Tubular Bells III
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''Tubular Bells III'' is the eighteenth studio album by English guitarist, songwriter, and producer
Mike Oldfield Michael Gordon Oldfield (born 15 May 1953) is an English retired musician, songwriter and producer best known for his debut studio album ''Tubular Bells'' (1973), which became an unexpected critical and commercial success. Though primarily a gu ...
. It was released on 31 August 1998 by
Warner Music UK Warner Music Group (WMG) owns, has a joint share, or is associated with the record labels listed here. Flagship labels *Atlantic Records *Elektra Records *Parlophone Records *Warner Records Atlantic Music Group * 1st & 15th Entertainment * A ...
as the third instalment in his ''Tubular Bells'' album series. After relocating from England to the Spanish island of
Ibiza Ibiza (; ; ; #Names and pronunciation, see below) or Iviza is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea off the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. It is 150 kilometres (93 miles) from the city of Valencia. It is the third largest of th ...
in 1996, Oldfield started work on the album and gained inspiration to incorporate electronic music from the island's local bars and clubs.


Background

By mid-1996, Oldfield had put his Buckinghamshire home for sale and relocated to the Spanish island of
Ibiza Ibiza (; ; ; #Names and pronunciation, see below) or Iviza is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea off the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. It is 150 kilometres (93 miles) from the city of Valencia. It is the third largest of th ...
, 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)", which he used with a
Nord Lead The Nord Lead is a series of virtual analog subtractive synthesizers, manufactured by Clavia. Released in 1995, the original Nord Lead popularized the term "virtual analog synthesis". The phrase was coined by Clavia at the release of the Nord L ...
synthesiser and used the "caveman" beat from "Tubular Bells (Part Two)". Oldfield liked the results, which persuaded him to make a third ''Tubular Bells'' album, following ''
Tubular Bells Tubular bells (also known as chimes) are musical instruments in the Percussion instrument, percussion family. Their sound resembles that of church bells, carillons, or a bell tower; the original tubular bells were made to duplicate the soun ...
'' (1973) and '' Tubular Bells II'' (1992). Despite not having a recording contract at the time, Oldfield secured a new deal with
Warner Music UK Warner Music Group (WMG) owns, has a joint share, or is associated with the record labels listed here. Flagship labels *Atlantic Records *Elektra Records *Parlophone Records *Warner Records Atlantic Music Group * 1st & 15th Entertainment * A ...
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. In April 1998, Oldfield left Ibiza and returned to live at Roughwood Croft, his home in Chalfont St. Giles, Buckinghamshire, which he had bought in the late 1980s. He then finished recording ''Tubular Bells III'' in London until June 1998. In August, he put his Ibiza home, two cars, and powerboat for sale for £2 million. The home was bought by
Noel Gallagher Noel Thomas David Gallagher (born 29 May 1967) is an English musician, singer and songwriter. Gallagher is the primary songwriter, lead guitarist and a co-lead vocalist of the rock band Oasis (band), Oasis. After leaving Oasis, he formed Noel ...
.


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. For example, "The Source of Secrets" takes up music from the "Introduction" section of the original album, while "Far Above the Clouds" references the "Finale" section of " Tubular Bells (Part One)". An early version of "The Source of Secrets" appears on Oldfield's compilation album '' XXV: The Essential'' (1997). " Man in the Rain" is a pop song with lead vocals by Irish folk singer
Cara Dillon Cara Elizabeth Dillon (born 21 July 1975, in Dungiven, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland) is a Northern Irish folk singer. In 1995, she joined the folk supergroup Equation and signed a record deal with Warners Music Group. After leaving t ...
and additional vocal takes by Heather Burnett. In the liner notes, Dillon is credited as "Cara from Polar Star", which references the short-lived name for a musical project she was involved in at the time. Oldfield wrote the song about ten years prior to recording and wrote the lyrics, which were influenced by his separation from his third wife. The drums on the song are sampled from Oldfield's 1983 song "
Moonlight Shadow "Moonlight Shadow" is a song written and performed by English multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield, released as a single in May 1983 by Virgin Records, and included on his eighth album, ''Crises'', of the same year. The vocals were performed by ...
" from ''
Crises A crisis (: crises; : critical) is any event or period that will lead to an unstable and dangerous situation affecting an individual, group, or all of society. Crises are negative changes in the human or environmental affairs, especially when ...
'' (1983), originally performed by drummer Simon Phillips. The tracks "The Source of Secrets", "Jewel in the Crown", and "Secrets" feature Amar as a vocalist. Oldfield can be heard on "Outcast". "The Inner Child" features Luar Na Lubre vocalist Rosa Cedrón. The live version of "Man in the Rain" was mostly sung by Helen Pepsi DeMacque, notably at the London Premiere of Tubular Bells III (1998). "Far Above the Clouds" features
Clodagh Simonds Clodagh Simonds ( ; born 16 May 1953) is an Irish musician, songwriter and singer. She was born in Banbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland and raised and educated in Killiney, County Dublin. Career At the age of eleven, in 1964 Simonds forme ...
performing the main vocals while the child's vocals are performed by Francesca Robertson. Some of the instruments which appear on the album are a
Roland Roland (; ; or ''Rotholandus''; or ''Rolando''; died 15 August 778) was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the Matter of France. The historical Roland was mil ...
D-550,
JD-990 The Roland JD-990 Super JD is an updated version of the Roland JD-800 synthesizer in the form of a module with expanded capabilities, which was released in 1993 by Roland Corporation. JD-990 is a multitimbral synthesizer utilising PCM sample-base ...
, JV1080,
Clavia Clavia Digital Musical Instruments (Clavia DMI AB) is a Swedish manufacturer of virtual analog synthesizers, virtual electromechanical pianos and stage pianos, founded in Stockholm, Sweden in 1983 by Hans Nordelius and Mikael Carlsson. Since 1995 ...
Nord Lead The Nord Lead is a series of virtual analog subtractive synthesizers, manufactured by Clavia. Released in 1995, the original Nord Lead popularized the term "virtual analog synthesis". The phrase was coined by Clavia at the release of the Nord L ...
, and
Korg Trinity The Korg Trinity is a synthesizer and music workstation released by Korg in 1995. It was Korg's first modern workstation and marked a significant evolution from its predecessors by offering features such as built-in digital audio recording, 32-no ...
synthesisers. The Roland VG8
Guitar synthesiser A guitar synthesizer is any one of a number of musical systems that allow a guitarist to access synthesizer capabilities. Overview Today's guitar synths are direct descendants of 1970s devices from manufacturers (often in partnership) such as ...
is used on tracks such as " Man in the Rain". Oldfield also used sampled drums from his ''
Crises A crisis (: crises; : critical) is any event or period that will lead to an unstable and dangerous situation affecting an individual, group, or all of society. Crises are negative changes in the human or environmental affairs, especially when ...
'' and ''
Ommadawn ''Ommadawn'' is the third studio album by English musician, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Mike Oldfield, released on 7 November 1975 on Virgin Records. ''Ommadawn'' peaked at No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart, No. 74 in Canada, and No. 146 on ...
'' album on certain tracks. "Man in the Rain" features sampled drums from "
Moonlight Shadow "Moonlight Shadow" is a song written and performed by English multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield, released as a single in May 1983 by Virgin Records, and included on his eighth album, ''Crises'', of the same year. The vocals were performed by ...
", "Outcast" features sampled drums from " Shadow on the Wall" and " Far Above the Clouds" features sampled drums from the end of "Ommadawn part 1". "Far Above the Clouds" also features a sampled guitar rhythm from the "Finale" section of "Tubular Bells (Part 1)", though in this instance it is fairly low in the mix and at a much faster tempo.


Artwork

The album artwork is Oldfield's trademark bent
tubular bell Tubular bells (also known as chimes) are musical instruments in the percussion family. Their sound resembles that of church bells, carillons, or a bell tower; the original tubular bells were made to duplicate the sound of church bells withi ...
shape in silver, based upon the original 1973 ''
Tubular Bells Tubular bells (also known as chimes) are musical instruments in the Percussion instrument, percussion family. Their sound resembles that of church bells, carillons, or a bell tower; the original tubular bells were made to duplicate the soun ...
'' album cover, set upon a grey background. The artwork itself does not contain any text and typically a sticker with Oldfield's name and the album title are placed on the outer packaging.


Reception

''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 "Moonlight Shadow" is a song written and performed by English multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield, released as a single in May 1983 by Virgin Records, and included on his eighth album, ''Crises'', of the same year. The vocals were performed by ...
" 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 Edinburgh Castle is a historic castle in Edinburgh, Scotland. It stands on Castle Rock (Edinburgh), Castle Rock, which has been occupied by humans since at least the Iron Age. There has been a royal castle on the rock since the reign of Malcol ...
, Oldfield held a premiere concert for ''Tubular Bells III'' at
Horse Guards Parade Horse Guards Parade is a large Military parade, parade ground off Whitehall in central London (at British national grid reference system, grid reference ). It is the site of the annual ceremonies of Trooping the Colour, which commemorates the K ...
in London in front of around 7,000 people. 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 Live Then & Now 1999 tour was in promotion of this album and his following album, ''
Guitars The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...
''. On 27 July 2012 at the
2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony The opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics took place on the evening of Friday 27 July 2012 in the Olympic Stadium, London, during which the Games were formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II. As mandated by the Olympic Charter, the proc ...
Mike Oldfield performed renditions of ''
Tubular Bells Tubular bells (also known as chimes) are musical instruments in the Percussion instrument, percussion family. Their sound resembles that of church bells, carillons, or a bell tower; the original tubular bells were made to duplicate the soun ...
'', " Far Above the Clouds" and " In Dulci Jubilo" during a segment about the
NHS The National Health Service (NHS) is the term for the publicly funded health care, publicly funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom: the National Health Service (England), NHS Scotland, NHS Wales, and Health and Social Care (Northern ...
. This track was later released on the '' Isles of Wonder'' album and as a limited edition blue/pink vinyl single.


Reissues

''Tubular Bells III'', along with '' Tubular Bells II'' and ''
The Songs of Distant Earth ''The Songs of Distant Earth'' is a 1986 science fiction novel by British writer Arthur C. Clarke, Arthur C. Clarke, based upon his 1958 short story of the same title. Of all of his novels, Clarke stated that this was his favourite. Prio ...
'', was reissued on 180g vinyl on 27 April 2015. This follows the recent releases of ''
Tubular Bells Tubular bells (also known as chimes) are musical instruments in the Percussion instrument, percussion family. Their sound resembles that of church bells, carillons, or a bell tower; the original tubular bells were made to duplicate the soun ...
'', ''
Hergest Ridge Hergest Ridge is a large elongated hill which traverses the border between England and Wales in the United Kingdom, between the town of Kington in Herefordshire and the village of Gladestry in Powys. Its highest point, which is in England, ...
'', '' QE2'', ''
Five Miles Out ''Five Miles Out'' is the seventh studio album by English recording artist Mike Oldfield, released on 19 March 1982 by Virgin Records in the UK. After touring in support of his previous album, '' QE2'' (1980), ended in mid-1981, Oldfield starte ...
'' and ''
Crises A crisis (: crises; : critical) is any event or period that will lead to an unstable and dangerous situation affecting an individual, group, or all of society. Crises are negative changes in the human or environmental affairs, especially when ...
'' on the same format.


Track listing

All tracks by
Mike Oldfield Michael Gordon Oldfield (born 15 May 1953) is an English retired musician, songwriter and producer best known for his debut studio album ''Tubular Bells'' (1973), which became an unexpected critical and commercial success. Though primarily a gu ...
. # "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


Certifications and sales


Personnel

Music *
Mike Oldfield Michael Gordon Oldfield (born 15 May 1953) is an English retired musician, songwriter and producer best known for his debut studio album ''Tubular Bells'' (1973), which became an unexpected critical and commercial success. Though primarily a gu ...
– all instruments * Amar – vocals on "The Source of Secrets", "Jewels in the Crown", and "Secrets" * Rosa Cedrón – vocals on "The Inner Child" *
Cara Dillon Cara Elizabeth Dillon (born 21 July 1975, in Dungiven, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland) is a Northern Irish folk singer. In 1995, she joined the folk supergroup Equation and signed a record deal with Warners Music Group. After leaving t ...
– vocals on "Man in the Rain" *Heather Burnett – additional vocals on "Man in the Rain" *
Clodagh Simonds Clodagh Simonds ( ; born 16 May 1953) is an Irish musician, songwriter and singer. She was born in Banbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland and raised and educated in Killiney, County Dublin. Career At the age of eleven, in 1964 Simonds forme ...
– 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 Rob Dickins (born July 1950, East Ham, London) is a British music industry executive, who currently holds a number of trustee and consultant positions in music and the arts in the United Kingdom. Dickins began his music industry career at Warner ...
– executive producer


References

{{Authority control Mike Oldfield albums 1998 albums 1990s instrumental albums Warner Music Group albums Sequel albums