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Hergest Ridge

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

After the unexpected success of Tubular Bells in 1973, Mike Oldfield did not want to tour and avoided the press. He withdrew to Hergest Ridge, a hill on the border of England and Wales, and wrote the follow-up there. He recorded it in 1974 at The Manor in Oxfordshire, again with Tom Newman as co-producer. Like the debut, it is a single composition in two parts, with changing moods and styles. Oldfield layers many tracks of electric guitar on top of one another, with a sustained, organ-like sound, and uses the voice as an instrument for texture. The sleeve shows the landscape of the hill.

The album spent three weeks at number one in England, until Tubular Bells displaced it from that spot. Oldfield himself felt it was a more considered work than his debut, even though the recording was hurried. Critics found it less inspired than its predecessor.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Hergest Ridge, Pt. 1 and notice how layers of guitar pile up and sometimes sound like an organ. Can you also hear voices used as an instrument?

Track list

  1. 1Hergest Ridge, Pt. 1 (2010 Mix)19:22Apple Music ↗
  2. 2Hergest Ridge, Pt. 2 (2010 Mix)18:47Apple Music ↗
  3. 3In Dulce Jubilo (For Maureen)2:46Apple Music ↗
  4. 4Spanish Tune3:11Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

Categories: Albums and songs