Tubular Bells 2003 | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 26 May 2003 | |||
Recorded | August 2002–February 2003 | |||
Studio | Oldfield's home studio at Roughwood Croft, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire | |||
Genre | Progressive rock | |||
Length | 48:38 | |||
Label | Warner Music Spain | |||
Producer | Mike Oldfield | |||
Mike Oldfield chronology | ||||
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Tubular Bells series chronology | ||||
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Singles from Tubular Bells 2003 | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Tubular Bells 2003 is the 22nd studio album by English musician Mike Oldfield,released on 26 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.
In 2003,the re-recording rights to Oldfield's debut album Tubular Bells returned to him,which brought about the idea to re-record it to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the original. [2] He had always been uncomfortable with the original recording because he had only a few weeks to record it and the technology at the time was unable to cope with all of his requirements. As a result,mistakes could not be fixed and some instruments were out of tune on the 1973 release. Due to contractual reasons no re-recordings were allowed for 25 years after the original release. The release of Tubular Bells 2003 took place in the year when Oldfield celebrated his 50th birthday and the 30th anniversary of the original version.
To remain faithful to the original album,Oldfield obtained a copy of the original 16 track tape,from Richard Barrie of Air Studios;this multitrack was then recorded into Digidesign Pro Tools. There were a few parts of the multitrack recording missing however;this included parts of the "Finale","Caveman" and "The Sailors Hornpipe" sections. These original tracks were then moved into Emagic Logic,where Oldfield used MIDI to create a tempo and time signature map;some sections of the original album had not been in time. A guide MIDI keyboard was laid on top,for which Oldfield usually used some Roland Strings. The first instrument to be recorded was the Glockenspiel at the beginning of Part One's "Introduction",and the final part to be recorded was the "Caveman" vocal track. [3]
The album was released in four versions:a CD in Europe,a CD in North America,and a DVD-Audio edition. The copy protection [4] on the CDs caused many complaints about playback difficulties,including claims of damage to CD and DVD players.
Due to the extensive use of digital technology,Tubular Bells 2003 has a more synthesised and brighter sound than the original. Because of the death of Vivian Stanshall,who was the original master of ceremonies on the 1973 release,Oldfield had actor John Cleese introduce the instruments in the "Finale" part. [5]
A CD audio/DVD Video-audio 5.1,was released in Spain and México.
There is a facetious warning inside the cover of CD:"This stereo record can still not be played on old tin boxes no matter what they are fitted with. If you are in possession of such equipment please hand it into the nearest police station". This warning references a similar note,without the word "still",from the original album.
A video and Spanish promo single were produced for a remix version of the Tubular Bells "Introduction" theme,entitled "Introduction 2003". [6] Released as a single in Spain on 24 April 2003,it features drums and more synthesized instruments,and a conceptual video was also produced. This video is available on the DVD Audio version of Tubular Bells 2003.
The second publicly released MusicVR game, Maestro ,used various extracts from Tubular Bells 2003. [7]
Performers
Non-performers
Part one
Part two
The DVD-Audio edition includes the demos Oldfield recorded in his flat in 1971 and two excerpts from other Oldfield DVD releases.
1971 Demos
Live Excerpts
HardwareMixing desk
Computers
Plug-ins
Outboard effects
Microphones
| InstrumentsElectric guitars
Acoustic guitars
Pianos and organs
Keyboards Soft synths
Percussion
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Chart (2003) | Peak position |
---|---|
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [8] | 41 |
French Albums (SNEP) [9] | 44 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [10] | 29 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [11] | 11 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [12] | 55 |
UK Albums (OCC) [13] | 51 |
Year | Country | Label | Catalogue number | Release date | Format | Copy protected | Other discs |
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2003 | UK | WEA/Warner Bros. | 2564602042 | 26 May 2003 | CD | Yes | |
2003 | UK | WEA/Warner Bros. | 0927499212 | 26 May 2003 | CD | Yes | Bonus DVD |
2003 | UK | WEA/Warner Bros. | 2564602052 | 26 May 2003 | CD | Yes,TB2003 only | TB II,TB III and a Bonus DVD (4 disc box) |
2003 | USA | Rhino | ? | 5 August 2003 | CD | No | |
2003 | UK | WEA/Warner Bros. | ? | 5 August 2003 | CD | No | |
2004 | UK | WEA/Warner Bros. | 2564602045 | 26 January 2004 | DVD Audio | N/A | |
2004 | United States | Rhino | I454715 | 24 February 2004 | DVD Audio | N/A |
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 and percussion,as well as 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). It was his first album for Warner after having worked with Virgin Records for twenty years. Like its predecessor,Tubular Bells II charted at number 1 in the UK Albums Chart and spun off a top 10 single,"Sentinel".
Exposed is the first live album by English musician Mike Oldfield,released as a double album on 27 July 1979 by Virgin Records in the UK. It was recorded at various locations across Europe during Oldfield's debut concert tour as a solo artist,following the release of his fourth studio album Incantations (1978). The album features Incantations and his debut album Tubular Bells (1973) performed in their entirety,plus Oldfield's 1979 non-album single "Guilty" as the encore.
Hergest Ridge is the second studio album by English musician and songwriter Mike Oldfield,released on 28 August 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.
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.
"Moonlight Shadow" is a song written and performed by English multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield,released as a single in May 1983 by Virgin Records,and included on his eighth album,Crises,of the same year. The vocals were performed by Scottish vocalist Maggie Reilly,who had collaborated with Mike Oldfield since 1980. It is Oldfield's most successful single,reaching number one on numerous charts around Europe.
Tubular Bells III is the eighteenth studio album by English guitarist,songwriter,and producer Mike Oldfield. It was released on 31 August 1998 by Warner Music UK as the third instalment in his Tubular Bells album series. After relocating from England to the Spanish island of Ibiza in 1996,Oldfield started work on the album and gained inspiration to incorporate electronic music from the island's local bars and clubs.
Elements –The Best of Mike Oldfield is a compilation album by Mike Oldfield,released in 1993 by Virgin Records.
This is the albums discography of English musician Mike Oldfield.
"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.
"Mike Oldfield's Single" is the debut single by the English musician Mike Oldfield,released in 1974.
Boxed is a 1976 compilation album of music written and performed by Mike Oldfield. It features four channel quadraphonic remix versions of his first three albums:Tubular Bells,Hergest Ridge and Ommadawn. An additional fourth LP contains new musical collaborations with other artists.
Elements Box is a 4CD box set by Mike Oldfield released in 1993.
Elements - The Best of Mike Oldfield is a video collection by Mike Oldfield released in October 1993. It was released by Virgin Records on VHS and LaserDisc. A DVD edition of the video release,including additional extras,was produced in 2004.
Tubular Bells II,The Performance Live at Edinburgh Castle is a live concert video by Mike Oldfield released in 1992.
Tubular Bells III,The Premiere Performance is a live concert video by Mike Oldfield released in 1998.
Music Wonderland is a compilation album by Mike Oldfield released in 1981 on Virgin Records. The album has since been reissued worldwide on CD.
The Complete Tubular Bells is a compilation album that comprises the three main releases under the name of Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield,released in 2003 alongside Tubular Bells 2003.
Return to Ommadawn is the twenty-sixth and final studio album by English musician and songwriter Mike Oldfield. It was released on 20 January 2017 on Virgin EMI Records and is the sequel to his 1975 album Ommadawn. The CD/DVD-Audio set contains a 5.1 surround sound mix of the album. Return to Ommadawn is the last studio album Oldfield released before the announcement of his retirement in 2023.