'Tubular Bells' is the seminal progressive rock and arguably New Age debut record by Mike Oldfield, released in 1973 and famed for being the first release on the Virgin Records music label which ensured the company a solid commercial beginning. Among the personnel list are no fewer than 19 instruments credited to Oldfield himself, alongside a further 8 instrumentalists.
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| Mike Oldfield: Tubular Bells |
The album contains just 2 tracks, with the most recognisable theme from the album seen in the opening of track 1 which was used famously in 'The Exorcist.' The track shows great versatility from Oldfield as a performer and as an artist with the highly technical nature of the material. Typical of progressive rock music, the album contains a number of key and time changes which give a disjointed feel which is idiomatic of this genre.
The second track of the album is constructed in a similar manner to the first track, weaving thematic material and manipulating it with some skill. The thick instrumentation seen throughout has also been subject to careful design and gives the album its own unique character not paralleled with some other works of the period.
The album concludes with an excerpt of 'The Sailor's Hornpipe' which many will find familiar and serves as a fitting finale for this somewhat 'quirky' album. Unsurprisingly given the commercial success of the album, Mike Oldfield has had over 30 charting albums to appear on UK charts.
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