The album that launched both Oldfield and Branson, the latter became a millionaire and the former did OK but had a poor contract and then a breakdown as a result of the global fame. TB was an ongoing project for the troubled teen, who would resort to his bedroom and hide in the music; sticking bits of card in an old tape recorder to make it a 4-track, he put together patchy demos - whilst supporting himself as a session player in other venues. Branson liked it (and wanted to call it Breakfast in Bed, which says it all about Branson really) and allowed Oldfield use of the new Manor studio when all the proper bands had gone home.
When it was finished, well - what do you do with a two-track album? John Peel played it and off it went to mega-selling status (it was still in the top 100 5 years later). When you think that large parts of it were composed at 17 years of age, and many of the instruments were played by him...welllllll. THE album of my mid-teens - soak it in.
4 comments:
No comment on the music yet, just wondering why @Breakfast in Bed' would be a bad title?
He wanted a picture of a boiled egg, cracked open and blood pouring down the side....honestly, I ask you...
But if you look at MO's last album cover for Virgin, Heaven's Open, you can see a rather facetious take on that idea...indeed there RE SEVERAL VEILED REFERENCES TO THE DOWNSIDE OF THE vIRGIN YEARS ON THE SONGS (oops CAPS LOCK STUCK)
Well, you're right, it had to come and I'm glad it did - it's not one I'll add to my collection but I'll certainly keep it in mind for more Spotification.
But I really do see how and why it would appeal in the scenario you painted. It is, at times, truly immersive and, given the historical context, properly impressive.
Now all I want to know is: what's the difference between MO and JMJ?
Plus, though I didn't know at it at the time, being audio/visual synesthetic may have had a part in the impact (JMJ could never quite hit that, cos all his sounds, varied as they may be, were essentially digital which means they have similar textures)
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