Customer Reviews

Exposed

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Exposed is an amazing live record, that truly captures Mike Oldfield's talent, not only as a performer, but as an arranger, writer, and bandleader. The album begins with a nice run through Incantations (a little less than 50 minutes worth), which is a nice performance, and features some sparkling orchestral movements, and some beautiful guitar work from Mike. However, the highlight of this album is undoubtedly the live display of Mike's masterpiece, Tubular Bells. Being as the original was close to perfection, it would've been easy (and indeed, expected and perhaps satient) for him to lead his band up there on stage and perform the piece by the numbers, with little improvisation or change from the album. However, this is not what happens. The best part from the original are left without being raped, to be sure, (the only thing you could really complain about missing is the novel instrument introducing narraration), but there are many new twists and turns that a fan of the original will notice and appreciate. TB Part 1 is extended with a little jam at the end, and one of the nicest enchancements to the piece is the addition of a drummer (the album featuring only some light percussion.) This makes the piece more upbeat for the live setting, and also adds a nice punch to the midsection of TB Part I. The string and horn sections are nice additions, as well. However, TB Part II (which I never liked nearly as much as Part I, anyway) is considerably abbreviated, with the entire "Piltdown Man" section missing, which I cannot really complain about. A nice jam at the end more than makes up for it. Following the masterpiece is a nice, pleasurable run through Guilty. Highly reccommended for the Oldfield fan.

"Exposed" is a live album from 1978 world tour.Mike was promoting then his lates work "Incantations", so far his longest album ever.That's why the Incantations version contained here is short.if the whole 77 minutes of "Incantations" were contained on a live album then the original LP must have contained 3 LP.2 LP for whole Incantations and the other one for Tubular bells.
So that's why not 5 stars - "Incantations" from here are missing their finest moments (part 3 long guitar solo, Part 4 long african drums tune).yes, the performance is more dynamic and spontanic but Editing one of his finest works from 77 to 47 minutes is anoying.But the second disc saves "Exposed" - The performance of "tubular Bells" is simply amazing - with addition of Drums,funky bass and some Jazzy guitar solos "Tubular bells" are simply getting new taste. Sounding much different than original.I simply love it.The second part of it is lacking only Mike's crazy "caveman" vocal part, but still it sounds great...and "sailor's hornpipe" theme sounds even better than on original album.The ending song "Guilty" (interesting disco tune) signals Mike's new step into commercial music - "Incantations" from 1978 were his last long epic work for long years. Anyway, "Exposed" is mostly an interesting album for Oldfield fans.If you like and know "Tubular bells" or any of his other albums you will like it.oh - and get "Incantations" too!

This albun include a funky live version of tubular bell (1) witch is surprising, different from the original, very good. It also include a compact live version of Incantation, very near to the original version. This concert is in the mind of all those lucky poeples who were there, about 20 musicians live, good songs, A dream concert !!!

That's Oldfield at his best! Huge, fresh, even funky. It's interesting and amazing how this man can first record a whole album on his own and then lead a group of almost 60 people to perform brilliant concerts. Pitty I was too young then, must have been impressive.

One of Mike Oldfield's trade marks is his overtracking of a large variety of instruments played by himself. This of course is not possible in a live performance but the music doesn't suffer. Mike Oldfield as always comes up with a way of working within this limitaion. I enjoyed listening to this variation. It has the vitality of a live peformance which makes it enjoyable even if it doesn't have the lush orchestration of his usual work.

I really bought this to complete my collection of Oldfield CDs, rather than as some sort of must have. I had the vinyl LP years and years ago but it was never one of my favorites.

This remastered HDCD is well put together and the recording has been brought up to modern day standards. I was pleasantly surprised and I play it more often than I thought I would. I prefer the original studio versions of the songs, but that is just my preference.

If you have an Oldfield collection that needs filling, and/or like live recordings, and/or have the original LP or CD, then this would be a worthwhile CD to have.

I bought the Vinyl LP version 25 years ago and was curious, what the CD would sound like. The CD is nearly as good as the LP, if not even better, which depends - of course- on the equipment. Very great music, after all these years it is a great pleasure to listen to it. A must buy for all the Mike Oldfield fans out there and those, who are new to his music!

este cd doble reune dos excelentes obras completas de olfield : tubular bells y incantations. El registro en vivo de las mismas, les da una fuerza y calor que no tienen las originales . La ejecucion brinda un nuevo trato a estos trabajos que los realza, y transforma en un cd obligatorio para todo el que guste de olfield especialmente si posee las versiones originales . El tiempo ha pasado, pero entre la pobreza ideologica de la musica de rock en general, es un verdadero oasis auditivo el poder disfrutar estos trabajos