"William Tell Overture" 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...

 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...

, released in 1977. It is a rendition of the William Tell Overture

William Tell Overture

The William Tell Overture is the instrumental introduction to the opera Guillaume Tell by Gioachino Rossini. William Tell premiered in 1829 and was the last of Rossini's 39 operas, after which he went into semi-retirement, although he continued to compose cantatas, sacred music and secular vocal...

. However this version of the William Tell Overture did not have much of an impact on the UK charts

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 ...

. It is the first of the two non-album singles released by Mike Oldfield in 1977.

B-sides

The UK B side was "Argiers", which had previously been the European b-side for an earlier Oldfield single "Portsmouth

Portsmouth (Mike Oldfield single)

"Portsmouth" is a single released by musician Mike Oldfield in 1976 . It is Oldfield's highest charting single in the United Kingdom, charting at number 3.- Details :...

". "Argiers" had been recorded in January 1976 at Througham and features Leslie Penning on recorders. Some European versions included the track "First Excursion" as the b-side, however in Brazil the b-side was "Portsmouth". The B-sides were taken from Oldfield's Collaborative / Remix Box-set, Boxed.

UK

VS 167

1. "William Tell Overture" (Gioachino Rossini) – 3:55
2. "Argiers" (Traditional) – 3:59

Europe

17 480 AT / VIN 45010

1. "William Tell Overture" (Gioachino Rossini) – 3:53
2. "First Excursion" (David Bedford
   David Bedford
   David Vickerman Bedford , was an English composer and musician. He wrote and played both popular and classical music....
   
   , Mike Oldfield) – 5:57

Russia

6079 201

1. "William Tell Overture" (Gioachino Rossini)
2. "Portsmouth
   Portsmouth (Mike Oldfield single)
   "Portsmouth" is a single released by musician Mike Oldfield in 1976 . It is Oldfield's highest charting single in the United Kingdom, charting at number 3.- Details :...
   
   " (Traditional)

Release and promotion

The single was released in February 1977, yet earlier Oldfield referred to the single in the Record Mirror noting that it was planned for release in January; "I've recently recorded a version of the "William Tell Overture". It's a real rouser and it should be out in January."

An advert produced for the single read: "The new single from the more whimsical side of Mike Oldfield. You clog-danced to "In Dulci Jubilo". You crashed through the ceiling to "Portsmouth". Now hear "William Tell Overture" by Mike Oldfield. It'll shake you to the core."

Promotional video clip

The music video for The William Tell Overture consists of multiple incarnations of Oldfield performing the song on different instruments. A complex multi-split screen technique was used. The effect is as if a room full of Oldfields were playing together.