Tubular Bells 2003 is an album by 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...

, released in 2003

2003 in music

-January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...

. It is a complete re-recording of Oldfield's 1973 album debut Tubular Bells

Tubular Bells

Tubular Bells is the debut record album of English musician Mike Oldfield, released in 1973. It was the first album released by Virgin Records and an early cornerstone of the company's success...

, which had been released 30 years earlier.

Background

Oldfield had always been uncomfortable with the original recording because he had only a few weeks to record it and the technology at the time was unable to cope with all of his requirements. As a result mistakes could not be fixed and some instruments were out of tune on the 1973 release. Due to contractual reasons no re-recordings were allowed for 25 years after the original release. The release of Tubular Bells 2003 took place in the year when Oldfield celebrated his 50th birthday and the 30th anniversary of the original version.

To remain faithful to the original album, Oldfield obtained a copy of the original 16 track tape, from Richard Barrie of Air Studios; this multitrack was then recorded into Digidesign

Digidesign

Avid Audio is an American digital audio technology company. It was founded in 1984 by Peter Gotcher and Evan Brooks. The company began as a project to raise money for the founders' band, selling EPROM chips for drum machines. It is a subsidiary of Avid Technology, and during 2010 the Digidesign...

 Protools. There were a few parts of the multitrack recording missing however; this included parts of the "Finale", "Caveman" and "The Sailors Hornpipe" sections. These original tracks were then moved into Emagic Logic, where Oldfield used MIDI to create a tempo

Tempo

In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...

 and time signature

Time signature

The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....

 map; some sections of the original album had not been in time. A guide MIDI keyboard was laid on top, for which Oldfield usually used some Roland Strings. The first instrument to be recorded was the Glockenspiel at the beginning of Part One's "Introduction", and the final part to be recorded was the "Caveman" vocal track.

The album was released in three versions: a CD

Compact Disc

The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...

 in Europe

Europe

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

, a CD in North America

North America

North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

, and a DVD-Audio

DVD-Audio

DVD-Audio is a digital format for delivering high-fidelity audio content on a DVD. DVD-Audio is not intended to be a video delivery format and is not the same as video DVDs containing concert films or music videos....

 edition. The copy protection

Copy protection

Copy protection, also known as content protection, copy obstruction, copy prevention and copy restriction, refer to techniques used for preventing the reproduction of software, films, music, and other media, usually for copyright reasons.- Terminology :Media corporations have always used the term...

 on the CDs caused many complaints about playback difficulties, including claims of damage to CD and DVD players.

Due to the extensive use of digital technology, Tubular Bells 2003 has a more synthesized and brighter sound than the original. Because of the death of Vivian Stanshall

Vivian Stanshall

Vivian Stanshall was an English singer-songwriter, painter, musician, author, poet and wit, best known for his work with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, for his surreal exploration of the British upper classes in Sir Henry at Rawlinson End, and for narrating Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells.-The great...

, who was the original master of ceremonies

Master of Ceremonies

A Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....

 on the 1973 release, Oldfield had actor John Cleese

John Cleese

John Marwood Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer, and film producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report...

 introduce the instruments in the "Finale" part.

There is a facetious warning inside the cover of CD: "This stereo record can still not be played on old tin boxes no matter what they are fitted with. If you are in possession of such equipment please hand it into the nearest police station". This warning references an identical note, minus the word "still", from the original album.

A video and Spanish promo single were produced for a remix version of the Tubular Bells "Introduction" theme, entitled "Introduction 2003

Introduction 2003

"Introduction 2003" is a promotional single by Mike Oldfield from Tubular Bells 2003 album, released in Spain on 24 April 2003.- Analysis :...

". The second publicly released MusicVR

MusicVR

MusicVR is a virtual reality project created and developed by the musician Mike Oldfield. To date it has produced two standalone simulation games and inspired content for some of Oldfield's albums...

 game, Maestro

Maestro (video game)

Maestro is a MusicVR video game by British musician Mike Oldfield. It is the second publicly released MusicVR game after 2002's Tres Lunas.- History :Oldfield had been working on the idea of melding virtual reality and music throughout the 1990s...

, used various extracts from Tubular Bells 2003.

Personnel

Performers

• 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...
  
   – Acoustic & Electric guitars, Accordion, Steinway
  Steinway & Sons
  Steinway & Sons, also known as Steinway , is an American and German manufacturer of handmade pianos, founded 1853 in Manhattan in New York City by German immigrant Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg...
  
   Grand Pianos, Farfisa
  Farfisa
  Farfisa is a manufacturer of electronics based in Osimo, Italy.The Farfisa brand name is commonly associated with a series of compact electronic organs, and later, a series of multi-timbral synthesizers. At the height of its production, Farfisa operated three factories to produce instruments, in...
  
  , Lowrey & Hammond
  Hammond organ
  The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
  
   Organs, Synthesizer
  Synthesizer
  A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
  
  s, Glockenspiel, Timpani, Cymbals, Tambourine, Triangle, Tubular bell
  Tubular bell
  Tubular bells are musical instruments in the percussion family. Each bell is a metal tube, 30–38 mm in diameter, tuned by altering its length. Its standard range is from C4-F5, though many professional instruments reach G5 . Tubular bells are often replaced by studio chimes, which are a smaller...
  
  s, Programming, Producer
• John Cleese
  John Cleese
  John Marwood Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer, and film producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report...
  
   – Narrator
• Sally Oldfield
  Sally Oldfield
  Sally Oldfield is a singer-songwriter, and the sister of the composers Mike Oldfield and Terry Oldfield.-Early life:...
  
   – Background vocals

Non-performers

• Ben Darlow – Engineer
• Steve Bedford – New Tubular Bell image
• Trevor Key – Original Tubular Bell image
• Andy Earl – Inner cover photo
• e-xentric thinking – Design
• Oldfield Music Overseas Ltd. / EMI Publishing Ltd – Publishing

CD

Part one

1. "Introduction" – 5:52
2. "Fast Guitars" – 1:04
3. "Basses" – 0:46
4. "Latin" – 2:18
5. "A Minor Tune" – 1:21
6. "Blues" – 2:40
7. "Thrash" – 0:44
8. "Jazz" – 0:48
9. "Ghost Bells" – 0:30
10. "Russian" – 0:44
11. "Finale" – 8:32 (featuring John Cleese)

Part two

12. "Harmonics" – 5:12
13. "Peace" – 3:30
14. "Bagpipe Guitars" – 3:08
15. "Caveman" – 4:33
16. "Ambient Guitars" – 5:10
17. "The Sailor's Hornpipe
    The Sailor's Hornpipe
    The Sailor's Hornpipe is a traditional hornpipe melody.- History :The usual tune for this dance was first printed as the "College Hornpipe" in 1797 or 1798 by J. Dale of London....
    
    " – 1:46 (Traditional arrangement)

Bonus DVD

• Disk 2 – Total Time 11:22

1. "Introduction" – 5:51
2. "Fast Guitars" – 1:04
3. "Basses" – 0:46
4. "Introduction 2003" 'The video' – 3:41

DVD-Audio bonus material

The DVD-Audio edition includes the demos

Demo (music)

A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...

 Oldfield recorded in his flat in 1971 and two excerpts from other Oldfield DVD releases.

1971 Demos

1. "Tubular Bells Long" – 22:57
2. "Caveman Lead-In" – 2:46
3. "Caveman" – 5:05
4. "Peace Demo A" – 7:00
5. "Peace Demo B" – 4:18

Live Excerpts

1. "Sentinel
   Sentinel (song)
   "Sentinel" is a single by musician Mike Oldfield, released in 1992. The single features a restructured, shorter version of "Sentinel", from the album Tubular Bells II.- Charts :...
   
   " – from Tubular Bells II - Live at Edinburgh Castle 1992
   Tubular Bells II Live
   Tubular Bells II, The Performance Live at Edinburgh Castle is a live concert video by Mike Oldfield released in 1992.- Background :The video is a full faithful performance from the premiere concert of the Tubular Bells II album at Edinburgh Castle...
   
   – 8:06
2. "Far Above the Clouds
   Far Above the Clouds
   "Far Above the Clouds" is a single by musician Mike Oldfield, released in April 1999 . The single is the final track from the album Tubular Bells III...
   
   " – from Tubular Bells III - Live at Horseguards Parade, London 1998
   Tubular Bells III Live
   Tubular Bells III, The Premiere Performance is a live concert video by Mike Oldfield released in 1998.It was released on VHS and Laserdisc in 1998, and later packaged with Tubular Bells II Live on DVD.- The Concert :...
   
   – 4:40

Hardware

Mixing desk

• AMS Neve
  AMS Neve
  AMS Neve Ltd was the result of the amalgamation in 1992 of AMS with Neve Electronics.-Background:Neve Electronics was a British manufacturer of mixing consoles that originated in the work of Rupert Neve in the 1960s...
  
   Capricorn (V2.85.003 & V2.91.007)

Computers

• Apple Macintosh computers
  • G4 466Mhz OS9.1, 1Gb Ram - Logic Audio Platinum 4.8.1 and Protools
  • G4 1000Mhz OS9.2 - Logic 5.3.0 and Protools 5.3.1
  • Powerbook 5300
• Protools Mix Plus card X2
• 4 Protools 24-bit 888s
• Motu
  Mark of the Unicorn
  Mark of the Unicorn is a music-related computer software and hardware supplier. It is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts and has created music software since 1984.Products by MOTU include:*Digital Performer*AudioDesk*BPM*MachFive*MX4*Unisyn...
  
   828

Plug-ins

• Amp Farm
• Focusrite EQ and Compression

Outboard effects

• TC Electronics M5000
• Eventide DSP 4000
• Lexicon 300
• Yamaha SPX 1000
• UREI 1176 & 1178
• Belcaman C-102
• 5 NEVE 1073 Mic Amps and EQ
• Manor Module (Mic Amp, EQ and Compressor from the original Manor console)

Microphones

• B&K 4011
• Bruel & Kjaer 4040 (Serial no. 001)
• AKG C12
• Shure 57
• Neuman U67
• Neuman M249
• Beyer Dynamic M160
• BSS DI Box

Instruments

Electric Guitars

• Fender Telecaster
  Fender Telecaster
  The Fender Telecaster, colloquially known as the Tele , is typically a dual-pickup, solid-body electric guitar made by Fender.Its simple yet effective design and revolutionary sound broke ground and set trends in electric guitar manufacturing and popular music...
  
   1965
• Fender Stratocaster
  Fender Stratocaster
  The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
  
   1963 (listed as 1965) (Pink)
• PRS McCarty Semi-Acoustic
• PRS Signature (through Roland GP8)
• PRS Signature (through Roland VG8)
• WAL Bass
• Fender Twin Reverb Amplifier
• Mesa Boogie Amplifier

Acoustic Guitars

• Ramirez Class 1A Flamenco 1974
• Ramirez Class 1A Flamenco 1975
• Martin Steel String Acoustic
• Taylor K22 Acoustic Guitar 1985
• Ovation Adamas
• MJV Mandolin

Pianos and Organs

• Steinway 8 ft 1920s, frame rebuilt
• Steinway 6 ft 1920s Model L
• Lowery Organ
• Farfisa Organ
• Accordion

Keyboards

• Roland JV880
• Roland XP50
• Roland JV2080
• Roland JD990
• Nord Lead
• Korg
  Korg
  is a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners...
  
   Trinity
• Boss Dr. Rhythm
• Akai
  Akai
  Akai is a consumer electronics brand, founded by Saburo Akai as , a Japanese manufacturer in 1929. It is now headquartered in Singapore as a subsidiary of Grande Holdings, a Hong Kong-based conglomerate, which also owns the formerly Japanese brands Nakamichi and Sansui. The Akai brand is now used...
  
   S6000

Soft synths

• Emagic
  Emagic
  Emagic was a music software and hardware company based in Rellingen, Germany and a satellite office in Grass Valley, CA. On July 1, 2002 Emagic was bought by Apple Computer. Emagic's Windows-based product offerings were discontinued on September 30, 2002....
  
   EXS24
• Emagic ES1
• Emagic EVP88
• Native Instruments Pro-52

Percussion

• Glockenspiel
• Tambourine
• Triangle
• Cymbals
• Timpani
• Tubular bell
  Tubular bell
  Tubular bells are musical instruments in the percussion family. Each bell is a metal tube, 30–38 mm in diameter, tuned by altering its length. Its standard range is from C4-F5, though many professional instruments reach G5 . Tubular bells are often replaced by studio chimes, which are a smaller...
  
  s

Release details

Year	Country	Label	Catalogue number	Release date	Format	Copy protected	Other discs
2003	UK	WEA/Warner Brothers Records	2564602042	26 May 2003	CD	Yes
2003	UK	WEA/Warner Brothers Records	0927499212	26 May 2003	CD	Yes	Bonus DVD
2003	UK	WEA/Warner Brothers Records	2564602052	26 May 2003	CD	Yes, TB2003 only	TB II, TB III and a Bonus DVD (4 disc box)
2003	USA	Rhino Records	?	5 August 2003	CD	No
2003	UK	WEA/Warner Brothers Records	?	5 August 2003	CD	No
2004	UK	WEA/Warner Brothers Records	2564602045	26 January 2004	DVD Audio	N/A
2004	USA	Rhino Records	I454715	24 February 2004	DVD Audio	N/A

External links

• Mike Oldfield Discography - Tubular Bells 2003 at Tubular.net