CRIME OF PASSION

'Crime of Passion' is a non-album Oldfield song that became familiar to me on the double vinyl compilation The Complete Mike Oldfield (1985) when I was a teenager. The vocalist Barry Palmer -- who by the way had a prog merit of replacing Helmut Köllen in Triumvirat -- would be heard alongside Maggie Reilly on Mike's next studio album Discovery (1984), that Palmer probably still is best known from. Strangely so, for he's not a bad vocalist at all, slightly resembling John Miles (but not as good). Wikipedia reveals that his early 70's band Brave New World was influenced by e.g. Family and Wishbone Ash; a neverheard-case for me, though.

'Crime of Passion' is not very progressive as a composition, but it is a pretty good pop piece in minor key, and very easily identified as a Mike Oldfield song. Compared to the songs of Discovery that Palmer sang, such as 'Poison Arrows' and 'Discovery', I actually like 'Crime of Passion' more than those; it would have worked well on that album. Relatively steady, forward-going rhythm is a bit similar as on 'Man in the Rain' (Tubular Bells III).

Also the dreamy, slow-paced instrumental 'Jungle Gardenia' appeared on The Complete Mike Oldfield. I remember playing it as a relaxation after skiing. The shamelessly easy-listening, Muzak-like piece has a sweet New Age aura to it -- which doesn't mean one one shouldn't or wouldn't enjoy it.