Mike Oldfield-Tubular Bells (1973)
Artist: Mike Oldfield
Title: Tubular Bells
Label: Virgin
Format: LP
Cat #: VR 13-105
Year of Release: 1973
Country and Year of Edition Issue: US 1973 Richmond Pressing
Listed Condition: VG+/VG
Sell Date: 10/2/25
Sell Price: $4.46
Discogs Last Sold: 9/14/25 VG+/VG+ $10.00
Low: $1.99 VG+/VG VG+/VG
Median: $5.00
Average: $5.67
High: $14.95 VG+/NM 1/5/25
Current low price: $0.99 G+/VG, $1.99 VG+/VG
Current Number on Sale at Discogs: 55
Have/Want: 3146/316
Where Sold: Sun City West, AZ
Time it took to sell: 3 years
Where and When Bought: facebook $3 lot a few years ago
Gwiz-gau Letter Grade: A-
Sad To See It Go: No
The intro to Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells was so ingrained in popular culture from The Exorcist that the actual entire piece was an afterthought much like Beethoven's 5th or Rhapsody In Blue. I'm just as guilty as anyone else for only knowing a short snippet of this music even after hearing it. So ingrained in worldwide consciousness, Oldfield was able to feature the "popular part" (albeit a bit buried starting 46 seconds in for about a minute) in the 2012 Olympics in London before merging it with something more "modern" and upbeat. By March 1974 this was certified Gold in the US. Of that half a million, I wonder exactly how many people spent enough time with it to know the entire 2-sided piece.
There are some stars of the British underground. Viv Stanshall from the Bonzo Doo Dah Dog Band plays master of ceremonies late in part one to let us know what instruments were played. The line list includes Grand Piano, Reed and Pipe Organ, Glockenspiel and of course Tubular Bells! Drummer Steve Broughton of the Edgar Broughton Band as well as many Roy Harper releases is found on the second half. Mike Oldfield processes his vocals to deliver a "growling caveman" effect. Later, this was known as the "Piltdown Man" section to rock music critics. Although there was no mention on this original album, it was a constant reference in the age of reissues and beyond.
For me the first half is enjoyable, the opening half of the second part is a little syrupy and it gets a little more rocking at the end when the caveman comes in.
A precursor to the dark side of the new age.
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