The A-side is a variation of one of the themes from Oldfield's 1973 debut album, Tubular Bells, and was made in response to an American single containing an excerpt from Tubular Bells which Oldfield did not authorise. After its use in the 1973 film The Exorcist, "Tubular Bells" (as featured on the American single) reached #7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
US single
"Tubular Bells" (now the original theme from The Exorcist) - (Oldfield) 3:18
"Tubular Bells" - (Oldfield) 4:39
Virgin (dist. Atlantic) VR-55100 (VRS-55100 in Canada), issued in February 1974.[1]
Side 1 of this single is an excerpt from side 1 of the Tubular Bells album, which contains 2 long pieces, "Tubular Bells" parts 1 and 2. The excerpt was made by staff at Atlantic Records, the American distributors of Oldfield's label, Virgin Records, and was made from bits and pieces of the first 8 minutes of the album, often resulting in abrupt transitions that did not occur in the original version. The abruptness of the edits is a combination of the choice of excerpts, and physical tape splice editing. This version also suffers from a loud hum, which is clearly audible in the quiet opening section, and is not heard on the album. It ends with a return to the opening, which fades out. On the album, there is no return to the opening. This edited version is often referred to as "Now the Original" in reference to the advertising sub-title, which is printed on the label in larger type than the song title itself. This phrase also appeared on stickers attached to the album's shrink wrap in the US.
Side 2 is an edited excerpt from the end section of the album's side 1, where Vivian Stanshall announces instruments as they appear; it fades out before the original version's conclusion.
Mike Oldfield was displeased when he learned this version had been made without his knowledge or input, and refused its release in the United Kingdom. A UK test pressing of this record exists, with catalogue number VS-101,[2] the number that was eventually used for the single Mike made as a substitution, suggesting the "Now the Original" version was considered for release in the UK at one time.
This version of the single was also issued in Canada, France, New Zealand (first edition), South Africa (first edition), and Chile.[2] In Canada, the single reached #3,[3] and was #103 in the Top 200 Singles of 1974.[4]
US promo singles
"Tubular Bells" Excerpts E.P.
Side 1
"A" - (Oldfield) 2:44
"B" - (Oldfield) 1:40
"C" - (Oldfield) 5:36
Side 2
"A" - (Oldfield) 2:35
"B" - (Oldfield) 2:40
"C (Sailor's Hornpipe)" - (traditional) 1:30
Virgin (dist. Atlantic) PR-196, plays at 33 rpm[5]
This 7 inch E.P. was issued inside promotional copies of the album, which bore a sticker explaining to disc jockeys that an additional record of excerpts recommended for radio play is enclosed. It was also issued separately from the album.
Second promo
"Tubular Bells (Now the Original Theme from The Exorcist)" - (Oldfield) 3:18 (stereo)
"Tubular Bells (Now the Original Theme from The Exorcist)" - (Oldfield) 3:18 (mono)
Virgin (dist. Atlantic) VR-55100 (same number as non-promo edition)[6]
This version can be found with either a white (normal) or blue label, and some copies were issued in a cover that did not come with the version issued to the public.
Third promo
"Tubular Bells (Long Version)" - (Oldfield) 7:40
"Tubular Bells" - (Oldfield) 4:39
Virgin (dist. Atlantic) E.P.-PR-199, issued in 1974[7]
Some time after the release of the "Now the Original" excerpt, Virgin/Atlantic tried promoting the section near the end of side 1 of the album. Since this section had been omitted from the previous promo single, a new promo record was necessary. Side 2 is the same edit that was previously released as the B-side of "Now the Original"; side 1 is a longer version of the same section. No playing speed is shown on the label, but given its length and catalogue prefix, side 1 (at least) likely plays at 331⁄3 rpm.
UK single
"Mike Oldfield's Single (Theme from Mike Oldfield's album 'Tubular Bells')" - (Oldfield) 4:36
"Froggy Went A-Courting" - (traditional, arr. Oldfield) 4:30
Virgin VS-101, issued June 28, 1974
Mike Oldfield was already recording his next album, Hergest Ridge, when he produced this new piece to be released outside North America, in place of the American single. Instead of using either of the two popular excerpts from that single, Oldfield chose to re-arrange a section of "Tubular Bells part 2", the so-called "guitars sounding like bagpipes" section, now presented in a pastoral arrangement similar to much of Hergest Ridge, and featuring Lindsay Cooper on oboe, who had played a similar section on Hergest Ridge. Mike Oldfield likely plays all other instruments, which include multiple layers of acoustic, electric, and bass guitars, and harmonium.
Side 2 is the popular children's song, set to a new melody by Oldfield, and spoken rather than sung by Mike Oldfield and Vanessa Branson (sister of Virgin boss Richard Branson), who take turns reciting lines. Despite the way it's spelled on the label, Oldfield deliberately enunciates his opening line as "The frog went a-courting...", and nowhere does the word "uh-huh" appear, as it did frequently in the better known children's version. No list of musicians appears on the cover, but the song is believed to have been played by Mike Oldfield on vocals, guitars, mandolin, probably bass guitar, and possibly piano (or the latter may have been played by David Bedford), Vanessa Branson on vocals, Lol Coxhill on saxophone, and an unknown drummer. A number of places also cite the female vocalist as Bridget St John, instead of Branson.[8][9] One year later, the entire backing track, minus the vocals, was re-used for "Paolino Maialino" ["Paulie Piggie"], a novelty single by Romina Power, about a child who had an aversion to cleaning himself.
A cover was included with some copies, and is unusual in that it is black and white on the front, and in colour on the back. Side 1's sub-title is shorted to "Theme from Tubular Bells" on the front. The cover was designed by Trevor Key, who designed the cover for Tubular Bells and many other Oldfield and Virgin albums. The back shows a colour photo of 2 frogs mating; a typical example of the Virgin label's naughty sense of humour at the time.
Just as Tubular Bells was Virgin's first album (or, to be precise, one of three albums released on the same day), "Mike Oldfield's Single" was Virgin's first UK single, but issued more than a year later. This demonstrates that Virgin was primarily an album label in its early years, with little interest in being a contender for the singles charts. Even so, the record charted at number 31 on the UK Singles Chart.[10]
This version was also issued in Sweden, Portugal (second edition), Greece, and Yugoslavia.[2] In some countries, the sub-title is translated into a local language.
A shorter version of this track (3:56) was remastered and remixed for the 2009 Mercury Records reissue of Tubular Bells. Furthermore, it was reissued by Virgin EMI for Record Store Day 2013.[11]
"Froggy Went A-Courting" - (traditional, arr. Oldfield) 4:27
Side 1 is the same as the American "Now the Original" version, but without that sub-title on the label.
This version was issued in Portugal, the Netherlands (one of two editions), New Zealand (second edition), and South Africa (second and third editions, with different covers).[2]
"Tubular Bells" - (Oldfield) 3:18
"Froggy Went A-Courting" - (traditional, arr. Oldfield) 4:25
Side 2 is an alternate mix. On the UK mix, the verse with the lyric, "The owls did hoot and the birds did sing" is recited entirely by Vanessa Branson. On this version, the first part of the verse is recited by Mike Oldfield. This version fades out slightly earlier, although some labels quote the UK mix's timing.
This version was issued in Italy, and the Netherlands (one of two editions) where "Froggy" is identified as side 1.[2]
"Mike Oldfield's Single (Theme from Mike Oldfield's album 'Tubular Bells')" - (Oldfield) 4:33
"Froggy Went A-Courting" - (traditional, arr. Oldfield) 4:25
This version, with the UK A-side and alternate B-side, was issued in Germany and Spain.[2] In some countries, the sub-title is translated into a local language.
Another mix of the single was released in Australia, apart from the US, UK and European versions, at 4 minutes long, using a different blend of elements from the album's first side. It was distributed by Festival Records in Australia and peaked at No. 12 on the Australian Kent Music Report[14] on 24 June 1974.[15]
Michael Gordon Oldfield is an English musician, songwriter, and producer best known for his debut studio album Tubular Bells (1973), which became an unexpected critical and commercial success. Though primarily a guitarist, Oldfield plays a range of instruments, which includes keyboards, percussion, and vocals. He has adopted a range of musical styles throughout his career, including progressive rock, world, folk, classical, electronic, ambient, and new age music.
Tubular Bells is the debut studio album by the British musician Mike Oldfield, released on 25 May 1973 as the first album on Virgin Records. It comprises two mostly instrumental tracks. Oldfield, who was 19 years old when it was recorded, played almost all the instruments.
Tubular Bells II is the fifteenth studio album by English guitarist and songwriter Mike Oldfield. It was released on 31 August 1992 by Warner Music UK and is the successor to his debut album Tubular Bells (1973). After his contract with Virgin Records ended at the end of 1991, Oldfield signed with Warner and started work on a sequel to Tubular Bells. The album charted at number 1 in the UK as did its precursor. It is Oldfield's third number-one album.
Tubular Bells 2003 is the 22nd studio album by English musician Mike Oldfield, released on 27 May 2003 by Warner Music Spain. It is a digital re-recording of his 1973 album Tubular Bells, released almost 30 years earlier. This is the final album in the Tubular Bells series.
Sally Patricia Oldfield is an Irish singer-songwriter. She is the sister of composers Mike and Terry Oldfield.
Hergest Ridge is the second studio album by English musician and songwriter Mike Oldfield, released on 2 September 1974 by Virgin Records. The unexpected commercial and critical success of his debut album, Tubular Bells (1973), affected Oldfield, who decided against touring and avoided the press with his newfound fame. Instead, he retreated to Hergest Ridge on the England–Wales border and wrote the follow-up, which he recorded in 1974 at The Manor in Oxfordshire, with Tom Newman returning as co-producer. Similar to Oldfield's first, the album is a single composition split into two parts covering different moods and musical styles.
Ommadawn is the third studio album by English musician, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Mike Oldfield, released on 3 November 1975 on Virgin Records.
Incantations is the fourth studio album by English musician, songwriter, and producer Mike Oldfield, released on 1 December 1978 by Virgin Records. Following the release of his previous album Ommadawn (1975), Oldfield moved into a new home in Bisley, Gloucestershire, where he set up a new recording studio. He started on a follow-up in 1977 which took form as a double album with one, side-long track on each side of the LP record. Oldfield wished to use real incantations in the music, but ended up using folklore as a loose running theme, such as Dianna the Huntress. Though primarily instrumental, lyrical sections are adapted from works by poets Henry Longfellow and Ben Jonson. Oldfield completed the self-awareness seminar Exegesis while recording Incantations.
Platinum is the fifth studio album by English multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Mike Oldfield, released on 23 November 1979 on Virgin Records. It was Oldfield's first album to include shorter songs and music written by others. A modified version of the album was released in the United States and Canada and titled Airborn.
Amarok is the thirteenth studio album by English multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Mike Oldfield, released in May 1990 by Virgin Records. Oldfield originally conceived it as an "angry protest album", showcasing his musical technique. It is presented as a single sixty-minute track of continuous, uninterrupted but constantly changing music.
Elements – The Best of Mike Oldfield is a compilation album by Mike Oldfield, released in 1993 by Virgin Records.
The Killing Fields is the 10th record album by Mike Oldfield, released on 26 November 1984 by Virgin Records in the UK. It was the soundtrack album for the British drama film of the same name based on the experiences of two journalists in the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. It is the only full-length film score written by Oldfield.
Thomas Dennis Newman is an English record producer and musician. In 1970 he began working with Richard Branson and helped to found The Manor Studio in Oxford for the nascent Virgin Records. There he produced the recording of Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells.
The Orchestral Tubular Bells is an orchestral version of Mike Oldfield's album Tubular Bells, arranged by David Bedford and recorded in 1974 by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring Oldfield himself playing the guitar. Excerpts from the album were featured in the 1979 NASA film The Space Movie. It peaked at #17 on the UK Albums Chart in 1975.
This page is a discography for the musician Mike Oldfield.
"Sentinel" is a single by musician Mike Oldfield, released in 1992. The single features a restructured, shorter version of "Sentinel", from the album Tubular Bells II. The piece itself is a re-imagining of the introduction theme from Oldfield's 1973 album Tubular Bells which was known for its use in The Exorcist film.
"In Dulci Jubilo"/"On Horseback" is a double A-side single and third overall by English musician Mike Oldfield, released in November 1975 by Virgin Records. It features an instrumental version of the German traditional Christmas carol "In dulci jubilo" and Oldfield's second version of the song following an earlier recording released as the B-side to his previous single, "Don Alfonso". The song "On Horseback" is the final and previously untitled section to "Ommadawn " from his third studio album Ommadawn, released just one month before. The single is certified Silver by the British Phonograph Institute for selling 200,000 copies in the UK.
"Portsmouth" is a traditional English folk dance tune, similar to an Irish or Scottish hornpipe melody. It is sometimes referred to as the "Portsmouth Hornpipe".
XXV: The Essential is a compilation album written and mostly performed by Mike Oldfield and released in 1997. The Roman numerals XXV are to represent that this is a compilation of pieces of the first 25 years of Oldfield's work.
The Platinum Collection is a 2006 Virgin Records compilation album written and mostly performed by Mike Oldfield. It contains most of Oldfield's best known work, and some rare mixes of songs that had previously only been available as B-sides to singles.
↑ Scapolo, Dean (2007). The Complete New Zealand Music Charts, 1966-2006: singles, albums, DVDs, compilations compiled by Dean Scapolo. Wellington, New Zealand: Maurienne House. p.unspecified (no page numbers in reference section of book listing artists). ISBN978-1877443-00-8.
↑ "Top Pop Singles"(PDF). Billboard. New York, New York: Billboard Publications, Inc. December 28, 1974. p.8. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
External links
Mike Oldfield's Single at Discogs (list of releases) - Mike Oldfield's Single (Theme From Mike Oldfield's Album 'Tubular Bells') / Froggy Went A-Courting
Mike Oldfield's Single at Discogs (list of releases) - Tubular Bells (Now The Original Theme From "The Exorcist") / Tubular Bells
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