History Music / TubularBells

* LighterAndSofter: Oldfeld wrote the original ''Tubular Bells'' from a very dark, depressed, alcohol-fueled place. ''Tubular Balls 2'' comes from a bright, optimistic place and it shows. Even "Tattoo" (the "Piltdown Man" variant) is fairly goofy.

* LighterAndSofter: Oldfeld wrote the original ''Tubular Bells'' from a very dark, depressed, alcohol-fueled place. ''Tubular Balls 2'' comes from a bright, optimistic place and it shows. Even "Tattoo" is fairly goofy.

Oldfield plays nearly all the instruments featured on the first album himself through overdubbing - the only exceptions were flute (Jon Field), string bass (Lindsay Cooper) and drums (Simon Broughton). At the time, overdubbing was not so widespread as it is now, and was a notable feature of the album in 1973. The sequels continue in this practice, although some instruments are played by others.

!!!'''Tropes pertaining to these albums include:'''

* ThrowItIn: According to Mike himself, he made several mistakes while recording, but decided to leave them in. Then again, considering part one of the album was recorded in just a week, it might be more accurate to say he didn't have a choice.

* WriterRevolt: According to [[http://tubular.net/articles/2001_08 engineer Simon Heyworth]], the "Piltdown Man" section resulted from Virgin Records owner Richard Branson pressuring Oldfield to add vocals to at least one section to make it more marketable as a single. Oldfield stormed out of the meeting saying "You want lyrics? I'll give you lyrics!", proceeded to get smashed on half a bottle of whiskey and "screamed his brains out" for ten minutes in the studio.

* [[AlbumCoverDesigners Album Cover Designer]] : Trevor Key.

-->'''Part Two''': Mike Oldfield plays: Electric Guitars, Farfisa Organ, Bass Guitar, Acoustic Guitars, Piano, Speed Elec. Guitars, Lowrey Organ, Concert Tympani, Guitars sounding like Bagpipes, Piltdown Man, Hammond Organ, Spanish Guitar, Moribund Chorus, Mandolin[[note]]"The Sailor's Hornpipe" features an uncredited violin; whether Mike played it or not is hard to say[[/note]

-->'''Part Two''': Mike Oldfield plays: Electric Guitars, Farfisa Organ, Bass Guitar, Acoustic Guitars, Piano, Speed Elec. Guitars, Lowrey Organ, Concert Tympani, Guitars sounding like Bagpipes, Piltdown Man, Hammond Organ, Spanish Guitar, Moribund Chorus, Mandolin

Oldfield plays nearly all the instruments featured on the first album himself through overdubbing. At the time, overdubbing was not so widespread as it is now, and was a notable feature of the album in 1973. The sequels continue in this practice, although some instruments, like flute (Jon Field), string bass (Lindsay Cooper) and drums (Simon Broughton), are played by others.

* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: The "Bootleg Chorus" (Mike Oldfield, Simon Heyworth and Tom Newman) credited on Part Two is so named because their chant sounds like "Boot! Leg! Boot! Leg!".

-->'''Part One''': Mike Oldfield plays: Grand Piano, Glockenspiel, Farfisa Organ, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Speed Guitar, Taped motor drive amplifier organ chord, Mandolin-like Guitar, Fuzz Guitars, Assorted Percussion, Acoustic Guitar, Flageolet, Honky Tonk, Lowrey Organ, ''Tubular Bells''
-->'''Part Two''': Mike Oldfield plays: Electric Guitars, Farfisa Organ, Bass Guitar, Acoustic Guitars, Piano, Speed Elec. Guitars, Lowrey Organ, Concert Tympani, Guitars sounding like Bagpipes, Piltdown Man, Hammond Organ, Spanish Guitar, Moribund Chorus

Oldfield plays nearly all the instruments featured on the first album himself through overdubbing. At the time, overdubbing was not so widespread as it is now, and was a notable feature of the album in 1973. The sequels continue in this practice, although some instruments, like flute (Jon Field), cello (Lindsay Cooper) and drums (Simon Broughton), are played by others.

Oldfield plays nearly all the instruments featured on the first album himself through overdubbing. At the time, overdubbing was not so widespread as it is now, and was a notable feature of the album in 1973. The sequels continue in this practice, although some instruments, like bagpipes, are played by others.

* FakeLoud: In ''Tubular Bells'' the peak volume is intentionally held down until the titular bells are heard, leaving the impression that their sound is louder. Oldfield also mentioned that he [[[[http://tubular.net/articles/2001_08 was unable to use actual tubular bells]] due to budget constraints, so he ended up hammering smaller bells (hard enough to ''crack'' them, which inspired the cover) and recording them with excessive microphone gain, resulting in a distorted sound.

* FakeLoud: In ''Tubular Bells'' the peak volume is intentionally held down until the titular bells are heard, leaving the impression that their sound is louder. Oldfield also mentioned that he was unable to use actual tubular bells due to budget constraints, so he ended up hammering smaller bells (hard enough to ''dent'' them, which inspired the cover) and recording them with excessive microphone gain.

Although Oldfield was to later become known as a New Age artist, he has stated that ''Tubular Bells'' is too dynamic to fall into such a category, though some elements are similar. It has, by contrast, been featured on rock album lists.

* FakeLoud: In ''Tubular Bells'' the peak volume is intentionally held down until the titular bells are heard, leaving the impression that their sound is louder. Oldfield also mentioned that he was unable to use actual tubular bells due to budget constraints, so he ended up hammering smaller bells (hard enough to ''bend'' them) and recording them with excessive microphone gain.

* FakeLoud: In ''Tubular Bells'' the peak volume is intentionally held down until the titular bells are heard, leaving the impression that their sound is louder.

* CreditsGag: ''TubularBells'' has a caption reading "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 into the nearest police station." This is a parody of labels advising listeners that stereo [=LPs=] may be played on mono equipment provided suitable cartridges are used.

* FakeLoud: In ''TubularBells'' the peak volume is intentionally held down until the titular bells are heard, leaving the impression that their sound is louder.
* ForDoomTheBellTolls: ''TubularBells'' cools down near the end with the sound of a distant tolling bell, setting the piece up for its climax.

* CreditsGag: ''TubularBells'' has a caption reading "This stereo record cannot be played on old tin boxes no matter what thay are fitted with. If you are in possession of such equipment please hand it into the nearest police station." This is a parody of labels advising listeners that stereo LPs may be played on mono equipment provided suitable cartridges are used.

Oldfield plays nearly all the instruments featured on the first album himself through overdubbing. At the time, overdubbing was not so widespread as it is now, and was a notable feature of the album in 1973. The sequals continue in this practice, although some instruments, like bagpipes, are played by others.

!!!'''Tropes partaining to these albums include:'''

* CreditsGag: ''TubularBells'' has a caption reading "This stereo record cannot be played on old tin boxes no matter what thay are fitted with. If you are in possession of such equipment please hand it into the nearest police station." This is a parody of labels advising listeners that stereo L Ps may be played on mono equipment provided suitable cartridges are used.

* FakeLoud: In ''TubularBells'' the peak volume is intentionally held down until the titular bells are heard. Leaving the impression that their sound is louder.

* {{Instrumentals}}: With the exception of one track off of ''Tubular Bells 3''.

Oldfield plays nearly all the instruments featured on the album himself through overdubbing. At the time, overdubbing was not so widespread as it is now, and was a notable feature of the album in 1973.

* BoleroEffect: Every album has a finale at the end of the first side of vinyl which, like the original Bolero, adds a different instrument each loop until everything is playing beneath the majestic entry of the titular instrument.

* GeorgeLucasAlteredVersion: ''Tubular Bells 2003'' which is rerecorded with all the recording, mastering, and editing equipment that didn't exist in 1973. Most bits are more or less the same, but there are some differences.

*** The "rock out" section just before the nasal choir switches between 7/4 and 4/4.

''Tubular Bells'' was released in 1973, and its success spawned the recording of ''The Orchestral Tubular Bells'' in 1974, but it was not until much later that Oldfield returned to his first album in force, releasing ''Tubular Bells 2'' in 1992, ''Tubular Bells 3'' in 1998 and ''The Millennium Bell'' in 2003.

''Tubular Bells'' was released in 1973, and its success spawned the recording of ''The Orchestral Tubular Bells'' in 1974, but it was not until much later that Oldfield returned to his first album in force, releasing ''Tubular Bells 2'' in 1992, ''Tubular Bells 3'' in 1998 and ''The Millennium Bell'' in 2003. YourMileageMayVary on how these recordings stack up to the original.

Hugely successful debut album by artist MikeOldfield. The album is known for its signature opening track, which was soon used as the recognizable music to the film ''TheExorcist'', and also for its financial success, providing the foundation for what became Richard Branson's Virgin Empire. Previously, Branson had been the owner of a single, though quite successful, record shop.

Hugely successful debut album by artist MikeOldfield. Known for its signature opening track, which was soon used as the recognizable music to the film ''TheExorcist'', and also for its financial success providing the foundation for what became Richard Branson's Virgin Empire (previously Branson had been the owner of a single, though quite successful, record shop).

''Tubular Bells'' was released in 1973 and its success spawned the recording of ''The Orchestral Tubular Bells'' in 1974, but it was not until much later that Oldfield returned to his first album in force, releasing ''Tubular Bells 2'' in 1992, ''Tubular Bells 3'' in 1998 and ''The Millennium Bell'' in 2003. YourMileageMayVary on how these recordings stack up to the original.

Oldfield plays nearly all the instruments featured on the album himself through overdubbing. At the time, overdubbing was not as widespread, and was a notable feature of the album in 1973.