The Best Tubular Bells

I'd say the original TB's A-Side with most of the TB2 B-side, ending with the Sailor's Hornpipe from Boxed. And with 'Far above the Clouds' as a bonus track.

oliverstoned wrote: Pixel Pirate wrote: No,it's not called The Essential Mike Oldfield at all,I was thinking of another one,it's called Elements. Much better title considering the content. Great! How long is the piece with Hillage? Is the sound good?

It's only the first part of TB,in other words about 25 minutes,which makes me think you might be right about another live version made earlier anyway because from the dim,dark unknown regions I refer to as my memory,I do now recall that an earlier live version was done,probably in 74,in Royal Albert Hall or a similar place and that cannot be this one since this is from a tv performance. I don't think the first one was filmed,perhaps that's why another one was made for tv. And the sound quality is very good.

oliverstoned wrote: One time i get on Internet a live version of Tubular Bells with Steve Hillage on guitar, i can remember it was from 1974, but unfortunatly the sound was poor (and even worst because of MP3 compression). But the music was fantastic. Does someone else knows it?

It's actually from 1976 and it's out now on dvd. I think it's called The Essential Mike Oldfield or some such rubbish,because it's not the essential at all,it's filled with all the ghastly pop videos he did in the 80's,but there is some good stuff on it too,like the live version of TB I with Steve Hillage on guitar. At least good stuff for those who have been pining for that to be released for some years now,and there are some mildly interesting promos from the 70's on the dvd too and finally the full video extravaganza of "The Wind Chimes" can be enjoyed in all it's computerized,late 80's glory but personally I find 21 minutes of dancing Balinese among computer images a tad tiring,so I still prefer just the music without the visuals.