Mike Oldfield status in prog rock - Progressive Rock Music Forum

I'm fascinated with Mike and his music. It is my belief that, if he decided to call it quits after Ommadawn or Incantations, it would be enough to grant him legendary status and teach kids at school about his determination and talent (small hyperbole). I wonder how he's perceived in prog community, given that his later career had many ups and downs, but also proved he's a true artist, willing to expand and morph his style well into 1990s, or even later - depending on your opinion on ambient and classical detours.

Should we give him more credit? Does he belong with the likes of Fripp, Anderson(s), Zappa or Stolt?

Psychedelic Paul wrote:

There's nothing I like better than to hear the Tubular Bells ringing Five Miles Out at the Ommadawn of a new day on Hergest Ridge.

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The Dark Elf wrote:

Meh.

How so?

The Dark Elf wrote:

thief wrote:

The Dark Elf wrote:

Meh.

How so?

Other than the first ten or so minutes of Tubular Bells, I find Oldfield's music to be rather pedestrian. If it soothes your feelings, I said "meh", but I voted average. And that's about it. Nothing to get worked up about. What's he up to now, Tubular Bells XIV? Sequels. Meh.

My feelings have nothing to do with it :) "Getting worked up about" - another misconception. I'm trying to have a discussion here, so just asked what are your reasons. No need to enter that patronising mode.

What about Ommadawn, don't you like it?

I'm not actually a huge fan of Tubular Bells, Hergest Ridge or Ommadawn. Pleasant enough, but no more. I can't remember the last time I played one of them.

For me, his work really comes to life with the wonderful run of albums in the late 70s/early 80s. Albums like QE2 and Five Miles Out are regulars on my playlist.

But my verdict is that he is truly one of the superelite visionaries of prog.

A TVR is not a car. It's a way of life.

I voted Good, but I've never personally been a huge fan. I like and respect the guys talent more than I appreciate his music, if I'm honest.

I'm not sure about influence on other prog artists - or other musicians generally - as he is fairly unique in what he does. It's not as dark and experimental as Tangerine Dream in the 70's, and not as minimalistic and ambient as Eno. There is 'higgledy piggledy' folk element to a fair amount of his music, which leaves me a bit cold, but credit where credit is due. Tubular Bells is quite remarkable when you consider his age at the time, the fact that he played everything on it and the fact that there was nothing else like it out there. I like the album, but it's not something I listen to much these days.

Overall, I prefer Ommadawn (especially part 1) and I like the coldness, and isolated feel of Hergest Ridge; you can really sense the artists desire to be left alone on that album!

One thing I will say, is that I always regarded him a very good lead guitar player, with a unique sound and style.

Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy!

Lewian wrote:

thief wrote:

Should we give him more credit? Does he belong with the likes of Fripp, Anderson(s), Zappa or Stolt?

Stolt??

Stolt might be a bit of a stretch! But I wanted to throw in someone from 90s/00s.

Lewian wrote:

Even his habit of revisiting and redoing his classics is something special, although the non-totally obsessed Oldfield fan surely doesn't need many of these.

I think The Millenium Bell was a mistake, but TB2 and TB3 are more than decent. It kinda looks like riding on his own coattails, but there is some pretty dope music on both, so he gets a pass.

Lewian wrote:

there is a very solid number of releases that totally pass me by (not that none of the so-called big 6 would be guilty of that).

That's why I wanted to get acquainted with all studio albums, to give them a fair chance and see if he really reached Big Generator / I Can't Dance / Catfish Rising / The Single Factor levels. And he did, on occasion, but most of his 80s/90s output I found interesting, if not spectacular.

Blacksword wrote:

Overall, I prefer Ommadawn (especially part 1) and I like the coldness, and isolated feel of Hergest Ridge; you can really sense the artists desire to be left alone on that album!

I think Incantations also have that solitary quality at its core. It's a recurring theme in his catalogue, at least that's how I feel listening to parts of Five Miles Out, Crises, Islands, or Voyager (much later).

Blacksword wrote:

One thing I will say, is that I always regarded him a very good lead guitar player, with a unique sound and style.

He's a very good and versatile guitarist for sure Smile

Good. I appreciate many of his early albums but he's not my "go to" prog artist.

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He gets an "A" on my turntable.

Welcome to the middle of the film.

Mormegil wrote:

He gets an "A" on my turntable.

The other side says "B"...

I'm going with Hercules regarding Mike Oldfield: I appreciate more his late 70s and 80s material (including Crises and Discovery, but especially Five Miles Out).

Don't see any use in rating his status, though.

PS But I do have a snippet of the yelling on TB2s Altered State as the ringtone of my phone. At least I recognize it's my phone when it rings (well, it actually yells, thus).

Edited by suitkees - July 31 2020 at 06:40

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Poll Question: How would you rate Oldfield's career and importance in prog rock?
Poll Choice	Votes	Poll Statistics
S - Superelite	15	[22.39%]
A - Great	18	[26.87%]
B - Good	15	[22.39%]
C - Average	11	[16.42%]
D - Meh	7	[10.45%]
F - Fail	1	[1.49%]
You can not vote in this poll

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