Tubular Bells II
Occupation
- Various instruments: Mike Oldfield
- Vocals: Sally Bradshaw, Eddie Lehman, Susannah Melvoin
- Keyboard: Jamie Muhoberac
- Drums, percussion: John J. R. Robinson
- Voice: Alan Rickman
- Bagpipes: Celtic bevy band P.D. Scots Pipe Band
- Digital Sound Effects: Eric Cadieux
Tubular Bells II is a music album by the British musician Mike Oldfield from the year 1992. Having with Heaven's Open fulfilled its contractual obligations with Virgin Records, Tubular Bells II was the first album for Warner Bros. Records.
Genesis
Tubular Bells II is a sequel to the hit album Tubular Bells from the year 1973. Musical themes of the first album were modified to completely new pieces of music. Thus, the initial sequence immediately brings to mind the beginning of Tubular Bells (which in the film The Exorcist was used), but it is independent and not a copy. As in 1973, there is a sequence to be announced in the individual musical instruments on the album. Actor Alan Rickman speaks this role, which was not indicated in the booklet. In a single release of The Bell 1993, the voice of Otto Waalkes was heard. Waalkes counts in the German and an English version on the individual instruments. Vivian Stanshall, who took over in 1973 on Tubular Bells this role as MC (Master of Ceremonies ), can be heard in another version of The Bell on this single. The passage towards the end of the first album in which Oldfield with distorted voices experimented ( he calls it jokingly moribund chorus, so fey choir ), finds itself in a new form. Finally, the album is exactly like its predecessor, only very quiet and then ends in a fast guitar piece.
Differences to the original
Tubular Bells was divided into the original version, yet in only two long tracks, Oldfield, Tubular Bells II decided to divide into 14 pieces; because the transitions are not audible, but everything looks when listening back like an album in two parts. The tracks are Sentinel ( also appeared in an abridged radio version ), Dark Star, Clear Light, Blue Saloon, Sunjammer, Red Dawn, The Bell ( with the appearance of Alan Rickman ), Weightless, The Great Plain Sunset Door, tattoo, Altered State ( with the ' moribund choir '), Maya Gold and Moonshine.
Live performances
In September 1992, Tubular Bells II had its live premiere in front of the castle of Edinburgh, a spectacle with light show, fireworks and a large orchestra. Oldfield himself played electric guitar, keyboard, acoustic guitar - and of course the Tubular Bells itself This live premiere was broadcast the same evening after the event on British television, and first appeared then as a VHS video cassette and later as a double DVD (including the premiere Tubular Bells III ). Shortly thereafter, Oldfield joined with the same show once again to Toronto.
Instrumentation
Oldfield plays on the album most of the instruments himself, including eight different guitars, piano and glockenspiel; you should hear his voice. Help took Oldfield himself on drums ( John Robinson) and the bagpipes. Alan Rickman, who announces the instruments is listed only as " strolling players" ( " around strolling player ").
Title list
Charts
UK # 1, D # 7 A # 4, CH # 19, S # 18