EXPOSED

Mike Oldfield

Crossover Prog

3.94 | 119 ratings

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This recording taken from the 1978 European tour to promote Mike Oldfield's fifth studio release of his double album, Incantations, is his first and only official live release. I view this as almost criminal of his recording company to only release one live album as Mike is an extraordinary live artist. You need to otherwise go to his various live DVD issues to hear him in live performance. The live presentation of Incantations is a truncated version of the studio version with about 25 minutes stripped off the studio version. It still flows brilliantly with Maddy Prior, who shares the vocals with Sally Oldfield on the studio version, adding her voice to this live version. I fell in love with Maddy Prior's voice when I first heard her in Steeleye Span. Here she is equally good in this live version of Incantations.

The second part of Exposed is a complete performance of Tubular Bells. The first part of TB is slightly longer than the studio version and has Mike Oldfield replacing a lot of the acoustic guitar sections with electric guitar. It moves a little faster than the studio version and has a rockier feel to it and a changed ending. It will never equal the studio version of it, which is a masterpiece, but sits comfortably as a complimentary ride to the familiar riffs of the studio version. The second part of TB is almost half the length of the original, but I think it's superior. It has a real waltzing, rocky feel to it finishing with the familiar Sailor's Hornpipe.

As an encore Mike performs his singles hit, Guilty. He uses one of the themes from Incantations and turns it into an up- tempo disco beat. I couldn't think of a more perfect way to end the album. Live albums don't always work, but Exposed is as good as any and Mike Oldfield performs brilliantly as usual. Pity we can't enjoy more live albums from him.

iluvmarillion | 4/5 | 2020-7-21

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