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HR lover Group: Members Posts: 548 Joined: Sep. 2010 Posted: Jan. 28 2012, 13:05 What would you make someone who is still unacquainted with the works of Mr Oldfield listen to? In other words what is a good representation of Mike's works? What song would sum him up? -------------- Neither a borrower nor a lender be, For loan oft loses both itself and friend, And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry. Back to top

bob the screamer Group: Members Posts: 108 Joined: Jan. 2011 Posted: Jan. 28 2012, 13:39 Predictable from me perhaps, but i would say Amarok. It is captures in my opinion all of the characteristics of Mike. It is very different from most other artists music, it is also apparently one of the songs (I hesistate to call it "song" though... more composition) he enjoyed the most to do. It summarises: complexity, length, depth, dynamics, ingenuity. I would say it is what Mike Oldfield is all about. Of course all in my humble opinion When I show my friends Mike Oldfield's music, I always start with Amarok. -------------- New free album out: http://www.bobthescreamer.com/music/twinety-twine/ Back to top

Holger Group: Members Posts: 1506 Joined: Feb. 2003 Posted: Jan. 28 2012, 14:04 I'd say definitely Tubular Bells. Original, of course. If they don't like that, chances are they will never really get into Mike's stuff anyway. They might like a few things here and there, but they don't get the essence of Mike's music. Also, it's easy on the ears for those who aren't acquainted with his sound. Back to top

larstangmark Group: Members Posts: 1767 Joined: Mar. 2005 Posted: Jan. 28 2012, 16:11 Taurus II would be my pick. It has celtic/folk-ish parts, hard rocking parts and even a vocal track (the deep deep sound). It shows the full range of his talent IMO. I don't think it's his best composition by far (although it's very good), but I think it's a good introduction. -------------- "There are twelve people in the world, the rest are paste" Mark E Smith Back to top

nightspore Group: Members Posts: 4770 Joined: Mar. 2008 Posted: Jan. 28 2012, 17:54 Ah, Taurus II. After all the craziness, that remains. Back to top

Ugo Group: Members Posts: 5495 Joined: April 2000 Posted: Jan. 28 2012, 19:10 TB and Amarok for his instrumental side. Moonlight Shadow for his "pop" side. These are to me the best introductions to his two contrasting sides. -------------- Ugo C. - a devoted Amarokian Back to top

bob the screamer Group: Members Posts: 108 Joined: Jan. 2011 Posted: Jan. 28 2012, 21:43 Quote (Ugo @ Jan. 29 2012, 01:10) TB and Amarok for his instrumental side. Moonlight Shadow for his "pop" side. These are to me the best introductions to his two contrasting sides. but do you think his pop side is "representable" for his music? -------------- New free album out: http://www.bobthescreamer.com/music/twinety-twine/ Back to top

larstangmark Group: Members Posts: 1767 Joined: Mar. 2005 Posted: Jan. 29 2012, 03:38 Pop songs were a big part of Mike's work in the years 1979-91. I don't know why it should be brushed aside as some sort of temporary mistake. This reminds me of when Geffen sued Neil Young for "delivering unrepresentative product" in the early 80s. Who decides who the artist is? The artist or the listener? -------------- "There are twelve people in the world, the rest are paste" Mark E Smith Back to top

Ugo Group: Members Posts: 5495 Joined: April 2000 Posted: Jan. 29 2012, 07:02 @ lars: you stole the words I was just about to type. Most of Mike's career in the Eighties (and in the early Nineties) was built on pop. Surely it was high-class, sophisticated pop, but it was always pop. It's one of his faces. A picture of Mike O. to someone who doesn't know him would be incomplete without showing his pop aspect. As an afterthought, also @ lars: I don't think that "The Deep Deep Sound" really works as a track on its own because it's part of Taurus II and (at least in my mind) strictly connected to the longer composition. But Taurus II has also got a very poppy part in what I call the lyricless telephone song , commonly known as Sana Rosana. So, ultimately, you're right about it. -------------- Ugo C. - a devoted Amarokian Back to top

Holger Group: Members Posts: 1506 Joined: Feb. 2003 Posted: Jan. 29 2012, 08:13 Definitely shouldn't be brushed aside, but I still wouldn't use it to introduce someone to Mike. I would play them Tubular Bells first, then if they like that, something instrumental from the 80s (Taurus II would indeed work very well there), and maybe then Moonlight Shadow or some other song depending on that person's taste in music. Back to top

HR lover Group: Members Posts: 548 Joined: Sep. 2010 Posted: Jan. 29 2012, 09:36 I think Taurus II would be good but not everybody likes to listen to a song that lasts 20 minutes. What I actually was trying to say is a short song 5 minutes max that would describe Mike's music. I'd probably go for Five Miles Out or Etude. -------------- Neither a borrower nor a lender be, For loan oft loses both itself and friend, And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry. Back to top

Ugo Group: Members Posts: 5495 Joined: April 2000 Posted: Jan. 29 2012, 10:21 Well, to me Mike Oldfield's reputation as a composer, musician and performer rests on his long compositions. I don't think you can introduce anyone to what Mike O. really is by using only a five minute song, no matter how elaborate it is. Étude is too electronic - people would get the impression from it that Mike O. is a keyboardist in the style of Vangelis, when of course he is not. IMHO, If you really wish to show anyone who he really is, you have to make him of her sit through all of the twenty-five minutes of Tubular Bells Part One. At least. @ Holger: of course I wouldn't use just a pop song. I'd play TB, Amarok and then Moonlight Shadow. And I'd tell to my listener(s): Mike is the guy who did this, this AND this. -------------- Ugo C. - a devoted Amarokian Back to top

Olivier Group: Super Admins Posts: 1868 Joined: Nov. 1999 Posted: Jan. 29 2012, 11:19 Red Dawn / The Bell Back to top

Bradnorman Group: Members Posts: 142 Joined: Oct. 2011 Posted: Jan. 29 2012, 11:52 I have to agree with Holger. It would definitely be the original version of Tubular Bells. Also...how about showing them the 'Live At Montreux 1981' dvd, as a good example of his stage performances? -------------- ‘Is my team ploughing,    'That I was used to drive   And hear the harness jingle    When I was man alive?' Life is arbitrary Back to top

Holger Group: Members Posts: 1506 Joined: Feb. 2003 Posted: Jan. 29 2012, 12:19 Quote (HR lover @ Jan. 29 2012, 15:36) What I actually was trying to say is a short song 5 minutes max that would describe Mike's music. Tubular Bells intro then.   Back to top

Holger Group: Members Posts: 1506 Joined: Feb. 2003 Posted: Jan. 29 2012, 12:21 Quote (Ugo @ Jan. 29 2012, 16:21) Well, to me Mike Oldfield's reputation as a composer, musician and performer rests on his long compositions. I don't think you can introduce anyone to what Mike O. really is by using only a five minute song, no matter how elaborate it is. I agree. If people don't like long tracks, then Mike is not for them anyway. Your efforts would be wasted. Back to top

Holger Group: Members Posts: 1506 Joined: Feb. 2003 Posted: Jan. 29 2012, 12:22 Quote (Bradnorman @ Jan. 29 2012, 17:52) Also...how about showing them the 'Live At Montreux 1981' dvd, as a good example of his stage performances? That is a very good idea. Even my wife was impressed with that one. (Sorry for the triple post, too lazy to quote by hand right now. ) Back to top

Bradnorman Group: Members Posts: 142 Joined: Oct. 2011 Posted: Jan. 29 2012, 12:57 I'm pleased to hear that your wife was impressed by my suggestion. I was never able to impress my ex-wife with my musical preferences. She used to fall asleep during rock concerts!!! -------------- ‘Is my team ploughing,    'That I was used to drive   And hear the harness jingle    When I was man alive?' Life is arbitrary Back to top

Tubularman Group: Awaiting Authorisation Posts: 2304 Joined: June 2004 Posted: Feb. 14 2012, 10:05 Ommadawn part 1 the exerpt version -------------- Mike Oldfield M i x e s https://soundcloud.com/tubularman Back to top

larstangmark Group: Members Posts: 1767 Joined: Mar. 2005 Posted: Feb. 14 2012, 16:53 I have a friend who didn't care much for Mike until I showed him the Knebworth gig on VHS ("The Essential"). After that he started getting into the albums. Now it strikes me that perhaps Mike had something in his liveshows that he never managed to put down on LP. The live versions "rock" in a way that the records just don't. -------------- "There are twelve people in the world, the rest are paste" Mark E Smith Back to top

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