Portsmouth (Mike Oldfield single)
Encyclopedia
"Portsmouth
Portsmouth (song)
"Portsmouth" is a traditional English folk dance tune, similar to an hornpipe melody. It is sometimes referred to as the Portsmouth Hornpipe."Portsmouth" appeared in the 11th edition of John Playford's The Dancing Master in 1701...

"
is a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...

 released by musician Mike Oldfield
Mike Oldfield
Michael Gordon Oldfield is an English multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, working a style that blends progressive rock, folk, ethnic or world music, classical music, electronic music, New Age, and more recently, dance. His music is often elaborate and complex in nature...

 in 1976 (see 1976 in music
1976 in music
-January–February:*January 5 – Former Beatles road manager Mal Evans is shot dead by Los Angeles police after refusing to drop what police only later determine is an air rifle....

). It is Oldfield's highest charting single in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

, charting at number 3.

Details

In an attempt to repeat the success of his previous year's Christmas hit, "In Dulci Jubilo", Mike recorded another traditional folk melody dating from 1701 (first known publication), again using Leslie Penning on recorder
Recorder
The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...

s. The single was just as successful as its predecessor, charting at number 3 in the UK
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...

, and became his first non-album single to be issued in the USA. It also charted at number 19 in Ireland
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...

. Mike Oldfield plays acoustic guitar, accordion, mandolin, ARP string synthesiser
ARP String Synthesizer
The ARP String Synthesizer, also known as the ARP Solina String Synthesizer or sometimes the Solina String Synthesizer, is an ARP Instruments, Inc. synthesizer. It is a hybrid model which combined both the ARP String Ensemble and the ARP Explorer monophonic synthesizer. It was built in Bodegraven,...

, tambourine, kettle drum and bodhran
Bodhrán
The bodhrán is an Irish frame drum ranging from 25 to 65 cm in diameter, with most drums measuring 35 to 45 cm . The sides of the drum are 9 to 20 cm deep. A goatskin head is tacked to one side...

 (Irish drum), and both Oldfield and Penning are credited with "feet
Step dance
Step dance is the generic term for dance styles where the footwork is the most important part of the dance. Body and arm movements and styling are either restricted or considered irrelevant.Step dance is one end of a spectrum of dance styles...

".

This song, plus two others chosen as the B-side in different countries, had been released the month before as three of four new songs on the compilation album Boxed
Boxed (Mike Oldfield album)
Boxed is a compilation album written and mostly performed by Mike Oldfield, released in 1976 . It features quadraphonic remixed versions of his first three albums and some collaborations.- Background :Boxed features quadraphonic remixed versions of his first three albums...

. They were mixed and encoded for SQ quadraphonic
Quadraphonic
Quadraphonic sound – the most widely used early term for what is now called 4.0 surround sound – uses four channels in which speakers are positioned at the four corners of the listening space, reproducing signals that are independent of one another...

 sound, the only format this album was issued in, and all issues of these songs in vinyl and tape formats have the encoding, even if they only say "stereo" on the label, as do all single releases.

"Argiers" is another traditional folk song, performed by Leslie Penning on recorders and Mike Oldfield on acoustic guitar and ARP string synthesiser
ARP String Synthesizer
The ARP String Synthesizer, also known as the ARP Solina String Synthesizer or sometimes the Solina String Synthesizer, is an ARP Instruments, Inc. synthesizer. It is a hybrid model which combined both the ARP String Ensemble and the ARP Explorer monophonic synthesizer. It was built in Bodegraven,...

. An unusual feature of this arrangement is that it is in a minor key, having been converted from its original major key via diatonic transposition
Transposition (music)
In music transposition refers to the process, or operation, of moving a collection of notes up or down in pitch by a constant interval.For example, one might transpose an entire piece of music into another key...

. "Portsmouth" and "Argiers" were both recorded in January 1976 at Througham, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....

, Mike's new home studio, shortly after he moved from his previous home in Hergest Ridge
Hergest Ridge
Hergest Ridge is a large elongated hill which traverses the border between England and Wales between the town of Kington in Herefordshire and the village of Gladestry in Powys. Its highest point, which is in England, is 1397 feet high.- On Offa's Dyke Path :...

, which was the location of his previous home studio, the Beacon.

"Speak (Tho' You Only Say Farewell)" is an old show tune performed by David Bedford
David Bedford
David Vickerman Bedford , was an English composer and musician. He wrote and played both popular and classical music....

 on piano and vocals, and Mike Oldfield on vocals. It is similar in style to Bedford's earlier work in the Coxhill-Bedford Duo with Lol Coxhill
Lol Coxhill
Lowen Coxhill, generally known as Lol Coxhill is a free improvising saxophonist and raconteur...

, and was recorded at the Beacon in November 1974.

The song is featured on the Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...

 reissue of Ommadawn
Ommadawn
Ommadawn is the third record album by Mike Oldfield, released in 1975 on Virgin Records. The cover photograph was by David Bailey. It peaked at #4 on the UK Albums Chart. The album was reissued in June 2010 with additional content.- Album history :...

, released on 7 June 2010.

UK 7-inch single

  • "Portsmouth
    Portsmouth (song)
    "Portsmouth" is a traditional English folk dance tune, similar to an hornpipe melody. It is sometimes referred to as the Portsmouth Hornpipe."Portsmouth" appeared in the 11th edition of John Playford's The Dancing Master in 1701...

    " (traditional, arr. Oldfield) – 2:02
  • "Speak (Tho' You Only Say Farewell)" (Ray Morello / Horatio Nicholls) – 2:54

Virgin VS-163

International 7-inch single

  • "Portsmouth
    Portsmouth (song)
    "Portsmouth" is a traditional English folk dance tune, similar to an hornpipe melody. It is sometimes referred to as the Portsmouth Hornpipe."Portsmouth" appeared in the 11th edition of John Playford's The Dancing Master in 1701...

    " (traditional, arr. Oldfield) – 2:02
  • "Argiers" (traditional, arr. Oldfield) – 3:59

Issued in USA, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Yugoslavia, Australia and South Africa. Each central European country issued it in a cover unique to their country.

Ireland issued both pairings, and some copies of both editions exist mis-pressed with the B-side label belonging to the other edition.

The single has been issued 3 times in France, in 1976, 1977 and 1980, with 3 different sleeves.

Music video

A music video was made for this song, and can be found on the DVD, Elements - The Best of Mike Oldfield
Elements - The Best of Mike Oldfield (video)
Elements - The Best of Mike Oldfield is a video collection by Mike Oldfield released in October 1993. It was released by Virgin Records on VHS and Laser disc...

. Shot in Mike's Througham studio, it shows four female folk dancers who dance around the studio, while Mike is seen playing various instruments. As in the video for Mike's previous single, "In Dulci Jubilo", the video emphasizes that Mike plays all the instruments, even though this is not strictly true.

In popular culture

The piece was featured in the 1979 NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...

 documentary film by Tony Palmer
Tony Palmer
Tony Palmer is an American football guard in the National Football League who is currently a free agent. The former University of Missouri guard who was selected by the St. Louis Rams. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers after being cut in the 2006 preseason by St. Louis...

, The Space Movie
The Space Movie
The Space Movie is a documentary film produced in 1979 by Tony Palmer at the request of NASA, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.The 78 minute film was released theatrically in 1980, on VHS in 1983 and on DVD in 2007...

.

The song has become synonymous with English football club, Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...

, who sometimes play the tune before or after games at their home stadium, Fratton Park
Fratton Park
Fratton Park is a football stadium in the English city-port of Portsmouth. It has been the home of professional club Portsmouth F.C. since its construction in 1898.-Description:...

. Notably it was played during their victorious FA Cup 2008
FA Cup 2007-08
The 2007–08 FA Cup was the 127th season of the world's oldest football knockout competition, The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short. A record 731 clubs' entries were accepted for the competition....

 campaign, including after the final game against Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...

 on 17 May 2008 at Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...

.

In April 2010 two groups were set up on the social networking site Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...

 to encourage people to download the single "Portsmouth" via sites such as iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....

 in the week commencing 3 May 2010, in a hope to get into the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...

, before Portsmouth F.C.'s FA Cup Final
2009–10 FA Cup
The 2009–10 FA Cup was the 129th season of the world's oldest football knockout competition; The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short. As in the previous year, 762 clubs were accepted for the competition. One club, Newcastle Blue Star, folded before the fixtures were released...

 appearance against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...

. Oldfield himself has commented on the campaign. It however did not chart.
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