QE2 (1980)
All these years later, and I still hadn't heard QE2 from Mike Oldfield. By the time I was out of college, I'd heard the rest save Platinum. That latter album ties closest to QE2. Even though I really enjoy Oldfield's next two works Five Miles Out and Crises, both also a mix of long and short form tracks, I don't hear the same kind of inspired writing on QE2, similar to my reaction to Platinum. OK, I've now heard it and I've completed my Oldfield run. Though I do need to revisit Incantations, which has been sitting in the listening box for about three years now. (Jun).
Source: 1980 Virgin UK (LP)
6/15/25 (review)
Another one of those records I've had since the beginning of time (my time of course...). This is one of those albums I keep expecting to go to the next level but it never quite does. Here Oldfield is playing on familiar English and Celtic countryside themes similar to Hergest Ridge, with one track taking up both sides, but lacks the wild climax that album possesses. A very fine LP nonetheless.Ownership: Virgin UK (LP). Red and green labels, likely from the early 80s.1985 (acquired); 2/3/23 (review)
Five Miles Out (1982)
Last year I wrote the following about my rediscovery of Crises (edited for relevancy):
Crises (1983)
I was on a Mike Oldfield kick in college, and this one was his newest album at the time, though Discovery may have just hit the shelves, can't remember. Back then I was looking for more and more underground prog rock, and Crises to me at that time was only half an album. Eventually I moved it out. In reacquiring the LP, I could almost argue the same thing - except the half I like best today are the six tracks (see below for details on this) that make up Side 1. In fact, in absorbing the album with three straight listens, I could be persuaded to add Crises to my X-Wave collection versus progressive rock. Of course Oldfield is considered prog rock royalty and he brought on many guests for this album, most from that world. I think the best track here is the ultra catchy 'Foreign Affair' followed closely by 'In High Places'. Concerning the latter, this is the type of setup that best highlights Jon Anderson's voice. And yes, the side longer does possess a strong progressive rock component. Overall, this resulted in my second +3 listen of the year (see Faithful Breath). It won't be long before I find Five Miles Out I'm sure (and I did).
Hergest Ridge (1974)
I was in college when the Compact Disc first hit the common marketplace. But of course, like personal computers back then, they were prohibitively expensive for us student paupers. One could only look at the "long boxes" and dream of a scratch free / tick free experience. Oh the irony of today when everyone wants those sounds. Just like many want their beer to be hazy, after centuries of learning how to better purify the beverage. We're a world gone mad.
Really without any other choice, I stayed with the vinyl album because it's all I could afford (even then I disliked cassettes - another medium back in vogue. Going crazy I tell ya...). So in 1984, all of 19 and really dirt poor, I dutifully purchased my dogeared used and scratched USA Virgin press of Hergest Ridge for a $1 at a local store. So yea, not only used records, but not necessarily great copies either. Hey the nicer ones were $4! I couldn't afford that. And so I'd take the vinyl home, plop it on my roommate's crappy stereo with a crappy stylus and played it endlessly. Happier than a clam.
Two years later I scored a summer internship at a major defense contractor. I was making gobs of cash (relatively speaking of course) for the first time in my life. So I did what any other 21 year old newly minted "hundredaire" would do: I bought me a nice stereo! With a CD player - wow I'm rich! And the first two CDs I purchased were Pink Floyd's Meddle and Tangerine Dream's Green Desert. Stories for another day (and since told). But damn, new CD's were expensive back then. But then there was the burgeoning used CD market (not cheap either but better)...
I bring this story to the Hergest Ridge review because this was the first used CD I ever bought to replace a beat LP, starting a trend that continued for years. And to no regret whatsoever. As mentioned above, it wasn't like we had 180 gram pristine vinyl copies like today. Oh hell no - we just had scratched up old used copies of commodities that probably found themselves in a trash can years later. And back then even the new albums were cheap 80s represses - again of the commodity variety. Any expensive import I would have kept on LP. And to my ears, did this CD ever sound SO MUCH better than my old vinyl!
As for the music, Hergest Ridge remains my favorite Oldfield effort (though Amarok - the album from out of nowhere - gives it a run). He managed to capture the English countryside sound similar to Anthony Phillips - but on a large scale with many marquee name participants. And Side 2 gets really intense about halfway through - Oldfield's inner anger comes out with pounding / continual synthesizers and raucous guitar rave-ups. If you think of Oldfield as some tranquil music for middle aged New Age fans, play this side of music and you'll have a different viewpoint. Excellent on the whole.
Ommadawn (1975)
Another one of those records I've had since the beginning of time (my time of course...). This is one of those albums I keep expecting to go to the next level but it never quite does. Here Oldfield is playing on familiar English and Celtic countryside themes similar to Hergest Ridge, with one track taking up both sides, but lacks the wild climax that album possesses. A very fine LP nonetheless.Ownership: Virgin UK (LP). Red and green labels, likely from the early 80s.1985 (acquired); 2/3/23 (review)
Last year I wrote the following about my rediscovery of Crises (edited for relevancy):
I was on a Mike Oldfield kick in college, and this one was his newest album at the time... Back then I was looking for more and more underground prog rock, and Crises to me at that time was only half an album. Eventually I moved it out. In reacquiring the LP, I could almost argue the same thing - except the half I like best today are the 6 tracks that make up Side 1. In fact, in absorbing the album with 3 straight listens, I could be persuaded to add Crises to my X-Wave collection versus progressive rock. Of course Oldfield is considered prog rock royalty and he brought on many guests for this album, most from that world... Overall, this resulted in a +3 listen. It won't be long before I find Five Miles Out I'm sure...
---
And that day has arrived. Every single thing I said above applies here. From the +3 listen(s) - to the shorter tracks being more preferable than the side-longer - to the special guests - to the argument that this could be an X-Wave album versus prog. If you like one you will like the other. Glad to have it back.
Ownership: 1982 Epic (LP). Gatefold.1984 (first acquired); 3/22/23 (review)
I was on a Mike Oldfield kick in college, and this one was his newest album at the time, though Discovery may have just hit the shelves, can't remember. Back then I was looking for more and more underground prog rock, and Crises to me at that time was only half an album. Eventually I moved it out. In reacquiring the LP, I could almost argue the same thing - except the half I like best today are the six tracks (see below for details on this) that make up Side 1. In fact, in absorbing the album with three straight listens, I could be persuaded to add Crises to my X-Wave collection versus progressive rock. Of course Oldfield is considered prog rock royalty and he brought on many guests for this album, most from that world. I think the best track here is the ultra catchy 'Foreign Affair' followed closely by 'In High Places'. Concerning the latter, this is the type of setup that best highlights Jon Anderson's voice. And yes, the side longer does possess a strong progressive rock component. Overall, this resulted in my second +3 listen of the year (see Faithful Breath). It won't be long before I find Five Miles Out I'm sure (and I did).
I own the Canadian press and this is significant. Why? This is the only pressing to have the track 'Mistake' on it. I originally asked the Discogs community about this, and it has now been confirmed. Also interesting to note that Crises was never released in the US on vinyl.
Ownership: 1983 Virgin Canada (LP)1984 (first acquired); 8/24/22 (review)
Ownership: 1983 Virgin Canada (LP)1984 (first acquired); 8/24/22 (review)
I was in college when the Compact Disc first hit the common marketplace. But of course, like personal computers back then, they were prohibitively expensive for us student paupers. One could only look at the "long boxes" and dream of a scratch free / tick free experience. Oh the irony of today when everyone wants those sounds. Just like many want their beer to be hazy, after centuries of learning how to better purify the beverage. We're a world gone mad.
Really without any other choice, I stayed with the vinyl album because it's all I could afford (even then I disliked cassettes - another medium back in vogue. Going crazy I tell ya...). So in 1984, all of 19 and really dirt poor, I dutifully purchased my dogeared used and scratched USA Virgin press of Hergest Ridge for a $1 at a local store. So yea, not only used records, but not necessarily great copies either. Hey the nicer ones were $4! I couldn't afford that. And so I'd take the vinyl home, plop it on my roommate's crappy stereo with a crappy stylus and played it endlessly. Happier than a clam.
Two years later I scored a summer internship at a major defense contractor. I was making gobs of cash (relatively speaking of course) for the first time in my life. So I did what any other 21 year old newly minted "hundredaire" would do: I bought me a nice stereo! With a CD player - wow I'm rich! And the first two CDs I purchased were Pink Floyd's Meddle and Tangerine Dream's Green Desert. Stories for another day (and since told). But damn, new CD's were expensive back then. But then there was the burgeoning used CD market (not cheap either but better)...
I bring this story to the Hergest Ridge review because this was the first used CD I ever bought to replace a beat LP, starting a trend that continued for years. And to no regret whatsoever. As mentioned above, it wasn't like we had 180 gram pristine vinyl copies like today. Oh hell no - we just had scratched up old used copies of commodities that probably found themselves in a trash can years later. And back then even the new albums were cheap 80s represses - again of the commodity variety. Any expensive import I would have kept on LP. And to my ears, did this CD ever sound SO MUCH better than my old vinyl!
As for the music, Hergest Ridge remains my favorite Oldfield effort (though Amarok - the album from out of nowhere - gives it a run). He managed to capture the English countryside sound similar to Anthony Phillips - but on a large scale with many marquee name participants. And Side 2 gets really intense about halfway through - Oldfield's inner anger comes out with pounding / continual synthesizers and raucous guitar rave-ups. If you think of Oldfield as some tranquil music for middle aged New Age fans, play this side of music and you'll have a different viewpoint. Excellent on the whole.
Ownership: 1984 Virgin UK (CD). Yes, it's the exact same CD as above. No bar codes. Cheap booklet that goes on to explain what a Compact Disc even is - in English, French, and German.
1984 (first acquired); 1986; 11/1/14; 9/14/19 (review)
Other albums I own and need to review: Tubular Bells; Incantations; Amarok
9/14/19 (new entry)
I've been listening to Oldfield often lately. I've always loved this one. In High Places is my fave. Side long Crises is there too. I have always been a fan of the simpler folky and more accessible or pop oriented tracks as his melodies are sublime! Moonlight Shadow and Foreign Affair do it for me in ways no other artist can. I sometimes wonder if I am Mike's Earth Moving's biggest fan!
ReplyDeleteNeed to hear Earth Moving again! Thanks for the great comment.
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