Tag: Record Label

Mike Oldfield – “Tubular Bells”

Englishman Mike Oldfield released “Tubular Bells” in 1973 – the album was the first venture of Richard Branson’s new record label Virgin Records.

The instrumental achieved particular fame when it was used as the theme of the movie “The Exorcist”.

The album “Tubular Bells”, on which Mike Oldfield played over twenty different instruments, quickly entered the Top Ten of the UK album chart.

It’s follow-up, “Hergest Ridge” (of which I have a copy), went to No. 1 for three weeks, before it was displaced by “Tubular Bells”.

“Tubular Bells” was re-recorded by Oldfield, in 1992, 1998 and again in 2003.

Here is the shorter version of “Tubular Bells” used in “The Exorcist”:

And this is one of a number of live recordings of the longer version, here divided into three parts (you’ll need a bit of patience if you want to listen to these…):

“Tubular Bells” live, Part 1:

“Tubular Bells” live, Part 2:

“Tubular Bells” live, Part 3:

If you’ve listened to all of these you’ll now likely be very relaxed….. or asleep…

Paul
The Clash – “Complete Control”, “I Fought The Law”, “London Calling”, “Train In Vain”, “The Magnificent Seven”, “Rock The Casbah” and “Should I Stay Or Should I Go”

The raw energy of the punk movement of the late Seventies was personified by UK band The Clash, whose most well known tracks include “Complete Control”, “I Fought The Law”, the iconic “London Calling”, “Train In Vain”, “The Magnificent Seven”, “Rock The Casbah” and “Should I Stay Or Should I Go”.

1977 track “Complete Control” was actually a criticism of their record label CBS for releasing a track as a single against their wishes:

From their debut album “The Clash”, “I Fought The Law” only appeared as a single in 1979:

It was followed by the single “London Calling” from the definitive album of the same name:

“Train In Vain”, from the same album, was only added at the last minute and not featured in the credits, yet became their first entry to the US Top 30:

Another piece full of vibrant energy – “The Magnificent Seven”:

Like many songs by The Clash, “Rock The Casbah” had a political background:

And finally, “Should I Stay Or Should I Go”, which in more recent times was used in a parody of UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. When it was re-released early in 1991 it gave The Clash their first and only Number 1 single in the UK, five years after they broke up:

Some of the members continued to work together now and then, but years later The Clash frontman Joe Strummer (actually John Graham Mellor) died suddenly in December 2002, just weeks before the band was to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, ending any possibility of a reunion.

The legend lives on.

Paul

Tag: Record Label

Mike Oldfield – “Tubular Bells”

The Clash – “Complete Control”, “I Fought The Law”, “London Calling”, “Train In Vain”, “The Magnificent Seven”, “Rock The Casbah” and “Should I Stay Or Should I Go”