Tubular Bells III

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Tubular Bells III
Studio album by Mike Oldfield

Publication
(s)

September 22, 1998

Label (s) Warner Music

Format (s)

CD

Genre (s)

Progressive rock

Title (number)

11

running time

46 min 38 s

occupation Mike Oldfield (various instruments)

production

Mike Oldfield

Studio (s)

  • December 1996 - March 1998 Ibiza
  • April - June 1998 London
chronology
XXV: The Essentials
(Compilation, 1997)
Voyager
(Studio album, 1996)
Tubular Bells III Guitars
(1999)

Tubular Bells III is a music album of the British musician Mike Oldfield from the year 1998 . It is the third album with this theme after Tubular Bells (1973) and Tubular Bells II (1992). The Millennium Bell followed in 1999 . TB III was recorded between December 1996 and March 1998 in studios in Ibiza and London . On the best-of- album XXV: The Essentials , Oldfield already released an appetizer on TB III - but this version of Secrets is not to be found on the actual album.

Differences to the previous albums

In contrast to Tubular Bells II , Oldfield deviates considerably from the themes of his first work. TB II still placed value on a parallel structure, but in TB III neither the well-known instrument announcement (in the original by Vivian Stanshall , in TB II by Alan Rickman ) nor the quick guitar end can be found. The “moribund chorus” is also only installed in a modified form and in a completely different place. Only the opening sequence is reminiscent of the beginning of Tubular Bells . In contrast to its predecessors, there are also sung songs here. Also, Tubular Bells III is not divided into two long pieces; the individual tracks are more independent.

Tubular Bells III is divided into 11 pieces. The tracks are The Source of Secrets , The Watchful Eye , Jewel in the Crown , Outcast (approaches of the 'moribund chorus'), Serpent Dream , The Inner Child , Man in the Rain , The Top of the Morning , Moonwatch , Secrets and Far Above the Clouds (with the tubular bells).

The piece Man in the Rain is the first piece in the Tubular Bells series to contain sung text. The vocals are not, as is often assumed, by Maggie Reilly (who sang in Oldfield's hit Moonlight Shadow ), but by Cara Dillon (the singer of Polar Star ). The song has strong analogies to Moonlight Shadow in both chord progression and drum accompaniment . The finale Far Above The Clouds is a kind of synthesis of different Oldfield highlights: The bass line is a faster played version of the background of the instrument presentation from TB 1 , in addition the magical drums sound from the climax of Ommadawn , guitar solo and harmonics vary North Star from Platinum .

Live performances

In 1998 TB III had its live premiere in London; Oldfield was accompanied by an orchestra again - some musicians were already there at the premiere of TB II. This live premiere was released on double DVD (including the premiere of Tubular Bells II in Edinburgh ).

Instruments

Mike Oldfield plays most of the instruments himself; but he refrains from listing them in the album's booklet. Cara from the group Polar Star, Heather Burnett (both in Man In The Rain ), Rosa Cedrón ( The Inner Child ) and Amar ( The Source Of Secrets , Jewel In The Crown and Secrets ) have been hired as guest singers . At Far Above The Clouds , Clodagh Simonds from the folk group Mellow Candle and Francesca Robertson share the vocals.

Track list

  1. The Source of Secrets - 5:35
  2. The Watchful Eye - 2:09
  3. Jewel in the Crown - 5:45 am
  4. Outcast - 3:49
  5. Serpent Dream - 2:53
  6. The Inner Child - 4:41
  7. Man in the Rain - 4:03
  8. The Top of the Morning - 4:26
  9. Moonwatch - 4:25
  10. Secrets - 3:20
  11. Far Above the Clouds - 5:30

Charts

UK # 4, D # 9, A # 4, CH # 26, F # 47, NL # 46, S # 31