MIKE OLDFIELD
Mike Oldfield - Boxed [1976] (4 x CDs)
Boxed, released in October 1976 by Virgin Records, is a monumental four-LP set that reimagines the early sonic universe of Mike Oldfield. Rather than a simple compilation, it’s a full-bodied remix project that presents his first three album, Tubular Bells, Hergest Ridge, and Ommadawn, in SQ quadraphonic sound, plus a fourth LP titled Collaborations, which showcases rare and previously unreleased works with fellow musicians. Each LP offers a distinct experience, and together they form a cohesive journey through Oldfield’s groundbreaking early years.
LP1 Tubular Bells This is the album that launched Oldfield into the spotlight in 1973, and in Boxed, it gets a true quadraphonic remix by Phil Newell, assisted by Alan Perkins, a major upgrade from the earlier “fake quad” version. The immersive soundstage brings new life to the hypnotic build of Part One, culminating in the whimsical and extended version of “The Sailor’s Hornpipe,” featuring a delightfully eccentric spoken-word tour of The Manor by Viv Stanshall. It’s playful, surreal, and a perfect capstone to the album’s experimental spirit.
LP2 Hergest Ridge Often considered the quiet middle child between Tubular Bells and Ommadawn, Hergest Ridge (1974) is given a second chance to shine here. Oldfield himself remixed this version, correcting what he felt were flaws in the original mix. The result is a more ambient, pastoral soundscape that reflects the tranquility of the English countryside where it was conceived. Part One and Part Two flow with gentle orchestration, layered guitars, and subtle brass and woodwind touches. It’s a meditative work, and this remix finally gives it the clarity and depth it deserves.
LP3 Ommadawn Released in 1975, Ommadawn is arguably Oldfield’s most emotionally resonant album, and the quad remix, done by Oldfield and Newel, enhances its rich textures. Part One is a masterclass in layering, with African percussion, Celtic melodies, and choral vocals weaving together into a powerful crescendo. Part Two includes the charming “On Horseback,” a whimsical tune that adds warmth and humanity to the album’s introspective tone. This LP feels like Oldfield at his most personal and adventurous.
LP4 Collaborations The final disc is a treasure chest of rarities and creative partnerships. Tracks like “The Phaeacian Games” and “Extract from Star’s End” highlight Oldfield’s work with David Bedford, blending orchestral grandeur with experimental flair. Folk-inspired pieces like “Portsmouth” and “In Dulci Jubilo” (featuring Leslie Penning) showcase Oldfield’s playful side, while “First Excursion” and “Speak Tho’ You Only Say Farewell” offer introspective moments. This LP adds dimension to Oldfield’s catalog, revealing his collaborative spirit and musical curiosity.
Altogether, Boxed is a masterfully curated anthology that doesn’t just revisit Oldfield’s early work, it redefines it. Each LP stands strong on its own, but together they form a panoramic portrait of an artist pushing boundaries in sound, structure, and emotion. (B)
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Track lists
CD1
01 Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells Part One 25:33
02 Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells Part Two (with except "Sailor's Hornpipe") 25:45
CD2
01 Mike Oldfield - Hergest Ridge Part One 21:24
02 Mike Oldfield - Hergest Ridge Part Two 18:46
CD3
01 Mike Oldfield - Ommadawn Part One 20:07
02 Mike Oldfield - Ommadawn Part Two (with except "On Horseback"" 17:23
CD4
01 David Bedford - The Phaeacian Games 3:59
02 Mike Oldfield - Extract From Star's End (Featuring David Bedford, Chris Cutler and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) 7:33
03 Mike Oldfield - The Rio Grande (Traditional, arrangement by Bedford) 6:38
04 Mike Oldfield - First Excursion 5:57
05 Mike Oldfield - Argiers (Featuring Leslie Penning) (Traditional, arrangement by Oldfield) 3:59
06 Mike Oldfield - Portsmouth (Featuring Leslie Penning) (Traditional, arrangement by Oldfield) 2:04
07 Mike Oldfield - In Dulci Jubilo (Featuring Leslie Penning and William Murray) (Traditional, arrangement by Oldfield) 2:51
08 Mike Oldfield - Speak Tho You Only Say Farewell (Featuring David Bedford) (Ray Morello, Horatio Nicholls) 2:56
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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.
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Buenísimo!!!! Gracias!!!
ReplyDeleteSaludos.
Hi Mirta.
DeleteIt a great set, one we all should have in our collections.
Cheers.
You got me at Viv Stanshall. Thanks
ReplyDeleteHi lemonflag.
DeleteThat delightfully eccentric spoken-word tour on The Sailor’s Hornpipe is pure Stanshall, whimsical, surreal, and utterly unforgettable.
Cheers.
Thank you! It’s insane that the mix of Hergest Ridge on the set went from being the only version available for decades to being impossible to find, even in some of the shadier places online. Applause to you!
ReplyDeleteHi Rebecca Mader/Impersonader.
DeleteThat Hergest Ridge remix is a bit of a unicorn. For years it was the definitive version, quietly shaping how listeners understood the album’s pastoral flow. And then, poof, vanished into the ether, even from the usual digital back alleys.
It felt important to bring it back into the light, especially in the context of Boxed, where it finally gets the clarity and depth Oldfield intended.
Cheers.
Got this box set back in '76 as a promo from Virgin (with handwritten notes from the UK) for my radio show back then. Nice to see it again.
ReplyDeleteHi Rod Stasick.
DeleteThat’s a fantastic piece of history, getting Boxed as a Virgin promo with handwritten notes. That’s the kind of artifact collectors dream about. Your radio show would have been a perfect setting to share Oldfield’s immersive soundscapes with listeners. Thanks for sharing this fascinating bit of history.
Cheers.
Actually, starting in '74, while living in a small town of only about 2500, I would get these promos from them regularly - LPs and 7"s - catalogs and full sheets about, for example, "Phaedra" and how to introduce the artist and album. There was always a handwritten thank you note - often in detail - from IIRC - Miranda (?) from their little office in the UK. I felt lucky, but I also wrote back and told them which albums and tunes I had played from the stuff they were sending. The fact that I could've been able to have these conversations with a small(ish), but growing record label overseas was quite extraordinary. I have all of that correspondence still and I put all the promo sheets inside the album jackets. The radio show was done in a large Metropolitan city a short distance away from the small town, and as a high school student I was able to introduce people to new albums on Virgin often before they were officially released.
DeleteHi Rod,
Deletethat’s an extraordinary story, thank you for sharing it in such vivid detail.
The image of handwritten notes from Miranda at Virgin’s UK office, paired with promo sheets tucked inside LP jackets, paints a beautiful picture of a time when music promotion was personal, passionate, and deeply human.
Your dedication, writing back and championing new releases from a small town to a metropolitan audience as a high school student is genuinely inspiring. It’s a reminder of how grassroots enthusiasm helped shape the trajectory of labels like Virgin, and how radio hosts like you were vital conduits for discovery.
That kind of correspondence is pure gold, historically and emotionally. I’m honored this post could reconnect you with those memories. PS I will be posting "Phaedra" in the near future, an album that grabbed me by the brain.
Cheers.