I have had this lp for many years. To this day, I have never listened to part 2. Thanks to you, that's on my playlist for tonight. Where have I been all these years? Thank you.

Thanks for this video. He composed this album when he was 17 y.o., and recorded it being 19 y.o. kid playing all the instruments by himself. My favourite Mike Oldfield piece is Ommadawn pt1, you will like it, I’m sure

Thank you for the thoughtful and positive assessment. I believe he has created enough incredible-sounding albums to satisfy a vast kingdom of souls and hearts open to this elusive and original style of music, one that is so earthly and yet at the same time transcendent.

Wow. I'm a huge fan of Oldfields work. It all started with this album for me. And I always felt that Part II was a bit underrated because everyone knows Tubular Bells for its Exorcist theme and its finale in Part I. I was fascinated by the way you took Part II in. And how you managed to describe what you felt. I could recognize myself into your views. I share the same sentiments. Mike Oldfield did the vocals himself and he refers to it as his "piltdown" or "caveman" part. How close could you be with the images you saw. You should definitely try his third album Ommadawn which is regarded by many fans as his creative peak. And it is also the album that took me even more than Part II of Tubular Bells on to a journey. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I will check more of you channel soon.

The vocal part is called 'the caveman section'. It came about because the record companies wanted to put vocals on the album. When Richard Branson also suggested to add vocals, after he let Mike record the album, to insure commercial success, Mike got so annoyed and disheartened. His answer was, 'right they want vocals, I'll give them vocals.' After getting half cut he gave it his all and recorded this primeval scream.

awesome album

Such a good reaction.  Loved your face when the cave man section hit.  Thanks.

The thing is, Part 1 and 2  are half of one long composition, it was split because of vinyl. The vocal bit called "The Caveman Section " and it is Mike himself in the early hours of the morning after a bottle of whiskey. By your reactions, Mike's music has got you, the fans know that feeling, his music is beautiful and unique. I suggest listening to his albums in order as you can hear him develop as a musician, composer and producer, so, after this album he wanted to escape the noise of the fame it gave him, he moved to a remote house on the England/Wales border and wrote Hergest Ridge, so, try that next, again, it has Part 1 and Part 2

I think because side one of Tubular Bells is so associated with a movie, I have to admit I prefer side two. There is so much beauty with the instrumentation and harmonies, it has such an effect on me, even the rather strange primitive vocals that were added.

What makes music is when people listen and are affected, and your reactions are always so genuine and it makes it so much more enjoyable when I see you smiling and doing a chair dance. I love that you call it a masterpiece because I think it is.

Yes - It is smoother than Part 1 - Partly because Part 1 was recorded and rough mixed in 1 week. This was then hawked around the big record labels who all dismissed it so Virgin (who were just selling other labels work through mail order and an Oxford Street shop) decided to release it themselves on their brand new record label and gave Oldfield 3-4 months to record Part 2, in the down time between other bands recording schedules.

The only criteria they gave him was that it needed vocals and drums to make it sell - hence the "Caveman" session that Oldfield felt forced upon him - and yes that's him doing the vocals - after downing a few Guinness' and double speeding the tape during record to make it sound more guttural on normal playback. Steve Broughton was on the drum kit - brother of Edgar Broughton who Mike worked with on his sessions.

The Sailor's Hornpipe was an encore piece Mike would play on banjo at the end of Concerts with Kevin Ayres - getting everyone stomping and clapping ever faster to finish the night and ensure everyone left feeling happy!

As with Part 1 - if anyone involved had any idea what lasting impact and legacy this record would have over 50 years later - would they have made the choices they did? And if not would it have had the same success that this version clearly did? We'll never know.

The following year after the albums huge success Mike released Hergest Ridge, a more cohesive and flowing pastoral sounding album - although it too has it's "heavy" moments. Released 30th August 1974, 2 weeks later it reached No.1 where it stayed for 3 weeks until Tubular Bells knocked it off the top spot - he was only the 3rd person at that time to have knocked themselves off the top spot, The beatles & Bob Dylan being the previous 2.

Please try Mike's Ommadown

If I may suggest the 50th anniversary concert at Barcerlona automata university, magical

just wait till you hear ommadawn

You are a clever "reacting lady" because you know where NOT to pause during the listening

There are some albums that you buy for one reason and they slowly become used for stress and anxiety release which was very useful for those those last years at school.........a kind of musical therapy.

Just wait until you hear part 2 in excellent quality, not this awfully compressed rip of an already bad sounding vinyl.

This is also the 2009 remix of the original album but it's close enough. Nice to see you enjoyed it though.

I think if you continue through his catalogue chronologically you'll be in for many more wonderful surprises and discoveries. Hergest Ridge next?

And yes, you got into the worst sound quality of this album, version from delux album will be much more pleasant to your ears, I recommend you to listen songs on Yt only from official band channels