Tubular Bells III
Tubular Bells III | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 31 August 1998 | |||
Recorded | December 1996–June 1998 | |||
Studio | Oldfield's home studio in Es Cubells, Ibiza and London | |||
Genre | New-age, progressive rock, electronic, chill out | |||
Length | 46:36 | |||
Label | Warner Music UK | |||
Producer | Mike Oldfield | |||
Mike Oldfield chronology | ||||
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Tubular Bells series chronology | ||||
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Singles from Tubular Bells III | ||||
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Tubular Bells III is the eighteenth studio album by English guitarist, songwriter, and producer Mike Oldfield. It was released on 31 August 1998 by Warner Music UK as the third instalment in his Tubular Bells album series. After relocating from England to the Spanish island of Ibiza in 1996, Oldfield started work on the album and gained inspiration to incorporate electronic music from the island's local bars and clubs.[1]
Background
By mid-1996, Oldfield had put his Buckinghamshire home for sale and relocated to the Spanish island of Ibiza, setting up a recording studio at Casa Atlantis, a cliffside home in Es Cubells which he designed on a virtual reality simulator on his computer and had it built from scratch. With Ibiza being a major club destination, he became inspired by the electronic and dance music that local DJs were playing and decided to make a dance version of the familiar opening to "Tubular Bells (Part One)",[2] which he used with a Nord Lead synthesiser and used the "caveman" beat from "Tubular Bells (Part Two)".[3][2] Oldfield liked the results, which persuaded him to make a third Tubular Bells album, following Tubular Bells (1973) and Tubular Bells II (1992).[4] Despite not having a recording contract at the time, Oldfield secured a new deal with Warner Music UK by informing the label that he wished to start work on a third Tubular Bells album.
Oldfield later admitted that Ibiza's hedonistic lifestyle was a negative influence on him and succumbed to alcohol and drugs. In one incident, he was caught driving while twice over the legal alcohol limit and received a one-year driving ban.
Music
Unlike Tubular Bells II, Tubular Bells III does not follow the pattern of the two pieces from the original album, but instead references Tubular Bells musically.[6] For example, "The Source of Secrets" takes up musich from the "Introduction" section of the original album,[3] while "Far Above the Clouds" references the "Finale" section of "Tubular Bells (Part One)".[1]
An early version of "The Source of Secrets" appears on Oldfield's compilation album XXV: The Essential (1997).
"
The tracks "The Source of Secrets", "Jewel in the Crown", and "Secrets" feature
Some of the instruments which appear on the album are a
Oldfield also used sampled drums from his
Artwork
The album artwork is Oldfield's trademark bent
Reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Q | [8] |
Tubular Bells III is the least successful of the three main Tubular Bells albums, only attaining No. 4 on the UK chart, unlike its two chart topping predecessors. Critical reaction was mixed. The very distinct similarity of "Man in the Rain" to the hit "Moonlight Shadow" was sometimes interpreted by listeners as Oldfield trying to retread old ground.
Live performance
On 4 September 1998, six years to the day after the premiere of Tubular Bells II at Edinburgh Castle, Oldfield held a premiere concert for Tubular Bells III at Horse Guards Parade in London in front of around 7,000 people.[9] Much of the performance was held during torrential rain. The live version of the complete album from the premiere concert is available on the double DVD Tubular Bells II/Tubular Bells III.
The
On 27 July 2012 at the
Reissues
Tubular Bells III, along with
Track listing
All tracks by Mike Oldfield.
- "The Source of Secrets" – 5:35
- "The Watchful Eye" – 2:09
- "Jewel in the Crown" – 5:45
- "Outcast" – 3:49
- "Serpent Dream" – 2:53
- "The Inner Child" – 4:41
- "Man in the Rain" – 4:03
- "The Top of the Morning" – 4:26
- "Moonwatch" – 4:25
- "Secrets" – 3:20
- "Far Above the Clouds" – 5:30
Charts
Chart (1998) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[10] | 98 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[11] | 4 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[12] | 46 |
French Albums ( SNEP)[13]
|
47 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[14] | 9 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[15] | 1 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[16] | 31 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] | 26 |
UK Albums (OCC)[18] | 4 |
Certifications and sales
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[19] | 4× Platinum | 400,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] | Gold | 100,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Personnel
Music
- Mike Oldfield – all instruments
- Amar – vocals on "The Source of Secrets", "Jewels in the Crown", and "Secrets"
- Rosa Cedrón – vocals on "The Inner Child"
- Cara Dillon - vocals on "Man in the Rain"
- Heather Burnett – additional vocals on "Man in the Rain"
- Clodagh Simonds – vocals on "Far Above the Clouds"
- Francesca Robertson – child vocals on "Far Above the Clouds"
Production
- Mike Oldfield – producer, engineer
- BSS20 – album design
- Model Solutions – tubular bells construction
- Silvia Müller – assistant engineer
- Andy Earl – photography
- Simon Fowler – portrait photography
- Rob Dickins – executive producer
References
- ^ a b "Mike Oldfield - "Music doesn't mean anything if it has no soul, no heart."". Carlos Finaly. August 1998. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ a b Finaly, Carlos (August 1998). "Mike Oldfield - "Music doesn't mean anything if it has no soul, no heart."". Unknown. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ a b c Brown, Mick (31 August 1998). "I know I'm unstable. I accept that". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ Unknown (4 September 1998). "Tubuar Bells III programme". WEA. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ a b Harlow, John (23 August 1998). "Oldfield back with a ravers, Tubular Bells". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "The Bells Toll". Dagsavisen. 9 September 1998. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
- AllMusic
- ^ Rib Beattie (October 1998). "He Only Sells Records When He Calls Them Tubular Bells". Q. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
- ^ "Oldfield to Turn Heads Again". CNN. 10 July 1998. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 208.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Mike Oldfield – Tubular Bells III" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Mike Oldfield – Tubular Bells III" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Mike Oldfield – Tubular Bells III". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ISBN 978-84-8048-866-2.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Mike Oldfield – Tubular Bells III". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Mike Oldfield – Tubular Bells III". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ISBN 84-8048-639-2. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
- ^ "British album certifications – Mike Oldfield – Tubular Bells 3". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 14 May 2019.