Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells – 50th Anniversary Edition

On 26 May, Mike Oldfield’s iconic Tubular Bells is being reissued in double vinyl and CD formats as well as a Bluray exclusively with Super Deluxe Edition, to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Available to pre-order now, this special collection features an unreleased demo made five years ago which, at the time, was intended to be the start of a new 50th-anniversary version of the work. Then, Mike Oldfield retired, and the eight-minute introduction was shelved. Now seeing the light of day, Tubular Bells 4 Intro is the conclusion to this historic album’s incredible life and may well be the last thing to ever be recorded by Oldfield.

 

With the whole project overseen by Mike, the vinyl version of Tubular Bells – 50th Anniversary Edition contains a brand new half-speed Abbey Road master of the original 1973 mix of the album by Miles Showell and a second record that unites several beguiling versions of Oldfield’s masterwork for the first time.

 

Receiving its first outing on vinyl is Tubular X, Mike’s take on Mark Snow’s iconic X-Files theme, recorded in 1998. There is the Tubular Beats remix collaboration with YORK as well as the original Mike Oldfield’s Single (Theme From Tubular Bells) which was made in response to an unauthorized American single containing an excerpt from Tubular Bells. And, for the first time since a very limited run in 2012, Mike’s stunning Tubular Bells/In Dulci Jubilo (Music for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games) is also included.

 

Tubular Bells is a cornerstone of popular culture. But, before its world fame, the 16 or so million sales, the Royal Mail stamp, and its selection for the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, originally, there was the music.

 

In 1973, a young, largely unknown 20-year-old Mike Oldfield released his debut album – two long suites of music, with virtually every instrument played by Mike himself. It also happened to be the debut release of a brand-new label – Richard Branson’s Virgin Records. This coming together was an ambitious and brave collaboration for both parties, but became one of music’s great partnerships setting Oldfield on the path to being one of Britain’s most renowned and celebrated musicians, while Virgin Records would become one of the most iconic and influential record labels in the world, which would not have been possible without the success of this record. Tubular Bells became a phenomenon, topping the UK charts and winning a Grammy. Its popularity and notoriety were secured by its main theme being featured in The Exorcist, the 1973 film which became a global sensation.

 

Mike Oldfield says… “Listening again to the musical outpourings of an angst-ridden teenager, it is hard to believe that was actually me, 50 years ago. The music doesn’t sound that angst-ridden, but only I know the years of work and stress that produced Tubular Bells. This was all live, first-take performances with no second chances or studio trickery as we have become so used to today. Little did I think when I was making Tubular Bells that anyone would ever hear it, let alone be celebrating it five decades later! Thank you to everyone who has listened over the years.”

 

David Kosten has mixed the 1973 original album into DOLBY ATMOS, which will be available digitally and as part of the SDE Blu-Ray edition. There is also a special digital compilation edition available

Tracklists:

Double LP (V2001-50LP)

LP1

Side One

Tubular Bells – Part One (2023 Half Speed Master by Miles Showell)

Side Two

Tubular Bells – Part Two (2023 Half Speed Master by Miles Showell)

 

LP2 

Side One

Tubular Bells 4 Intro (previously unreleased demo 2017)

Tubular Bells/In Dulci Jubilo (Music for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games)

Side Two

Tubular X

Tubular Bells (Mike Oldfield & YORK Remix)

Mike Oldfield’s Single (Theme From Tubular Bells)

 

CD (V-2001-50CD)

Tubular Bells – Part One 1973 mix

Tubular Bells – Part Two1973 mix

Tubular Bells 4 Intro (previously unreleased demo 2017)

Tubular Bells/In Dulci Jubilo (Music for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games)

Tubular Bells (Mike Oldfield & YORK Remix)

 

Bluray exclusive through Super Deluxe Edition (V-2001 50BD)

Tubular Bells Part One 2023 David Kosten Dolby Atmos Mix
Tubular Bells Part Two 2023 David Kosten Dolby Atmos Mix
Tubular Bells 2023 David Kosten Dolby Atmos Intro edit
Tubular Bells Part One 2009 Mike Oldfield 5.1 surround mix
Tubular Bells Part Two 2009 Mike Oldfield 5.1 surround mix
Tubular Bells Part One 1976 4.0 surround (Quad) mix
Tubular Bells Part Two 1976 4.0 surround (Quad) mix
Tubular Bells Part One 2023 David Kosten Stereo Mix
Tubular Bells Part Two 2023 David Kosten Stereo Mix Intro edit
Tubular Bells 2023 David Kosten Stereo Mix Intro edit
Tubular Bells 4 Intro (previously unreleased demo 2017)
Tubular Bells – Part One 1973 mix 
Tubular Bells – Part Two 1973 mix