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Topic: Mike`s Album Covers, likes/dislikes< Next Oldest | Next Newest >
Dirk Star Offline




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Posted: June 29 2008, 07:26

I did`nt know whether to start this topic in general discussion or here?But I thought given that people`s opinions and reactions to Mike`s album covers are probably mainly based on style and taste.And that they are Mike Oldfield album covers after all,whether he had any input in them or not.I thought that maybe it should be here after all.Btw I apologise if this has been done before.I did have a look yesterday but could`nt find anything.

So anyway just a list here really of which of Mike`s album covers that I either like or dislike.Feel free to post as many or as few of your own.I did take A level art but I failed miserably,so all of this is purely based around my own screwed up/distorted tastes I guess.Just as a little aside I`m curious as to how much effect people consider the album covers to have on our overall perception and liking for the music in general?Does it distort or hinder our tastes in any way shape or form I wonder?Do you even think about them at all?Just yesterday in a discussion on Taurus Two I mentioned that I considered T2 to be a far more colourful piece of music than Crises.Which in turn got me thinking as to what Colour I considered Crises to be I suppose.So of course the first thing that springs into my mind is that it`s "Green"..OMG how original is that?...So anyway a little bit of thought and I could pick out lots of different colours in the music of Crises that I probably had`nt considered before.Everything from submerged steely grey`s to a kind of sunburnt orange effect..Still not as colourful as Taurus Two though..      :p

Here`s a little list of my own personal favourites...
Platinum
Hergest Ridge
QE 2
Tubular Bells
Guitars
Ommadawn
Five Miles Out
Tres Lunas
Discovery

Not too fussed with the following either way to be honest
Incantations
Songs Of Distant Earth
Light & Shade
Islands
Earth Moving
TB 2/3/
Amarok
Crises

Take it away I can`t even look at it.
Heaven`s Open
The Millenium Bell
Music Of The Spheres

No comment
Voyager
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nightspore Offline




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Posted: June 29 2008, 07:47

I like the covers of Tr3s Lunas and Crises best. Islands is nice, too - the island on it reminds me Green Island, off the coast of Cairns. (Islands also has the unusual distinction among Mike's records of having the greatest number of actual songs that I like. In fact, the only one I don't care for is "Magic Touch". And Bonnie Tyler's parched, "desert island" vocals put a lot of feeling into one of Mike's most heartfelt songs.) Yes, I know this go on to the  Islands forum....
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Scatterplot Offline




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Posted: June 29 2008, 09:13

I'd say HR and Crises are the coolest.

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Crying to heaven
And will our voices be heard
Or will they break Like the wind
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The Big BellEnd Offline




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Posted: June 29 2008, 13:54

TB

TB111

INCANTATIONS

HR

T LUNAS

GUITARS
           these I think may be my fav's but perhap's not in order.


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I, ON THE OTHER HAND. AM A VICTIM OF YOUR CARNIVOUROUS LUNAR ACTIVITY.
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Tati The Sentinel Offline




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Posted: June 29 2008, 15:51

My favorite ones ever!

TSODE
TB II
Crises

The worst ones:

The Millennum Bell
Music of the Spheres
Hergest Ridge
Platinum
QE2

Female favorite:
Voyager
(stil drooling here after 12 years from its release..that sexy gorgeous naked chest rules 4ever)


--------------
"But it's always the outsider, the black sheep, that becomes the blockbuster." - Mike Oldfield, 2014

"I remember feeling that I'd been judged unfairly and that I was going to prove them wrong." - Peter Davison, 2011
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ommadawn69 Offline




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Posted: June 29 2008, 20:52

I love SODE
then after that are
Hergest Ridge
TB
TB111
The Complete Mike Oldfield
Platinum
Five Miles Out
and Crises


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Ugo Offline




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Posted: July 01 2008, 16:39

I think I stated this elsewhere, but my all-time favs are the TB covers, all three (or four? or five? or six? :D) of them, just because I love the shape - to the point that I had a golden lapel pin especially made for me in that shape. Now that's fanaticism. :)

I also like what I consider to be "artistic" covers - Hergest Ridge, Islands, FMO, QE2, Heaven's Open. I'm not very keen on the covers featuring photos of Mike - I don't think that a musician's work should be really identified by his face or his aspect, I'd prefer to let the music speak for itself.

However, I cannot forget a special mention of honour to Hans C. and his wonderful ideas, which ended up on the Tr3s Lunas and Light + Shade covers. He's a real artist.  :cool:


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Ugo C. - a devoted Amarokian
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The Caveman Offline




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Posted: July 02 2008, 13:23

A special mention should  be made here for the original vinyl version of Exposed.Some really good candid shots.The other one i'd mention is FMO.The inside cover with the track sheet done in felt tip pen (although i notice on the All You Need Is Love DVD he favoured Crayola wax crayons for his tracksheet creations-a big box of them is visible sitting on the desk)is a joy and the dog/thing on the back is cool.Someone suggest Molly drew it but i'm convinced it was Mike himself.
 God i miss vinyl.The art work was so much better (moan, mutter, grumle :( ) :laugh:


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THE COMING OF THE GREAT WHITE HANDKERCHEIF IS NIGH.
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Sweetpea Offline




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Posted: Aug. 18 2008, 03:31

While, intellectually, I appreciate the cover art for Crises, it kinda leaves me cold. Which may be the point, but that doesn't make me like it any more.

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"I'm no physicist, but technically couldn't Mike both be with the horse and be flying through space at the same time? (On account of the earth's orbit around the Sun and all that). So it seems he never had to make the choice after all. I bet he's kicking himself now." - clotty
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arron11196 Offline




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Posted: Aug. 18 2008, 04:32

TB2003 has to be the best for me. I dunno, I guess I just like shiny graphics.

TBII - the cover was a little dull, hence my wallpaper on the tubular.net site, but the back was very appropriate I thought... the bottom of a swimming pool. TBII has that kind of relaxedness like a nice swim.

Albums I don't have an opinion on: Incantations, Voyager, Tr3s Lunas, Amarok.

Earth Moving... what the hell?

L+S... um...?  :/

TSODE's album cover is a nice piece of artwork, sure... but I don't see how it bears any relevance to the music. It probably bears relevance to somewhere in the accompanying video - I've not had a chance to look through all of that yet - but certainly there seems to be no direct correlation musically.

Ommadawn... this is a great cover because I think in that stoic resolve visible on his face you can see how much he was using this album to say "see! I can still do it!" (Ref: Changeling)

Music of the Spheres is just atrocious... Sorry Mike, but I really don't see the connection between the music and that image. Celestial bodies, sure... but they don't move like that! I would personally have replaced the cover of this with something like a cross between a piece of ancient parchment with celestial diagrams and a representation of musical harmony, a more direct translation of the point of the album.


--------------
Arron J Eagling

Everyone's interpretation is different, and everyone has a right to that opinion. There is no "right" one, I am adding this post to communicate my thoughts to share them with like-minded souls who will be able to comment in good nature.

(insert the last 5 mins of Crises here)
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Ciderginaspro Offline




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Posted: Aug. 18 2008, 06:11

I like, but not it order :
The Complete,
TSODE,
Five Miles Out (a lot!;),
Exposed,
Earth Moving,
Ommadawn (a lot!;),
Amarok (a lot !;).
I think my favourites are Ommadawn and Five Miles Out.

I don't like :
Light and Shade,
The Voyager

I don't have opinions for the others
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slind1962 Offline




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Posted: Aug. 20 2008, 09:32

Covers I'm not keen on in chronological order:

Exposed
QE2
Five Miles Out
Crises
Discovery
Islands
Earth Moving
The Millenium Bell
Light and Shade
Music of the Spheres

Covers I like in chronological order:

Tubular Bells
Hergest Ridge
Orchestral Tubular Bells
Ommadawn
Boxed
Incantations
Platinum
Amarok
Heaven's Open
Tubular Bells II
The Songs of Distant Earth
Voyager
Tubular Bells III
Guitars
Tres Lunas
Tubular Bells 2003
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The Caveman Offline




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Posted: Aug. 20 2008, 12:07

Interesting choices Slind.Personally though i think that Exposed is a really cool cover.The vinyl version in particular is great.The whole thing with the tour was Mike actually saying a big Hello to the world and coming out of his shell in a BIG way.I think this cover is so cool cos it captures that so well.I mean he's actually smiling in some for gawds sake!
 FMO i've expounded upon the merits of elsewhere but i still love it.Again though it's really based on the original vinyl gatefold version.What's not to like?I have to admit that the cd vesions have all been pretty crap though.All your other choices i must agree with though.QE2 is a very fine album but the cover's a bit cheap looking (fake cut out porthole and all)but the inside cover is interesting though the reason for the ship plan graphics escapes me totally.And TMB cover is truly awful!


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THE COMING OF THE GREAT WHITE HANDKERCHEIF IS NIGH.
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Dirk Star Offline




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Posted: Aug. 20 2008, 17:05

Well I agree with you on Exposed Caveman I forgot to include that one in my list actualy.It`s a great cover and concept for a live album I think.Especialy given Mike`s whole history at the time and everything.But QE2??..No I love that one have to dis-agree with you there.It`s just so bold and striking for me.It`s simple but highly imaginative at the same time somehow.And just those four colours you know you immediatly know what they represent it`s very clever in it`s own way.And there are nice little subtle touches to it as well despite it`s boldness.The sloping diagonal graphics.The little plum line there in the corner.It`s also one of the few albums that works as well in CD format for me.You know it does`nt suffer from the old Sgt Pepper syndrome if you know what I mean?

But yeah sadly you don`t get the cut-out porthole anymore.Not bloody good enough Virgin yer cheapskates.See personaly I love all that slightly eccentric vinyl packaging you used to get every now and then.Now if that`d been me designing that sleeve I would`ve made it a gatefold as well.I would`ve had little pop-up chimneys,and tabs on the side for the waves and stuff.I would`ve had a little pop-up Mike there springing up in the middle.He`d be all decked out in naval regalia there and giving us a little salute every time you opened it up.Heh heh yeah ok I would`ve bloody ruined it I guess.Although speaking of ruining things and vinyl to cd transistions etc.Why in Heaven`s (Open) name is the back of this CD cover now some sort of lurid shocking pink affair.It`s not exactly sympathetic to the rest of the bloody artwork is it.Virgin Records??..Bunch O` numpties the lot of em`.
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moonchildhippy Offline




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Posted: Aug. 20 2008, 17:47

Covers I hate or dislike

Incantations- this is my most hated cover sorry Mike those trousers and sport jacket age you beyond your years, however I'm so glad I don't judge an album by it's cover as the music is superb  :) .

Light and Shade, why the mesh wire fence, makes me think of imprisonment.

The Millenium Bell- too much going on

QE2

Covers I particularly like or love

Crises- except it's green and I've an aversion to green (say's she who owns a  dark green car), well I like light green, but dark green I hate as my school uniform was dark green and I hated school. However on cars I like green as I think it looks sporty     :cool: .  I'd love to see what Crises would look like in a midnight blue or purple, now that would be cool.

TSODE- I just love the glowing orbs

Ommadawn- Love it pure art, I'm wondering if the rain soaked window represents anything

Hergest Ridge- Fantastic

Tubular Bells - I love the bent bell, and also the choppy sea, and the calm sea on the reverse, fits the music perfectly   :cool:

Voyager- I quite like this one, but I do feel that the best shots from the photo session(s) were left off of the album. I do think Mike looks a little too orange on this one, overdone the fake tan??  :O , but I think maybe David Dickinson was inspired by this http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?....rl=http


--------------
I'm going slightly mad,
It finally happened, I'm slightly mad , just very slightly mad

If you feel a little glum to Hergest Ridge you should come.


I'm challenging  taboos surrounding mental health


"Part time hippy"

I'M SUPPORTING OUR SOLDIERS

BRING OUR TROOPS HOME NOW!!
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Dirk Star Offline




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Posted: Aug. 20 2008, 19:45

:D David Dickinson comparisons love it..On the subject of which what about the cover of Heaven`s Open?....

"Cheap as chips"!..  ;)
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Ugo Offline




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Posted: Aug. 21 2008, 19:42

Best covers (IMHO) in no particular order:

TB 1973
HR
TBIII
Boxed
TSoDE - 'Glowing spheres' version
The Complete
Islands
TMB - sooooooo colourful! :D
Light + Shade
Tr3s Lunas

Worst covers, always IMHO:

Crises - meaningless ("The Watcher and the Tower" ???) and too sickly green...
QE2 - too stylized.
Ommadawn, Amarok, Voyager and all the other covers featuring photos of Mike O. - too Mike-ish! :D
Exposed - too minimalist...
The Best of TB - too over-used!!

So-and-so covers:

MotS - could've been done better...
TKF - ugly album (IMHO) but great photo...
Earth Moving - maybe a bit stylish, but fine.
FMO - because it illustrates only one song on the album, and not the best one...


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Ugo C. - a devoted Amarokian
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Sweetpea Offline




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Posted: Sep. 08 2008, 04:36

My top five album covers:

1. Tubular Bells 2003
2. Tubular Bells II
3. Ommadawn
4. Five Miles Out
5. Guitars


--------------
"I'm no physicist, but technically couldn't Mike both be with the horse and be flying through space at the same time? (On account of the earth's orbit around the Sun and all that). So it seems he never had to make the choice after all. I bet he's kicking himself now." - clotty
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RICHARDGORMLIE Offline




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Posted: Nov. 06 2008, 14:15

the mike oldfield covers i like are:-
1 tubular bells 2
2 voyager
3 discovery
4 amarok
5 tres lunas
6 xxv
7 hergest ridge
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ex member 419 Offline




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Posted: Mar. 10 2009, 04:17

Amarok, mikes hair and baby blue eyes, voyager...i love the naked torso, that seductive masculine pose, and his hair! let alone the warrior gear...
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