the sound!
@@Chriskimbermusic The first part was done in a week. The second part he had more time to work on at the Manor.
This is a refreshing channel and I enjoy watching .It's informative and on a good wavelenghth. There is always substance to your analysis and it's great that I discovered these music analyses...entertaining and informative thanks .
I think Mikes sister Sally was one of the 'choir'. Check her out on 'Shadow of the Hierophant' by Steve Hackett (Voyage of the Acolyte album). She has quite some voice.
oh fr? that's dope, shadow of the hierophant is hella cool
How about Sallyangie? Features both Sally and Mike, too.
Ah you stole my thunder :) Hackett's first solo album, Voyage of the Acolyte (released 1975, three years before Hackett left Genesis). Shadow of the Hierophant is the largest piece on the album, cowritten with Mike Rutherford. It's a miniature opera, really. The vocalist back then was Sally Oldfield, sister of Mike Oldfield.
Hackett and his legacy band have been doing it for the last decade or more, and I've heard it live twice. The vocalist now is Amanda Lehman, sister of Jo Lehman, Hackett's current (third) wife.
Previous to TB Mike was paired with his sister Sally in the duo Sallyangie, which I find unlistenable, Sally Oldfield's bird warbly tremolo style of singing drives spikes through my head!!
My mind was blown when my dad introduced this piece to me. Part One is a straight masterpiece!