Thank you soooo much for being the Prog Channel that (a) recognizes MO and (b) ranks his albums! I’m one of your viewers who begged you for this a while back, and you very kindly got right back to me confirming it was already in the works! I don’t agree with your ranking, but of course we all know music is totally subjective! I would mention that I love the guitar solo on Holy, the solo on Incantations Part 3 and the masterpiece solo on the song Discovery! Plus how Simon Philip’s solo in Crises is always ignored by Prog fans always baffled me! Great work Scott!!!!!!!!!!
@@TheProgCornerYou are very welcome Sir! Now my next request: rank the albums of Jean Michelle Jarre!?! I personally rank Ethnicolor 1 as the greatest Prog song ever! Just a step ahead of Yes’ Awaken (uhhh! Blasphemy!!!) and Suppers Ready! (Omg!!!) But check it out! It’s incredible!
I'm fortunate enough to have seen a Mike Oldfield concert at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco in around '74 or '75. My favorite is 'Ommadawn', too...
Greetings from Latvia! Scott, thank you so much for this ranking video! It means so much to me because Mike Oldfield is one of my favorite musicians and he doesn't seem to be talked about much on prog rock TH-cam channels. Autumn is the season when I revisit Oldfield's music again and again every year, because there is something beautifully autumnal about his melodies and atmospheres. Amarok is probably my favorite.
I love The Songs of Distant Earth album and Voyager is great too! Love the chilled sound on Hergest Ridge! Ommadawn is a worthy number one! Hey and a way we go through the grass cross the snow! Awesome video Scot loved this ranking! :)
I bought QE2, Platinum, Five Miles Out and Crises when they came out. Quite liked them at the time, though they were a bit lightweight, but when I replaced my vinyl with CD, I didn't buy them again, and don't feel I need to hear them again.
An interesting fact about Mike Oldfield, his mother was from Cork here in Ireland, and he has a lot of Irish music influences on his records. His brother Terry Oldfield has a lot of albums, his music is New Age type of music. I like the ranking, it's so hard to pick a favourite, probably Crises would be the one. I saw him a few times and he's brilliant live.
Hi Scot, I'd put "Platinum" and "Crises" higher, but in general a very good ranking. Now you could do a Sunday livestream choosing the Top 10 Oldfield tracks. For instance, "Discovery" is not of his best albums, but "The Lake" should be in that possible top 10 tracks ever. A miracle such a track was released in the mid 80's!
A gargantuan undertaking squeezed into a high quality, riveting 24 minute video. Great stuff! Ranking a catalogue as vast as that of the now, apparently, retired Mike Oldfield is not for everybody. I also have all of his albums, but haven´t even made it through half of his discography. I need a good kicking to get me going!
Don't forget to breath Scott! Thanks for this enthusiastic ranking of this artist's albums. Have to dig some up here, forgotten some, and give them a re-listening. But Ommadawn is still on top of my pile, unquestionable.
Thanks, Scott. Ommadawn is one of my top ten all time favourite albums. Over the years I've had it on vinyl, on cassette and on CD. I also had Tom Newman's Faerie Symphony which was an amzing listen.
Such a great ranking and fantastic video! Mike Oldfield doesn't get talked about as often as he should be. I've never managed to get into Amarok. The weirdness have always thrown me off a bit. I believe I need to give it more chances. I'm only going to rank my top 5, and I have some surprises there, because Tubular Bells III and The Songs of Distant Earth are two albums that mean a lot to me. Ever since the mid-90s when these two albums came out, I have always found them to be perfect to listen to while driving on long roadtrips in spectacular and magnificent nature, especially when driving up to the northern parts (above the Arctic Circle) of Sweden and Norway (I live in the south of Sweden). The song Top of the Morning is so beautiful it makes me cry, and the climax of the ending of Tubular Bells III always makes me think of the climax of the ending of Ommadawn side 1. 5. Five Miles Out 4. Tubular Bells III 3. The Songs of Distant Earth 2. Tubular Bells 1. Ommadawn
Great ranking! Been looking forward to this one. Love Mike Oldfield. Been a fan since the original Tubular Bells came out, which was a life-changing musical experience. Bought every album when it came out after that, many truly magical moments (those 70's albums were all fantastic), stuck with him through the ups and downs of the eighties (Five Miles Out my fave from that period) right up through Earth Moving, but quit after that (that one did it for me). I should have hung on for Amarok and some of the 90's albums, but had moved on by then. I did go back to get TB2 and TB3, but missed those others. Only recently have I gone back to hear some of those I missed (with the release of the wonderful Return to Ommadawn). Great to hear your rundown, as several of those from the 90's and 2000's I have yet to listen to and this gives me a guide of where to go next. Can't argue with your top 10, all great. But although I recognize that Ommadawn is objectively a superior album, the original Tubular Bells will always be my #1, a sentimental favorite, as it means so much to me. Mike truly is a musical genius and so influential to so many others. Thanks. Those that insist that MO is not Prog just really don't understand what Prog is all about.
Great list Scott! Incantations and Ommadawn fight it out for my number 1 with Hergest Ridge in bronze position. I got a great chuckle from your pronunciation of uilleann pipes!
Great effort Scot. 7 of the 8 Mike Oldfield albums I own are in your top 10, the other being "Crises". I can't argue with your number 1 - "Ommadawn" is sublime.
Top list. Incantations and Hergest are the ones for me. I loyally collected his stuff until stopping at Islands. But I was pleasantly surprised by Amarok and RtO.
You made my day! Mike Oldfield! 🎉 Amazing list! It’s so difficult to go wrong when listening to Mike albums! The Songs of Distant Earth, this month, is my most played album. On vinyl, CD or MP3. It’s just so good. As you said, Mike’s guitars, man, Mike’s guitars! What a treat! For me, his top 5 today are: 1: Ommadawn and Amarok (tied) 2. Tubular Bells 3. Incantations 4. Crises But then, this list can change at any moment. His Top 15 albums are just brilliant.
@@TheProgCorner it’s his Tubular Bells 10th anniversary album. In more than a way, Crises follows Tubular Bells Part 1 structure. And has some of his best ‘80 singles. And Simon Phillips!!
Great episode! My top 10 is similar: 1 Ommadawn (side 1 is my favourite side of instrumental music ever) 2 Hergest Ridge (So underrated. On the version found on Boxed, side 1 has some wonderful, pastoral oboe after 8 mins or so - absolutely divine) 3 Incantations (Would be no:2 but side 2's Hiawatha poem is far too long for me) 4 Tubular Bells (Can't believe how young he was when recording this) 5 Amorak (Crazy in a good way!) 6 Return To Ommadawn (very melancholic in places - beautiful but sad.) 7 Platinum (A little underrated- the suite is fun and exciting) 8 Crises (Great title track and Moonlight Shadow!) 9 Five Miles Out (Consistently good album) 10 Songs Of Distant Earth (Chilled to the point of being horizontal - in a good way!) What a genius and he still recorded lots of other good stuff too!
@@TheProgCorner I would have Crises, Five Miles Out, QE2 and Platinum above Amarok for personal reasons. I'm gradually completing my collection, about 3 to go. Have you done a show on Rick Wakeman?
Great ranking. I can agree with your number one although (as for more people) primarily due to the epic side 1. Most of your top 10 would also be in mine. Sometimes I put Tubular Bells 2003 at number 1 (since I consider is as good as the original but sounding better, although on the other hand it's 'just' a re-make. Therefor I also loved what he did with Ommadawn (return to Ommadown). My favorite is also Amarok (which contains also hints to Ommadawn). It seems that Amarok was thus constructed that it would be impossible to draw a (hit)-single from it, and in morse code there's a message for Richard Branson included. I also really like the Millennium Bell album so I would rank that one higher. Keep up the good work man !!
Great video. A lot of releases to be familiar with and rank. I think the release that moved me the most was Songs from Distant Earth, but then (I’m embarrassed to admit) I was into some new age music when this came out. However, I can’t argue with your choice of Ommadawn - it’s a great record. In fact I think I’ll play it now.
Fantastically energetic and consise ranking. Really enjoyed listening to it. Tubular Bells will always be my number one, with the next four being in the order of release. After that it gets confusing for me with, some good, some not good. Mostly I agree with your ranking. Thanks 👍
@@TheProgCornerI must inform you that my 8th favorite album in all music history is Incantations. Sandwiched between Novella and Close To The Edge, Mike's masterpiece is a better representation of a four part symphony than Tales. But Tales is still the finest music ever written or recorded in all music history.
Great ranking, one of my favourite artists of all time. My ranking, Ommadawn, Crises, Tubular bells , Discovery, Hergest ridge, Qe2 , Five miles out, Platinum, Return to Ommadawn, Guitar, TB II, Amarok, TB III, INCANTATIONS, Islands, Songs of distant earth, Man on the rocks, Tubular bells 2003, Earth moving , Voyager, Music of the spheres, Killing fields, Light and shade, Millenium bell, Lunas
Hergest Ridge is not only my favourite Mike Oldfield album, but it's in my top ten all time favourite albums. The last 10-13 minutes of this record could compare with everything that the prog scene delivered at this time. And this is only a 20 years old guy. Mike is God! And a great ranking , Scot
@@TheProgCornerFor me, Ommadawn is a phenomenal 2 part song. I have it at number 3 after Tubular Bells 2. I so much love that live Tubular Bells 2 on TH-cam that I had to bump Ommadawn down to 3. Mike's top 3 are so great, it's practically a 3-way tie. Incantations is my favorite song from Mike.
Outside of Tubular Bells, I never really listened to Mike Oldfield all that much, but now I want to dive deeper into his work. Since a lot of what he does is long form and instrumental, like my own work, I figure he'd be a good source of inspiration.
@@TheProgCorner Much later, when Mike was living in Ibiza (Eivissa), he got back with Kevin and they did a single ("Flying Start", 1987), with some great guitar and a funny video.
Nice to see that you taken all albums seriously even though you are mostly drawn to prog. Mike Oldfields catalog is all over the place (just like some albums) and quite the mission to rank. I have most albums but not all. Can't say I return to all of them that I have but I enjoy most of them. My ranking wouldn't be exactly like yours but similar enought I reckon. I would place "Music of the Spheres" and "Discovery" higher. Most importantly. I agree about the horse song. Love it! Would love to see Mike Oldfield live but I don't believe that will happen. That's okay though we got plenty enough albums to enjoy.
Thank you! Yep Oldfield is prog for sure. My fav is Incantations though my fav track is Ommadawn part 1. And guess indeed first four all superb. Gotta admit there are quite a few of his latter albums I don’t know, nice to see them ranked by you, give me some clue if or where to expand my collection… 👍
Great video, Scot. Hergest Ridge would be my no1. Have you heard the Sanctuary albums by Robert Reed ( of Magenta & Cyan) ? They're a brilliant homage to classic Oldfield - I'm betting you'll love em...
I got an Airborn used copy on vinyl last year and I didn't understand why it didn't appear on his discography list, and I thought it was a bootleg, but then I found out it was the American version of Platinum. It's a double album because the Americans added a live album to it😅. It's great. I love it!
never really checked him out besides the super famous stuff... helps me dig into his ouvre now. I have a lot of mixing to do so lots of critical listening and the best of his work will be worth a deeper dive. Islands does have a reputation in art schools.
Really enjoyed this show Scott . I would put both TB 2 and 3 higher as I play them more often than most of the others in my collection . Please could you do a ranking of Enigma ?
Very difficult to separate the top 4 and it depends on my mood at the time but often I'd prefer to hear Incantations ahead of the others, possibly because of the repetition (and the vibraphones and marimbas - underused in prog rock. As an aside, have you ever heard Remember Remember, Scot? They used mainly glockenspiel) Ommadawn would be second and Hergest Ridge third but only because Tubular Bells is just too familiar now.
Let me preface this with the fact that you kinda are a bit much for me, but, as an SoT adjacent channel, I am a subscriber. I put together a Playlist based on your ranking (congrats, I have many SoT Playlists , now I have my 1st Prog Corner playlist. I have to agree with your ranking. There are some later albums that I don't have the history with, but your top 5 is right in line with me. But, I do have a more personal connection to Tubular Bells, which I would pit at #1. (Story time) I was in my local record store flipping thru the used lps & this dude was standing next to me. On the stores PA they were playing Tubular Bells. All of the sudden dude next to me (I thought) says "Grand Piano" then he walks off and in a matter of moments I realized what was happening and immediately went to the owner and said "what IS this?" and went home with Tubular Bells on vinyl.
Hey!!! I appreciate your honesty!!! I started my channel (in large part) because most TH-cam presenters were boring me to tears. I knew I could do it better, with more passion. I don’t understand why someone would start a channel about a subject they feel strongly towards but come across like a zombie. I want people to feel what I feel. And in that regard Pete Pardo is the absolute best!!!!
Won a radio competition back in the day and you could choose two lps as prizes. Sensibly picked two doubles and got Seconds Out and Incantations. Seconds out still gets listened to a lot on cd but only just bought Incantations again and was surprised how well it has aged. The repetitiveness really keeps you hooked and wouldn’t mind it going on longer. Saw him do the whole album in concert at Wembley Conference Centre (long demolished) and in fact there is a you tube film of that tour.
Ommadawn and Hergest Ridge are my top 2 favorites, equally. Both albums are just perfect. Hergest Ridge is Celtic influenced and Ommadawn is Celtic and African influenced. And I love ON HORSEBACK! ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS OF ALL TIME!
Excellent list.... personally, I'd have Incantations ahead of Tubular Bells. Yeah, Tubular Bells side 1 is a masterpiece, but 'The Piltdown Man' on side 2 is soooo unnecessary! :) The latter part of side 2 is SUPERB though once that bloody Piltdown Man is over :) Incantations, on the other hand, is 4 sides of flawless excellence.
Great content as always Scott wow can't believe Mike Oldfield has so many albums. Looking forward to tomorrow's nasty video lol😂. The King isn't going to the climate change conference later in the year health issues.
I'm 64 and recently picked up Ommadawn at a thrift store and after one listen , I thought this is better than Tubular Bells and why isn't everyone talking about this album?
Hmm…I can’t say that I know his entire discography. I’ve got Tubular Bells, Hergest Ridge & Ommadawn. I quite like all three but of course Tubular Bells is his claim to fame. It’s certainly the album I reach for. I was always impressed that he was only 17 or so when he wrote that album and of course it was the album that launched Richard Branson’s millions.
Looking forward to meeting the stars was fortunate to spend most of a day at rosfest with Matt from Starcastle just about one of the nicest guys ever also 3 friends gig Gary Green top bloke and great laugh hanging with adam wakeman,struggling to think of anyone who wasnt really nice
Voyager was after The Songs Of Distant Earth not Amarok. Also I'd have put Music Of The Spheres much higher. An interesting list and enjoyable video all the same. I'm a huge Mike Oldfield fan by the way. I've just attended the Hergest Ridge 50th anniversary convention in Kington and Glasbury UK late last month and it was amazing.
TheProgCorner@@TheProgCorner you should try and come over for a convention next time. It'll be great to meet you, a few Americans go to them too. Also you meet great people like Tom Newman and Robert Reed.
Well Scott, we agree on the top 5, just not the order. 5. Tubular Bells 4. Amarok 3. Incantations 2. Ommadawn 1. Hergest Ridge However, I know that Ommadawn is the better album. I just prefer Hergest.
Those first four albums are very difficult to split. I think my favourite might be Incantations but if you ask me tomorrow I might say something else. I love On Horseback too.
I only know ten Mike Oldfield albums. This is how I'd rank those: 1. Hergest Ridge - 5/5 2. Discovery - 5/5 3. Man On The Rocks - 5/5 4. Five Miles Out - 5/5 5. Tubular Bells 4/5 (5 for side 1, 3 for side 2) 6. QE2 - 4/5 7. Ommadawn 4/5 8. Crises - 3/5 9. Amarok - 3/5 10. Songs Of Distant Earth - 3/5
The same year as Mike Oldfield released his ABBA cover on QE2 ABBA themselves recorded a song called "The Piper" which sounds very Oldfield, and ever more so as the song goes on. Makes me wonder about what kind of contact those acts were having at the time! Check it out: th-cam.com/video/UWMnwx997_4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=kdvlqmdsFPPNcEkx And I love the Ommadawn horse song, used it as a lullaby for my daughter for years and years
01 Ommadawn 02 Hergest Ridge 03 Tubular Bells 04 Incantations 05 Amarok 06 Five Miles Out 07 Crises 08 Discovery 09 Platinum 10 QE2 the rest I don't care 😄
I like his music but I only need a couple of his albums. I bought a Maggie Reilly comp because of her work with Oldfield it's not bad but not recommended unfortunately.
@@TheProgCorner Hello! So far I'm really enjoying your ranking. I personally really love TB.II, so I am going to check out every album that you rank above that one to begin with.
Thank you soooo much for being the Prog Channel that (a) recognizes MO and (b) ranks his albums! I’m one of your viewers who begged you for this a while back, and you very kindly got right back to me confirming it was already in the works! I don’t agree with your ranking, but of course we all know music is totally subjective! I would mention that I love the guitar solo on Holy, the solo on Incantations Part 3 and the masterpiece solo on the song Discovery! Plus how Simon Philip’s solo in Crises is always ignored by Prog fans always baffled me! Great work Scott!!!!!!!!!!
Holy is a great song (on a bad album!!!) Thanks for encouraging me to do this!!!
@@TheProgCornerYou are very welcome Sir! Now my next request: rank the albums of Jean Michelle Jarre!?! I personally rank Ethnicolor 1 as the greatest Prog song ever! Just a step ahead of Yes’ Awaken (uhhh! Blasphemy!!!) and Suppers Ready! (Omg!!!) But check it out! It’s incredible!
I'm fortunate enough to have seen a Mike Oldfield concert at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco in around '74 or '75. My favorite is 'Ommadawn', too...
Wow!!!!!🤩
..........a really nice show today, very informative......did not know he did so many records.........
Thanks and yeah - Mike has been a busy boy!!!!
Greetings from Latvia! Scott, thank you so much for this ranking video! It means so much to me because Mike Oldfield is one of my favorite musicians and he doesn't seem to be talked about much on prog rock TH-cam channels. Autumn is the season when I revisit Oldfield's music again and again every year, because there is something beautifully autumnal about his melodies and atmospheres. Amarok is probably my favorite.
I noticed that Oldfield wasn’t being discussed all that much so I have been working on this for a while!!!
I love The Songs of Distant Earth album and Voyager is great too! Love the chilled sound on Hergest Ridge! Ommadawn is a worthy number one! Hey and a way we go through the grass cross the snow! Awesome video Scot loved this ranking! :)
Absolutely!!! It doesn’t get a whole lot better than Mike.
Thanks for this! I didn't know much about Mike beyond the first 4 or 5 albums, so it's really interesting to have a comprehensive overview like this.
It gets patchy but there some great albums there…
I bought QE2, Platinum, Five Miles Out and Crises when they came out. Quite liked them at the time, though they were a bit lightweight, but when I replaced my vinyl with CD, I didn't buy them again, and don't feel I need to hear them again.
An interesting fact about Mike Oldfield, his mother was from Cork here in Ireland, and he has a lot of Irish music influences on his records. His brother Terry Oldfield has a lot of albums, his music is New Age type of music. I like the ranking, it's so hard to pick a favourite, probably Crises would be the one. I saw him a few times and he's brilliant live.
Amazing!!!!
It would be great to rank all of Terry Oldfield's 500+ albums!
Hay and away we go. A great video I must listen to Return to Ommadawn.
@@jackr.1609 Yes and the rest.
Hi Scot, I'd put "Platinum" and "Crises" higher, but in general a very good ranking. Now you could do a Sunday livestream choosing the Top 10 Oldfield tracks. For instance, "Discovery" is not of his best albums, but "The Lake" should be in that possible top 10 tracks ever. A miracle such a track was released in the mid 80's!
The Lake is an amazing track!!!!!! I can see doing an Oldfield Sunday show soon…
Platinum is my favourite- has a real punk energy
A gargantuan undertaking squeezed into a high quality, riveting 24 minute video. Great stuff! Ranking a catalogue as vast as that of the now, apparently, retired Mike Oldfield is not for everybody. I also have all of his albums, but haven´t even made it through half of his discography. I need a good kicking to get me going!
This took me a year to prepare.
Thumbs up! I agree with your Ommadawn ranking 100%.
Don't forget to breath Scott! Thanks for this enthusiastic ranking of this artist's albums. Have to dig some up here, forgotten some, and give them a re-listening. But Ommadawn is still on top of my pile, unquestionable.
Ommadawn is perfection!!!!
Thanks, Scott. Ommadawn is one of my top ten all time favourite albums. Over the years I've had it on vinyl, on cassette and on CD. I also had Tom Newman's Faerie Symphony which was an amzing listen.
I’ve never heard it!!!!!
Such a great ranking and fantastic video!
Mike Oldfield doesn't get talked about as often as he should be.
I've never managed to get into Amarok. The weirdness have always thrown me off a bit. I believe I need to give it more chances.
I'm only going to rank my top 5, and I have some surprises there, because Tubular Bells III and The Songs of Distant Earth are two albums that mean a lot to me. Ever since the mid-90s when these two albums came out, I have always found them to be perfect to listen to while driving on long roadtrips in spectacular and magnificent nature, especially when driving up to the northern parts (above the Arctic Circle) of Sweden and Norway (I live in the south of Sweden). The song Top of the Morning is so beautiful it makes me cry, and the climax of the ending of Tubular Bells III always makes me think of the climax of the ending of Ommadawn side 1.
5. Five Miles Out
4. Tubular Bells III
3. The Songs of Distant Earth
2. Tubular Bells
1. Ommadawn
The Top Of The Morning!!!!! Oh yeah!!!👍
Great ranking! Been looking forward to this one. Love Mike Oldfield. Been a fan since the original Tubular Bells came out, which was a life-changing musical experience. Bought every album when it came out after that, many truly magical moments (those 70's albums were all fantastic), stuck with him through the ups and downs of the eighties (Five Miles Out my fave from that period) right up through Earth Moving, but quit after that (that one did it for me). I should have hung on for Amarok and some of the 90's albums, but had moved on by then. I did go back to get TB2 and TB3, but missed those others. Only recently have I gone back to hear some of those I missed (with the release of the wonderful Return to Ommadawn). Great to hear your rundown, as several of those from the 90's and 2000's I have yet to listen to and this gives me a guide of where to go next. Can't argue with your top 10, all great. But although I recognize that Ommadawn is objectively a superior album, the original Tubular Bells will always be my #1, a sentimental favorite, as it means so much to me. Mike truly is a musical genius and so influential to so many others. Thanks. Those that insist that MO is not Prog just really don't understand what Prog is all about.
TB is probably his “best” album but Ommadawn does something to me!!!!
Great list Scott! Incantations and Ommadawn fight it out for my number 1 with Hergest Ridge in bronze position. I got a great chuckle from your pronunciation of uilleann pipes!
I read. So I use a lot of words that I have NO IDEA how to pronounce!!!!
I'm with you on the top 4 in that exact order! Another fine run through another huge catalogue
What a brain Oldfield has!!!!
Great effort Scot. 7 of the 8 Mike Oldfield albums I own are in your top 10, the other being "Crises". I can't argue with your number 1 - "Ommadawn" is sublime.
I might have placed Crisis a bit too low…
Awesome video have a great day Scot ❤😊😊
Thank you!!!!
Top list. Incantations and Hergest are the ones for me. I loyally collected his stuff until stopping at Islands. But I was pleasantly surprised by Amarok and RtO.
Amarok is amazing!!!!
You made my day! Mike Oldfield! 🎉
Amazing list! It’s so difficult to go wrong when listening to Mike albums!
The Songs of Distant Earth, this month, is my most played album. On vinyl, CD or MP3. It’s just so good. As you said, Mike’s guitars, man, Mike’s guitars! What a treat!
For me, his top 5 today are:
1: Ommadawn and Amarok (tied)
2. Tubular Bells
3. Incantations
4. Crises
But then, this list can change at any moment. His Top 15 albums are just brilliant.
I need to rethink Crisis…
@@TheProgCorner it’s his Tubular Bells 10th anniversary album. In more than a way, Crises follows Tubular Bells Part 1 structure. And has some of his best ‘80 singles. And Simon Phillips!!
Great episode! My top 10 is similar:
1 Ommadawn (side 1 is my favourite side of instrumental music ever)
2 Hergest Ridge (So underrated. On the version found on Boxed, side 1 has some wonderful, pastoral oboe after 8 mins or so - absolutely divine)
3 Incantations (Would be no:2 but side 2's Hiawatha poem is far too long for me)
4 Tubular Bells (Can't believe how young he was when recording this)
5 Amorak (Crazy in a good way!)
6 Return To Ommadawn (very melancholic in places - beautiful but sad.)
7 Platinum (A little underrated- the suite is fun and exciting)
8 Crises (Great title track and Moonlight Shadow!)
9 Five Miles Out (Consistently good album)
10 Songs Of Distant Earth (Chilled to the point of being horizontal - in a good way!)
What a genius and he still recorded lots of other good stuff too!
An excellent list!!!!!
Excellent ranking, can't really argue with your choices.
Thank you!!!!!
@@TheProgCorner I would have Crises, Five Miles Out, QE2 and Platinum above Amarok for personal reasons. I'm gradually completing my collection, about 3 to go. Have you done a show on Rick Wakeman?
I did a Yes solo album ranking but the need to do one just for good old Wakey!!!
Gotta go with these for my top 5!
5 ) Hergest Ridge
4) Tubular Bells II (ooooh controversy!!)
3) Return to Ommadawn
2) Tubular Bells
1) Ommadawn
TB2 is amazing!!!!!
Great ranking. I can agree with your number one although (as for more people) primarily due to the epic side 1. Most of your top 10 would also be in mine. Sometimes I put Tubular Bells 2003 at number 1 (since I consider is as good as the original but sounding better, although on the other hand it's 'just' a re-make. Therefor I also loved what he did with Ommadawn (return to Ommadown). My favorite is also Amarok (which contains also hints to Ommadawn). It seems that Amarok was thus constructed that it would be impossible to draw a (hit)-single from it, and in morse code there's a message for Richard Branson included. I also really like the Millennium Bell album so I would rank that one higher. Keep up the good work man !!
Thank you!!!! I love Mike Oldfield!!!!
Absolutely! Amarok is a bit like "Ommadawn 2". Depending on the day, my number one is Amarok or Ommadawn. They are both amazing.
Great video. A lot of releases to be familiar with and rank. I think the release that moved me the most was Songs from Distant Earth, but then (I’m embarrassed to admit) I was into some new age music when this came out. However, I can’t argue with your choice of Ommadawn - it’s a great record. In fact I think I’ll play it now.
Songs From Distant Earth is AWESOME!!!! Best New Age album ever.
Fantastically energetic and consise ranking. Really enjoyed listening to it. Tubular Bells will always be my number one, with the next four being in the order of release. After that it gets confusing for me with, some good, some not good. Mostly I agree with your ranking. Thanks 👍
THANK YOU!!!!!
Great review ranking the albums by Mike Oldfield Scot.A big discography.
A massive undertaking!!!!
@@TheProgCorner ✌
@@TheProgCornerI must inform you that my 8th favorite album in all music history is Incantations. Sandwiched between Novella and Close To The Edge, Mike's masterpiece is a better representation of a four part symphony than Tales. But Tales is still the finest music ever written or recorded in all music history.
I love Incantations!!!!
Great ranking, one of my favourite artists of all time. My ranking,
Ommadawn,
Crises,
Tubular bells
, Discovery,
Hergest ridge,
Qe2
, Five miles out,
Platinum,
Return to Ommadawn,
Guitar,
TB II,
Amarok,
TB III,
INCANTATIONS,
Islands,
Songs of distant earth,
Man on the rocks,
Tubular bells 2003,
Earth moving ,
Voyager,
Music of the spheres,
Killing fields,
Light and shade,
Millenium bell,
Lunas
Amarok?????
Hahaha I forgot , just outside my top ten
Hergest Ridge is not only my favourite Mike Oldfield album, but it's in my top ten all time favourite albums. The last 10-13 minutes of this record could compare with everything that the prog scene delivered at this time. And this is only a 20 years old guy. Mike is God! And a great ranking , Scot
Mike Oldfield!!!!!! 👍👍👍👍👍
Mike Oldfield: "Ommadawn" (1975). This is an outstanding album. I'm glad it's at the top of your list.
It had to be.
@@TheProgCornerFor me, Ommadawn is a phenomenal 2 part song. I have it at number 3 after Tubular Bells 2. I so much love that live Tubular Bells 2 on TH-cam that I had to bump Ommadawn down to 3. Mike's top 3 are so great, it's practically a 3-way tie. Incantations is my favorite song from Mike.
@@TheProgCornerAnd BTW, On Horseback is a brilliant ending to Ommadawn part 2. Way better than The Sailors Hornpipe in Tubular Bells part 2.
I think so too!!!
Outside of Tubular Bells, I never really listened to Mike Oldfield all that much, but now I want to dive deeper into his work. Since a lot of what he does is long form and instrumental, like my own work, I figure he'd be a good source of inspiration.
Absolutely. The man is a genius!!!!
Tubular bells is the first prog album I heard in my life.also played with Kevin ayers ,one of my all-time favorite
That’s right!!!!
@@TheProgCorner Much later, when Mike was living in Ibiza (Eivissa), he got back with Kevin and they did a single ("Flying Start", 1987), with some great guitar and a funny video.
We literally posted an Oldfield Video the same day with the same picture as a thumbnail. Our thoughts are very connected this day Scot.
Wow!!!! What are the odds?
Nice to see that you taken all albums seriously even though you are mostly drawn to prog. Mike Oldfields catalog is all over the place (just like some albums) and quite the mission to rank. I have most albums but not all. Can't say I return to all of them that I have but I enjoy most of them. My ranking wouldn't be exactly like yours but similar enought I reckon. I would place "Music of the Spheres" and "Discovery" higher.
Most importantly. I agree about the horse song. Love it!
Would love to see Mike Oldfield live but I don't believe that will happen. That's okay though we got plenty enough albums to enjoy.
A lot of great music to sort through!!!!
Thank you! Yep Oldfield is prog for sure. My fav is Incantations though my fav track is Ommadawn part 1. And guess indeed first four all superb. Gotta admit there are quite a few of his latter albums I don’t know, nice to see them ranked by you, give me some clue if or where to expand my collection… 👍
Thank you!!!!!!
Great video, Scot. Hergest Ridge would be my no1. Have you heard the Sanctuary albums by Robert Reed ( of Magenta & Cyan) ? They're a brilliant homage to classic Oldfield - I'm betting you'll love em...
I love Robert Reed!!! (And I have only heard the first Sanctuary album. Awesome. Oldfield-esque!!!!
Perfect ranking. . The only “adjustment” I would make is rank crisis a bit higher. But yes, amazing artist, guitarist, etc. on horseback!
Crisis is awesome!!!!🤩
Yeah, I think Crises is one of his best albums.
I got an Airborn used copy on vinyl last year and I didn't understand why it didn't appear on his discography list, and I thought it was a bootleg, but then I found out it was the American version of Platinum. It's a double album because the Americans added a live album to it😅. It's great. I love it!
That’s right!!! They did tack in some live stuff for the US Airborn release. I forgot that…
I'm so pleased that I'm not the only person who thinks Ommadawn is a MASTERPIECE! I've always preferred that album to Tubular Bells.
I love them both but Ommadawn just hits me in a very special way.
never really checked him out besides the super famous stuff... helps me dig into his ouvre now. I have a lot of mixing to do so lots of critical listening and the best of his work will be worth a deeper dive. Islands does have a reputation in art schools.
Oldfield is a singularity!!!!
You gotta do some ranking studio albums...to-styx,foriegner,kansas, bad company,elo,rush...and i have more at the list.
I have done Kansas, Styx and Rush!!!!
@@TheProgCorner allright
@@TheProgCorner so you gotta do...elo,foriegner and bad company.
Right on time 😁
Yeah!!!
Really enjoyed this show Scott . I would put both TB 2 and 3 higher as I play them more often than most of the others in my collection . Please could you do a ranking of Enigma ?
I should do Enigma, right? They’re kinda Prog!!!
@@TheProgCorner Are you aware that Michael Cretu the creator / producer of Enigma features on Mike Oldfield’s album “ Islands “.
@christopherdavies3079 Yes!!! I knew that!!!!
If i hear the name...mike oldfield...i think about tubellabels
For sure!!!
The sign off alone is worth a subscription .
It’s getting crazier with each passing day…
Very difficult to separate the top 4 and it depends on my mood at the time but often I'd prefer to hear Incantations ahead of the others, possibly because of the repetition (and the vibraphones and marimbas - underused in prog rock. As an aside, have you ever heard Remember Remember, Scot? They used mainly glockenspiel) Ommadawn would be second and Hergest Ridge third but only because Tubular Bells is just too familiar now.
TB is probably his best but like you said - it’s been played to death!!!!
15 million copies of Tubular Bells? I'm one of them.🤩
Me too!!!!!
Let me preface this with the fact that you kinda are a bit much for me, but, as an SoT adjacent channel, I am a subscriber. I put together a Playlist based on your ranking (congrats, I have many SoT Playlists , now I have my 1st Prog Corner playlist.
I have to agree with your ranking. There are some later albums that I don't have the history with, but your top 5 is right in line with me.
But, I do have a more personal connection to Tubular Bells, which I would pit at #1. (Story time) I was in my local record store flipping thru the used lps & this dude was standing next to me. On the stores PA they were playing Tubular Bells. All of the sudden dude next to me (I thought) says "Grand Piano" then he walks off and in a matter of moments I realized what was happening and immediately went to the owner and said "what IS this?" and went home with Tubular Bells on vinyl.
Hey!!! I appreciate your honesty!!! I started my channel (in large part) because most TH-cam presenters were boring me to tears. I knew I could do it better, with more passion. I don’t understand why someone would start a channel about a subject they feel strongly towards but come across like a zombie. I want people to feel what I feel. And in that regard Pete Pardo is the absolute best!!!!
Won a radio competition back in the day and you could choose two lps as prizes. Sensibly picked two doubles and got Seconds Out and Incantations. Seconds out still gets listened to a lot on cd but only just bought Incantations again and was surprised how well it has aged. The repetitiveness really keeps you hooked and wouldn’t mind it going on longer. Saw him do the whole album in concert at Wembley Conference Centre (long demolished) and in fact there is a you tube film of that tour.
@@paulstephenson7503 I need to watch that!!!!!
Five Miles Out is my favorite. Taurus II is a masterpiece! The early albums are good but I gravitate more towards the late 70s early 80s era.
I’m beginning to see your point.
Ommadawn and Hergest Ridge are my top 2 favorites, equally. Both albums are just perfect. Hergest Ridge is Celtic influenced and Ommadawn is Celtic and African influenced. And I love ON HORSEBACK! ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS OF ALL TIME!
Right? I hear from a lot of Oldfield fans that hate that little horse song. The album would not be perfect without it.
@@TheProgCorner I'd rather be with you then flying through space
❤️❤️❤️
Interesting video. Like what Neil Young used to say "its all one song"
Try the book about Mike Oldfield by Ryan Yard on tracks serie...
Excellent list.... personally, I'd have Incantations ahead of Tubular Bells. Yeah, Tubular Bells side 1 is a masterpiece, but 'The Piltdown Man' on side 2 is soooo unnecessary! :) The latter part of side 2 is SUPERB though once that bloody Piltdown Man is over :) Incantations, on the other hand, is 4 sides of flawless excellence.
Great content as always Scott wow can't believe Mike Oldfield has so many albums.
Looking forward to tomorrow's nasty video lol😂.
The King isn't going to the climate change conference later in the year health issues.
That son of a gun needs savin’!!!
I'm 64 and recently picked up Ommadawn at a thrift store and after one listen , I thought this is better than Tubular Bells and why isn't everyone talking about this album?
Exactly!!!!! It’s pure perfection.
All of the TB 'revisions' lack Vivian Stanshall's wonderful narration.
Part of why the original is the best!!!
Hmm…I can’t say that I know his entire discography. I’ve got Tubular Bells, Hergest Ridge & Ommadawn. I quite like all three but of course Tubular Bells is his claim to fame. It’s certainly the album I reach for. I was always impressed that he was only 17 or so when he wrote that album and of course it was the album that launched Richard Branson’s millions.
That is right. 💰
Looking forward to meeting the stars was fortunate to spend most of a day at rosfest with Matt from Starcastle just about one of the nicest guys ever also 3 friends gig Gary Green top bloke and great laugh hanging with adam wakeman,struggling to think of anyone who wasnt really nice
Nice!!!!!
Would you please do a ranking of Rick Wakeman's solo albums? That would make for great viewing. Thanks!😃
I should definitely do one soon!!!!
Voyager was after The Songs Of Distant Earth not Amarok. Also I'd have put Music Of The Spheres much higher. An interesting list and enjoyable video all the same. I'm a huge Mike Oldfield fan by the way. I've just attended the Hergest Ridge 50th anniversary convention in Kington and Glasbury UK late last month and it was amazing.
Yeah I knew that but I think I had a quick little senior moment there!!!!
TheProgCorner@@TheProgCorner you should try and come over for a convention next time. It'll be great to meet you, a few Americans go to them too. Also you meet great people like Tom Newman and Robert Reed.
@@leethomas2155 That would be amazing!!!
Well Scott, we agree on the top 5, just not the order.
5. Tubular Bells
4. Amarok
3. Incantations
2. Ommadawn
1. Hergest Ridge
However, I know that Ommadawn is the better album. I just prefer Hergest.
I get it. Some days I agree!!!!
Those first four albums are very difficult to split. I think my favourite might be Incantations but if you ask me tomorrow I might say something else.
I love On Horseback too.
Yes!!!! What’s wrong with people?
I only know ten Mike Oldfield albums. This is how I'd rank those:
1. Hergest Ridge - 5/5
2. Discovery - 5/5
3. Man On The Rocks - 5/5
4. Five Miles Out - 5/5
5. Tubular Bells 4/5 (5 for side 1, 3 for side 2)
6. QE2 - 4/5
7. Ommadawn 4/5
8. Crises - 3/5
9. Amarok - 3/5
10. Songs Of Distant Earth - 3/5
Nice!!!!!!
The same year as Mike Oldfield released his ABBA cover on QE2 ABBA themselves recorded a song called "The Piper" which sounds very Oldfield, and ever more so as the song goes on. Makes me wonder about what kind of contact those acts were having at the time! Check it out: th-cam.com/video/UWMnwx997_4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=kdvlqmdsFPPNcEkx And I love the Ommadawn horse song, used it as a lullaby for my daughter for years and years
Just listened to it. I think you’re onto something here!!!
01 Ommadawn
02 Hergest Ridge
03 Tubular Bells
04 Incantations
05 Amarok
06 Five Miles Out
07 Crises
08 Discovery
09 Platinum
10 QE2
the rest I don't care 😄
Very good!!! You should check out Return To Ommadawn…
@@TheProgCorner I have the Deluxe Edition CD-Set 🤗, I saw him live in 1984 (Discovery Tour).
Mike Oldfield is one of my favorite artists and I don't disagree with your assessments.
He is a one of a kind talent.
@@TheProgCorner That's what I think. I rank him alongside Pink Floyd and YES.
totally agree with ommadawn at no.1
Has to be!!!!
👍☮️👑🐍🙏😎
👍👍👍
Ranking rockprog albums-the cars,toto,genesis,camel,slade,king crimzon,iron maiden.
I’ve done: KC, Maiden, Camel and Genesis!!!
th-cam.com/play/PL-om6vmWtornECi17h4giUrEcx5ZhwA--.html&si=SHMHUjAU_QmhuKrN
@@TheProgCorner so do please the othere list that remine.thanks
Thank you!!!!!!!!
I like his music but I only need a couple of his albums. I bought a Maggie Reilly comp because of her work with Oldfield it's not bad but not recommended unfortunately.
Thanks for the warning!!!!⚠️
ps First Excursion is a one-off guitar masterpiece.
I got that same shirt. From Walmart
That’s right!!!!
Music of the spheres, just dont like it but dont know its not MO..TB2 is so underrated.
TB2 is awesome!!!!!
Funny you mention lake Constance that's the one track he included on two sides
Such a great song.
Great ranking. I agree with most, but Crises is for me a persistent ear worm!
A lot of love for Crisis so far. Interesting.
I can give you a list of rock prog ranking albums.you want me to?...every time i will write to you some.
Okay!!!! Do it!!!! 👍❤️
@@TheProgCorner thanks
Islands was good. Ha, if you really like it...why is it #10? No collaborations? Fourth in the boxed set.
Wind Chimes!!!!
@@TheProgCorner I bought the boxed set in Germany in 80/81 never saw it in the US.
First! (had to)
2nd (had too !!!!)
Hello, Naomi!!!!
@@TheProgCorner Hello! So far I'm really enjoying your ranking. I personally really love TB.II, so I am going to check out every album that you rank above that one to begin with.
@365DaysofProg What a genius!!!!!
I'd have been more impressed if you were 365th. 😁