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Ring Them Bells: Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" Returns in Various Formats

April 4, 2023 By The Second Disc 6 Comments

Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells 50th

BUY NOW FROM UDISCOVERMUSIC.COM

Mike Oldfield was just 19 years old when he recorded Tubular Bells, the 1973 album consisting of just two long, primarily instrumental tracks for which he played almost all of the instruments himself.  The debut album on Richard Branson's fledgling Virgin Records label, Tubular found its audience gradually.  When its opening theme was used in director William Friedkin's horror film The Exorcist, sales skyrocketed.  Beginning in March 1974, the LP remained in the top ten of the U.K. Albums Chart for a year, including a one-week stay at No. 1.  It reached the top in Canada and Australia, too, and peaked at No. 3 in the United States.  It has since sold an estimated 15 million copies worldwide, and has received numerous reissues, remasters, remixes, and sequels.  Now, on May 26, the Grammy-winning Tubular Bells will return as a 2-LP set to mark its 50th anniversary, while a Blu-ray Audio release will collect a number of mixes of the landmark release.

Oldfield has overseen the new reissue which has been half-speed-mastered at Abbey Road by Miles Showell on the first LP. The second opens with a 2017 demo for a proposed Tubular Bells 4 and continues with a variety of related tracks from over the years including Oldfield's music for the London 2012 Olympic Games (reissued for the first time since a limited-edition single), the "Tubular Beats" remix collaboration with YORK, and "Mike Oldfield's Single (Theme from Tubular Bells)" which was created in response to a bootleg U.S. single.  As Oldfield has retired from composing, the eight-minute demo may well be the last music from the Tubular artist.

Mike Oldfield comments in the press release, "Listening again to the musical outpourings of an angst-ridden teenager, it is hard to believe that was actually me, 50 years ago. The music doesn't sound that angst-ridden, but only I know the years of work and stress that produced Tubular Bells. This was all live, first take performances with no second chances or studio trickery as we have become so used to today. Little did I think when I was making Tubular Bells that anyone would ever hear it, let alone be celebrating it five decades later! Thank you to everyone who has listened over the years."

In addition to the 2LP vinyl, Tubular Bells will be reissued as an online-exclusive Blu-ray Audio.  Orders are only open for a limited window and the release will be manufactured to order, based on demand.  It has numerous versions of the album including a 2023 Dolby Atmos mix by David Kosten; the 2009 surround (5.1) mix by Oldfield; the 1975 quadraphonic (4.0) mix; the original 1973 stereo mix (96/24); a new 2023 stereo mix (48/24) by Kosten; Atmos and Stereo mixes by Kosten of the Tubular Bells Intro - Edit; and the Tubular Bells 4 demo in stereo (48/24).

Lastly, a CD version will be released which mirrors the 2LP track listing but omits "Tubular X" and "Mike Oldfield's Single (Theme from Tubular Bells)."  All formats are due on May 26 from Universal Music.  We'll add further CD and LP links once they go live.

Mike Oldfield, Tubular Bells (Virgin V2001, 1973 - reissued Virgin V2001-50LP, 2023)

2LP: uDiscoverMusic.com
CD: Online Shop / Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Blu-ray Audio: Online Shop

LP 1

Side One

  1. Tubular Bells - Part One (2023 Half-Speed Master by Miles Showell)

Side Two

  1. Tubular Bells - Part Two (2023 Half-Speed Master by Miles Showell)

LP 2

Side One

  1. Tubular Bells 4 Intro (previously unreleased demo 2017)
  2. Tubular Bells/In Dulci Jubilo (Music for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games)

Side Two

  1. Tubular X
  2. Tubular Bells (Mike Oldfield & YORK Remix)
  3. Mike Oldfield's Single (Theme From Tubular Bells)

Categories: News Formats: Blu-Ray Audio, CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock Tags: Mike Oldfield

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The Second Disc is devoted to the weird, wild and wonderful world of music catalogue projects. Every week, Mike Duquette, Joe Marchese, and Randy Fairman bring you news, reviews, commentary and features on remasters, reissues, compilations and box sets.

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Comments

  1. Melvyn Preston says

    April 4, 2023 at 3:38 pm

    Fantastic album, listened to thousands of times and still pick up something different every time. A very talented musician. Mike has not received the accolade he deserves for his music. He has produced some Fantastic music.

    Reply
  2. John Foster says

    April 4, 2023 at 11:58 pm

    I have been a fan of that album since before I was even old enough to watch the movie, "The Exorcist". (I am now 63.) I used to own the LP as a Half-Speed Mastered CBS copy in the 1980's. Now have it on a cheap CD, looking to order the Blu-Ray collection, but I have a question:
    Can a Blu-Ray Audio disc play on a typical Blu-Ray (video) player? Or would I need to buy a new player, like if I wanted to play a SACD disc properly?

    Reply
    • David B says

      April 5, 2023 at 3:01 am

      yes it can .. you won't need a new bluray player .. enjoy .. and if you have a Sony blutay player they'll play sacds correctly .

      Reply
      • John Foster says

        April 5, 2023 at 5:00 pm

        Thanks, David!
        About the SACD: I DO have a Sony Blu-Ray player (& TV). I have a Pink Floyd "Dark Side of the Moon" SACD, somewhere in my messy archives. I will have to go find it! Thanks again! -- John

        Reply
  3. ed says

    April 5, 2023 at 12:34 pm

    "Ring Them Bells" reminds me of Bing Crosby's conclusion to "The Bells of St. Mary's" in the movie of the same name: "Won't you ring them bells?" Was that the intention? It's one of those sequels that was superior to its predecessor.

    Reply
    • Avatar photoJoe Marchese says

      April 5, 2023 at 12:44 pm

      It's a great phrase...also the title of equally fine songs by Bob Dylan and the team of John Kander and Fred Ebb. It seemed an appropriate headline. 😉

      Reply

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