http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.1804&variant=artist-playlists&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rssThough something of a historical footnote to the American rock audience, Mike Oldfield is a veteran who continues to appeal to a large sector of listeners in his native Britain, more than 30 years after his debut solo album. Born in Reading, England, in 1953, Oldfield was something of a prodigy. His first LP, folk music recorded with his sister Sally (with whom he would continue to collaborate over the years), came in 1967 under the name Sallyangie. Oldfield followed that up by joining Kevin Ayers in the art-rock band Whole World, and they recorded <I>Shooting at the Moon</I>. Soon, Oldfield was at work on what was, quite literally, a solo project -- he played most of the 30 instruments on the album-length composition <I>Tubular Bells</I>. Budding entrepreneur Richard Branson bankrolled the sessions, but none of the established British labels was interested in the somewhat <I>outre</I> disc. Eventually, Branson founded his own company to issue the LP, and Virgin Records became the base of his empire after <I>Tubular Bells</I> spent months at No. 1 in the U.K. charts. The record also won a Grammy, and its main theme was used in the demonic-possession saga <I>The Exorcist</I>. Oldfield has celebrated the title with a 1975 orchestral version, as well as <I>Tubular Bells II</I> (1992), <I>Tubular Bells III</I> (1998) and <I>Tubular Bells 2003</I>. <br><br> Oldfield followed the original with <I>Hergest Ridge</I>, which also took top position on the U.K. bestseller lists. By 1980, he'd submerged his leanings toward progressive, proto-New Age sounds in favor of a more pop-oriented approach; Hall and Oates would even take his witty song "Family Man" into the U.S. singles charts. At the same time, Oldfield continued to display his instrumental composing talents on soundtracks to such films as <I>The Killing Fields</I>. Though doubtless considered more a purveyor of lifestyle music than a progressive artist at this point in his career, Oldfield has remained prolific and is looked upon as something of a forerunner of a wide variety of artists. Certainly his eclectic jaunts into various world musics led the way to the acceptance of someone like Enya. And <I>Tubular Bells</I> itself has long outlasted its reputation as "the music from <I>The Exorcist</I>." - Jaan UhelszkiArt & Progressive Rocken720Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:22:01 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.1804&variant=artist-playlists&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Though something of a historical footnote to the American rock audience, Mike Oldfield is a veteran who continues to appeal to a large sector of listeners in his native Britain, more than 30 years after his debut solo album. Born in Reading, England, in 1953, Oldfield was something of a prodigy. His first LP, folk music recorded with his sister Sally (with whom he would continue to collaborate over the years), came in 1967 under the name Sallyangie. Oldfield followed that up by joining Kevin Ayers in the art-rock band Whole World, and they recorded <I>Shooting at the Moon</I>. Soon, Oldfield was at work on what was, quite literally, a solo project -- he played most of the 30 instruments on the album-length composition <I>Tubular Bells</I>. Budding entrepreneur Richard Branson bankrolled the sessions, but none of the established British labels was interested in the somewhat <I>outre</I> disc. Eventually, Branson founded his own company to issue the LP, and Virgin Records became the base of his empire after <I>Tubular Bells</I> spent months at No. 1 in the U.K. charts. The record also won a Grammy, and its main theme was used in the demonic-possession saga <I>The Exorcist</I>. Oldfield has celebrated the title with a 1975 orchestral version, as well as <I>Tubular Bells II</I> (1992), <I>Tubular Bells III</I> (1998) and <I>Tubular Bells 2003</I>. <br><br> Oldfield followed the original with <I>Hergest Ridge</I>, which also took top position on the U.K. bestseller lists. By 1980, he'd submerged his leanings toward progressive, proto-New Age sounds in favor of a more pop-oriented approach; Hall and Oates would even take his witty song "Family Man" into the U.S. singles charts. At the same time, Oldfield continued to display his instrumental composing talents on soundtracks to such films as <I>The Killing Fields</I>. Though doubtless considered more a purveyor of lifestyle music than a progressive artist at this point in his career, Oldfield has remained prolific and is looked upon as something of a forerunner of a wide variety of artists. Certainly his eclectic jaunts into various world musics led the way to the acceptance of someone like Enya. And <I>Tubular Bells</I> itself has long outlasted its reputation as "the music from <I>The Exorcist</I>." - Jaan Uhelszki http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.28810004&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss New Age Sun, 1 Nov 2009 12:38:56 -0800 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 28810004 ply.28810004 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.28810004&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.28123304&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:06:24 -0800 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 28123304 ply.28123304 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.28123304&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.23944473&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:12:32 -0800 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 23944473 ply.23944473 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.23944473&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.23921614&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Soundtracks/Musicals Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:26:51 -0800 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 23921614 ply.23921614 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.23921614&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.16075665&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:05:50 -0700 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 16075665 ply.16075665 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.16075665&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.16075657&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:05:50 -0700 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 16075657 ply.16075657 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.16075657&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.15948368&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:58:44 -0700 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 15948368 ply.15948368 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.15948368&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.15948437&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:05:50 -0700 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 15948437 ply.15948437 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.15948437&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.15948435&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:58:45 -0700 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 15948435 ply.15948435 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.15948435&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.14894624&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Alt/Punk Sat, 26 May 2007 03:31:47 -0700 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 14894624 ply.14894624 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.14894624&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.14446388&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Tue, 8 Sep 2009 08:35:17 -0700 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 14446388 ply.14446388 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.14446388&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.13616569&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Fri, 5 Jun 2009 08:53:10 -0700 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 13616569 ply.13616569 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.13616569&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.13010801&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Tue, 8 Sep 2009 08:36:28 -0700 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 13010801 ply.13010801 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.13010801&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.12999425&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Sat, 9 Aug 2008 08:59:52 -0700 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 12999425 ply.12999425 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.12999425&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.12934744&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:52:42 -0700 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 12934744 ply.12934744 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.12934744&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.12622160&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Tue, 3 Nov 2009 11:24:36 -0800 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 12622160 ply.12622160 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.12622160&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.12242933&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Alt/Punk Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:23:45 -0700 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 12242933 ply.12242933 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.12242933&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.12180352&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Sat, 28 Feb 2009 12:34:42 -0800 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 12180352 ply.12180352 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.12180352&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.11474190&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Mon, 19 Mar 2007 07:55:45 -0700 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 11474190 ply.11474190 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.11474190&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.11149266&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:54:08 -0800 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 11149266 ply.11149266 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.11149266&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.11037025&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:37:59 -0800 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 11037025 ply.11037025 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.11037025&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.10828787&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Mon, 19 Mar 2007 07:57:39 -0700 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 10828787 ply.10828787 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.10828787&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.10511454&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Mon, 7 Sep 2009 09:53:14 -0700 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 10511454 ply.10511454 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.10511454&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.9273122&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Mon, 7 Sep 2009 09:52:26 -0700 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 9273122 ply.9273122 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.9273122&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.9175058&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:45:56 -0700 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 9175058 ply.9175058 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.9175058&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8951871&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Mon, 7 Sep 2009 09:52:38 -0700 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 8951871 ply.8951871 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8951871&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8921086&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss New Age Mon, 19 Jun 2006 02:22:02 -0700 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 8921086 ply.8921086 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8921086&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8924843&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Sat, 7 Feb 2009 12:10:29 -0800 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 8924843 ply.8924843 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8924843&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8637703&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss New Age Tue, 9 Sep 2008 08:32:52 -0700 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 8637703 ply.8637703 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8637703&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8638296&variant=play&rws=%2Fmike-oldfield%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:32:04 -0700 Playlists Featuring Mike Oldfield on Rhapsody Online 8638296 ply.8638296 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