Intuitive Music

20 years ago now, on 28th August 1974, British musician Mike Oldfield released “Hergest Ridge” which was one of the most innovative instrumental albums from the 70’s.

“Hergest Ridge” was the second Oldfield work and the next after his legendary debut album “Tubular Bells”. It was recorded at The Manor studios in Oxfordshire (UK) during the spring of 1974 and was produced and engineered by Mike Oldfield. He also played most of the instruments himself, including electric guitars, glockenspiel, sleigh bells, mandolin, nutcracker, timpani, gong, acoustic guitar, Spanish guitar, Farfisa organ, and the Lowrey & Gemini organs. Guest musicians included June Whiting (oboe), Lindsey Cooper (oboe), Ted Hobart (trumpet), Chili Charles (drums), Clodagh Simmonds (vocals), and Sally Oldfield (vocals). The choir & strings were conducted by David Bedford.

“Hergest Ridge” was one of the most experimental Rock albums from the 70’s, which featured big doses of sound experimentation influenced by concrete music, like Mike Oldfield climbing on the lid of the piano to get the kind of echo/reverb effect from the resonance of the piano strings.

“Tubular Bells” and “Hergest Ridge” were premiered with a Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1974 and Steve Hillage replaced Mike Oldfield on guitar due to ‘illness’ (it was later known that Mike Oldfield suffered from stage fright). Other forthcoming concerts in Scotland and North of England featured Steve Hillage, Mike Oldfield, and Andy Summers (The Police).

In 1976 “Hergest Ridge” was remixed in quadraphonic sound by Mike Oldfield for the release of Virgin 4 LP set ‘Boxed’ which was used for all future releases of the album.