Rainer
Part 15 - comments.htm - comments about different covers, song versions etc...
This is part 15 of the Mike Oldfield Discography by Rainer Muenz:
comments.htm - comments about different covers, song versions etc...
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This chapter is about several important facts that I can't explain in
the lists. Here you will find some comments about different record
covers, song versions, and also about rumours without any details or
items that you might miss in the discography parts.
Part 1: Different song versions:
--------------------------------
A lot of songs exist in several released and unreleased versions. Some-
times the differences are very hard to notice, and sometimes they are
immediately hearable. I'm not going to describe all differences because
I'm not a musician and don't know the vocabulary. But you should get
a list on which sources you can find rare or different song versions
to find out which records you still need for your collection. Please
notice: Here are only officially released songs and song versions
stated, no live versions from bootlegs or private made tapes.
It's not possible to list all sources where one can find an ordinary
song version, but I try to list as many sources for rare song versions
as possible or known. If you have any questions feel free to ask.
Don't be confused about sub-titles. I try to use official sub-titles
like "Single Version", "Extended Version", "Disco Mix" etc., but in
some cases the songs have no sub-titles. Then I must choose self-made
suitable expressions.
*** Froggy Went A-Courting ***
2 versions. Both are quite rare.
1. English version: This version plays 4:30 minutes. The phrase "The
owls did hoot..." after 2:18 minutes is sung by Bridget St. John.
It's available on the UK 7" "Mike Oldfield's Single / Froggy Went
A-Courting" as well as on the Yugoslavian edition. This version is
available in poor quality on the CD Bootleg "Swollowed Up By A Big
Fat Snake", but runs only 4:25 minutes here. Perhaps the bootlegger
run it too fast or stopped it too early.
2. German version: Although this version is sung in English, too, it
is called "German version" by some old fans to point out where it
was originally released. It has a bit different instrumentation,
runs 4:25 minutes only (some label printings are wrong), and the
phrase "The owls did hoot..." after 2:18 minutes is sung by Mike
Oldfield. It's available on the German 7" "Mike Oldfield's Single /
Froggy Went A-Courting" as well as on the Spanish edition. This
version was also released on the Italian 7" single "Tubular Bells /
Froggy Went A-Courting" and on the Dutch-only 7" "Froggy Went A-
Courting / Tubular Bells". Never issued on CD.
*** Don Alfonso ***
3 versions. All versions of this song are rare.
1. Long Version: Published on the Various Artists sampler "V". This
version is also available on the CD Bootleg "I Met A Sweet Senora
In Barcelona", but the recorder didn't his job well and the
beginning of the song is cut.
2. Single Version: Available on all 7" singles "Don Alfonso (English
Version)".
3. German Version: Available on the extremely rare German 7" "Don
Alfonso (Deutsche Version) / In Dulci Jubilo (For Maureen)" only.
This version is again included on the CD Bootleg "I Met A Sweet
Senora In Barcelona".
*** In Dulci Jubilo ***
2 versions. One version is always called "In Dulci Jubilo (For
Maureen)" and very rare. The other version isn't subtitled.
1. Ordinary version: This well-known version was published on several
records. We can find it on all 7" singles "In Dulci Jubilo / On
Horseback", as B-side on the French 7" "Ommadawn", on the EP
"Take Four", on some Dutch and French editions of LP "Ommadawn" as
bonus track, on all "Boxed" sets, on the Dutch compilation "Mike
Oldfield's Wonderland", on the German compilation "Music Wonder-
land", on the mail-order compilation "Impressions", on "Elements"
(single album and box set), on the CD-Maxi "The Mike Oldfield
Christmas EP", some editions of "The Complete Mike Oldfield" and
some other releases including Christmas compilations and videos.
2. In Dulci Jubilo (For Maureen): Available only on 7" "Don Alfonso /
In Dulci Jubilo (For Maureen)". This rare version was Mike's first
version of the famous traditional song and sounds always very bad.
The listener must think the record-player is damaged because it
starts very silent and with poor quality. Not available on CD.
*** I Got Rhythm ***
2 versions.
1. Ordinary version: Published on all "Platinum" editions (LP/MC/CD).
2. Remix: Rare version only released on the mail-order compilation
"Impressions" by Tellydisc (UK). Not available on official CDs.
*** Guilty ***
3 versions (studio versions only).
1. Single version: Available on all 7" singles "Guilty / Excerpt From
Incantations" as well as on the 12" single "Guilty / Guilty". This
version runs 4:00 minutes. Also released on the Canadian edition of
"Airborn", on "Impressions", on the compilation album "The Complete
Mike Oldfield" and on the "Elements" box set. It's sometimes called
"I'm Guilty" or "I Am Guilty".
2. Long Version: This version runs 6:38 minutes and is only available
on the 12" single "Guilty". Not released on CD.
3. Short version: It plays 3:48 minutes only, but is nothing more than
the 4:00 minutes version as a faster recording. It's only released
on the US editions of "Airborn" and not available on CD at all.
*** Blue Peter ***
3 versions. 2 of them are quite rare.
1. Ordinary version: Published on most sources. You will find this
version on all 7" singles "Blue Peter / Woodhenge" outside UK
(except Sweden), and on the UK singles with matrix numbers
VS 317 A-3 or A-4. This version is also available on "The Complete
Mike Oldfield" and the German-only compilation "Music Wonderland".
2. Version with refined ending: Available only on the UK 7" "Blue
Peter / Woodhenge" with matrix numbers VS 317 A-6 or A-7 and on
the Japanese 12" "The Singles".
3. Remix: The most different version. It's available on the Dutch
compilation "Mike Oldfield's Wonderland" and on the Swedish 7"
"Blue Peter / Woodhenge". This version was also included on the
CD Bootleg "Swollowed Up By A Big Fat Snake".
*** Wonderful Land ***
2 versions.
1. Ordinary version: Available on the album "QE 2", on "The Complete
Mike Oldfield" and on the German compilation "Music Wonderland".
This version runs 3:37 minutes.
2. Single Version: It runs only 2:50 minutes and was released on all
7" singles "Wonderful Land / Sheba" and "Sheba / Wonderful Land".
It's also available on the Dutch compilation "Mike Oldfield's
Wonderland", on the CD-Maxi "The Mike Oldfield Christmas EP" and
on the "Elements" box set.
*** Five Miles Out ***
3 versions.
*** Family Man ***
3 versions.
1. Ordinary version: This version is released on all 7" singles
"Family Man / Mount Teide", on the album "Five Miles Out", on
the compilation "The Complete Mike Oldfield", on "Elements", on
the US promo 12" "Five Miles Out / Family Man" and some other
sources.
2. Short version: This rare version runs only 3:16 minutes. It was
published on the Canadian 7" "Family Man / Live Punkadiddle". Not
available on CD at all.
3. Edit: This version fades out earlier. Sorry, no more details known.
It's available on the US 7" promo-only single "Family Man / Family
Man".
*** Moonlight Shadow ***
2 versions.
1. Album version: Available on the album "Crises", on all 7" singles
"Moonlight Shadow", on the compilation album "The Complete Mike
Oldfield", on the album "Elements" as well as on the "Elements"
box set, on the French-only CD-Maxi "Moonlight Shadow / To France /
Jungle Gardenia" and on the CD-Maxi "Moonlight Shadow" (coupled
from "Elements"). Also released on the Spanish promo CD-Maxi
"Moonlight Shadow" (SPOLD 2) and the French-only promo CD-Maxi
"Tubular Bells / Moonlight Shadow" (FROLD 1).
2. Extended version: Released on the 12" single "Moonlight Shadow /
Rite Of Man", on the CD-Maxi "Moonlight Shadow / Rite Of Man /
To France / Jungle Gardenia" and on the CD-Maxi "Moonlight Shadow"
(coupled from "Elements").
*** Rite Of Man ***
2 versions.
1. Ordinary version: Available on all 7" and 12" singles "Moonlight
Shadow / Rite Of Man" outside UK as well as on some UK pressings.
Also published on the CD-Maxi "Moonlight Shadow / Rite Of Man /
To France / Jungle Gardenia" (in UK as 3" CD, in Germany as 5" CD).
There are some voices after the song is ready, and somebody
dropped an instrument.
2. Faded-Out version: That's nothing else than the ordinary version
but faded out a bit earlier. It's available on some UK pressings
of 7" "Moonlight Shadow / Rite Of Man", e.g. with matrix number
VS 586 B-2-1- . This record can be included in the double-pack
2 x 7" "Pictures In The Dark" (limited edition VSD 836).
*** Shadow On The Wall ***
2 versions.
1. Album version: Available on the album "Crises" and on the 7" single
"Shadow On The Wall / Taurus 3".
2. Extended version: Released on the 12" single "Shadow On The Wall /
Taurus 3", on the album "The Complete Mike Oldfield" (except the
French 2LP set) and on "Elements".
*** Crime Of Passion ***
2 versions.
1. Single version: Available on all 7" singles "Crime Of Passion /
Jungle Gardenia" except on the Spanish edition, on the album
"The Complete Mike Oldfield" and on the "Elements" box set.
2. Extended Version: Released on all 12" singles "Crime Of Passion /
Jungle Gardenia" and on the Spanish edition of the 7" "Crime Of
Passion / Jungle Gardenia". It runs about 20 seconds longer. Not
available on CD sources at all.
*** To France ***
3 versions.
1. Album version: Available on the album "Discovery" (except the
German radio promo). This version fades into "Poison Arrows",
and the very end sounds a bit like a medley.
2. Single version: Released on all 7" singles "To France / In The
Pool", on the CD-Maxi "Moonlight Shadow / Rite Of Man / To
France / Jungle Gardenia" (available as 3" and 5" CD's in UK
and Germany), on the French-only CD-Maxi "Moonlight Shadow /
To France / Jungle Gardenia", on the French-only promo 7"
"Moonlight Shadow / To France", on the compilations "The Complete
Mike Oldfield" and "Elements", on the Spanish promo-only CD-Maxi
"To France" (SPOLD 5) and on the German radio promo LP
"Discovery". This version is exactly the same as the album
version, but here without the first seconds of "Poison Arrows".
Some people call this an edit.
3. Extended Version: Available on all 12" singles "To France". Not
released on CD at all.
*** Tricks Of The Light ***
2 versions.
1. Vocal version: This is the ordinary version with vocals by Maggie
Reilly and Barry Palmer. It's available on the album "Discovery"
and on all 7" and 12" singles "Tricks Of The Light". It was also
released on the French edition of 2LP "The Complete Mike Oldfield".
2. Instrumental version: Was released on the 12" single "Tricks Of The
Light" and on the "Elements" box set.
*** tude ***
2 versions.
1. Full Length Version: Released on the album "The Killing Fields",
on the 12" single "tude / Evacuation" and on the 7" single
"Music From The Nurofen TV Commercial".
2. Single Version: This shorter version is available on the 7" single
"tude / Evacuation", on "The Complete Mike Oldfield" and on the
album "Elements" as well as on the "Elements" box set.
*** Evacuation ***
2 versions.
1. Full Length Version: Available on the album "The Killing Fields",
on the 12" single "tude / Evacuation" and on the "Elements" box
set.
2. Short Version: It runs 4:07 minutes only and was released on the
7" single "tude / Evacuation" and on the compilation album "The
Complete Mike Oldfield".
*** Pictures In The Dark ***
2 versions. Both versions were never released on official albums
except a few Various Artists compilations. Not available on CD.
1. Single version: Available on all 7" singles "Pictures In The Dark /
Legend".
2. Extended version: Was only released on the 12" single "Pictures In
The Dark".
*** Shine ***
2 versions. Both versions were never released on official albums
except a few Various Artists compilations. Not available on CD.
1. Single version: Available on all 7" singles "Shine / The Path".
2. Extended Version: Was only released on the 12" single "Shine /
The Path".
*** Islands ***
2 versions. There is a kind of third version existing, but this is a
rough version like a medley between "Islands" and "When The Night's
On Fire" (sung by Bonnie Tyler). This isn't available officially, but
a probably stolen demo version was issued on the CD Bootleg "Swollowed
Up By A Big Fat Snake" (bad quality).
1. Single version: Available on the album "Islands", on the 7" single
"Islands / The Wind Chimes Part One" and on "Elements". It was also
published on the promo-only CD-Maxi "Islands", but not on the 12"
releases.
2. Extended version: Released on the 12" single "Islands" and on the
promo-only CD-Maxi "Islands" (UK, CDEP 6). There are no other CD
sources known for this longer version.
*** Magic Touch ***
*** The Time Has Come ***
*** Flying Start ***
2 versions.
1. Album version: Released on the album "Islands" and on the 7" single
"Flying Start / The Wind Chimes Part Two (Edit)". Also available on
the "Elements" box set.
2. 12" version: Available only on the 12" single "Flying Start / The
Wind Chimes Part Two (Edit)". Not released on CD at all. This
strange version is nothing more than the album version with a
short instrumental piece at the beginning.
*** Earth Moving ***
3 versions.
1. Album version: Released on the album "Earth Moving".
2. Single Version: This little bit different mix was used for the UK-
only 7" single "Earth Moving / Bridge To Paradise". It's also
available as B-side of the 12" and on the CD-Maxi "Earth Moving".
Another source is the one-sided French 7" promo "Earth Moving".
This version is included on the "Elements" box set.
3. Club Version: This version is also called Disco Mix or Disco
Version. It's available on the 12" and CD-Maxi "Earth Moving"
and on all 7", 12" or 3" and 5" CD releases of "Innocent".
*** Innocent ***
3 versions.
*** One Glance Is Holy ***
5 versions. Normally I say there is one version of "Holy" and four
versions of "One Glance Is Holy", but it's of course always the same
song.
1. Album version: Available on the album "Earth Moving". This version
is simply called "Holy".
2. Single Edit: Released on the 7" and 12" single and on the CD-Maxi
"One Glance Is Holy" (Germany only).
3. Single Remix: Available on the 7" and 12" single and on the CD-
Maxi "One Glance Is Holy". This version was also released on the
"Elements" box set although they printed "Hard & Holy Mix".
4. Hard & Holy Mix: Released on the 12" single and on the CD-Maxi
"One Glance Is Holy".
5. Holy Groove Instrumental: This instrumental version is only avail-
able on the 12" single and on the CD-Maxi "One Glance Is Holy".
*** Heaven's Open ***
2 versions.
*** Gimme Back ***
2 versions.
1. Album version: Released on the album "Heaven's Open". This is the
ordinary version that runs 4:09 minutes. This version was also
taken for the German 12" and CD-Maxi "Gimme Back".
2. Single Version: Released on the German-only 7" single "Gimme Back /
Excerpt II From Amarok". It fades out after 3:44 minutes and is
nothing more than an edit of the album version. There are no other
sources known for this shorter track.
*** Sentinel ***
*** Tattoo ***
*** The Bell ***
Part 2: Different picture sleeves:
----------------------------------
Part 3: Rumours:
----------------
There's a 12" Various Artists EP called "Classic Disco Dance". The
track list of this strange record is: Moonlight Shadow (Mike
Oldfield) / Enola Gay (O.M.D.) / I'm Gonna Love You Just Little...
(Barry White) // Disco Samba (Two Man Sound) / Love No Longer Has A
Hold Of Me (Johnny Bristol). It has been released by Oulas Record
Corp. with the order number SPC 1991 in 1993. There is a printing
on the label "Made In Canada", but an expert of the Disco scene told
me that this record was private made as a kind of bootleg for DJs
in Italy. This man claimed that he knows the producer personally,
but I'm not able to check if this information is correct. By the
way: If you are a lucky owner of this production, take care before
playing the record. The center hole is too small for most players
and it's difficult to remove the record from the plate...
Part 4: Miscellaneous:
----------------------
About listed items that you'll perhaps search in a different category:
- Items like 12"/CD-Maxi Oldfield Versus The Orb "Sentinel (Total
Overhaul)", 12" "Sentinel Restructure Mixes", 12" "A Shot Of Moon-
shine", 12"/CD-Maxi "Let There Be Light" and 12"/CD-Maxi "Women Of
Ireland" are always listed in the parts with Mike's own releases
although one might estimate them as cover versions. But these
records were released under Mike's own name on cover (if existing)
and label although the music was remixed by different DJ's.
- The CD bootleg "Tubular Bells II Trance Mixes" is listed in Mike's
own CD section although Mike had nothing to do with the production.
But is was published under Mike's name only and the music is not
really covered. A DJ used Mike's original music (mostly Tubular
Bells from 1973), edited and remixed it and played additional
sounds.
- All items are listed only once, that means that Various Artists
sampler both including a song by Mike and a collaboration will
be listed in the compilation part with Mike's own releases.
Virgin's compilation "V" plays "Don Alfonso" as well as "Sad Sing"
by Tom Newman. You will find this record in Mike's compilation
chapter only.
- Sallyangie productions are not really guest projects because Mike
was responsible for 50 % of the work at least. But in this disco-
graphy you will find all Sallyangie releases in the chapter about
guest projects and collaborations.
- All records that were produced by Mike are listed in the guest
projects part, no matter if Mike played instruments as well or not.
You will find Henry Cow's "Legend" and "Unrest" and David Bedford's
"Star Clusters, Nebulae And Places In Devon / The Song Of The White
Horse" and a single by James Vane there.
- Greatest hits compilations by Bonnie Tyler (including "Islands")
are listed in the various artists section. Although these are not
real various artists release it would be as wrong in the collaboration
section as in the cover version list.
About items that are no longer listed:
- Mike didn't play on the 7" "Apache Drop Out" by the Edgar Broughton
Band. The CD "Document Series Presents The Edgar Broughton Band"
has been deleted as well.
- Mike didn't play on Les Penning's 7" "The British Grenadiers".
- A cover version of "Tubular Bells" by 101 Strings seems to be
unreleased on official sources. I think it had radio airplay only
and I've never heard of promos, radio-shows or anything else with
the music.
- The album "Home Invasion" by Ice-T isn't listed any longer. It does
not contain the Tubular Bells Mix of "Gotta Lotta Love", but the
album version, which does not contain any Oldfield tunes. Nevertheless,
on the 12"s and CD-Maxis the cover version can be found.
About items that might be wrong in an Oldfield discography:
- A song by Lol Coxhill called "Tubercular Balls" should be a cover
version of "Tubular Bells" in the view of some people. Because Lol's
album "The Story So Far" (with Stephen Miller) is quite rare I do
believe that those people have never heard this song and are a bit
confused by its title. I know the short 30 seconds "song" because
I really have the album and I can't find a cover version of Mike's
music at all. But I'm not a musician - perhaps there is one note
similar to Mike's composing...
- There was a rumour that Andrew Lloyd Webber made a "Tubular Bells"
cover for his album "Variations". I can't find this piece, and there
is no credit for Mike at all.
- I'm not sure if Mike plays on a 7" by Michel Polnareff called
"Toi Et Moi...". This is a coupling of the album "Kama-Sutra"
where Mike plays on two or three songs. But Mike is mentioned
in the German promo sheet.
About items that are missing because of other reasons:
- The Canadian LP sampler "Cash-Cows" has a totally different track
listing compared with the UK release. On the UK edition Mike's
"Sheba" was used on Side 1, but this song is not published on the
Canadian edition. Therefore it doesn't make any sense to list it
in an Oldfield discography although some people might miss it.
- Cover versions of songs that are covered by Mike himself are
normally not listed at all (e.g. "Arrival"). But for some people
it is interesting to know such items as well. One funny release
is a 7" by MichŠle Torr called "J'aime / Couleurs" (France, AZ,
SG 643, purple label, released in 1977). "J'aime" is a cover version
of ABBA's "Arrival", but here as a French Chanson, a love song in
this case.
- Mini-Discs, DCCs, DATs, Kodak Photo CDs and self-made bootleg
tapes (audio as well as video) are still not listed. There is also
no list about printed material like song and tour books or
biographies.