The Making of 'Tubular Bells' TV Prog on BBC4

I enjoyed it too, and my daughters enjoyed listening to Tubular Bells in the car this morning as a result. I would have liked something to have been said about TB2 and 3, as well as the 2003 re-recording, but you can't have everything.

I hadn't realised what a psychologically disturbing childhood he'd had, nor quite how dreadfully affected he was right up until the late 70s. Poor chap.

Mark

It is a great documentary of so much more than simply the music. Really enjoyed watching it with my 16yo bass playing son. G

Check out his autobiography, it is very interesting.

I found this on iplayer by complete accident, and what a happy accident it was. 

I really enjoyed the parts when Oldfield was playing along to the master tapes, especially as he was explaining the long bass guitar lead solo part and having to play about 7 mins in a single take.

On iplayer until Monday 21 Oct. Hurry or you'll miss it.

Very good in parts, not so enjoyable for me in others. It was not entirely the Mike Oldfield story, as billed and it didn't completely cover the history of Tubular Bells, although the most important parts were well served. Somebody is bound to take another run at it if a few years and maybe they can fill some gaps and delete that bloody awful Olympic ceremony footage, or at least the parts of it that don't show the band playing. 

I was looking forward to watching the archive TV concert which followed the documentary. A bit of personal time travel, a strong roster of talent on the floor, it was going to be a treat. But I didn't get more than 5 minutes into it because of the video editing wankage.

Thanks. I've just ordered a copy. Customer reviews do indeed make it sound like an interesting read.

John.

Hello John,

If you still have the programme recorded on your tv I would love to watch it when I see you Friday for DDay. Ive got the original on vinyl and cd and love the album. I'd quite like to hear his other stuff as have only heard TB1. 

Mike 

Hi Mike,

The programme is still on the TV hard-drive. I'll keep it for you and will enjoy watching it again myself.

John.

Earotica: I'm by no means a Mike Oldfield specialist, but even in my limited experience his albums are very variable and many split opinion widely, even amongst fans.

That said, here's what I've got of his, with some comments:

TB2: my favourite of the three TBs. Clearly meant to be a variation on the original themes, and it's fun spotting the difference.

TB3: Hmm. Not the same thing at all, except superficially in places. Much more techno-techno inspired. Definitely has some good moments though, and really benefits from being heard on a muscular system.

Amarok: Odd, in that it just consists of a single 60 minute track, but a hugely structured piece, with a family of themes coming and going throughout.

The Songs of Distant Earth: Just wonderful. The moments where he tracks in samples of the Genesis reading from the Apollo 8 mission still send shivers down my spine. Cracking melodies and great production values. Also has some of the most fun subterranean basslines I've ever heard - check out track 6 from 0:33 and track 12 from 1:04.

Anyone got any other favourites?

Mark

I was aware of TB when it first came out thanks to older sister, but I didn't get into him until 1984 with the album Crises, I was mesmerised by it and played it non stop for at least a couple of years, I still love it as much. I then bought Mike Oldfield Boxed ( the first three albums and a compilation called collaborations, then QE2, then Incantations, I have most of his albums now and the ones from that middle era that stand the test for me are 1, Crises 2, Incantations ( unusual, very hard for me to get into ) but love it now and 3, QE2.