Mike Oldfield – Tubular Bells (1973)

This is the most remarkable debut, possibly ever.  A complete unknown recorded a one-track instrumental album on a brand new record label…and it was a huge success that he has struggled to match on subsequent albums. 

I visited Virgin Records first shop, above a shoe shop on Oxford street in the early Seventies.  All I remember were cardboard boxes of Albums and a scruffy man taking money.  I don’t think I bought anything, or went there again.  And then suddenly I was reading in City Limits about this amazing album; it may also have featured a segment on the Old Grey Whistle Test – not sure.  But I bought it and loved it.  I had been a fan of Tangerine Dream and also had bought ‘A Rainbow In Curved Air’ by Terry Riley, which I think helped inspire the young Mike Oldfield.  It was a slow burner, but took off after being used in the film ‘The Exorcist’.  There is something unique and beautiful in this album, especially the opening with it’s chiming ringing guitar breaks.  Also the ending with Viv Stanshall introducing various instruments, including ‘Slightly Distorted Guitar’ and the finale ‘Tubular Bells’ is unforgettable.  By luck really Mike had come to the attention of budding entrepreneur Richard Branson, who was already thinking of not only selling records but having his own label.  By some sort of serendipity or just wonderful co-incidence, this unlikely musical venture was a huge success.  I cannot imagine anything like this, even being released today, or achieving such a special place in so many people’s hearts.  Truly a brilliant debut.