TUBULAR BELLS

That only a musical genius could have done this while being only twenty years old? Maybe!

That the multi-layered instruments played by (almost) a single musician was extremely original in 1973? Probably!

That the hypnotic main theme automatically links the listener to one of the greatest movie ever? Certainly!

That there are some fantastic and melodic passages all along these almost fifty minutes of music? No doubt!

That Part Two is not as good as the Part One ? Obviously!

That Part Two took a hell of a time to be completed? Rightly!

That the great guy who refused Oldfield's work at EMI was fired while the album reached the UK charts? You bet!

That this album remains in the UK charts for over five years? Incredibly right!

That it took one year of being already in the charts to reach the first position? Amazingly true!

That "Tubular Bells" supplanted "Hergest Ridge" from this first spot? Astonishingly!

That the high ratings on PA are fully deserved? Definitely!

That four stars is my judgment? Accordingly!

There is little need to go deep into a detailed and technical description of this work. Other reviewers did this far much better as I could. I have listened to this album many times and can't really get bored with it even if I spin more the first part, obviously. IMHHO, it is a very fine piece of music. Influential, maybe self- indulgent but very well crafted and enjoyable. It sold over fifteen million copies worldwide (probably a record for an all instrumental work, but I have no confirmation of this).

Thanks Mike.

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