A custom-made distortion was used to create the “bagpipe guitars” (so called because their sound is similar to bagpipes) heard on side two. And at the end of side two a familiar tune is heard: Oldfield’s arrangement of the Sailor’s Hornpipe brings the album to a close. A template for innovation Chosen as the album’s title and the subject of a great fanfare at the end of side one, tubular bells constituted something of a novelty item and source of fascination for listeners. Primarily a guitarist, prior to working on Tubular Bells Oldfield had familiarised himself with a range of other stringed, keyboard and percussion instruments. A popular perception of the album’s creation is of Oldfield playing a large number of musical instruments and endlessly overdubbing his performances to produce a one-person orchestra. Among these, and available on vinyl for the first time, is “Tubular X,” which was Oldfield’s take on Mark Snow’s theme for the smash hit TV series The X-Files. Also included is the “Tubular Beats” remix collaboration with YORK, plus the original “Mike Oldfield’s Single (Theme From Tubular Bells),” made in response to an unauthorized US single that contained an excerpt from the album. Read the full, strange story of that release here. Also, for the first time since a very limited run in 2012, “Tubular Bells/In Dulci Jubilo (Music for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games)” is included.

Matrix / Runout (B Side, stamped (and handwritten) in Runout): VIG 2933 722 2DU1 380 CIDIS (~~~~) 6 Electric Guitar, Organ [Farfisa, Lowrey, Hammond], Bass Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Electric Guitar [Speed Elec. Guitars], Timpani [Concert Tympani], Guitar [Sounding Like Bagpipes, Spanish], Vocals [Piltdown Man], Chorus [Moribund] – Mike Oldfield

This 50th Anniversary celebration edition of Tubular Bells, overseen by Mike Oldfield, contains a brand new half-speed Abbey Road master of the original album, plus a second album that unites several beguiling versions of Oldfield’s masterwork for the first time. The album was pioneering in many ways, from its use of bells to electric guitars recorded at half speed, and has been credited as an early example of new age music. Through a series of modulations, this motif is repeated at various stages throughout side one of Tubular Bells, ending with the motif played on a Spanish guitar in the transposed key of E major. At the time the recording was made at The Manor studio, some of the recording equipment wasn't properly shielded, so the carrier wave (or Morse code) transmission from GBR (the nearby Rugby transmitter) was recorded on the master tape - possibly without the audio engineer's knowledge! This is quite low in frequency & quite inaudible unless you have suitable Hi-Fi equipment. In 1973, a young, largely unknown 20-year-old released his debut album, the first release on a brand-new label. The artist was Mike Oldfield, the album Tubular Bells and the label, Virgin Records. The album became a phenomenon, topping the UK charts, winning a Grammy; giving a green light to his career. Its popularity and notoriety was secured by its main theme being featured in The Exorcist, the film which became a global sensation.

An instrumental work, Tubular Bells is 49 minutes and 16 seconds long presented in two parts, each taking up one side of the original vinyl release.Still in his teens, Oldfield was disillusioned with the rigours of touring and the limitations of live performance. His vision was to produce an album taking full advantage of the sound production opportunities offered by the recording studio.

Oldfield then retired from recording and performing, and the eight-minute introduction piece was shelved. Now emerging for the first time, “Tubular Bells 4 Intro” stands as a new conclusion to the epic work, and may well be the last piece ever to be recorded by Oldfield.

A template for innovation

Tubular Bells gained further exposure when the introduction to Part One was used in William Friedkin’s 1973 film The Exorcist.

Tubular Bells/In Dulci Jubilo" (music For The Opening Ceremony Of The London 2012 Olympic Games) (11:20) Several sections of music on Tubular Bells were written by Oldfield and recorded as demos on cassette before he entered the Manor — a 16th century building bought by Branson and converted into a recording studio — to begin work on the album. A repeated motifElectric Guitar, Organ [Farfisa], Bass Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Electric Guitar [Speed Elec. Guitars], Organ [Lowrey], Timpani [Concert Tympani], Guitar [Guitars Sounding Like Bagpipes], Performer [Piltdown Man], Organ [Hammond], Guitar [Spanish], Chorus [Moribund], Conductor [Manor Choir] – Mike Oldfield English composer and multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield began writing Tubular Bells 50 years ago, at the age of 17. The record, released two years later, was the first on Richard Branson’s newly established Virgin label and remains Oldfield’s highest selling and best known album to date. Tubular Bells is best known for Part One, particularly the first three and a half minutes of music, which feature a repeated motif in the key of A minor with a 15/8 time signature. This stereo record cannot be played on old tin boxes no matter what they are fitted with. If you are in possession of such equipment please hand it to the nearest police station."