"Ommadawn" is the third studio album by English musician, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter Mike Oldfield, released on November 07, 1975, on Virgin Records. The album peaked at No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart, No. 74 in Canada, and No. 146 on the US Billboard 200. The song that concludes "Ommadawn (Part Two)," titled "On Horseback," was released as a single in November 1975 alongside Oldfield's non-album track "In Dulci Jubilo." Within two months, the album achieved gold certification from the British Phonographic Industry, indicating 100,000 copies sold. A remastered edition was issued by Mercury Records in 2010, featuring new stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixes and additional material. Oldfield had initially considered making Amarok a sequel to Ommadawn, but this idea was not realized until he released Return to Ommadawn in 2017.
By the end of 1974, Oldfield had gained worldwide fame from the success of his debut album, Tubular Bells. He followed it with Hergest Ridge, which received a less favorable critical response, disappointing him but inspiring a creative drive to produce a worthwhile and successful follow-up. Oldfield sought to avoid professional studios for Ommadawn, convincing Virgin Records to install a 24-track studio at his home, The Beacon, near Kington, Herefordshire. He recorded the album there from January to September 1975, with African drums recorded at The Manor in Oxfordshire due to space limitations at The Beacon. Oldfield acted as the album's sole producer and engineer.
Shortly after beginning the recording process, Oldfield's mother passed away, and he found solace in working on his music during this difficult time. However, he faced a significant setback when the recording tape began to shed its oxide layer, damaging his work. Despite the challenges, including needing to start over with a new tape brand, Oldfield found inspiration in the process, ultimately leading to a product he deemed wonderful. The original version of side one was released on the 2010 remaster as "Ommadawn (Lost Version)."
The album's cover photograph was taken by David Bailey, and the title was chosen late in the production. Oldfield came across a collection of made-up words from Irish musician Clodagh Simonds, one of which was "ommadawn." He initially rejected claims that it derived from the Irish Gaelic word amadán, meaning "fool," though he later acknowledged that it could mean "idiot."
Ommadawn features two main compositions, divided into "Ommadawn (Part One)" and "Ommadawn (Part Two)." The latter concludes with "On Horseback," which relates to Oldfield and his collaborators' experiences riding along Hergest Ridge. Oldfield aimed for sounds rather than meaningful lyrics, leading to an unconventional lyric composition that included phrases like "Daddy's in bed" and "I'm an idiot."
In November 1975, Oldfield's non-album track "In Dulci Jubilo" was released with "On Horseback" as the B-side, reaching No. 4 on the UK singles chart in January 1976. A quadraphonic mix of Ommadawn was later included on the compilation album Boxed. Oldfield did not tour until 1979, but he began performing excerpts from the album in 1980.
The album has received critical acclaim for its technical and emotional depth. Excerpts have appeared in various media, including the NASA film The Space Movie and the children's TV show Jackanory. Oldfield initially planned to create a sequel with Amarok, but it wasn’t until 2015 that he began recording Return to Ommadawn.
In 2010, Ommadawn was reissued as a Deluxe Edition by Mercury Records, including restored artwork, new mixes, and bonus material. A limited edition 180-gram vinyl was also released as part of the Back to Black series, along with a limited box set containing the Deluxe Edition and a signed print of the artwork.
