Hergest Ridge

Track Listings

1. Hergest Ridge, Pt. 1

2. Hergest Ridge, Pt. 2

Hergest Ridge,Mike Oldfield,Atlantic / Wea,Popular Music,Prog-Rock/Art Rock,Progressive Electronic,Rock

Hergest Ridge

Tracks:

Tubular Bells: Part One
Tubular Bells Part: Two
The Rio Grande
Portsmouth
In Dulci Jubilo

Tracks:

Hergest Ridge: Part One
Hergest Ridge: Part Two
An Extract From Star's End
Argiers
Speak (Tho You Only Say Farewell)

Tracks:

Ommadawn: Part One
Ommadawn: Part Two
The Phaeacian Games
First Excursion

Customer Reviews:

great music bad presentation.......2005-06-08

There is no doubt that the music in this so called boxed set is very good and for further info I humbly refer you to previous reviews. My disapointment comes in the destruction of the artist concept and display of the product. After reading the reviews I realized that most of you recall the album release, the albums came in a box format hence the title. But i do not know if the same people recall the original release of the cd which came in a clam shell box cleverly reproducing the album presentation. What is being past as a box is now a jewel case inside a flimsy slip cover the title should now be changed to Mike Oldfield jeweled cased.

A Must for Oldfield Fans.......2004-02-27

I have to say it... this is one of the best showcases of Mike's earlier work. This remixed version of "Tubular Bells" was created as a way to convince Mike that a quadraphonic mix should be created and released. Mike listened and proclaimed it perfect as was, so it was released. The original version, compared to this remix, sounded cluttered and confused. Also, the original American quad pressing, using the CD-4 system as opposed to the SQ format used in England, was marred by a very poor quality pressing. Contrary to what was said in the booklet accompanying this box set in CD, the recordings held on these discs are, in fact, SQ quad despite claims otherwise. I also have the LP set, and I directly compared them. So if you have a Dolby Pro Logic II setting on your playback system, by all means use it. The mix of "Ommadawn" is the same as was originally released on both SQ and QS quad versions in England, and on SQ here. The first part contains a chant, by Clodagh Simonds, that builds up toward the conclusion. Played back in surround, this chant takes on an etherial quality; Clodagh's voice suspended in mid-air as the additional instruments gradually come in. This is lost in the stereo mix, which I also have on another CD. "Hergest Ridge" features a musical tone poem, as it could be described, of where Mike was brought up. The shorter selections in the "Collaborations" album are also quite good. "In Dulci Jubilo", which is a Christmas song, takes on a highland fling style. As for "Speak", it's a duet with Mike and David Bedford on the vocals. This is a great box set, and I encourage any true Mike Oldfield fan to add it to their collection.

Gives a new light on early Oldfield's recordings.......2003-08-06

This is a must have for real Oldfield's fan..."Ommadawn", "Hergest ridge" and "Tubular bells" are his classic works, here they come along in slightly different versions and unreleased songs...The songs are really interesting especially delicate piano tune "Speak..." with vocals by Mike and beautifull "first excursion", that signals a beginning of "Incantations" era....
"Tubular bells" has a bit different sound from original and it features diffrrent ending - very funny "sailor's hornipipe" version with crazy commentary by Drunken Vivian Stanhall (master of ceremony in part 1) - a very nice suprise...
If you are a big fan of Early progressive and instrumental music,or just a Mike Oldfield fan this is a must have for you - it is also good for those fans that don't have internet to collect Mike's rare songs...

Mike and Me.......2003-04-05

Like most people, I suppose, first became aware of Mike Oldfield when THE EXORCIST first came out. Those haunting strains from TUBULAR BELLS really affected me when I saw the film lo these many yuears ago and again when I bought the album. I hyave owned that one in just about every format possible from Long Playing Record through Cassette tape to midi file and now on CD thanks to this beautiful set. A set which also features HERGEST RIDGE, OMMADAWN (another GREAT Mike Oldfield composition btw) and an album of collaborations. Unlike the LP version (which I have also owned of this boxed set) the cd boxed splits the collaborations on to the three cds that contain his first three albums. This seems to me a better way to hear them then all piled together on a separate cd the way they were with the record. They seem to complete the listening experience one has when one puts a Mike Oldfield work into one's cd player one soon notices that---whatever one is listening to: Tubular Bells, Hergest Ridge, Ommadawn...whatever---it's just not long enough. One wants the listening experience to continue..or, at least, one wants a few encores. And that's what you get here. What can I say, kids? BUY IT!!!

Superb.......2003-01-31

I was thrilled to see that this was available. I had to get my copy through a friend in England.

This CD set is an excellent collection of Oldfield's early work, and the re-mix on Tubular Bells (including the original Sailor's Hornpipe, as opposed to the toned down version used for the original American release) is hysterical (but a bit blind-siding if you're very familiar with the original -- first time I listened to it I almost pulled the needle off the LP so I could check the LP for problems).

Tracks:

Hergest Ridge (Part One)
Hergest Ridge (Part Two)

Customer Reviews:

Unique in popular music.......2007-04-26

The thing about Oldfield is how different his music is from other popular music. Not being a trained musician it's hard for me to articulate but I'll try. Orchestral and sweeping with distinct movements, the music communicates emotion and thoughts without lyrics. I don't know where Hergest Ridge is, but I've traveled there with Oldfields help. A great work of art, and one that finds more inspiration in Bach than Elvis Presley.

I once read that the Moody Blues were the Sistine Chapel of popular music but Oldfield is more deserving of that comparison.

Among the best........2007-01-10

Herbgest Ridge, Ommadawn and the Origional Tubular Bells Hybrid, are the best of Mike Oldfield.

Polar opposite to 'Tubular Bells' shows the same, if not more, talent.......2006-06-14

I can't believe how long it took me to branch out further into Mike Oldfield's back catalogue than 'Tubular Bells', especially after finally hearing 'Hergest Ridge'. It is comparable in pretty much no way at all to his classic debut, other than the two-part format, as it sees him in a very much more subtle musical mood than before. Gone are the quick shifts from section to section, replaced by a very conscious intention to smooth the edges out, to develop one section into another rather than merely switching them in an instant, regardless of the instrumentation involved. The result is a very soothing listen indeed. From the almost impossibly quiet introduction, it builds in density of sound, adding flutes, synth and orchestral instruments that have been constructed in such a way that it is not easy to audibly pick them apart from each other. In terms of genre it's a largely folkish affair, albeit a very grand interpretation. Writing 'Hergest Ridge', he seems to have paid more attention to using chord sequences as a mode for the progression of the long piece, and since he succeeds very well it gives the listener the sense that this is better written than its predecessor. It feels like a more controlled composition. The man certainly had a feeling for the right chords to use, and it is at its most beautiful when the piece strips away to leave only his acoustic guitar. One particular highlight is the climax of part one when the lead electric guitar towers over the dense, lush orchestral harmonies, as if it were leading a charge of sweeping melody.

'Hergest Ridge' is probably just as good as 'Tubular Bells', really, it just forfeits the musical immediacy of his debut in favour of a subtler, more considered approach. It works as a slow-evolving faux-classical piece as well as a 'prog rock' piece, which, upon reflection, is very well indeed

Croom.......2004-12-21

'Hergest Ridge' was Oldfield's quieter, less scattershot follow-up to 'Tubular Bells'. The album reached number one in the UK album charts when it was released but, a week later, was displaced by its predecessor, which had spent almost year climbing up the charts. Hergest Ridge is nowadays totally overshadowed by Tubular Bells, which is a shame because it's my favourite Oldfield album. It's similar in style to the b-side of its predecessor, with fewer little diddly bits and more of a flow; putting on my pretentious hat, it's similar to Beethoven's Sixth Symphony, in that it evokes a day in the countryside (complete with a 'storm'). There's nothing as immediately striking as Tubular Bells' opening piano riff, and it flags towards the end of side two, but I still like it.

Originally the album was criticised for sounding a bit odd, because the pre-grunge mixture of quiet bits and loud bits didn't come through very well on cheap vinyl. It benefits greatly therefore for being remastered on CD, and is very much a headphone experience.

As noted elsewhere this is the 1974 'Mike Oldfield Boxed' remix of the album (and is therefore in quadrophonic stereo, if you have the right quad decoder!). It's a remix in the old-school sense, i.e. Oldfield manipulated the sliders, muting some parts and making others louder.

The two are noticeably different, and fan opinion is divided as to the merits of each. Having compared the two - the internet is a wonderful thing - I prefer this version, and I get the impression a lot of people rate the original simply because it's rare... and original. The choral voices in part two are now audible, whilst the odd soloing during the 'storm' sequence has been replaced. The snare drum rolls which heralded transitions have now gone, and it generally sounds a lot slicker (of course, I'm comparing an MP3 of a battered vinyl copy of an album released in 1974 with a professionally remastered product of the modern age, but still).

My favorite Oldfield - Hands Down.......2003-12-05

Hergest Ridge is my favorite Mike Oldfield album - hands down. This is one of the few albums ever that can bring me to tears just from listening.
Yes the CD is the re-mix version (done in '74?). I've read that it was Oldfield who insisted the re-mix be the official mix on all future pressings. I have the original mix on vinyl LP, but I PREFER THE CD MIX - so don't hesitate to buy because of the mix.
One of my favorite albums of all time - and I was fortunate enough to have Mike autograph my copy when I saw him at an instore performance in Santa Monica in the early 90's :)

Average customer rating:

Hergest Ridge
Mike Oldfield
Manufacturer: EMI Japan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Electronic | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

New Age | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00028XEE4
Release Date: 2004-08-02

Tracks:

Hergest Ridge, Pt. 1
Hergest Ridge, Pt. 2

Average customer rating:

Amazing ..
Mike's Master Work.
"TB"'s follow-up (with tampering)
Oldfield Emotional Magic
Warning: this is the remixed version

Hergest Ridge
Mike Oldfield
Manufacturer: EMI Int'l
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

Progressive | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Pop | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000072O0
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

Hergest Ridge, Pt. 1
Hergest Ridge, Pt. 2

Customer Reviews:

Amazing .........2002-11-04

It dates back to 1974, and I still LOVE it. Listening to the whole of it leaves me breathless, marvelling at the beauty of the melodies and the so great sound.
It has been said that Herdgest Ridge came too soon after the first and well known release "Tubular Bells" (in 1973) and that Mike Oldfield, after the Tubular effort, hadn't regained all his strenght and inspiration when he started working on a new project. Does Herdgest Ridge, for that particular reason, sound somewhat unfinished, not to say scamped ? Well, it might - but I really don't care, as it is so beautiful and, to me, better than Tubular Bells anyway.

Mike's Master Work........2001-08-24

I thought "hmmm" after hearing this for the first time when it came out all those years ago, but suddenly found myself listening to it avidly. I liked it better than Tubular Bells, as it, well, satisfied my soul more. The reason is the wonderous guitar piece at the end of Part One. Its that slow incantation effect of music leading your somewhere - and what anticipation it created. I have differing recordings of this work, and whilst I appreciate the re-workings, the first recording is still my favourite. Part Two is OK but I always return to the original Side One of my cassettes. Now CD versions are available the recordings no doubt are digitally enhanced - still it is the music that counts and Hergest Ridge is a gem.

"TB"'s follow-up (with tampering).......2000-05-20

After "Tubular Bells", Mike Oldfield would be hard-pressed to come up with something to follow up such an effort. So that may be partly why "Hergest Ridge" seems to be rather unfocussed in places in comparison. Oldfield tries to stretch his compositional methods around a few more elements this time out, and sometimes this work, but also, sometimes it doesn't quite gel. Still, this has some wonderful moments, especially the whole of Part II with its dramatic developmental arc. You can also see here some nascent ideas that would get a lot more development later on, forming some of the seeds behind the superior follow-up, "Ommadawn". I do have to object, though, as this CD reissue is considerably remixed and altered from the original version. Whole instrumental parts are missing in some places, and Part II's overall mix has been changed...sometimes for the better, as it's not as muddy, but overall there seems to be something absent between the original and this version. Therefore, docked one star for tinkerage; Virgin really should remaster and rerelease the first version of this and do this sophomore effort of Oldfield's better justice.

Oldfield Emotional Magic.......2000-04-02

I consider Hergest Ridge to a great follow up to Tubular Bells, if not better. Like so many other fans, I was disappointed that the CD version is the remixed version from the Boxed set. Side Two benefits from this mix however much of the emotion from Side One is lost, especially with the removal of the horns and the snare drum. I was also disturbed by the CD insert which doesn't do justice to the original LP cover. I dream of the day when Mr. Oldfield with approve the release of the original version of this splendid album, music and all. Hergest Ridge is still so very beautiful and haunting. I feel that Mike Oldfield shared his heart and soul on this recording

Warning: this is the remixed version.......1999-12-14

This music is inspiring, pastoral, uplifting, and meditative. At times it melts with the scenery, then suddenly soars above it. This is not pop music. You must take the time to let it envelop you. It is not for everyone. I would have given this CD 5 stars, but this is the REMIXED version from the Boxed set (1976), which other fans, myself included, find disappointing. The horn part that was unfortunately mixed out here on side 1 was one of my personal favorites. Those familiar with the original pressing will find something missing. I've been informed that Mike considers this mix the definitive version and has ordered that all future pressings be from the remix. I hope that someday Mike will reconsider releasing the original version on CD. For now, I'll listen to the original 1974 vinyl release. If you have recently tuned into Oldfield, perhaps you can get a copy of it through an internet auction.