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Tubular Bells

by Mike Oldfield

Released: May 25, 1973

Progressive rock, instrumental rock, new-age music

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Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Breakthrough.

The Album

"Tubular Bells" is the debut studio album by the English musician Mike Oldfield, released in 1973. The album is primarily instrumental and features Oldfield playing a wide range of instruments, including guitars, keyboards, percussion, and woodwinds. The centerpiece of the album is the titular "Tubular Bells," a 48-minute composition that spans two sides of the original vinyl release.

Inside the Recording

"Tubular Bells" is characterized by its complex arrangements, intricate melodies, and innovative use of multitrack recording techniques.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

The album's enduring popularity has led to numerous…

The album's enduring popularity has led to numerous reissues, remixes, and adaptations over the years.

"Tubular Bells" gained widespread acclaim for its ambitious…

"Tubular Bells" gained widespread acclaim for its ambitious scope, technical virtuosity, and avant-garde sensibility.

It has also been used in various films…

It has also been used in various films, television shows, and other media, further solidifying its status as a classic of progressive rock music.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells

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Then

Reception

It became a commercial success, reaching the top of the UK Albums Chart and earning critical praise from music critics around the world.

Now

Legacy

It is widely regarded as a groundbreaking and influential work in the progressive rock genre, and it played a significant role in establishing Oldfield as a pioneering figure in music. With its innovative approach to composition and recording, "Tubular Bells" remains a landmark album in Mike Oldfield's career and a seminal work in the history of progressive rock. Its influence can still be felt in contemporary music, and it continues to captivate listeners with its timeless appeal and adventurous spirit.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Tubular Bells" is the debut studio album by the English musician Mike Oldfield, released in 1973. It is widely regarded as a groundbreaking and influential work in the progressive rock genre, and it played a significant role in establishing Oldfield as a pioneering figure in music.

The album is primarily instrumental and features Oldfield playing a wide range of instruments, including guitars, keyboards, percussion, and woodwinds. The centerpiece of the album is the titular "Tubular Bells," a 48-minute composition that spans two sides of the original vinyl release. "Tubular Bells" is characterized by its complex arrangements, intricate melodies, and innovative use of multitrack recording techniques.

"Tubular Bells" gained widespread acclaim for its ambitious scope, technical virtuosity, and avant-garde sensibility. It became a commercial success, reaching the top of the UK Albums Chart and earning critical praise from music critics around the world.

The album's enduring popularity has led to numerous reissues, remixes, and adaptations over the years. It has also been used in various films, television shows, and other media, further solidifying its status as a classic of progressive rock music.

With its innovative approach to composition and recording, "Tubular Bells" remains a landmark album in Mike Oldfield's career and a seminal work in the history of progressive rock. Its influence can still be felt in contemporary music, and it continues to captivate listeners with its timeless appeal and adventurous spirit.