Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells, the groundbreaking instrumental rock work he began writing at just 17, remains a lasting underground favorite 53 years after its 1973 release.
First released on May 25, 1973, Tubular Bells became the first album issued by Virgin Records. Oldfield was only 19 when the album was recorded, but the ideas behind it began when he was still a teenager, according to The Conversation.
The mostly instrumental work later became one of the most important releases in Oldfield’s career. Its opening theme gained worldwide attention after it was used in the 1973 horror filmThe Exorcist. That exposure helped turn an unusual studio project into a major commercial success.
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Mike Oldfield Started Tubular Bells at 17
Oldfield began working on the ideas that became Tubular Bells in the early 1970s. While he was a member of Kevin Ayers’ band the Whole World, he spent time experimenting with different instruments and recording techniques.
When the band broke up in 1971, Oldfield received a two-track tape recorder from Ayers. He used it to build recordings by layering one instrument over another. This allowed him to create the effect of a much larger musical group while working largely by himself.
Oldfield recorded early demonstrations in his flat in north London. These tapes included ideas that would later become parts of Tubular Bells. One longer piece was temporarily called “Opus One.”
The recordings eventually reached Tom Newman and Simon Heyworth, who were working at The Manor, a residential recording studio owned by young entrepreneur Richard Branson. Branson heard the demos and agreed to give Oldfield time to record the project.
Oldfield played most of the instruments himself, using guitars, bass, keyboards, percussion and other instruments. The album was built through extensive overdubbing, creating layers of sound that could not easily be reproduced by a normal rock band.
One of the best-known features is the opening motif of Part One. It uses an unusual 15/8 time signature and repeats at different points throughout the piece. The music also includes electric guitars recorded at half speed, creating higher sounds when played back at normal speed.
The tubular bells themselves became a defining part of the project. They were not a common feature in rock music at the time and helped give the album its distinctive identity.
The album eventually consisted of two long instrumental pieces. Part One runs for about 25 minutes, while Part Two lasts more than 23 minutes.
When Tubular Bells was released, its sales were initially slow. That changed after the opening section of Part One appeared in William Friedkin’s 1973 horror film The Exorcist.
The connection between the music and the film gave Oldfield’s work a much wider audience. The haunting opening became strongly associated with the movie, even though it appears only briefly in two scenes.
The album’s success also helped Virgin Records establish itself. Tubular Bells was the label’s first album release and became a major part of the company’s early growth.
In the United Kingdom, the album eventually reached No. 1. It also reached No. 3 on the US Billboard 200 and topped album charts in Canada and Australia. More than 2.7 million copies have been sold in the U.K., while worldwide sales are estimated at around 15 million.
The music also produced a notable US single. Atlantic Records created an edit of the first three sections of Part One without Oldfield’s authorization. Released in the United States and Canada in February 1974, the single climbed the Billboard Hot 100.
According to Billboard Database, it entered the chart at No. 99 on February 23, 1974. From there, it steadily moved upward, reaching No. 34 by March 30 and No. 16 in April. On May 11, 1974, it reached its peak at No. 7.
The single spent two weeks in the top 10, six weeks in the top 20 and 10 weeks in the top 40. It remained on the chart for 16 weeks, with its final appearance at No. 53 on June 8, 1974.
That chart run showed that an instrumental piece created from layers of studio recordings could reach a mainstream audience without relying on a conventional vocal performance.
Oldfield went on to create Tubular Bells II in 1992 and Tubular Bells III in 1998. He also released Tubular Bells 2003, a new recording of the original work made with modern technology.
The original album has been reissued in several formats, including a 50th-anniversary edition released in 2023. That edition included a previously unreleased eight-minute demo titled “Introduction to Tubular Bells 4,” recorded by Oldfield in 2017.
The work has also appeared in major cultural events. Oldfield performed extracts from Tubular Bells during the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics.
The album’s legacy is also being carried into live music. A production titled The Best of Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells I, II & III, led and arranged by longtime collaborator Robin Smith, is scheduled to perform at Brighton Dome on March 22, 2027, per Brighton Journal.
The production features the full Tubular Bells album, selected sections from the second and third albums, and a live performance of “Moonlight Shadow.” Oldfield himself does not perform in the production.
For a work that began with a teenager experimenting with instruments and basic recording equipment, Tubular Bells has had an unusually long life. More than five decades after its creation began, the record still stands apart from conventional rock releases.
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