Description
By 1974, Mike Oldfield was riding high on the huge success of his debut album, Tubular Bells, released the previous year. Its success kept growing, thanks to the inclusion of the opening theme in the cinema hit The Exorcist. The album became a global phenomenon, topping the UK charts and winning a Grammy, launching Mike Oldfield's career. At this peak, Oldfield chose an unexpected path - he vanished. He drove west from London and settled in Kington, a charming market town in Herefordshire. Dominated by Hergest Ridge, a long and elevated common land with stunning views stretching to Gladestry in Wales. Combining gliding on the Ridge and playing at the local inn, Penrhos Court, Oldfield created Hergest Ridge, the follow - up to Tubular Bells, written at his home, The Beacon, on the borders. Mike's demo of the album, which hit the top of the UK chart in August 1974, was first released on a 2 - CD set in 2010. Now, for Record Store Day 2024, it's making its vinyl debut, mastered by Miles Showell at Abbey Road. With new artwork supervised by Mike Oldfield, including 2023 Ridge - taken photos, the 1974 Demo lets you rediscover this amazing English pastoral music, two suites played by a 21 - year - old musician evading fame.
Using this vinyl record is easy. Just place it on a proper turntable, set the tonearm gently on the record, and enjoy the music. When handling the vinyl, make sure your hands are clean to avoid getting fingerprints on it, which can affect the sound quality. Store the record in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and heat. If you notice any dust on the record, use a good - quality record brush to clean it before playing. That way, you can keep this special Limited Edition Vinyl LP in great condition and keep enjoying the beautiful music of Mike Oldfield's Hergest Ridge 1974 Demo for years to come.
