I remember when this came out in ’73 and how all the press and my Prog loving friends were freaking out about it’s release. The buzz was unreal as it went to number 1 in all album charts and I think this was the fledgling Virgin label’s first major release.
Most notably, Oldfield nearly plays all instruments on this release apart from a few backing vocals and drums. If any of you have ever watched The Exorcist, I’m sure you’ll be familiar to the opening of this album. This is the grey vinyl version of the 2009 remaster and it sounds crisp and clear. There are no song structures anywhere on this album and are all instrumental pieces linked together on each side to make one long piece of music. I love how all the instruments are introduced and play the main theme on Side 1 .
Other than classical pieces, this was the first album in mainstream rock music to use this format. Would you put this on at a party? Hell no! But it’s a great stress reliever and something to have one while you’re reading a book. I don’t think Oldfield reached the highs of this on anything else he recorded and still records today. An album to bring out once a year to jog the memory.
7/10 from The Grooveman.
