EXPOSED

This is Oldfield's first live album, and it was recorded on his first proper tour. The band was very large, a whole travelling orchestra, multiple percussionists, choir, etc.. This is the famed tour that costed much more than it profited.

Disc one contains a chopped up version of the Incantations album. Overall it's very good, and Mike plays the guitar parts excellently, (slips a couple times) and it's reproduced fairly textbook to the original album but with some instruments switching roles. I was excited to see how the end of part four would sound, (It's INCREDIBLE on the studio album) but when it was over I found myself thinking "Was that it?".

Disc two contains a version of Tubular Bells which is far inferior to the studio album, it leans more towards a rocky feel than the original, and it bores the hell out of me. Having said that, many do prefer this version to the original so listen for yourself. Guilty is horrible, I won't bother commenting about it.

A fair live disc, I think Mike would have done better to release a LP with some more song choices, my ideal setlist:

Tubular Bells Part One

Hergest Ridge Part One/Two medley

Incantations Part Four

Ommadawn Part One

I can dream, can't I?!