Hergest Ridge [Import]

Mike Oldfield | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 20, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: EMI Import
• ASIN: B0000072O0
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #575,766 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my best Mike Oldfield's album..., September 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hergest Ridge (Audio CD)

I happen to be a huge Oldfield's fan and therefore, I own all his CDs (there are some 30 of them). "Hergest Ridge" is his second album, released a year after his huge-selling success "Tubular Bells" in 1973. For a very long time, I considered "Tubular Bells" to be my best album in the history of music, but slowly, it fade because of Mike's another two albums "TB II" and "TB III", not to mention that "Tubular Bells" show up on every collection and "The Best of" CDs etc. Not to be missunderstood - it is still good CD, but almost too good. Yet, "Hergest Ridge" is, in a way, similar to "Tubular Bells", but it has this pastoral and soft touch his predecessor doesn't. It is built on one, or maybe two, beautiful melodies, which occurs through the album in a various shape, first calm and easy with the trumpet, then very rough and hard on the second half with the guitars. The first part of this album is my most favourite Mike's piece he has ever written. It could be divided into three sections, each one ended with an music eruption of feelings - those crescendos make me shiver each time I listen to this, and I've had this CD for almost ten years now! The second section is breath-taking: there is a short melody, played on oboas with strings in a back, but more and more instruments are added, so at the end you can hear a blast, accompanied by girl's opera singing - then it fades in a second, starting to build on another section, which is ended by male choir. I agree with other fans who suggest to buy this album. It could only be compared to Mike's third album, "Ommadawn".

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Warning: this is the remixed version, December 13, 1999

By 

Douglas J. Herbst (Holmdel, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hergest Ridge (Audio CD)

This music is inspiring, pastoral, uplifting, and meditative. At times it melts with the scenery, then suddenly soars above it. This is not pop music. You must take the time to let it envelop you. It is not for everyone. I would have given this CD 5 stars, but this is the REMIXED version from the Boxed set (1976), which other fans, myself included, find disappointing. The horn part that was unfortunately mixed out here on side 1 was one of my personal favorites. Those familiar with the original pressing will find something missing. I've been informed that Mike considers this mix the definitive version and has ordered that all future pressings be from the remix. I hope that someday Mike will reconsider releasing the original version on CD. For now, I'll listen to the original 1974 vinyl release. If you have recently tuned into Oldfield, perhaps you can get a copy of it through an internet auction.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Oldfield Emotional Magic, April 1, 2000

By 

Harry Housley (Tennessee, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hergest Ridge (Audio CD)

I consider Hergest Ridge to a great follow up to Tubular Bells, if not better. Like so many other fans, I was disappointed that the CD version is the remixed version from the Boxed set. Side Two benefits from this mix however much of the emotion from Side One is lost, especially with the removal of the horns and the snare drum. I was also disturbed by the CD insert which doesn't do justice to the original LP cover. I dream of the day when Mr. Oldfield with approve the release of the original version of this splendid album, music and all. Hergest Ridge is still so very beautiful and haunting. I feel that Mike Oldfield shared his heart and soul on this recording