''Tubular Bells 2003'' is the 22nd studio album by English musician
Mike Oldfield
Mike may refer to:
Animals
* Mike (cat), cat and guardian of the British Museum
* Mike the Headless Chicken, chicken that lived for 18 months after his head had been cut off
* Mike (chimpanzee), a chimpanzee featured in several books and document ...
, released on 27 May 2003 by
Warner Music Spain. It is a digital re-recording of his 1973 album ''
Tubular Bells
Tubular bells (also known as chimes) are musical instruments in the percussion family. Their sound resembles that of church bells, carillon, or a bell tower; the original tubular bells were made to duplicate the sound of church bells within a ...
'', released almost 30 years earlier. To date, this is the most recent album in ''Tubular Bells'' series.
Background
In 2003, the re-recording rights to Oldfield's debut album ''Tubular Bells'' returned to him, which brought about the idea to re-record it to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the original.
He 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
Associated Independent Recording (AIR) is an independent recording company founded in London in 1965 by record producer Sir George Martin and his business partner John Burgess, after their departure from Parlophone. The studio complex was founded ...
; this multitrack was then recorded into
Digidesign
Avid Audio (formerly Digidesign) 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 mac ...
Pro Tools
Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation (DAW) developed and released by Avid Technology (formerly Digidesign) for Microsoft Windows and macOS. It is used for music creation and production, sound for picture ( sound design, audio post-produ ...
. 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
MIDI (; Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a technical standard that describes a communications protocol, digital interface, and electrical connectors that connect a wide variety of electronic musical instruments, computers, and ...
to create a
tempo
In musical terminology, tempo ( Italian, 'time'; plural ''tempos'', or ''tempi'' from the Italian plural) is the speed or pace of a given piece. In classical music, tempo is typically indicated with an instruction at the start of a piece (ofte ...
and
time signature
The time signature (also known as meter signature, metre signature, or measure signature) is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats (pulses) are contained in each measure (bar), and which note va ...
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 four versions: a CD in Europe, a CD in North America, and a
DVD-Audio
DVD-Audio (commonly abbreviated as DVD-A) is a digital format for delivering high-fidelity audio content on a DVD. DVD-Audio uses most of the storage on the disc for high-quality audio and is not intended to be a video delivery format.
The st ...
edition. The
copy protection
Copy protection, also known as content protection, copy prevention and copy restriction, describes measures to enforce copyright by preventing the reproduction of software, films, music, and other media.
Copy protection is most commonly found o ...
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 synthesised and brighter sound than the original. Because of the death of
Vivian Stanshall
Vivian Stanshall (born Victor Anthony Stanshall; 21 March 1943 – 5 March 1995) was an English singer-songwriter, musician, author, poet and wit, best known for his work with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, for his exploration of the British upper ...
, who was the original
master of ceremonies on the 1973 release, Oldfield had actor
John Cleese introduce the instruments in the "Finale" part.
A CD audio/DVD Video-audio 5.1, was released in Spain and México.
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 a similar note, without the word "still", from the original album.
Promo single
A video and Spanish promo single were produced for a remix version of the ''Tubular Bells'' "Introduction" theme, entitled "Introduction 2003". Released as a single in Spain on 24 April 2003, it features drums and more synthesized instruments, and a conceptual video was also produced. This video is available on the
DVD Audio
DVD-Audio (commonly abbreviated as DVD-A) is a digital format for delivering high-fidelity audio content on a DVD. DVD-Audio uses most of the storage on the disc for high-quality audio and is not intended to be a video delivery format.
The st ...
version of ''Tubular Bells 2003''.
The second publicly released
MusicVR game, ''
Maestro
Maestro (; from the Italian '' maestro'' , meaning "master" or "teacher") is an honorific title of respect (plural: maestros or maestri). The term is most commonly used in the context of Western classical music and opera, in line with the ubiqu ...
'', used various extracts from ''Tubular Bells 2003''.
Personnel
Performers
*
Mike Oldfield
Mike may refer to:
Animals
* Mike (cat), cat and guardian of the British Museum
* Mike the Headless Chicken, chicken that lived for 18 months after his head had been cut off
* Mike (chimpanzee), a chimpanzee featured in several books and document ...
– acoustic and electric guitars, electric bass, accordion,
Steinway
Steinway & Sons, also known as Steinway (), is a German-American piano company, founded in 1853 in Manhattan by German piano builder Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg (later known as Henry E. Steinway). The company's growth led to the opening of a ...
grand pianos,
Farfisa
Farfisa (Fabbriche Riunite di Fisarmoniche) is a manufacturer of electronics based in Osimo, Italy, founded in 1946. The company manufactured a series of compact electronic organs in the 1960s and 1970s, including the Compact, FAST, Professio ...
,
Lowrey &
Hammond organs, synthesizers, glockenspiel, timpani, cymbals, tambourine, triangle,
tubular bells
Tubular bells (also known as chimes) are musical instruments in the percussion family. Their sound resembles that of church bells, carillon, or a bell tower; the original tubular bells were made to duplicate the sound of church bells within a ...
, programming, producer
*
John Cleese – master of ceremonies
*
Sally Oldfield
Sally Patricia Oldfield (born 3 August 1947) is an Irish singer-songwriter. She is the sister of composers Mike and Terry Oldfield.
Early life
Born in Dublin, Ireland, Oldfield was raised in the Roman Catholic faith of her mother, Maureen. Sp ...
– 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
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. is a British multinational music publishing company headquartered in London, owned by parent company Sony Corporation of America.
In May 2018, Sony Music Publishing agreed to increase its stake in EMI to 90%, pending ...
Ltd – publishing
Track listing
CD
Part one
# "Introduction" – 5:52
# "Fast Guitars" – 1:04
# "Basses" – 0:46
# "Latin" – 2:18
# "A Minor Tune" – 1:21
# "Blues" – 2:40
# "Thrash" – 0:44
# "Jazz" – 0:48
# "Ghost Bells" – 0:30
# "Russian" – 0:44
# "Finale" – 8:32 (featuring John Cleese)
Part two
#
"Harmonics" – 5:12
# "Peace" – 3:30
# "Bagpipe Guitars" – 3:08
# "Caveman" – 4:33
# "Ambient Guitars" – 5:10
# "The Sailor's Hornpipe The Sailor's Hornpipe (also known as The College Hornpipe and Jack's the Lad) is a traditional hornpipe melody and linked dance with origins in the Royal Navy.
History
The tune was first printed as the "College Hornpipe" in 1797 or 1798 by J. Dale ...
" – 1:46 (Traditional arrangement)
Bonus DVD
* Disc 2 – Total Time 11:22
# "Introduction" – 5:51
# "Fast Guitars" – 1:04
# "Basses" – 0:46
# "Introduction 2003" 'The video' – 3:41
DVD-Audio bonus material
The DVD-Audio edition includes the demos Oldfield recorded in his flat in 1971 and two excerpts from other Oldfield DVD releases.
1971 Demos
# "Tubular Bells Long" – 22:57
# "Caveman Lead-In" – 2:46
# "Caveman" – 5:05
# "Peace Demo A" – 7:00
# "Peace Demo B" – 4:18
Live Excerpts
# "Sentinel
Sentinel may refer to:
Places Mountains
* Mount Sentinel, a mountain next to the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana
* Sentinel Buttress, a volcanic crag on James Ross Island, Antarctica
* Sentinel Dome, a naturally occurring grani ...
" – from '' Tubular Bells II – Live at Edinburgh Castle 1992'' – 8:06
# "Far Above the Clouds
"Far Above the Clouds" is a single by musician Mike Oldfield, released on 12 April 1999. The single is the final track from the album '' Tubular Bells III''. "Far Above the Clouds" similarly features tubular bells in fashion with the part-one-fi ...
" – from '' Tubular Bells III – Live at Horseguards Parade, London 1998'' – 4:40
Equipment
Hardware
Mixing desk
* AMS Neve
AMS Neve Ltd is a privately owned audio engineering company who specialise in digital and analogue music consoles, outboard equipment and post production consoles. AMS Neve was the result of the amalgamation in 1992 of AMS (Advanced Music Systems ...
Capricorn (V2.85.003 & V2.91.007)
Computers
* Apple Macintosh
The Mac (known as Macintosh until 1999) is a family of personal computers designed and marketed by Apple Inc., Apple Inc. Macs are known for their ease of use and minimalist designs, and are popular among students, creative professionals, and ...
computers
** G4 466Mhz OS9.1, 1Gb Ram – Logic Audio Platinum 4.8.1 and Pro Tools
Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation (DAW) developed and released by Avid Technology (formerly Digidesign) for Microsoft Windows and macOS. It is used for music creation and production, sound for picture ( sound design, audio post-produ ...
** G4 1000Mhz OS9.2 – Logic 5.3.0 and Pro Tools 5.3.1
** Powerbook 5300
* Pro Tools Mix Plus card X2
* 4 Pro Tools 24-bit 888s
* Motu 828
Plug-ins
* Amp Farm
* Focusrite
Focusrite PLC is an English music and audio products group based in High Wycombe, England (with its history in Focusrite Audio Engineering Ltd.). The Focusrite Group trades under eight brands: Focusrite, Focusrite Pro, Martin Audio, ADAM Audi ...
EQ and Compression
Outboard effects
* TC Electronic
TC Electronic (sometimes stylized as t.c. electronic) is a Danish audio equipment company that designs and imports guitar effects, bass amplification, computer audio interfaces, audio plug-in software, live sound equalisers, studio and post-pr ...
M5000
* Eventide DSP 4000
* Lexicon 300
* Yamaha Yamaha may refer to:
* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services, established in 1887. The company is the largest shareholder of Yamaha Motor Company (below).
** Yamaha Music Foundation, an organization estab ...
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
* Brüel & Kjær
Brüel & Kjær (Sound and Vibration Measurement A/S) was a Danish multinational engineering and electronics company headquartered in Nærum, near Copenhagen. It was the largest producer in the world of equipment for acoustic and vibrational mea ...
4011
* Brüel & Kjær 4040 (Serial no. 001)
* AKG C12
* Shure SM57
The Shure SM57 is a low- impedance cardioid dynamic microphone made by Shure Incorporated and commonly used in live sound reinforcement and studio recording. It is one of the best-selling microphones in the world. It is used extensively in amplif ...
* Neuman U67
* Neuman M249
* Beyer Dynamic M160
* BSS DI Box
Instruments
Electric guitars
* Fender Telecaster
The Fender Telecaster, colloquially known as the Tele , is an electric guitar produced by Fender. Together with its sister model the Esquire, it is the world's first mass-produced, commercially successful Les Paul had built a prototype solid bo ...
1965
* Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, colloquially known as the Strat, is a model of electric guitar designed from 1952 into 1954 by Leo Fender, Bill Carson, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares. The Fender Musical Instruments Corporation has continuousl ...
1963 (listed as 1965) (Pink)
* PRS McCarty Semi-Acoustic
* PRS Signature (through Roland GP8)
* PRS Signature (through Roland VG8)
* Wal bass
Wal is a brand of electric bass manufactured by Electric Wood Ltd, first in High Wycombe and later in Fetcham, Surrey, England. It was started in 1974 by guitar builder and electronics expert Ian Waller and luthier Pete Stevens. Since 2009 i ...
* Fender Twin Reverb Amplifier
* Mesa Boogie Amplifier
Acoustic guitars
* Ramirez Class 1A Flamenco 1974
* Ramirez Class 1A Flamenco 1975
* Martin Steel String Acoustic
* Taylor
Taylor, Taylors or Taylor's may refer to:
People
* Taylor (surname)
** List of people with surname Taylor
* Taylor (given name), including Tayla and Taylah
* Taylor sept, a branch of Scottish clan Cameron
* Justice Taylor (disambiguation)
Pl ...
K22 Acoustic Guitar 1985
* Ovation Adamas
* MJV Mandolin
Pianos and organs
* Steinway
Steinway & Sons, also known as Steinway (), is a German-American piano company, founded in 1853 in Manhattan by German piano builder Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg (later known as Henry E. Steinway). The company's growth led to the opening of a ...
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
The Nord Lead is a series of virtual analog subtractive synthesizers, manufactured by Clavia.
Released in 1994, the original Nord Lead was the digital synthesizer that made the term ''virtual analog synthesis'' popular. The now widely accepted ...
* Korg
, founded as Keio Electronic Laboratories, is a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners. Under the Vox brand name, th ...
Trinity
* Boss
Boss may refer to:
Occupations
* Supervisor, often referred to as boss
* Air boss, more formally, air officer, the person in charge of aircraft operations on an aircraft carrier
* Crime boss, the head of a criminal organization
* Fire boss, ...
Dr. Rhythm
* Akai
Akai ( ja, 赤井, ) is a Hong Kong manufacturer of consumer electronics. It was founded as Akai Electric Company Ltd in Tokyo, Japan, in 1946. Grande Holdings in Hong Kong purchased the Akai brand, and now distributes various electronic produ ...
S6000
Soft synths
* Emagic
Emagic was a music software and hardware company based in Rellingen, Germany and a satellite office in Grass Valley, California. On July 1, 2002 Emagic was bought by Apple Computer. Emagic's Windows-based product offerings were discontinued on ...
EXS24
* Emagic ES1
* Emagic EVP88
* Native Instruments Pro-52
Percussion
* Glockenspiel
* Tambourine
* Triangle
* Cymbals
* Timpani
* Tubular bell
Tubular bells (also known as chimes) are musical instruments in the percussion family. Their sound resembles that of church bells, carillon, or a bell tower; the original tubular bells were made to duplicate the sound of church bells within a ...
s
Charts
Release details
References
External links
Mike Oldfield Discography – ''Tubular Bells 2003''
at Tubular.net
*
{{Authority control
2003 remix albums
Mike Oldfield albums
Warner Music Group albums