One record at a time: 318. Mike Oldfield - The Complete

As with most of Mike Oldfield's back catalogue, I first bought this album on CD in the early nineties. This double LP came into my possession about nine years ago and it is in very good condition. Despite its condition, the sound reproduction from these records isn't very good as the bass is muddy and seems to almost disappear at times - it's quite an odd experience listening to it.

Unlike the "Impressions" compilation I wrote about previously, this one was released by parent label Virgin Records in 1985 and offers a more comprehensive (but not complete) view of Mike's career up to that point. The first record centres material included on single releases with instrumentals on side a and songs on the other. Most of these tracks are the versions heard on their parent album but "Shadow On The Wall" is presented as the 12" version for some unknown reason.

One of things this record does is collect together a series of "non-album" singles such as "Mistake", "In Dulci Jubilo", "Portsmouth" and "Guilty". Of all the material on this first disc I am most taken with the seemingly discarded b-side "Jungle Gardenia" which is an amazing piece that oozes atmosphere.

On the second LP we have excerpts from longer form pieces such as "Ommadawn", "Hergest Ridge" and inevitably, "Tubular Bells". These edits and early fades tend to truncate each piece down to a four minute "highlight" that offers a less than satisfying experience. 

The most remarkable part of this compilation is the fourth side which features previously unheard live recordings. I find it interesting that the sleeve notes point out that these versions are "real live-recordings without further synchronisation or other repair- work" (sic). Why would Virgin find it necessary to point to the authenticity of these recordings on the sleeve? Assertions such as this make me more convinced that some skulduggery occurred when "Exposed" was mixed (as I hinted at in my post for that album).

So whilst this compilation pulls together some disparate threads, today there are other albums that offer a better précis of Oldfield's work. This value of this album is purely in its exclusive live recordings. 3/5

One record at a time: 317. Mike Oldfield - The Killing Fields (Original Film Soundtrack)

I bought this record quite cheaply from eBay in 2015 and it is in good condition. If you are a fan of Mike Oldfield or the movie "The Killing Fields" then this record will be of interest. If you don't fall into either of these camps then you are never likely to purchase this album.

This LP is a mix of orchestral pieces and cues written using the Fairlight CMI; there's surprisingly little guitar on here really.

One track that does feature Mike's guitar more prominently is "Étude" which is also one of the better known pieces from the record. Whilst not successful when released as a single, this song was used on a commercial in the early nineties and became a little more prominent as a result. It also seems to feature on most "Best of" compilations that have been released.

"Evacuation" was realised on the Fairlight and probably sounds better when heard alongside the visuals. There are some fine melodic elements, but the hard edged samples can be jarring at times. The delicate melody of "Pran's Theme" is very impressive and there are some fine arrangements by David Bedford on pieces such as "Requiem for a City".

The cues on this record are highly accomplished and I suspect the only reason Mike didn't score for more films was that he was simply too busy. However, soundtrack albums tend to be less entertaining when isolated from the visuals and this one is no exception. 2/5

One record at a time: 316. Mike Oldfield - Discovery

Having fallen in love with the album "Crises", I was keen on hearing the follow up "Discovery" from 1984. Yet when I did finally buy this album I was left rather disappointed. My copy of the LP is a fairly ordinary European pressing from the time of release that I bought from eBay in 2014.

I seem to remember reading in Mike's autobiography that he came under pressure from the record company to write more pop songs after the success of "Moonlight Shadow" so we end up with an album that consists of seven pop songs and one extended instrumental. 

Of these songs, "To France" is probably the highlight with its Fairlight bass, tremolo mandolin and Maggie Reilly's familiar focal delivery. I like "Crystal Gazing" as it has some amazing drumming from co-producer Simon Phillips and a great vocal from Reilly once again.

Most of the other songs are sung by Barry Palmer and - how can I put this politely? - his delivery is not to my taste. "Poison Arrows", "Saved by a Bell" and the title track were never going to set the charts on fire but when you add Palmer's strained vocal they end up sounding very messy indeed. The single "Tricks of the Light" can be entertaining if I am in the right mood, but it still wears Palmer's vocal like a hair shirt.

"The Lake" turns into Status Quo mixed with The Shadows and even seems to imitate the 'magic break' from "In The Air Tonight" at one stage. There are some nice passages within this piece but it isn't anywhere close to Oldfield's best. 2/5

One record at a time: 315. Mike Oldfield - Crises

I originally bought the CD of "Crises" in 1992. As well as the CD, I also own a copy of the original UK LP and a repressing from 2013. The newer version sounds so bad I can't bring myself to mention it any further.

When it was released in 1983 this album sold by the hatful because it features the massive hit single "Moonlight Shadow". However I regard the twenty minute title track that opens this album as the highlight. As we drop the needle we hear brooding Solina strings, Fairlight bells and an Oberheim OB-Xa tinkling away. The Solina soon takes centre stage and the whole piece seems to go off like a firework. 

My favourite part of this track is the "Watcher in the Tower" vocal section and the superb drumming that features on the final three or four minutes. There's so much to hear on this track I consider it the equal of any of Oldfield's long form pieces. Sadly I can only fantasise about a version of the album that has a "Part Two" on the flip side.

The second side of the record is taken up by four pop songs and a fantastic instrumental. The afore mentioned "Moonlight Shadow" was a massive hit across Europe in 1983 and helped propel this album up the charts. However, this success was a double edged sword as, once Virgin Records realised Oldfield could write monster hit singles, the pressure was on to do it again. There are some other good songs here and "Foreign Affair" is a standout - but the title track is the jewel I can't help coming back to time and time again. 4/5

One record at a time: 314. Mike Oldfield - Five Miles Out

"Five Miles Out" is a fine illustration of how diverse Mike Oldfield's talent really was. This album contains virtuoso guitar performances, catchy pop songs, complex instrumentals and synth wizardry of the highest order.

Unsurprisingly I enjoy this album because of the widespread use of electronic instruments and the sound of the Fairlight CMI is a particular highlight. I have written posts on here before about my mild obsession with the Fairlight and records like this have contributed to this fascination over the years.

The first half of this record is occupied by the monumental "Taurus II" which, despite the title, only features occasional references to the theme from "Taurus I" on "QE2". The Fairlight CMI is heard immediately on the opening track with the slide whistle sample "SWANEE" and growling strings featured heavily. 

As the theme develops we hear the familiar vocals of Maggie Reilly alongside vocoder and a Linn LM-1 drum machine. There's a curious fade of the volume at 4'51'' that I always thought was a mistake, but I now realise it is to allow emphasis on the section that follows. Things move along almost effortlessly and it is only when you find yourself listening to the sound of Uilleann Pipes and Morris dancing that you realise the track has developed somewhat from the opening. There's a disco influenced section at about eighteen minutes before we return to the main theme and the conclusion of the fist side of the record.

The second side features the brilliant pop song "Family Man" which is probably better known as the Hall & Oats cover version. Whilst this original rendition is far superior musically, it didn't have a glitzy video to push it into American living rooms so wasn't as commercially successful as a result. 

"Orabidoo" is a weird extended lullaby that is closest to a disappointment on the album. "Mount Teidi" is a nice tune but Carl Palmer's drumming dominates a bit too much for me. The title track takes the theme from "Taurus II" and develops it into a pop song about a real life experience of flying through a storm in a light aircraft. Interestingly "Five Miles Out" also features Mike on lead vocals alongside Maggie Reilly.

You'll notice the difference in the colour of the sleeves for these two records. This is because one is the original pressing from 1981 and the other a 180g repressing from 2013. As usual, the modern version is a poorer quality image than the original and the vinyl isn't much better. If you like this album I would always encourage you to pick up a copy of the original LP as it has a fascinating gatefold sleeve that reveals the studio tracklist for "Taurus II" on the inside. 4/5

One record at a time: 313. Mike Oldfield - QE2

I always wondered why Oldfield called this album "QE2" as there was nothing special about the ship in my eyes. It turns out that Oldfield decided to name the album after an ocean liner because he used a sound akin to a ship's horn on one of the tracks (heard on the title track). His first idea was to name the album "Titanic" but soon realised this wouldn't be a good idea and plumped for "QE2" instead. 

My copy of this record is a first pressing which can be distinguished by the die cut pothole on the front of the sleeve. This doesn't mean this version is worth more money - but it is a nice touch that isn't present on later editions. I bought this record from eBay eight years ago and it is in very good condition; it plays flawlessly.

This album comes in for a bit of stick from some Oldfield fans and I must admit, when I first heard it twenty years ago I wasn't too impressed. Critics point to the absence of any long form instrumentals and the inclusion of cover versions as detracting from this album's integrity. 

There are also more electronic instruments featured on this record and the very first sound we hear is from a Roland CR-78 drum machine. As "Taurus I" rumbles along we hear the trusty Roland SH-2000 clarinet alongside Polymoog and Solina strings, but my favourite sounds has to be the Moog Taurus bass pedals that chime in from about 8'30''. The final section of this song is one of my favourites pieces on the album but it seems to fade out without reaching a satisfying crescendo.

The second track "Sheba" marks the first appearance of vocalist Maggie Reilley - albeit through a Barth Musicoder Vocoder. The drums on both of these first two tracks are by Phil Collins but, aside from a short section in "Sheba," they are kept relatively low in the mix and don't sound exceptional.

Despite not having much love for ABBA, I do like Mike's version of "Arrival" (I have never heard the original I hasten to add) and his cover version of "Wonderful Land" is also very good. The title track is another highlight of the album but it too seems to just fade away rather than building to a satisfying conclusion. 3/5

One record at a time: 312. Mike Oldfield - Impressions

"Impressions" is a compilation album from 1980. This record was released by Tellydisc who were a mail order record company advertising 'budget' compilation albums on television. 

Even though I have been buying Mike's music since 1989 I wasn't aware of this album's existence until about four years ago when I came across it in a shop. 

Unfortunately the shop I found this record in has a tenancy to grade everything as "excellent" - but the reality is often far short of that. I really should stop buying from them. As my first copy was badly scratched, I took a roll of the dice on eBay a few months ago and managed to source a copy in much better condition.

This double album features "Tubular Bells Part One (Live)" from "Exposed" on the first disc and the excellent "Ommadawn (Part One)" on the flip. Side three presents a good chunk of his latest (at the time) album "Platinum" and includes a unique mix of the track "I've Got Rhythm". It is not clear if this version was included by accident or by design, but its presence means this album is quite sought after. The final side is an eclectic collection of singles and b-sides that leaves the albums "Incantations" and "Hergest Ridge" completely ignored. 3/5

Mike Oldfield CD releases

Whilst writing a recent post about "Platinum" - I began to wonder when Mike Oldfield's back catalogue was first released on compact disc in the UK. Unfortunately I couldn't find an answer on the internet - so decided to see if I could find out myself. 

As I began this work I started to make lots of notes and tried to edit them into some sort of post for this blog. Unfortunately the text read like a stream of consciousness and it was boring for me to read, let alone anyone else. 

Instead of a long post about my Mike Oldfield research I have decided to simply present the results. If you can fill in the blanks then do let me know. I've tried to work from contemporary sources and cross reference where I can.

Sources:

Dark Star https://www.mikeoldfield.org/ Fan site that led me up a few cul-de-sacs but also helped get some of the chronology right

Official Charts https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/ Authoritative but not too much depth of information. Helped corroborate probable release dates

Music Week archive at Worldradiohistory.com An absolute mine of information - shame all records for 1983 are missing. My go to resource.

Discogs Like any community led site, the data is subject to the vagaries of those that contribute, but is generally very useful for images

"Mike Oldfield Every Album, every song" (2020) Ryan Yard Highly recommend book written by someone who knows the subject matter intimately and understands music theory. Also manages to not be patronising.

One record at a time: 311. Mike Oldfield - Platinum

I own a rather battered copy of the second pressing of "Platinum" from 1979. The fact that this is the second pressing is significant because on this version the sleeve and labels list a song called "Sally" - but the record actually plays another track called "Into Wonderland".

The story goes that "Sally" was initially included on the album but Richard Branson didn't like it and had it replaced. However, this change was made whilst the record was still being pressed and initial copies (thought to be around 30,000) containing "Sally" had already been distributed. 

A new master with the revised running order was finally cut, but the pressing plant continued to use the labels and sleeves from the first batch. This is how we end up with a record that doesn't play what is listed on the artwork. There is also a third pressing (presumably created when all of the incorrect sleeves and labels had been used up) that fixes the issue.

This album was first released on CD in 1985 and for some bizarre reason the errors on the second pressing of the LP were repeated on the CD sleeve. In fact, the correct tracklisting wasn't included on CD artwork until 2011.

The music on this record is generally lighter than previous efforts and you can even hear some disco influences lurking here and there. I had never really considered what a departure this record was until I began listening to Mike's back catalogue in the order they were released. To some degree this new style is attributable to changes in Mike's personal life, but the use of session musicians from New York must also have been a significant factor.

The first side of the record features the title track which is split into four parts. "Charleston" is one of the most immediate pieces, but the dated backing vocals and disco bassline detract from the sound somewhat. The final section of "Platinum" is one of the best tracks on the record and it builds to a very satisfying crescendo. "Finale" is listed as a co-write as the choir section towards the end is taken from a piece called "North Star" by Philip Glass.

Another change on this album is the break away from long form compositions and the inclusion of shorter pieces. The second side of this record is occupied by two instrumentals and two songs - "Woodhenge" is my favourite. You can hear the excised "Sally" on YouTube and I have to say, I quite like it. Yes it is a little light hearted and disposable, but I wouldn't say "Into Wonderland" is any better. 3.5/5

One record at a time: 310. Mike Oldfield - Exposed

One of the things I find fascinating about this record is the sticker. It shows how much things have changed that 100,000 copies of a record could be considered a 'limited edition'. If anyone but Taylor Swift were to press 100,000 copies of a record today they would have enough stock to last until their great-great-grand children were still around. 

As I understand it, this record was initially pressed as a limited run to recoup some of the costs incurred on the tour that Oldfield embarked on post "Incantations". However the record sold so well that Virgin continued to press it and it finally paid off the debt ten years later. My copy is an original pressing from 1979 and is in great condition. This is a SQ Quadraphonic record but sorting out a decoder and the witchcraft required to hear that effect isn't worth the effort.

I've also read online that elements of this record aren't live as the Manor Mobile couldn't record all of the sources on stage - so the multi tracks of "Incantations" were used to fly in the missing elements during the mixing. There is also a suggestion that this nefarious activity resulted in the multi track tapes being lost or damaged and thus the 2011 reissue of "Incantations" didn't include a new mix as with previous albums. I have no idea if its true as reading things on the internet is the twenty first century equivalent of hearing something from a bloke down the pub - but it would explain one or two things.

The cut-down versions of "Incantations" sound remarkably good here and you can't help but wonder at the chops of the performers. Inevitably the second LP contains a live version of "Tubular Bells" and I have no doubt this contributed to the success of the album. The use of drums is probably the most startling difference to the studio recording but there are all kinds of embellishments and changes that you ether love or loathe. "Part Two" is trimmed right down to a lean eleven minutes and is much more upbeat than the album version. I'm no purist and don't regard the original as sacrosanct, but this rendition of "Tubular Bells" isn't to my taste. We finish on a high with the disco tinged joy of "Guilty". 3/5