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Mike Oldfield – Tubular Bells

Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells album cover

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Label:Virgin – V2001
Format:
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Country:UK
Released:
Genre:Rock
Style:Folk Rock, Prog Rock

Tracklist

ATubular Bells (Side 1)
Chorus [Girlie Chorus] – Mundy Ellis, Sally Oldfield
Chorus [Nasal Chorus] – Nasal Choir
Double Bass [String Basses] – Lindsay Cooper (2)
Flute [Flutes] – Jon Field
Grand Piano, Glockenspiel [Glokenspiel], Electric Organ [Farfisa, Lowrey], Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Electronics [Taped Motor Drive Amplified Organ Chord], Guitar [Speed, Fuzz, Mandolin-like], Percussion [Assorted], Acoustic Guitar, Flageolet, Piano [Honky Tonk], Tubular Bells – Mike Oldfield
MC [Master Of Ceremonies] – Viv Stanshall*
25:00
BTubular Bells (Side 2)
Acoustic Guitar – Tom Newman (2)
Chorus [Bootleg Chorus] – Manor Choir
Chorus [Girlie Chorus] – Mundy Ellis, Sally Oldfield
Conductor [Bootleg Chorus] – Mike Oldfield
Drums – Steve Broughton
Electric Guitar, Electric Organ [Farfisa, Lowrey, Hammond], Bass Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Electric Guitar [Speed Elec. Guitars], Timpani [Concert Tympani], Guitar [Sounding Like Bagpipes, Spanish], Vocals [Piltdown Man], Chorus [Moribund] – Mike Oldfield
23:50
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Companies, etc.

  • Recorded At – The Manor
  • Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Virgin Records
  • Distributed By – EMI
  • Distributed By – Island
  • Published By – Virgin Music Ltd.
  • Pressed By – EMI Records
  • Printed By – E.J. Day Group
  • Made By – E.J. Day Group

Credits

  • Design [Sleeve], Photography By – Trevor Key
  • Technician [Sound] – Mike Oldfield, Simon Heyworth, Tom Newman (2)

Notes

Original UK release, black and white labels.

[Back]
Credits
"In Glorious Stereophonic Sound
Can also be played on Mono-equipment at a pinch."

[Labels]
Stereo ℗ 1973 V2001

Hints:
"This stereo record cannot be played on old tin boxes no matter what they are fitted with. If you are in possession of such equipment please hand it to the nearest police station."

At the time the recording was made at The Manor studio, some of the recording equipment wasn't properly shielded, so the carrier wave (or Morse code) transmission from GBR (the nearby Rugby transmitter) was recorded on the master tape - possibly without the audio engineer's knowledge! This is quite low in frequency & quite inaudible unless you have suitable Hi-Fi equipment.

Fully-laminated sleeve.

Tracks are listed as SIDE 1 and SIDE 2 on the cover, followed by the relevant instruments and guest musician lists. On this version the tracks are simply credited as Tubular Bells Side One and Tubular Bells Side Two on the labels.

Recorded at: The Manor/Autumn 1972 Spring 1973.
℗ Virgin Records, 130 Notting Hill Gate, London, W.11.
Distributed by Island and E.M.I.
Printed & made by the E. J. Day Group, London & Bedford.

Barcode and Other Identifiers

  • Matrix / Runout (Runout, A-side, stamped, variant 1): V 2001 A-2U
  • Matrix / Runout (Runout, B-side, stamped, variant 1): V 2001 B-3U
  • Matrix / Runout (Runout, A-side, stamped, variant 2): V 2001 A-2U PO 2
  • Matrix / Runout (Runout, B-side, stamped, variant 2): V 2001 B-3U HR 3
  • Matrix / Runout (Runout, A-side, stamped, variant 3): V 2001 A-2U TG 4
  • Matrix / Runout (Runout, B-side, stamped, variant 3): V 2001 B-3U GAH 5
  • Matrix / Runout (Runout, A-side, stamped, variant 4): V 2001 A-2U HP 1
  • Matrix / Runout (Runout, B-side, stamped, variant 4): V 2001 B-3U OT 3
  • Matrix / Runout (Runout, A-side, stamped, variant 6): V2001 A-2U MT 1
  • Matrix / Runout (Runout, B-side, stamped, variant 6): V2001 B-3U PO 2
  • Matrix / Runout (Runout, A-side, stamped, variant 7): V 2001 A-2U O 1
  • Matrix / Runout (Runout, B-side, stamped, variant 7): V 2001 B-2U L
  • Matrix / Runout (Runout, A-side, stamped, variant 8): V 2001 A-2U H 1
  • Matrix / Runout (Runout, B-side, stamped, variant 8): V 2001 B-2U GD

Other Versions (5 of 566)

View All
Title (Format)LabelCat#CountryYear
Recently Edited
Tubular Bells (LP, Album, MO-Monarch Pressing)VirginVR 13-105US1973
Recently Edited
Tubular Bells (LP, Album, Stereo)Virgin87541 ITNetherlands1973
Tubular Bells (LP, Album, Stereo)Virgin87 541 ITGermany1973
Recently Edited
Tubular Bells (LP, Album)VirginV2001Scandinavia1973
Recently Edited
Tubular Bells (LP, Album, Reissue)Virgin104 8290Brazil1973

Recommendations

Reviews

  • Pinpal_1960's avatar
    Pinpal_1960
    Edited 3 months ago
    I just got a copy of Tubular Bells L.p. record, I have a few different copies and variations (labels, Quadraphonic, etc.) That copy I got this week has the Red and Blue Virgin Twins label. Cat No V2001 Australia. My copy has the Gold Record Award triangle on the bottom left of the cover.
    Would this be the original first pressing of Tubular Bells in Australia, or is the B/W Twins Virgin label the first?
    Does anyone no the ded wax Matrix Number for the first pressing in Australia ? Many Thanks
    • Lukas_Lukiev's avatar
      Lukas_Lukiev
      COLOR LABELS - you all probably have a reissue copy from 1974, just like I have.
      see: https://www.discogs.com/release/2292542-Mike-Oldfield-Tubular-Bells
      • Daisys_Daddy's avatar
        Daisys_Daddy
        I'm the same as the very 1st question.
        Matrix numbers match A 2 U and B 3 U, fully laminated cover but coloured labels.
        On the run out on side A, it has DRG stamped on it and on side 2 has GMO stamped on it.
        • Bimpse57's avatar
          Bimpse57
          over 48 years old at time of review ! my recently purchased copy still sounds crisp and clear. Great piece of music
          • kimwozere's avatar
            kimwozere
            A wonderful piece of modern day classical if you like. A quirky album that will appeal to all. Mike oldfield at his best, a timeless piece of instrumental music that can be enjoyed for decades and generation after generation 🎶
            • zimba.oceanman's avatar
              zimba.oceanman
              I got V2001 stereo version Virgin Music ( Publishers ) Ltd. UK, but with a completly different label on the vinyl. Only the girls, no lizzards, gold colour with a white rim. Any clues?
              • lizzydevine6's avatar
                lizzydevine6
                Please could someone please help me out I've got a stereo version. ,7016
                • jatkin's avatar
                  jatkin
                  I seem to have an edition not catalogued above. It is very similar to the first press however it is printed by Robor Limited and the matrix (side A) is V-2001-A 1 and (side B) V-2001-B 1

                  Can anybody shed any light onto what edition I have?
                  • johnmswan's avatar
                    johnmswan
                    My copy has matrices 2U/2U, and is otherwise identical to this one (black and white labels, laminated sleeve). So is 3U still a first pressing?
                    • The1971's avatar
                      The1971
                      The U etched on the Matrix of this EMI pressed LP signifies that the LP was cut somewhere other than EMI. In this case it was done by Beryl Ritchie who was working at CBS.

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