Mike Oldfield favorite moments
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Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
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URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=84757
Printed Date: February 27 2025 at 20:28
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Topic: Mike Oldfield favorite moments
Posted By: Anonamoose52
Subject: Mike Oldfield favorite moments
Date Posted: February 04 2012 at 19:01
| I am in love with Oldfield. I haven't truly delved ultra deep into his discography, but I have Tubular Bells, Ommadawn, Hergest Ridge, and Amarok. Of the four, Amarok is my favorite, but I don't think any section on nearly any album ever can stand up to 9:40- 15:34 on pt. 2 of Hergest Ridge. I honestly find it hard to sleep sometimes if the section is on my mind, and I have to listen to it before I can drift off to sleep. What are some similar moments for you? In Oldfield or in general. |
Replies:
Posted By: Fox On The Rocks
Date Posted: February 04 2012 at 19:14
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All of Ommadawn. Specifically the Northumbrian Bagpipes section of Part 2 and the first half of part 1. Some of the most beautiful, ethereal , mystical music I've ever heard and is one of my favourite albums of all time. Also, a special shout should be given to Incantations, as well. My second favourite Oldfield record, and just like Ommadawn, is absolutely perfect in every way. ------------- 
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Posted By: Nogbad_The_Bad
Date Posted: February 04 2012 at 22:27
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Anonamoose52 wrote:Posted By: Anonamoose52
Date Posted: February 04 2012 at 22:30
I know, right? It's practically headbang-able. I showed it to my family. Reaction? "That's nice." My face:
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Posted By: brainstormer
Date Posted: February 04 2012 at 22:45
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So far, Incantations and Amarok, with the first five minutes of "Incantations" as the best thing I've heard of Oldfield, (outside of Tubular Bells. but I really don't listen to that much anymore). I have to add that I've heard other of his works, and I've only gotten through the first 26 minutes of Incantations on YouTube, the first time I've heard it. So, if it doesn't change in quality for me, I like those two better than my memories of his other works. Oldfield hadn't really clicked for me, but he is starting to. Sometimes it just takes me being in a certain time in my life to get into certain composers. I've thought of his music as being a little simplistic before, but I thought that about much of Wakeman's solo works at times until I realized that, outside of classical, there wasn't a ton of music that had the depth it had. Sometimes classical, like John Adam's operatic works, are fascinating, but sometimes they aren't that perfect to my ears either. A work by Wakeman can be just as interesting for me. It may be the same way with Oldfield for me. Sure, a serious classical work is almost more impressive than Oldfield, but I don't want to always listen to classical. ------------- -- Robert Pearson Regenerative Music http://www.regenerativemusic.net Telical Books http://www.telicalbooks.com ParaMind Brainstorming Software http://www.paramind.net |
Posted By: Nogbad_The_Bad
Date Posted: February 04 2012 at 22:57
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Ommadawn is a top 5 all-time album for me.Maybe even top 2. |
Posted By: akaBona
Date Posted: February 05 2012 at 09:58
Ommadawn 
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Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: February 05 2012 at 10:39
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Not really classic Oldfield, but I get a kick out of his over-the-top guitar solo in Kevin Ayers' "Lunatics Lament" from his early days. What a racket! ------------- My other avatar is a Porsche It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: February 05 2012 at 11:42
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Go off the beaten path and check out his collaboration/guest appearance with Pekka Pohjola. Oivallettu Matkalyhty / The Percieved Journey Lantern / The Sighted Light /The Consequences Of Indecision. Also has Sally. Cool stuff. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: lazland
Date Posted: February 05 2012 at 12:04
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I think Oldfield is wonderful, and my personal favourite is probably not shared by many, but is his cover of The Shadows Wonderful Land. ------------- Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org Now also broadcasting on www.progzilla.com Every Saturday, 4.00 p.m. UK time! |
Posted By: timothy leary
Date Posted: February 05 2012 at 12:16
| His guitar tone instantly identifies him. When you here it you know who it is. |
Posted By: Anonamoose52
Date Posted: February 05 2012 at 12:17
Such a strange sound he coaxes out of it. I've been trying to replicate it for a while now but to no avail.
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Posted By: timothy leary
Date Posted: February 05 2012 at 12:34
| It puts him on my map. I would recommend the album....5 miles out....if you want to listen to some of his later stuff and...songs of distant earth |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: February 05 2012 at 12:53
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Happy? ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: February 05 2012 at 13:04
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Happy? Never heard Amarok until the CD age. Makes me kind of unhappy and happy. One of those things that missed its moment for me. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Fox On The Rocks
Date Posted: February 05 2012 at 13:41
I totally agree. A lot of people don't like his tone, but I honestly love his tone. It's really sustained and stark sounding. -------------
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Posted By: RalphWaldo
Date Posted: February 06 2012 at 00:44
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I'm on old fan of Mike Oldfield. Beyond what you mentioned I really like Tubular Bells 2. It builds on Tubular bells and there are truly beautiful moments in it. Incantations is awesome! I usually listen to all 4 sides in sequence. Sally Oldfield vocals on the Song of Hyawatha are solid - worth a listen. ------------- A record is a concert without halls and a museum whose curator is the owner - Glen Gould |
Posted By: progprogprog
Date Posted: February 06 2012 at 10:59
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Mike Oldfield's were the only songs that I unconsciously tend to close my eyes while listening to it :) BTW despite many guys here I like Guitars album
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Posted By: lazland
Date Posted: February 06 2012 at 12:21
I really like Guitars as well  ------------- Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org Now also broadcasting on www.progzilla.com Every Saturday, 4.00 p.m. UK time! |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: February 06 2012 at 12:41
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Most of my favourite moments are on Incantations
Part One - The trumpet part
Part Two - Maddy singing Hiawatha
Part Three - The stunning extended guitar 'solo' (not really a solo but a composition in itself)
The whole thing is perhaps let down a bit on Part Four which doesn't have anything remarkable about it!
Others:
The girly vocal part on Tubular Bells Part Two. I much prefer that to anything on Part One
Hergest Ridge - the quiet section before the headbanging bit
Ommadawn - Opening section is beautifull and the Northumbrian Bagpipes as already mentioned is wonderfull
Platinum - the 'Roaring twenties' section is very pleasing. Oldfield had some fun with that live!
Acoustic guitar solo in To France (not very long but just lovely)
Probably loads more if I think about it
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Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: February 06 2012 at 19:59
| I've got a bit of Mike Oldfield and definitley want to get more. I have Tubular Bells (the 2003 remake), which I love, plus tubular bells 2 (I must say I didn't like it so much... it seems to me like a mockery of the first one... though it's got a few really beautiful moments too), and Songs from Distant Earth (which I really liked a lot too)... plus a best of compilation, which has excerpts from Incantations, Ommadawn, and Amarok, which are perhaps my very favourite parts from that album, and makes me want to get the whole albums (plus Hergest Ridge, which I believe is similar to those ones), so I guess those are the next albums I want to get. About my favourite moments... I'm not really sure, there are many many magical moments throughout Tubular Bells, and a few others on Tubular Bells 2, and I expect to find many others on the albums I want to get next. |
Posted By: Anonamoose52
Date Posted: February 06 2012 at 20:27
| Honestly, of all the Oldfield I've heard, TubeBells is my least favorite. I still love it, but he only got better. |
Posted By: Nogbad_The_Bad
Date Posted: February 06 2012 at 20:58
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Posted By: slightly slack
Date Posted: February 06 2012 at 23:02
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I agree as concerns the bagpipe section on Ommadawn.
One of the most beautifully heart wrenching pieces of music Ive ever heard.
I think his most powerful guitar playing is found on the live side
of The Complete Mike Oldfield, where he brings Platinum
to its climax with a spellbinding dose of raw rhythmic intensity.
Just crank it, baby!
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Posted By: progprogprog
Date Posted: February 07 2012 at 07:06
Yes it once happened to me and the car fell down into a deep valley, I did die right away
 .I vividly remember those last moments, exciting tho. |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: February 07 2012 at 12:45
All in all, I have no issues or complaints and there are moments of glorious work in many places. About the only thing that did not stand up well for my ears was his recent stuff that was a rehashed Glen Miller version of his music and I didn't like it. The guitar was missing and a lot of the stuff was soapy as heck for my ears and felt like muzak, and I didn't like it.
But that's me and my ears!
My favorite moment though, surprisingly enough is in the "Exposed" album ... and it goes from the beginning to the end ... and watching Maddy Prior and (specially) the late Pierre Moerlin perform is worth the price of admission and it is a dream waiting to happen.
You can not ask for more in music in excciting you at all!
(And yes, Amorok is one of my favorites because you can not preconceive ideas about music and its application and how it is put together ... because Mike has already suggested that there were none, anyway ... and I like the visuals that it gives me, which is a lot more than music that has "lyrics" that supposedly make it more progressive than the sphagetti that you cook once a year ... !!!) ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: February 07 2012 at 21:51
I was about to mention that Live version of Platinum. I also love his soloing just before the Sailor's Hornpipe on Exposed Incantations Part 4 The oboe part in Hergest Ridge Argiers (from Boxed) Ommadawn Part 2 Band 3 (the insane lead guitar jig) the 80s pop masterpieces "Crime of Passion" and "Pictures in the Dark" the electro celtic brilliance of "Conflict" from QE2 Taurus II MANY more |
Posted By: POTA
Date Posted: February 08 2012 at 20:18
| In Tubular Bells Side II, 8 minutes in, the part that kicks in with the ethereal choir and what sounds like maybe a mandolin. One of my favorite moments in music. The whole previous 8 minutes builds up to it and it's just glorious. |
Posted By: Raccoon
Date Posted: July 25 2012 at 04:21
| The beginning of Part One from Incantations. The building choir sets you up for what the whole album is about to bring. I swear, Mike Oldfield gets too little recognition in this site. He made some of the most beautiful music that could make a man cry. |
Posted By: Bj-1
Date Posted: July 25 2012 at 04:31
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I grew up with his 'Crises' album from 1983 and the title track remain as one of my favorite songs ever. Couldn't stop listening to it back then and everytime I listen to it now I still get shivers down the spine. The ending climax is amazing! Other than that, all of Incantations is excellent, and the first half of TB part 2 is just beautiful. Could repeat it all day long, no problem. ------------- RIO/AVANT/ZEUHL - The best thing you can get with yer pants on! |
Posted By: TODDLER
Date Posted: July 25 2012 at 09:30
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[QUOTE=moshkito]!
My favorite moment though, surprisingly enough is in the "Exposed" album ... and it goes from the beginning to the end ... and watching Maddy Prior and (specially) the late Pierre Moerlin perform is worth the price of admission and it is a dream waiting to happen. This is in fact one of the most incredible moments in time for me. This was a magical time. "Exposed" has outstanding performances and personal arrangements that stop me in my tracks. I can't pay attention to anything other than the music which is truly saying something. I don't multi-task when that record is on. I don't know what it is about the performance itself....I mean to say that sometimes it comes across being completely different from other live albums in the history of music.
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Posted By: thellama73
Date Posted: July 25 2012 at 09:32
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I only have Ommadawn and Tubular Bells, but the end of Ommadawn Part 2 (just before "On Horseback") blows me away every time.
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Posted By: TODDLER
Date Posted: July 25 2012 at 09:36
It also has that mystical side to it. I used to take the music on the beach and watch the tides. I've been wanting to purchase the new release of Incantations..which I suppose is a remastered version...but I read some bad reviews where fans expressed liking the original release which has a shot of Mike Oldfield standing on the beach. What is the remastered version like? What is different about this release?
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 25 2012 at 14:02
One of the many impressive aspects of those first four albums are the beginnings.
Oldfield's music at that time was incredibly spiritual as if he was searching for the answers to very deep questions about life the universe and everything.
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 25 2012 at 14:08
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 25 2012 at 14:12
That is amazing indeed although the whole album is remarkable
 btw Hergest Ridge and Incantations should be on your shopping list
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Posted By: thellama73
Date Posted: July 25 2012 at 14:17
Oh they are. It seem like his records are forever going out of print and expensive though. -------------
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Posted By: Nogbad_The_Bad
Date Posted: July 25 2012 at 18:39
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Posted By: Bj-1
Date Posted: July 26 2012 at 07:00
Absolutely. The Anderson and Chapman tracks are stronger than many of his other 80's songs (that's under ten minutes long that is), Shadow on the Wall rocks!  Probably his steadiest 80's album overall.Phillips' drumming is tasty throughout the whole album. Love the single strokes in the climax of 'Crises', simple but effective and awesome. ------------- RIO/AVANT/ZEUHL - The best thing you can get with yer pants on! |
Posted By: TODDLER
Date Posted: July 26 2012 at 07:36
| I remember watching a concert of Mike Oldfield where he performed the entire Tubular Bells II. I believe it may have been the 4th of July and at the end of the performance fireworks are released from behind the stage and Mike Oldfield waves goodbye to audience. The 1 and only time I ever had the chance to see him. I was amazed by his right hand finger picking technique. He produces this harmonic sound when playing single note phrases. I love his style of guitar playing. In the 80's he hired a lot of different vocalists ....there are some hokey tunes on those 80 's releases, but it's beautiful hokey. What can I say? I have loved the music of 10CC for years. Mike Oldfield's singer songwriter material was classy like 10CC and many others who are crafty writers with simplistic arrangements that draw me in. |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 26 2012 at 14:53
 
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Posted By: Molitro
Date Posted: July 28 2012 at 06:45
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Aside of all the music mentioned here (I'm with you, Amarok, Incantations, Ommadawn...),
I've always thought the first half of Tub Bells 2, right till the end of The Bell, that is, is nothing less of a masterpiece. (I can't believe I hadn't found this forum before, being the prog junkie that I am. I'm finding out about plenty of awesome music thanks to you guys, cheers)
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Posted By: Morsenator
Date Posted: July 28 2012 at 14:33
Welcome! TB2 is a very good album, actually I prefer it to it predecessor (OK, don't stone me  ). Especially the live performance on the dvd was stunning.------------- You love the music, the music loves you! http://moonsofjupiter.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - http://moonsofjupiter.bandcamp.com/ |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 28 2012 at 14:47
| I prefer TB3 as its a lot of fun. TB2 seemed a bit pointless to me.Other than giving all the sections a name very little changed accept a modern production sheen which it didn't really need. I have the two sided live DVD of TB2 and TB3 and it stays permanently stored in the box with TB3 ready to play. |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: July 31 2012 at 18:44
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Just got a bunch of Mike Oldfield: Hergest Ridge, Ommadawn, and Incantations (with some other albums from other artists). So I expect to have some magical musical moments for the next days
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