I can't even believe this! Mike Oldfield Ommadawn PART 2 First Time Listen Reaction 

"Synth-laden intro"? 😂😂 Dude, there are NO synths in that intro! I know, it sounds as if there are more than a few synths there, but it's Mike Oldfield we're talking about, and he's a master at extracting unusual sounds from trivial things (notice that I didn't even say "instruments"). They're ELECTRIC GUITARS. But it's an overdub of 62 of them (all played by Mike), so many that each one fills the gaps between the chord strikes of the others, and that creates that continuous, organ-like sound. Genius or what? (I only know this piece of information because I read a critical review from the time of the record release, and this was stated there.)

No synth Dude. Thats are multi layered guitars, what he create in the Hergest Ridge album. Sounds massive.

18:45 this is the best folk solo I have ever heard! So much energy in it and without shreeding!

Musical journeys, landscapes, and dreamscapes. That's Mike Olfield. Musical perfection! Thanks for keeping it alive.

This was recorded in Mike's home at the time on the Welsh/English border - a very beautiful part of the country - where he had retreated to to get away from the media pressure following the unexpected success of Tubular Bells and to a certain extent Hergest Ridge (which was Mike's first No. 1 album in the Uk in 1974 which got supplanted by none other than his first album Tubular Bells a few weeks later - being only the third person to have knocked himself off the top of the charts) On Horseback was released as a Christmas single but it was the other side of that which became a huge hit and gets played to this day every December in the UK "In Dulci Jubilo" a reworking of a medieval Christmas tune. Definitely a great fun track and less than 3 minutes long! Hopefully you will give Hergest Ridge a listen - it is quite wonderful

Ommadawn is sublime! I remember listening to it when I was 14 or 15, and spent all summer long listening to it on a Walkman at night. So good! Ommadawn is basically the first record ever of the so-called Workd Music. Hohn, you actually listened to 2 tracks, actually: “Omadawn Part 2” and “On Horseback”. The later became a hit by itself on Christmas season. The beginning of Part 2, Mike has said, was meant to represent the pain of being born. And the rest, was his way of building his happy place with music. The part he plays with Paddy Maloney was recorded after Paddy arrived late, and having only a few hours in front of them before the master tapes had to be picked up by Virgin to publish the record, they decided to go to the pub, drink a whole bunch of beer, go back to the studio and improvise. The result was the most beautiful bagpipe-and-guitar piece ever! And the end with Jabula Drummers is so good and hypnotic!

Welcome to the world of Mike Oldfield, Im an old guy who has been a fan of his since the early 70’s and have been to many of his concerts. I’m so glad you enjoyed Ommadawn. There are many other albums of his to enjoy, could I recommend “Songs of Distant Earth” for a review, I think you’ll be blown away.

I dare you to listen to Mike Oldfield's Amarok and 'The Songs of Distant Earth'. Both of those will take you on a journey and bring you back feeling better. :)

My favorite album by Mike along with Amarok and TSODE

It's so lovely watching you hear this for the first time. I was 4 when this was released. My parents bought it on release and it is the first piece of music I remember hearing. I've loved it all my life. I really enjoyed your interpretations of the themes. For me, it draws from the mysteries and tradition of southern England, reaching far back into the prehistoric past, with a huge sprinkling of magic. It's sublime.

17:14 I was waiting to see your face when that happened. :)

At 10:48 when that drone builds & builds and then the Uilleann pipes breaks in... Goosebumps, always goosebumps. Since I first heard this album when I was 11. This piece is just so achingly beautiful. When I first heard it I was transfixed, transported... It's nostalgic the very first time you hear it. It's mournful, heart aching, stunning... Every time I hear it I fall into it's arms and I let the tears trickle down my cheeks. This will be played at my funeral as a celebration of beauty, a pining for home. But not your home now, it's a longing for a home that was. They say that the past is a different country. Well, this is my visa, passport & passage there. How can mournful, aching, all encompassing loss be so very, very beautiful?

I was 15 when I first had this on cassette !! I think I was the only kid in class who was listening to this !!

I am pretty sure there are hardly any synths on the intro to Part 2 ... those are pretty much all electric guitars ... many many electric guitars ... dozens and dozens of overdubs.

can you inmagine that Mike Oldfield played all the instruments by himself on this record and many more

I have read somewhere that for tue opening of part2, more than 1000 electric guitars have been overdubbed, with an accordion in the middle.

A few comments here about no synths being used on ommadawn. Just to say that like on hergest ridge there is a heavy use of a Solina String Ensemble synth as well as an ARP 2600 monophonic synth.....

The Uillean pipe solo by the late Paddy Moloney is one of my favorite pieces of music. Check out The Dubliners for beautiful music and also introducing Jean Butler and Michael Flatley to the world (they performed Irish Dancing on stage with The Dubliners on at least one of their tours) before they became the stars of Riverdance.

The beautiful thing about almost all of Mike's music is everyone feels something a little different--something more personal to them relating to their life experience thus far You have a large library of his music to choose from if you want to continue listening to his work. I find his earlier works are the best, but his later works are not without merit. Either way you choose to listen to the auditory feast he set before you, you can't go wrong with listening to his entire library, just be prepared to have all your senses aroused while doing so.

Maybe my favorite MO album. Nice review from someone not familiar with his music

I don’t know how many artists are at his level. Absolute genius

My brother bought this album when it came out in 1975 (he was 6 years older), and I was sucked in immediately - at 9 nine years. Maybe I haven't matured, but this is still my favourite album of all time

I thought you would enjoy this, John. The whole album is a classic. Mike's guitar playing is wonderful. The composition is amazing. At the start of Part 2 what you hear, among other instruments, is 1984 guitars overdubbed, Mike himself states that in his book Changeling. Mike has so much great music to recommend over his 26 albums, but, I do think the 4 classic albums from the start of his career are essential, so listen to Hergest Ridge next.

I'm sure Mike said in his autobiography that the opening section of this contains over 1000 guitar overdubs and nothing else

Amazing catch on Twin Peaks! Been listening to this and the twin peaks soundtrack for like 25 years and never made the connection but its soooo obvious!!

I Iove Mike

I can only recommend you the second album Hergest Ridge and the fourth album Incantations. You will love it, I am sure. Thank you, brother.

My dear friend, Oldfield`s music just touches your soul. That`s all to know. Masterpiece after masterpiece.

another Oldfield convert; welcome aboard and thanks; excellent reaction John

Man you stopped listening at the best, most dicately crafted part of this album to talk about how it makes you think of Tolkien and the squeezed your patreon. Go back and relisten to it and pay attention to delicate craft. Then let everyone know.

South American?! No! :D The final section is some kind of European GREEK folk music (think there is to hear a Bouzouki), as Mike pointed out himself somewhere somehow! (Can´t be else, ´cause i always feel a strong urge to pour out some Greek Metaxa in my glass then! :D )

the thing with the "synths" at beginning... I quickly took the booklet out of the "Boxed"-set. In both parts he uses (played): "harp, electric, acoustic, classical and twelve-string guitars, acoustic and electric bass, mandolin, bodhran, bazouki, banjo, spinet, grand piano, electric organs, synthesisers, glockenspiel, assorted percussion" and further musicians playing uillean pipes, northumbrian bagpipes, recorders, timpani, cello, trumpet, percussion and African drums. Including his brother Terry (pan pipes) and his sister Sally (vocals) and a complete The Penrhos Kids choir... ...so yeah - there ARE "synthesiser" but i'm absolutely shure there are enougth instruments he made this beautiful soundlayer mostly with acoustic instruments

Dude. Dude. Dude. Dude. Dude. Dude. You’ve missed your vocation in life, as a successful Parrot.

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PwFdlc8d5LA.html 22 year old Mike Oldfield in the making process of his third studio album - Ommadawn.

And forty years later Mike, on Return To Ommadawn said, “ on horseback ? I’d rather be here..” Here being the Bahamas..

Where have you been John , this is a classic, Oldfield wrote the most touching music .... Irish pipes

Hope you try Hergest Ridge... and if ever you're in Kington, Herefordshire, it's worth walking up Hergest Ridge, it's supposedly an old horse racing track on a hill top (careful where you park your car though, it's on a working farm)

The whole album is just one of the best ever made, but so glad Part 2 is getting some love. The uillean pipes section is a reused version of Sallyangie's A Sad Song For Rosie, Sallyangie being Mike's early folk duo with his sister, Sally. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TuLnZFAuTCA.html

One of the best of mike Oldfield ❤❤. I was 8 years old when this song was created but it's at 13-15 i was interested in is work. This song with the album incantation are awesome if you want to relax 😁

I love that your are exploring Mike Oldfield. Encatations is also great, and at some point Jon Anderson from Yes sang with Mike. You need to react to that.

I couldn't watch when he thought it was synths and fucking bag pipes! Too much of a millenial Goeff Goldblum!

Well, at least one opus of the 70ies is still waiting for you, John: 'Incantations from `78! At least the most psychedelic of his 70ies masterworks! (that all will endure the test of time!). Will also then enjoy your "first contact reactions"! ;-) Greetings and best wishes from Berlin, Germany!

Layers of beautiful guitars and definitely no synths, youve only got to read the list of Instruments he plays on the cover,, hergest ridge thunder part on side two is an amazing layer upon layer of guitar playing a melodic part that blows your mind when it hits the acoustic guitar and melody at the end,,, no synths again

You talk like a party... nothing could be further from it... optimistic yes, but his life at that time was not a party. The critics turned their backs on him, they called him a dinosaur, he was 22 years old!!!!! He said "you're going to find out!" He took refuge from success, from critics... from the death of his mother (possibly suicide) during the recording of the album, and created this magical place to release his anger, his sadness, his optimism, his passion for nature, what organic...for life. Very similar circumstances happened in 2017 and he returned to take refuge in that same dreamlike place. "Return to Ommadawn" is the last work we will hear from this genius, another masterpiece to say goodbye to music, to the sadnesses and tragedies and fears that have plagued his life. A song to life, a celebration of existence. A well-deserved break from a musical journey of almost 50 years.

I think than the next Oldfield record to react needs to be Five Miles Out from 1982

"Force to dance on spaceship" Songtitle there....

So great that Mike can still touch souls like this. No one compares to Mike.

10:20 Yeah, get ready for it .... smoked a lot of weed to this growing up.

Great video, John. The Uilleann pipes are the Irish bagpipes which you can hear from 10:50 onwards. You should check out Mike's second album "Hergest Ridge" as well. Fantastic stuff! (Just in case you didn't notice - "Hergest Ridge" also gets a mention in the lyrics of "On Horseback".)

Just love this side of Ommadawn

This is what you get when an artist makes use of his ADHD.

My teenage years 🇬🇧🇬🇧😉

Dear John, thank you soo much for another video with Mike Oldfield music. Just a comment, please check on internet picture : mike oldfield ommadawn instruments I am not sure if there is any synth.

Northumberland pipes. You don't blow them, you pump them with bellows under your arm . Cheers Kev

INCANTATIONS PART 4!!! 👍🏼

Very well, Manuel.

Mike is God!!!

Incantations- solos are amazing and Maddy Prior's vocal solo is to die for. There is also a wonderful live version on DVD on youtube. For more Oldfield goodness see also on youtube, his live Montreux performance circa 1981- incredible.

At about 11:00 starting are 'Uillean Pipes' (=" Irish bagpipes" - bag filled by squeezing with the elbow, not by mouth blowing)

Paddy Moloney, the pipe player, was a founder member of The Chieftans, a trad Irish folk group. Supreme piper - especially as both he and Oldfield were quite drunk when they recorded his section. In one take! The Irish Pipes are difficult to play. The air is supplied by bellows under one arm and they are capable of playing chords with keys pressed by the heel of the right hand (but the drones are not used in this). If you want to hear some fantastic playing, look up Davy Spillane. One tune of his, One Day in June, is astonishing.

First the Strawbs and now Mike Oldfield. You’re hitting now on some of my favourite music.

72 overdubs in the opening section to get that droning sound, I believe. Most of the sound is created by guitars hammering.

Herbie was not actually on the finished recording.

Clodagh is pronounced Cloda.😁

Mike est un Genie