Tubular Bells 2003 [Enhanced]

Track Listings

1. Part One: Introduction

2. Part One: Fast Guitars

3. Part One: Basses

4. Part One: Latin

5. Part One: A Minor Tune

6. Part One: Blues

7. Part One: Thrash

8. Part One: Jazz

9. Part One: Ghost Bells

10. Part One: Russian

11. Part One: Finale

12. Part Two: Harmonics

13. Part Two: Peace

14. Part Two: Bagpipe Guitars

15. Part Two: Caveman

16. Part Two: Ambient Guitars

17. Part Two: The Sailor's Hornpipe

Tubular Bells 2003,Mike Oldfield,Sally Oldfield,Rhino / Wea,Electronic,Miscellaneous,Miscellaneous Music,New Age / Meditation,Pop,Prog-Rock/Art Rock,Progressive Electronic,Rock/Pop

Tracks:

Introduction
Fast Guitars
Basses
Latin
A Minor Tune
Blues
Thrash
Jazz
Ghost Bells
Russian
Finale
Harmonics
Peace
Bagpipe Guitars
Caveman
Ambient Guitars
The Sailor's Hornpipe

Amazon.com

Perfectionist Mike Oldfield (unhappy, apparently, at the odd bum note on the indubitably classic original) utilizes updated studio techniques to re-record his flagship classical/folk/rock instrumental masterwork in its bar-for-bar entirety. It may be true that the Bayeux Tapestry would look pretty good if someone re-embroidered all 230 feet of it on a modern sewing machine, but that's hardly the point. Surely, the original Tubular Bells, which recorded 16 million in sales, has more than enough going for it. Although the production here is fatter and brighter, playing "spot the difference" between this version and the one that continues to pay for Richard Branson's hot-air balloons may require levels of diligence and dedication bordering on pottiness. There are minor distinctions, including louder bass guitar, better sounding bagpipes, Sally Oldfield (presumably) joining Mike for a grunt on the amusing "Caveman" section, and John Cleese playing master of ceremonies on "Finale," saving his best "pining for the fjords" voice for the announcement of the arrival of the "double speed guitar.". --Kevin Maidment

Album Description

30 years on, a replayed and reproduced version of the groundbreaking classic Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield with the latest technology. Warner Music. 2003.

Album Details

His Recording Contract Prevented Him from Re-recording the Original Classic for 25 Years. Time's Up and Our Hero Hasn't Wasted a Moment in Getting the Job Done. Every Instrument Has Been Re-miked for this Special Edition of Oldfield's all Time Classic. In Former Bonzo Dog Viv Stanshall's Absence Due to Natural Causes, Former Monty Python John Cleese Has Been Recruited as "The Announcer". The Theme from "The Exorcist" Has New Breath, Fresh Depth and Crystal Clear Sound Like You've Never Imagined it Before!

Customer Reviews:

Smoke and dust from supposed fans: Ignore them.......2007-06-15

People read these reviews because they are not sure about an artist or one of their works, and are just getting interested. Let me assure anyone reading this (if you are recently interested in Mike Oldfield) that this is a beautiful CD.

The reviewers here leave a confusing picture: some haven't heard this but reviewed it anyway, others are getting it mixed up with Tubular Bells 3, which has different music on it.

I bought this CD after reading reviews here, and was not put off by the supposed fans, crying about remakes (how many times???) etc. I first got interested in MO from Tubular Bells 2, which has some striking, highly original and beautiful compositions. They ARE NOT the same as the Tubular Bells original. In fact, all of Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells works are enough different, that you could own all of them and enjoy each separately for what it is.

Except for TB 2003, which is the grownup modern version of Mike's ideas from 1973. If this CD had no predecessor, it would be an above-par ambient-rock fusion work that would attract some notice. If Mike Oldfield decides to redo it to make it better, more power to him. Don't believe any of the tripe here that it is without soul, etc. Electronic instruments are used by everybody nowadays, from the pure guys like Ulrich Schnauss, to the major players like Alan Parsons. (Well,except for Tingstadt and Rumbel, and the Chieftains, --both of whom I like a lot--and other acoustically-committed musicians.)

To belittle the guy for wanting to make a version fit for the generations unborn, is to quarrel over territory that doesn't belong to you. That's what I think, anyway.

This is a 4.5 stars effort, rounded to 5.

Good, but different from the original.......2007-05-10

When I had bought this I had ordered the original version and received this version. When I saw that it was 2003 I thought about returning it, but decided to keep it. When I first put it on I immediately noticed a difference even though I had not heard this in years. I still have the vinyl LP from the '70s! I really like this version of Tubular Bells, but I am not sure if I like it as much as the original version. The original version was done with less instruments which lends to its uniqueness. The sound quality of this version is by far better than the original due to the limitations from the source tape of the original. All in all, I am glad I kept this version, but will buy the original version also.

I Prefer the Original.......2006-09-11

I've been a fan of Mike Oldfield's work since the release of "Tubular Bells" in the 1970's. Unfortunately, I think this 2003 re-recording lacks much of the spontaneity and exhuberance that made the original recording so wonderful.

All the way from the excessively fuzzy sound of the rock guitars to John Clease using his best "Fawlty Towers" voice to call out the various instruments in the Part One Finale. This version of "Tubular Bells" is just too studied; too aware of itself; too cute; too over-produced.

I'm going to continue listening to the original recording - warts and all. It's alive in a way that "Tubular Bells 2003" is not.

Now this is where he's gone too far.......2006-08-06

On this album, he is trying to re-record, as closely as possible, to the original 1973 release. Why the hell does he want to do that? If he had released this performance live, his efforts may have been more justified. I'd rather see him and his other performers try and reproduce the original album this tight instead of just hear it being redone as a CD only release.

Now, I know everybody who likes Mike Oldfield is criticizing him for re-recording and re-packaging Tubular Bells over and over, and over again these past 30 plus years. But, if it wasn't for the 1992 release of Tubular Bells II, I would have probably just let myself forget all about him. I really didn't follow Mike Oldfield's music much after Crises (1983) and The Killing Fields (1984). I didn't care for how Mike Oldfield was doing less long played projects and started to perform pop sounding ditties with other singers. Sometimes, you wouldn't know if you were listening to Mike Oldfield or ABBA. Simple pop songs like "Family Man", "To France", "Moonlight Shadow", etc. And when I saw "Discovery" (1984) and seen that it had more short pop songs with vocals, I just sort of gave up on Mike Oldfield, altogether. So I think, TB II was a smart move for Mike Oldfield to re-introduce himself to the music world. "Tubular Bells" (1973) was considered a Progressive Rock achievement back then, and so TB II of 1992 had to compete with the modern day New Age music market. I don't think TB III was a great disappointment, and I certainly I won't give it a miss either. To see it performed live now (on his very hard to find PAL region only DVD release of TB II and TB III live) actually makes me appreciate that album so much more.

And why shouldn't Mike Oldfield try and keep Tubular Bells alive? When we go to see any singer or band in concert, we are usually not too concerned about hearing some of their new material. We want to see and hear the hits, of course. Especially from bands who's past is much more glorified than where they are today.

However, If he tries to re-record this album just once more, he really should seek some therapy. I think by now, he's beat this horse enough. Please Mike, give it a rest!

Good job Mike........2006-07-24

Well this album is the result of a long journey and my personal opinion is that it has those new small changes that makes it refreshing than Tubular Bells I, but of course the spontaneity and passion of Tubular Bells I is unique as well as many others
on those years; " It's a good album."

Well I think that Mike can deliver an insuperable music as he showed to us in " Songs of Distant Earth " and many others.

Average customer rating:

This cash cow has been tragically over-milked
The repeating point
We don't need another version!!!!
An exceptional re-make, and a DVD taste of the future
A Good Idea Good Bad

Tubular Bells 2003 (+ Bonus DVD)

Manufacturer: WEA International
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Electronic | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Tubular Bells III
The Millennium Bell
Tubular Bells II
Mike Oldfield - Live at Montreux 1981

ASIN: B000096H33
Release Date: 2003-06-02

Tracks:

Introduction
Fast Guitars
Basses
Latin
Minor Tune
Blues
Thrash
Jazz
Ghost Bells
Russian
Finale
Harmonics
Peace
Bagpipe Guitars
Caveman
Ambient Guitars
Sailor's Hornpipe

Tracks:

Introduction [DVD]
Fast Guitars [DVD]
Basses [DVD]
Introduction 2003 'The Video' [DVD]

Amazon.com

Album Description

30 years on, a replayed and reproduced version of the groundbreaking classic Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield with the latest technology. Includes bonus DVD (NTSC / All Regions) featuring 3 5.1 mixes and video clip - 'Introduction', 'Fast Guitars', 'Basses' and the video promo 'Introduction'. Virgin. 2003.

Album Details

Customer Reviews:

This cash cow has been tragically over-milked.......2004-09-13

I've got nothing against remasterings, or even re-recordings. The re-recording of Philip Glass's "Einstein On The Beach", for example, is far more powerful than the original. If only the same were true of Tubular Bells.

It's a common truism amongst artists that if you work and re-work a piece of art too much, you work all the life and spontaneity out of it. That seems to have happaned here. Yes, the recordings of the instruments are all cleaner and sharper, but there's a processed homogeneity to the whole thing, with every sequenced beat being just a little too perfect, every guitar note just a bit too smooth and consistent.

There are some specific flaws too. Piltdown man with vocoders? Please. The original was murky, primitive and threatening; this new version is just silly. Similarly, John Cleese should have been discouraged from camping it up, rather than having "Mandolin!" sampled like a Max Headroom quip. It's symptomatic of the fact that where the original was earnest and a touch angry in places, this new version sounds jokey and artificial. Maybe the Mike Oldfield of 2003 views it as a joke album, or perhaps it's all about the money.

As a final note, I still think the original intended ending of "Tubular Bells" is far better than the cheesy synth Sailor's Hornpipe used on the first release, and inexplicably kept for this re-recording. You'll only hear the real ending on the version of TB included in "Boxed". Personally, I edited the "Boxed" ending onto the 1990s remastered edition of the original "Tubular Bells" using Cubase, and that's my ultimate version. I'm literally throwing the 2003 release away and pretending I never heard it.

The repeating point.......2003-09-15

another version of Tubular bells - get the original.
DVD is only a cheap computer made video (i can make it myself) and few album tracks to listen in DVD rom.

We don't need another version!!!!.......2003-08-22

I own at least five versions of "Tubular Bells": The original vinyl edition, the first cd edition, the 30th anniversary edition, the HDCD Remastered edition and the SACD edition...and now I have this brand-new-re-recorded edition....I'm intoxicated...I think the SACD version should have been the real last attempt of it!...

A real Tubular Bells' fan

An exceptional re-make, and a DVD taste of the future.......2003-08-19

There are two versions of this release, the US Version from Rhino, and the Import Version which includes a bonus DVD. I bought the DVD/Import version and I'm glad I did.

The CD is the same in both versions, but the DVD gives you a taste of what Oldfield may have planned for yet another future release. One of the advantages of his re-recording of this masterpiece is that he now has a high end master which he can re-mix in newer audio formats as they come along.

The DVD is only about 9 minutes long, but it does contain a short animated video and an intense audio mix of a couple of tracks in a 5.1 audio format. It would seem to me that producing the entire release in a high end audio format such as DVD Audio or SACD is the next logical step.

One listen to the 5.1 DVD on your surround system and you're hooked.

A Good Idea Good Bad.......2003-08-07

When I first heard that Mike Oldfield was planning to re-record the original Tubular Bells with updated technology, I thought that was a wonderful idea. But I did not take into account the measure of disrespect the composer must now feel for his once revered composition. Rather than making this a stronger recording than the original, it seems deliberately weak and watered down. Also, the announcing of the instruments and Cave Man lyrics are unbelievably contrived. You just want to say to him, Mike, are you really taking this thing seriously. And he seems to say back, I can't believe you ever took it seriously.

If you pretend that this is PDQ Bach stealing themes from Mike Oldfield it might just be funny. But otherwise it's just plain painful to listen to.

If you've never heard the original and are considering buying this one first, please reconsider. This parody may poison your appreciation of what was originally one of the most innovative and emotionally stirring classical rock compositions of the early 70's.

Tubular Bells 2003
Average customer rating:
Tubular Bells 2003
Mike Oldfield
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0002546OO
Release Date: 2003-06-17

Album Description

30 years on, a replayed and reproduced version of the groundbreaking classic Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield with the latest technology. Includes Tubular Bells 2003, 2 & 3 plus a bonus DVD (Pal) featuring 3 5.1 mixes and video clip - 'Introduction', 'Fast Guitars', 'Basses' and the video promo 'Introduction'. Double gatefold digipak. Copy Protected. Warner Music Spain. 2003.

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