Tubular Bells

Tubular Bells was my first foray into Progressive music, and it has stayed with me ever since. I originally owned it on vinyl. That collection is long gone. I've been listening to music via MP3 and computer of late, so when I dug out and updated my old hi-fi equipment; I re-learned how enjoyable music is: straight from the CD. So I went in pursuit of Tubular Bells. Don't give the 2003 version a look - its horrific (somehow John Cleese does not add anything positive). Search for an original 1973 and in the US at least you'll pay close to $100. So enter the 2009 Deluxe Edition. I listened with joy to the original 1973 mix and relived my earlier pleasure. Only it was better, courtesy of some better Hi-Fi components.Then I listened to the 2009 re-mastered version. It's good. Very good. But for me personally; a little clinical. In the original mix, we hear Mike's breathing during some of the acoustic guitar passages. That's gone from the 2009 version, and somehow I miss it. The bells also seem somehow different and ring 'not true'. I'll stick with the original, and here's the beauty of this disc. Whether you are returning to Tubular Bells, or listening for the first time: you'll find a version on this disc that meets your needs. I haven't tried the 5.1 version, but for those with a good system then I would bet that it's very worth a listen.I also enjoy TB II and TB III, but if you have to own just one disc: this is the one to buy.

I'm not sure I particularly liked the 2009 remix. I'm almost positive it's mainly because my ears are *SO* used to the original mix. It's the one I've been playing nearly non-stop since I discovered it, so to suddenly hear additional/ new instrumentation in the mix with the original, it just didn't sit right to my mind & ears. The additions sounded out of place. You could tell right away where 1973 ended & 2009 began.I guess I was under the impression that the 2009 version would be a *remastering*. Not an actual remix. I must've overlooked that in reviews.However, I'm also assuming the inclusion of the original 1973 mix *is* touched up aurally & sounds great to my ears. I don't (yet) own any sound equipment that's optimal for 5.1 Surround sound, but I can only assume it sounds incredible.I was truly in this for the dvd though. I saw some of this live performance on Youtube & was floored. I knew I had to own it. Worth getting for the dvd alone, IMO.

Nothing to say about TB as such, only the 5.1 mix where the Sub-woofer signal gets way too high in places. Looking at the file in Audacity for TB part 1 it is clear that the Sub part needs to be attenuated. I did this myself with 5dB Sub reduction and it is much better. Note that I do not have my Subs turned up really loud, this is really and issue with the mix. A look in Audacity at any other song with good bass shows this to be true.

First things first, Tubular Bells is, for my money, one of the best pieces of music of the 20th century. Not even TB II, III or 2003 could possibly change that, but they have over the years dampened my enthusiasm for Mike Oldfield. So the question is after these, why would I need yet another Tubular Bells? Well, sell your old copies and get this collection.First up there is the 2009 remix. For what it is, it's great. What is it? The usual scrub and polish, everything's-up-in-the-mix that everyone's doing these days, and it's really lovely. The 1st disc also contains both sides of the Mike Oldfield single (previously available on the boxed set) Necessary for the Vivian Stanshall "Sailor's Hornpipe".The 2nd disc is the original 1973 stereo mix. Perfect. Every other version is a distant second to this one, and I am very thankful that this was included after all of Mr. Oldfield's grumbling and second-guessing over the years.The 3rd disc (mis-labeled disc 4) is the surround sound mix of disc 1. I'm sure it will be fun, but I have not listened to it yet. The real treasure of this set is the visual content. Tubular Bells part 1 live in the studio. My jaw hung open as I was treated to a beautiful rendition performed by a "who's who" of 70's prog rock: Gong's Steve Hillage, Mike Howlett and Pierre Moerlen; Soft Machine's Mike Ratledge and Karl Jenkens; Fred Frith from Henry Cow; Rolling Stone Mick Taylor and others. I understand that this footage was released as a part of the Elements DVD, but I had never seen it before. I would have gladly paid $20 for this alone and given it 5 stars on its own.

I've been a long time fan of Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" album, every since my father used to listen to it when I was twelve. The music here is as fresh as ever with many surprises in this set, well worth the price. The new mix is very nice, but I prefer the original, which always brings back pleasant memories. All in all, I definitely recommend this set for the "Tubular Bells" completist, but may not be appreciated by the casual fan.

Oh, wow! This took me back; way, way, way back. I remembered how much I liked the album. Listening to it again ... wow ... it was great.

What can I say - worth every penny!A one of a kind - I keep it iin a Ziploc Bag just to make sure that it doesn't get scratched and the unique "Made In England" label on the back doesn't get oxidized!I will rip the CD at 320kbps/CBR and keep it in my collection for ever!

In the first half of 1973 - two chart-annihilating vinyl albums signalled a huge move away from 7" single-driven Rock to something longer and stronger – Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side Of The Moon" which landed on our doorsteps 1 March 1973 – and Mike Oldfield's Virgin Records debut LP "Tubular Bells" which hit Blighty racks in its gorgeous and highly distinctive 'Bells and Sea' sleeve on 25 May 1973. Both albums have had longevity beyond the wildest dreams of either artist and with the hindsight of more than 40 years – remain iconic and still amaze.Having said that - fans have had their fair-share of CD reissues for Mike Oldfield's densely overdubbed, side long instrumental musical soundscapes (the HDCD version in 2000 was one) – but this 2009 'Deluxe Edition' which offers Audio and Video finally does that tape consuming beasty a solid. Here are the Sailor's Hornpipes...UK and USA released 8 June 2009 – "Tubular Bells: Deluxe Edition" by MIKE OLDFIELD on Universal/Mercury 270 354-1 (Barcode 0602527035413) is a 2CD/1DVD Reissue and plays out as follows:Disc 1 – "The 2009 Stereo Mixes by Mike Oldfield" (56:02 minutes):1. Tubular Bells (Part One)2. Tubular Bells (Part Two)BONUS TRACKS:3. Mike Oldfield's Single (A-side of a UK 7" single released June 1974 on Virgin VS 101. The original B-side "Froggy Went A Courtin'" (despised by Oldfield) is not on this reissue.4. Sailor's Hornpipe (Original Version with Viv Stanshall) – Recorded in The Manor Studios in Oxfordshire in Spring 1973 – first appeared as part of "Collaborations" – the 4th LP in the 4LP "Boxed" Set UK issued October 1976 on Virgin VBOX 1.Disc 2 – "The Original 1973 Stereo Album Mix" (48:48 minutes):1. Tubular Bells (Part One)2. Tubular Bells (Part Two)Tracks 1 and 2 and Side 1 and the LP "Tubular Bells" – released 25 May 1973 in the UK and USA on Virgin V 2001Disc 3 – DVD (All Regions) – 2009 5.1 Surround Sound Mixes by Mike Oldfield1. Tubular Bells (Part One)2. Tubular Bells (Part Two)3. Mike Oldfield's Single4. Sailor's Hornpipe (Original Version with Viv Stanshall)Visual Content1. Tubular Bells (Part One)First broadcast as part of the series "2nd House" on BBC 2 – 1st December 1973The glossy gatefold digipak has been well thought out – each flap with interesting memorabilia – the pregnant lady advert from the Zigzag newspaper advertising the birth of new 'Virgin Releases' – master tape boxes from CBS and BASF and a very well endowed 24-page booklet on the history of the album and its aftermath by Tape Engineer and Music Historian MARK POWELL. You get pictures of The Manor Studio in Oxfordshire – Oldfield with Kevin Ayers & The Whole World (circa 1970/1971), snaps of Producer Tom Newman and a camera-shy Richard Branson along with the ever present mixing desk and Oldfield surround as always by six million instruments.MARK POWELL, MIKE OLDFIELD and PASCHAL BYRNE are the team of three that has handling the tapes with care because the Audio is gorgeous – clear and warm and full of presence. But I would say that after hearing the 2009 Stereo Version – the original 1973 version does seem a tad flat and more hissy – but the DVD 5.1 version that I've heard on a mate's sound system is simply awesome (far better that the Quadrophonic LP experience in 1974). The "Mike Oldfield Single" (issued in a "Tubular Bells Theme" picture sleeve in the UK June 1974) is based on the Celtic Tympani section on Side 2 with Oldfield having added Oboe and other instruments. And of course the use of the opening piano refrain in the horror movie of the moment "The Exorcist" gave the album considerable exposure and made that piece of music synonymous with the LP for decades to come.When the first portion of Side One settles into that Acoustic Guitar around 4:07 only to crescendo a few seconds later – the effect is incredible. And those doubled-up high string guitars at 11:30 minutes leap out of the speakers only to be followed by the HUGE rock guitar piece. It all leads towards the layer-after-layer-of-instruments preceded by Viv Stanshall of The Bonzo Dog Do Dah Band acting as 'Master Of Ceremonies' as he introduces each instrument in that wonderfully posh and eclectic voice of his – magic. Fans will love those warbling guitars at 8:02 on Side 2 – the girly vocals mixing with the notes to beautiful effect – even if that Pilt Down Man voice still sounds decidedly creepy. And you gotta love Vivian Stanshall clearly drunk as a skunk on the original version of "Sailor's Hornpipe" as he discusses a painting in the Manor at some ungodly hour in the morning - deliberately slurring his words by the time he gets to the end (God bless him).I wasn't expected the DVD to be so engaging. Never mind the 5.1 Surround Mix that really leaves the Quad LP from the 'Boxed' set in 1976 in the dust – the performance of the December 1973 concert is an absolute blast (if not a little ramshackle in places). A group of seven musicians are seated in dimly lit silhouette as the piano refrain starts (with a huge Showcase logo behind them). But then as they zoom in and the lights go on – we see Oldfield seated with his Bass Guitar and stripy shirt looking decidedly uncomfortable (grin and bear it baby). Unfortunately there are no credits at the end so you can't tell who the other six musicians are – but with guitars in their hands and other instruments – Side 1 becomes this strange entirely different entity 'live' - where their guitar flicks and piano flourishes differ wildly in some cases from his. A chorus of ladies join them for the acoustic fade out. They even try some ropey water footage in the centre of it as the bells shimmer. The image does get a tad blurry in places in that Seventies kind of way – but for fans this extra is an absolute treat."Hergest Ridge" would follow in 1974 and the wonderful "Ommadawn" in 1975 and thereafter a career that seems to have endlessly rehashed his 1973 magnum opus for every anniversary since. A great 'Deluxe Edition' and a milestone in Rock Music's history...

Verdict: A good package.Both CDs sound fine it being hard to quantify the difference between the original 1973 and remixed or re-mastered 2009 version - maybe the 1973 mix has been cleaned up.The surround 5.1 is generally good, done by Oldfield who ought to know how it should be. The DVD has only 5.1 sound on it. WARNING: 'Part 1' has a very high level sub woofer channel (the 0.1 channel) which could damage your hearing unless you adjust your equipment (ie. reduce the level or turn it off) - the bass frequency vibration is disturbingly way over anything else I have, DVD or SACD, at my normal setting. It fills your ears. Ridiculous. 'Part 2' and the other tracks are fine.Perhaps inevitably with such a popular album the surround is in the lowest common denominator format: DVD and Dolby 5.1, but DTS could have been better. It reveals less complexity to this multilayered recording than I expected and perhaps is not quite the 'whole sonic experience' the format can deliver - but it reveals crisp clarity and separation, you can hear everything and it's fine ('part 1' comment aside). What Steven Wilson might have done with the tapes in whatever state they were in will nevertheless hover in my mind. The screen-saver style visuals are initially impressive but get irritating when you notice the joins and repetition; and they are the same for all tracks, just cutting off at the end according to the track timing.The five star extra is the 1973 BBC 'live' version which is simply splendid (stereo only, but with video of the performance); there are no credits and no personnel list. You have to play spot the musician.So why did I buy this (yet again)? Some background will explain.This was originally released on 15 May 1973 and I had my copy soon enough to see the only live performance at the QE Hall on 25 June 1973. Not that there was an inkling it would be the only time it was publicly performed. I still have the concert handout listing performers and reproducing an article by John Peel: "a record that does quite genuinely cover new and uncharted territory". It is hard to appreciate now what an impact this made on first release, it was radically different. Oldfield has said that the performance included off tuning (not that anyone noticed as it was just such an great event with so many 'underground scene' musicians), but it went down very well and I vividly recall how Viv Stanshall dramatically miscued the instrument introductions. Many of those musicians turn up on the BBC performance (Viv Stanshall is safely on tape).I still have the vinyl and was blissfully unaware of all the other versions having only got a second hand early CD of parts 1 & 2 some 25 years later. Hence this 3 disc package offered me genuine extras (a) the short extra tracks from what now seems to be the 'standard' CD edition, and (b) the real reasons for purchase: the 5.1 surround version and the BBC performance unknown to me until I saw it on BBC4 in October 2013 (when it had credits but still no personnel list).Accordingly I was wedded to the original version rather than re recordings etc, but even if you've never heard Tubular Bells before this is the version to get. The BBC performance tells you more than any review.

So much has already been written about Tubular Bells so I'll keep this simple.This release is not a reworking in the style of Tubular Bells II or III, it's simply a reamstering of the original 1973 classic with a few subtle and worthwhile mix alterations. The remastering process is in fact so sucessful I think this is now the definitive version. I am struggling to think of a more effective remastering. All the hiss and bass rumble is gone and we are left with a warm, luxurious sound that is absolutely beautiful.On this record you will find little flourishes left off the original release all together and the overall effect, for me anyway, was that I fell in love with Tubular Bells all over again!So what of the extras that make this a deluxe release. Well you also receive the original 1973 mix just in case, for some bizarre reason, you dislike the new master and mix. The single version (Mike Oldfield's single) and the Sailor's Hornpipe featuring Viv Stanshall are stunning and humorous but do come with the standard release. Disc 3 contains a 5.1 surround sound version for those with 5 ears presumably! The real treat is a live 1975(?) BBC DVD performance featuring such luminary guitarists of the time as Steve Hillage, Mick Taylor and Fred Frith with Karl Jenkins on keys.All these new remasters has rejuvinated my love for Oldfield's music and has led me to the discovery of an album called Mohribold by an emerging musician called Andrew Taylor (plug that into your search engine!). He is an artist who must have listened to Oldfield's early albums in great detail, though he clearly has a flare all of his own too. Both Oldfield and Taylor are talented multi-intrumentalists, if you love Tubular Bells you'll love Mohribold.

I guess very few people will buy this who don't already have an earlier CD copy. For those few who don't, there is a copy of the original 1973 stereo album (Disc 2) as well as the 2009 stereo mixes of the album plus the Single/Sailors hornpipe (Disc 1). Disc 3 (labelled Disc 4 for some bizarre reason!) contains the 5.1 version plus the original TOTP live performance on DVD. I would have paid the price of the set for this last disc alone. There is also a detailed and informative booklet tucked away inside the opening cover.It is without doubt excellent value for money. I can't think why anyone would wish to spend nearly £60 quid for the `ultimate' edition when this is available for less than £12 (unless a couple of plectrums and a vinyl copy of the original floats your boat).One of my abiding memories of my teenage years is hearing this music for the first time in 1973 and I have loved it ever since. A highlight of my university years happened in 1977 when Mike Oldfield granted Paul Egan and a motley bunch of us students in Trinity College Dublin permission to put on a live concert of Tubular Bells. As far as I remember this was the first time a live performance had been staged other than the TOTP version in 1973. Being part of this performance cemented my love for this album.Listening to the 5.1 surround sound version gave the odd sensation of being back in the middle of the orchestra (as we pretentiously called ourselves at the time). Familiar themes sounded `new' and crisp and everything seems fresh and bright. The opening 10 minutes is the most impressive and the bass line (subdued in some recordings in the past) really packs a punch. I was slightly disappointed in the last section of this track - what used to be the end of side one in the vinyl years - as the vocals ("Plus Tubular Bells") seemed to be a bit lost in the mix and the overall sound seemed a bit muddy compared to the stereo mix. But this could be my equipment and might sound more impressive on a higher quality set up.But these are minor quibbles: This is an excellent buy, very reasonable for what it contains, and a must for any serious fan of this classic album.

I am going to keep this review very short. You know the lp/cd but wait until you hear the 2009 5.1 mix. This box is released by Mercury/Universal and not Virgin. The vinyl is housed in one sleeve of the newly designed gatefold cover. However, the original sleeve is still kept but now with a black inner gatefold. The vinyl dust jacket (inner sleeve) is plain white The cd/dvds are housed in the sealed other side of the gatefold. The book is rather good. Hardback and well bound with nice sized pictures... BUT a more accurate and longer story of the making is to be read in "THE MAKING OF MIKE OLDFIELD'S TUBULAR BELLS by RICHARD NEWMAN" see this link  The Making of Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" . Both books share a lot of the same photos but the reading is so much more in depth in Newman smaller sized book.Sorry I can't make a comment about the sound of the record as I will never play the vinyl. The Making of Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells"