Mike Oldfield Vinyl Records – Tubular Bells, Hergest Ridge & Essential Albums on Vinyl

Mike Oldfield is the musician who launched Virgin Records. Born in Reading in 1953, he was 19 years old when Richard Branson took a chance on Tubular Bells, an instrumental piece Oldfield had been developing for years, playing almost all of the instruments himself. Released in May 1973 as the first-ever Virgin Records album, it became one of the best-selling albums of the decade and — thanks to its appearance in The Exorcist that December — one of the most recognisable pieces of music of its era.

The follow-ups Hergest Ridge (1974) and Ommadawn (1975) continued the instrumental-suite approach; Incantations (1978) expanded it across four sides. Oldfield's later career has moved between progressive instrumental records, synthesised pop (Moonlight Shadow with Maggie Reilly) and film scores. Oldfield on vinyl is almost a category unto itself — the multi-layered instrumental textures and the sheer patience of his compositions reward extraordinary playback. The Virgin originals, the Deluxe Anniversary reissues and the Mercury 180g pressings are all excellent.

Best Mike Oldfield Albums on Vinyl

Tubular Bells (1973)
One of the best-selling instrumental albums ever made. Part One and Part Two — a 48-minute instrumental suite that crosses prog, folk, ambient and minimalism, played almost entirely by Oldfield alone across countless overdubs. The 2009 Deluxe remaster is the definitive modern vinyl version.

Ommadawn (1975)
Many fans' favourite. Part One and Part Two — featuring uilleann pipes, African percussion, and some of the most emotionally direct instrumental music Oldfield ever made. A deeply personal and genuinely beautiful record.

Hergest Ridge (1974)
The second album, often overshadowed by Tubular Bells but worth rediscovering. Part One and Part Two — a quieter, more pastoral record inspired by the Welsh hills near the house where Oldfield was living.

Incantations (1978)
The ambitious double album. Four movements across four sides, incorporating orchestra, choir, flute, harp and tabla. Sprawling and patient — one of the most fully realised works in his catalogue.

Tubular Bells II (1992)
The belated sequel, produced by Trevor Horn. Sentinel, Dark Star, Maya Gold — a more modern production on the Tubular Bells template. A commercial comeback that proved the format still had life in it.

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