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Mike Oldfield

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Mike Oldfield Biography

Composer Mike Oldfield rose to fame on the success of Tubular Bells, an eerie, album-length conceptual piece employed to stunning effect in the film The Exorcist. Born May 15, 1953, in Reading, England, Oldfield began his professional career at the age of 14, forming the Sallyangie folk duo with his sister Sally; a year later, the siblings issued their debut LP, Children of the Sun. By the age of 16, he was playing bass with Soft Machine founder Kevin Ayers' group the Whole World alongside experimental classical arranger David Bedford and avant-garde jazz saxophonist Lol Coxhill; within months, Oldfield was tapped to become the band's lead guitarist prior to recording the 1971 LP Shooting at the Moon.

Tubular Bells, originally dubbed Opus 1, grew out of studio time gifted by Richard Branson, who at the time was running a mail-order record retail service. After its completion, Oldfield shopped the record to a series of labels, only to meet with rejection; frustrated, Branson decided to found his own label, and in 1973 Tubular Bells became the inaugural release of Virgin Records. An atmospheric, intricate composition that fused rock and folk motifs with the structures of minimalist composition, the 49-minute instumental piece (performed on close to 30 different instruments, virtually all of them played by Oldfield himself) spent months in the number one spot on the U.K. charts, and eventually sold over 16 million copies globally. In addition to almost single-handedly establishing Virgin as one of the most important labels in the record industry, Tubular Bells also created a market for what would later be dubbed new age music, and won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition in 1974.

The follow-up, 1974's Hergest Ridge (named after Oldfield's retreat in a remote area of Herefordshire) also proved phenomenally successful, and dislodged Tubular Bells at the top of the British chart. With 1975's Ommadawn, he explored ambient textures and world music; however, the emergence of punk left Oldfield baffled, and he retreated from sight for three years following the LP's release. He resurfaced with 1978's Incantations. Platinum, issued a year later, kept its eye on the clubs, and featured a dance version of the Philip Glass composition "North Star". With 1980's QE 2, Oldfield moved completely away from his epic-length pieces and traveled into pop territory, a shift typified by the album's cover of ABBA's "Arrival". He continued in a pop vein for much of the 1980s, as albums like 1983's Crises, 1984's Discovery, and 1987's Islands encroached further and further upon mainstream accessibility. In 1992, Oldfield teamed with producer Trevor Horn for Tubular Bells II, which returned him to the top of the U.K. charts. The Songs of Distant Earth appeared two years later, followed by a third Tubular Bells update in 1998.

Biography by allmusic.com

All abums by Mike Oldfield
Cover Album title Year Tracks User rating Preview
Album: Music of the Spheres | Artist: Mike Oldfield Music of the Spheres 2008 14
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Music of the Spheres by Mike Oldfield
Album: Platinum Collection CD 1 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Platinum Collection CD 1 2006 14
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Platinum Collection CD 1 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Platinum Collection CD 2 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Platinum Collection CD 2 2006 17
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Platinum Collection CD 2 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Platinum Collection CD 3 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Platinum Collection CD 3 2006 15
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Platinum Collection CD 3 by Mike Oldfield
Album: The Platinum Collection | Artist: Mike Oldfield The Platinum Collection 2006 46
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album The Platinum Collection by Mike Oldfield
Album: The Platinum Collection (BOX SET) | Artist: Mike Oldfield The Platinum Collection (BOX SET) 2006 12
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Album: Early Stages | Artist: Mike Oldfield Early Stages 2005 17
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Album: Light and Shade | Artist: Mike Oldfield Light and Shade 2005 16
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Light and Shade by Mike Oldfield
Album: Tubular Bells 2003 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells 2003 2003 17
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Tubular Bells 2003 by Mike Oldfield
Album: The Danish Collection (cd1) | Artist: Mike Oldfield The Danish Collection (cd1) 2002 12
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album The Danish Collection (cd1) by Mike Oldfield
Album: The Danish Collection (cd2) | Artist: Mike Oldfield The Danish Collection (cd2) 2002 9
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album The Danish Collection (cd2) by Mike Oldfield
Album: To Be Free (Single) | Artist: Mike Oldfield To Be Free (Single) 2002 3
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album To Be Free (Single) by Mike Oldfield
Album: Tr3s Lunas | Artist: Mike Oldfield Tr3s Lunas 2002 14
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Album: Tr3s Lunas 2 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Tr3s Lunas 2 2002 17
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Tr3s Lunas 2 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Tres Lunas | Artist: Mike Oldfield Tres Lunas 2002 17
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Album: Hit Collection | Artist: Mike Oldfield Hit Collection 2000 18
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Album: Tubular Bells II (Live) | Artist: Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells II (Live) 2000 2
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Tubular Bells II (Live) by Mike Oldfield
Album: Guitars | Artist: Mike Oldfield Guitars 1999 10
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Guitars by Mike Oldfield
Album: Live At Katowice | Artist: Mike Oldfield Live At Katowice 1999 22
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Live At Katowice by Mike Oldfield
Album: Live Berlin Concert 12-31-1999 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Live Berlin Concert 12-31-1999 1999 13
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Live Berlin Concert 12-31-1999 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Live Paris 12-07-99 Now And Then Tour | Artist: Mike Oldfield Live Paris 12-07-99 Now And Then Tour 1999 21
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Live Paris 12-07-99 Now And Then Tour by Mike Oldfield
Album: The Earth Moving | Artist: Mike Oldfield The Earth Moving 1999 15
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Album: The Millennium Bell | Artist: Mike Oldfield The Millennium Bell 1999 11
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album The Millennium Bell by Mike Oldfield
Album: Then and Now Birmingham 14-07-1999 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Then and Now Birmingham 14-07-1999 1999 14
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Then and Now Birmingham 14-07-1999 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Then and Now London 13-07-1999 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Then and Now London 13-07-1999 1999 20
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Then and Now London 13-07-1999 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Tubular Bells III | Artist: Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells III 1998 11
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Album: All The Mixes | Artist: Mike Oldfield All The Mixes 1997 8
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album All The Mixes by Mike Oldfield
Album: The Essential Mike Oldfield | Artist: Mike Oldfield The Essential Mike Oldfield 1997 14
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album The Essential Mike Oldfield by Mike Oldfield
Album: The Sorcerer | Artist: Mike Oldfield The Sorcerer 1997 6
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album The Sorcerer by Mike Oldfield
Album: XXV The Essential CD1 | Artist: Mike Oldfield XXV The Essential CD1 1997 2
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album XXV The Essential CD1 by Mike Oldfield
Album: XXV The Essential CD2 | Artist: Mike Oldfield XXV The Essential CD2 1997 14
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album XXV The Essential CD2 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Voyager | Artist: Mike Oldfield Voyager 1996 10
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Voyager by Mike Oldfield
Album: Lost In Space Cd1 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Lost In Space Cd1 1995 3
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Lost In Space Cd1 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Lost In Space Cd2 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Lost In Space Cd2 1995 14
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Album: Elements | Artist: Mike Oldfield Elements 1993 16
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Elements by Mike Oldfield
Album: Elements CD1 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Elements CD1 1993 6
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Elements CD1 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Elements CD2 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Elements CD2 1993 13
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Elements CD2 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Elements CD3 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Elements CD3 1993 14
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Elements CD3 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Elements CD4 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Elements CD4 1993 19
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Elements CD4 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Elements: The Best Of | Artist: Mike Oldfield Elements: The Best Of 1993 16
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Album: Elements: the Best of Mike Oldfield | Artist: Mike Oldfield Elements: the Best of Mike Oldfield 1993 16
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Elements: the Best of Mike Oldfield by Mike Oldfield
Album: Live In Bruxelles 30-03-1993 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Live In Bruxelles 30-03-1993 1993 19
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Live In Bruxelles 30-03-1993 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Live Madrid 17-09-1993 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Live Madrid 17-09-1993 1993 15
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Live Madrid 17-09-1993 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Tubular Bells 2 Usa Premiere | Artist: Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells 2 Usa Premiere 1993 17
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Tubular Bells 2 Usa Premiere by Mike Oldfield
Album: Tattoo Single | Artist: Mike Oldfield Tattoo Single 1992 3
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Album: Tubular Bells II | Artist: Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells II 1992 14
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Tubular Bells II by Mike Oldfield
Album: Heaven's Open | Artist: Mike Oldfield Heaven's Open 1991 6
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Heaven's Open by Mike Oldfield
Album: Heaven's Open Single | Artist: Mike Oldfield Heaven's Open Single 1991 4
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Heaven's Open Single by Mike Oldfield
Album: Amarok | Artist: Mike Oldfield Amarok 1990 1
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Amarok by Mike Oldfield
Album: Earth Moving | Artist: Mike Oldfield Earth Moving 1989 9
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Earth Moving by Mike Oldfield
Album: Earth Moving Single | Artist: Mike Oldfield Earth Moving Single 1989 3
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Earth Moving Single by Mike Oldfield
Album: Innocent Ep | Artist: Mike Oldfield Innocent Ep 1989 3
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Innocent Ep by Mike Oldfield
Album: Islands | Artist: Mike Oldfield Islands 1987 7
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Islands by Mike Oldfield
Album: The Complete Mike Oldfield (cd1) | Artist: Mike Oldfield The Complete Mike Oldfield (cd1) 1985 18
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album The Complete Mike Oldfield (cd1) by Mike Oldfield
Album: The Complete Mike Oldfield (cd2) | Artist: Mike Oldfield The Complete Mike Oldfield (cd2) 1985 9
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album The Complete Mike Oldfield (cd2) by Mike Oldfield
Album: Discovery | Artist: Mike Oldfield Discovery 1984 8
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Discovery by Mike Oldfield
Album: Live In Bordeaux 08-11-1984 Cd1 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Live In Bordeaux 08-11-1984 Cd1 1984 9
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Live In Bordeaux 08-11-1984 Cd1 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Live In Bordeaux 08-11-1984 Cd2 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Live In Bordeaux 08-11-1984 Cd2 1984 10
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Live In Bordeaux 08-11-1984 Cd2 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Live In Viareggio Italy 09-08-84 Cd1 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Live In Viareggio Italy 09-08-84 Cd1 1984 8
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Live In Viareggio Italy 09-08-84 Cd1 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Live In Viareggio Italy 09-08-84 Cd2 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Live In Viareggio Italy 09-08-84 Cd2 1984 11
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Live In Viareggio Italy 09-08-84 Cd2 by Mike Oldfield
Album: The Killing Fields | Artist: Mike Oldfield The Killing Fields 1984 17
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album The Killing Fields by Mike Oldfield
Album: The Killing Fields | Artist: Mike Oldfield The Killing Fields 1984 17
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album The Killing Fields by Mike Oldfield
Album: Crises | Artist: Mike Oldfield Crises 1983 6
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Crises by Mike Oldfield
Album: Live At Wembley 22-07-83 Cd01 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Live At Wembley 22-07-83 Cd01 1983 8
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Live At Wembley 22-07-83 Cd01 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Live At Wembley 22-07-83 Cd02 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Live At Wembley 22-07-83 Cd02 1983 5
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Live At Wembley 22-07-83 Cd02 by Mike Oldfield
Album: The World Premiere Of Crises Live At Wembley Cd1 | Artist: Mike Oldfield The World Premiere Of Crises Live At Wembley Cd1 1983 9
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album The World Premiere Of Crises Live At Wembley Cd1 by Mike Oldfield
Album: The World Premiere Of Crises Live At Wembley Cd2 | Artist: Mike Oldfield The World Premiere Of Crises Live At Wembley Cd2 1983 4
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album The World Premiere Of Crises Live At Wembley Cd2 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Five Miles Out | Artist: Mike Oldfield Five Miles Out 1982 5
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Five Miles Out by Mike Oldfield
Album: Live In Cologne Germany 11.2.82 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Live In Cologne Germany 11.2.82 1982 10
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Live In Cologne Germany 11.2.82 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Live In Geteborg 1982 Cd1 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Live In Geteborg 1982 Cd1 1982 5
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Live In Geteborg 1982 Cd1 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Live In Geteborg 1982 Cd2 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Live In Geteborg 1982 Cd2 1982 6
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Live In Geteborg 1982 Cd2 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Live In New York 1982 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Live In New York 1982 1982 8
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Live In New York 1982 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Live Hannover 02-04-1981 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Live Hannover 02-04-1981 1981 13
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Live Hannover 02-04-1981 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Live In Montreaux 05-07-1981 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Live In Montreaux 05-07-1981 1981 8
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Live In Montreaux 05-07-1981 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Live Dublin 31-05-1980 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Live Dublin 31-05-1980 1980 9
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Live Dublin 31-05-1980 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Live In Ireland 1980 Cd1 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Live In Ireland 1980 Cd1 1980 7
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Live In Ireland 1980 Cd1 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Live In Ireland 1980 Cd2 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Live In Ireland 1980 Cd2 1980 4
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Live In Ireland 1980 Cd2 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Live In Preston Guild Hall 23.05.1980 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Live In Preston Guild Hall 23.05.1980 1980 13
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Live In Preston Guild Hall 23.05.1980 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Live In Vienna Vernissage 1980 Cd1 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Live In Vienna Vernissage 1980 Cd1 1980 6
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Live In Vienna Vernissage 1980 Cd1 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Live In Vienna Vernissage 1980 Cd2 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Live In Vienna Vernissage 1980 Cd2 1980 5
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Live In Vienna Vernissage 1980 Cd2 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Music Wonderland | Artist: Mike Oldfield Music Wonderland 1980 13
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Music Wonderland by Mike Oldfield
Album: Q.E. 2 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Q.E. 2 1980 9
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Q.E. 2 by Mike Oldfield
Album: QE2 | Artist: Mike Oldfield QE2 1980 9
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album QE2 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Exposed (cd1) | Artist: Mike Oldfield Exposed (cd1) 1979 4
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Exposed (cd1) by Mike Oldfield
Album: Exposed (cd2) | Artist: Mike Oldfield Exposed (cd2) 1979 3
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Exposed (cd2) by Mike Oldfield
Album: Exposed (live album) cd1 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Exposed (live album) cd1 1979 2
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Exposed (live album) cd1 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Exposed (live album) cd2 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Exposed (live album) cd2 1979 3
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Exposed (live album) cd2 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Live In London The Real Exposed 26-04-1979 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Live In London The Real Exposed 26-04-1979 1979 11
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Live In London The Real Exposed 26-04-1979 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Incantations | Artist: Mike Oldfield Incantations 1978 4
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Incantations by Mike Oldfield
Album: Boxed (cd1) | Artist: Mike Oldfield Boxed (cd1) 1976 5
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Boxed (cd1) by Mike Oldfield
Album: Boxed (cd2) | Artist: Mike Oldfield Boxed (cd2) 1976 5
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Boxed (cd2) by Mike Oldfield
Album: Boxed (cd3) | Artist: Mike Oldfield Boxed (cd3) 1976 5
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Boxed (cd3) by Mike Oldfield
Album: Ommadawn | Artist: Mike Oldfield Ommadawn 1975 3
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Ommadawn by Mike Oldfield
Album: Orchestral Tubular Bells | Artist: Mike Oldfield Orchestral Tubular Bells 1975 1
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Orchestral Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield
Album: The Orchestral Tubular Bells | Artist: Mike Oldfield The Orchestral Tubular Bells 1975 2
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album The Orchestral Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield
Album: Hergest Ridge | Artist: Mike Oldfield Hergest Ridge 1974 2
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Hergest Ridge by Mike Oldfield
Album: Orchestral Hergest Ridge | Artist: Mike Oldfield Orchestral Hergest Ridge 1974 2
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Orchestral Hergest Ridge by Mike Oldfield
Album: Tubular Bells | Artist: Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells 1973 2
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield
Album: Tubular Bells 25th Anniversary | Artist: Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells 25th Anniversary 1973 2
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Tubular Bells 25th Anniversary by Mike Oldfield
Album: Airborn | Artist: Mike Oldfield Airborn   5
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Airborn by Mike Oldfield
Album: Amazing Great Stuff | Artist: Mike Oldfield Amazing Great Stuff   26
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Amazing Great Stuff by Mike Oldfield
Album: Don Alfonso | Artist: Mike Oldfield Don Alfonso   15
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Don Alfonso by Mike Oldfield
Album: Hibernaculum Cd Single Cd1 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Hibernaculum Cd Single Cd1   4
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Hibernaculum Cd Single Cd1 by Mike Oldfield
Album: Hibernaculum Cd Single Cd2 | Artist: Mike Oldfield Hibernaculum Cd Single Cd2   3
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Hibernaculum Cd Single Cd2 by Mike Oldfield
Album: I Met A Sweet Senora In Barcelona | Artist: Mike Oldfield I Met A Sweet Senora In Barcelona   15
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album I Met A Sweet Senora In Barcelona by Mike Oldfield
Album: Tubular Bells 3 Not So Early Mixes | Artist: Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells 3 Not So Early Mixes   12
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Tubular Bells 3 Not So Early Mixes by Mike Oldfield
Album: Tubular Bells 3 Premeiere In London | Artist: Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells 3 Premeiere In London   16
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album Tubular Bells 3 Premeiere In London by Mike Oldfield
Album: World Premiere Of Tubular Bells 25-07-1973 | Artist: Mike Oldfield World Premiere Of Tubular Bells 25-07-1973   2
0,0 / 0 votes		 View album World Premiere Of Tubular Bells 25-07-1973 by Mike Oldfield

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