View source for Tubular Bells

{{Short description|1973 album by Mike Oldfield}}
{{about|the Mike Oldfield album|the single|Mike Oldfield's Single|the instrument|Tubular bells}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox album <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
| name         = Tubular Bells
| type         = studio
| artist       = [[Mike Oldfield]]
| cover        = Mike oldfield tubular bells album cover.jpg
| released     = {{Start date|1973|05|25|df=y}}
| recorded     = November 1972 – April 1973
| studio       = [[The Manor Studio|The Manor]], Oxfordshire
| genre        = 
* [[Progressive rock]]<ref>{{cite book|first= Phil |last= Hardy |author-link= Phil Hardy (journalist) |year= 1995 |title= The Da Capo Companion to 20th-century Popular Music |page= 705 |publisher= [[Da Capo Press]] |isbn= 978-0-306-80640-7 |quote= The album became a progressive rock sensation in Britain, where it remained on the charts for nearly five years and in America, where its success was aided by the inclusion of extracts on the soundtrack of The Exorcist (1973).}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first= Kevin J. |last= Donnelly |year= 2002 |title= Pop Music in British Cinema: A Chronicle |page= 61 |publisher= [[British Film Institute]] |isbn= 0-8517-0863-3 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=qRsJAQAAMAAJ&q=%22tubular+bells%22}}</ref>
* [[instrumental rock]]<ref name= "Stanley 2013">{{cite book|first=Bob |last=Stanley|title=Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop|chapter= Progressive Rock (And Simpler Pleasures)|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9emZAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT7|date=13 September 2013|publisher=Faber & Faber|isbn=978-0-571-28198-5|page=363}}</ref>
* [[new-age music]]<ref name="Birosik 1989 138">{{cite book |first=Patti Jean |last=Birosik |title=The New Age Music Guide |year=1989 |publisher=Collier MacMillan |page=138 |isbn=0-02-041640-7}}</ref>
| length       = {{duration|m=49|s=18}}
| language     = <!-- Do not use for English albums by English-speaking artists -->
| label        = [[Virgin Records|Virgin]]
| producer     = {{hlist|[[Tom Newman (musician)|Tom Newman]]|[[Simon Heyworth]]|Mike Oldfield}}
| next_title   = [[Hergest Ridge (album)|Hergest Ridge]]
| next_year    = 1974
| misc         = {{Extra chronology
 | artist     = ''Tubular Bells'' series
 | type       = studio
 | title      = Tubular Bells
 | year       = 1973
 | next_title = [[The Orchestral Tubular Bells]]
 | next_year  = 1975
 }}
 {{Singles
 | name        = Tubular Bells
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[Mike Oldfield's Single]]
 | single1date = 28 June 1974
 }}
}}

'''''Tubular Bells''''' is the debut studio album by the English musician [[Mike Oldfield]], released on 25 May 1973 as the first album on [[Virgin Records]]. It comprises two mostly instrumental tracks. Oldfield, who was 19 years old when it was recorded, played almost all the instruments.

''Tubular Bells'' initially sold slowly, but gained worldwide attention in December 1973 when its opening theme was used for the soundtrack to the horror film ''[[The Exorcist]]''. This led to a surge in sales which increased Oldfield's profile and played an important part in the growth of the [[Virgin Group]]. It stayed in the top ten of the [[UK Albums Chart]] for one year from March 1974, during which it reached number one for one week. It reached number three on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], and number one in Canada and Australia. It has sold more than 2.7 million copies in the UK, and an estimated 15 million copies worldwide.

An orchestral version produced by [[David Bedford]] was released in 1975 as ''[[The Orchestral Tubular Bells]]''. It was followed by the albums ''[[Tubular Bells II]]'' (1992), ''[[Tubular Bells III]]'' (1998), ''[[The Millennium Bell]]'' (1999), and a re-recorded version, ''[[Tubular Bells 2003]]'', for its 30th anniversary. A remastered edition was released in 2009. In 2010, ''Tubular Bells'' was one of ten classic album covers from British artists commemorated on a [[Great Britain commemorative stamps 2010–2019#2010|series of UK postage stamps]] issued by the [[Royal Mail]]. Its contribution to British music was recognized when Oldfield played extracts during the [[2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony]] in London.

== Background ==
Oldfield learned to play the guitar at an early age, and as a teenager he became the bass player for the Whole World, a band put together by [[Kevin Ayers]], formerly of [[Soft Machine]].{{sfn|O'Casey|2013|loc=9:34}}<ref name="QSummer2001">{{cite magazine |first=Johnny |last=Black |title=Mike Oldfield: The Making of ''Tubular Bells'' |magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |issue=180 |pages=54–55 |date=Summer 2001}}</ref> The Whole World recorded their album ''[[Shooting at the Moon (album)|Shooting at the Moon]]'' (1970) at [[Abbey Road Studios]] over several months in 1970, when Oldfield was 17. When the group did not have a recording session booked in the morning, Oldfield would arrive early and experiment with the different instruments, including pianos, harpischords, a [[Mellotron]] and various orchestral percussion instruments, and learned to play each of them.<ref name="SOSApril2013">{{cite magazine |first=Richard |last=Buskin |title=Classic Tracks: Mike Oldfield – Tubular Bells |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/classic-tracks-mike-oldfield-tubular-bells |magazine=[[Sound on Sound]] |location=Cambridge, England |date=April 2013 |access-date=6 August 2016}}</ref>

The Whole World broke up in mid-1971 and Ayers lent Oldfield a two-track [[Bang & Olufsen]] Beocord ¼" tape recorder.{{sfn|O'Casey|2013|loc=13:25}} Oldfield blocked off the [[erase head]] of the tape machine, which allowed him to record onto one track, bounce the recording onto the second, and record a new instrument onto the first track, thus [[overdubbing]] his playing one instrument at a time, and effectively making [[multitrack recording]]s.<ref name="QSummer2001" />

In his flat in [[Tottenham]] in north London, Oldfield recorded demos of four tracks he had been composing in his head for some years, using the tape recorder, his guitar and bass, some toy percussion instruments, and a [[Farfisa]] organ borrowed from the Whole World keyboardist [[David Bedford]]. The demos comprised three shorter melodies (early versions of what would become the sections "Peace", "Bagpipe Guitars", and "Caveman" on ''[[Tubular Bells 2003]]''), and a longer piece he had provisionally titled "Opus One". Oldfield was inspired to write a long instrumental after hearing ''[[Septober Energy]]'' (1971), the only album by [[Centipede (band)|Centipede]].<ref name="SOSApril2013" /> He was also influenced by classical music, and by ''[[A Rainbow in Curved Air]]'' (1969) by the experimental composer [[Terry Riley]], on which Riley played all the instruments himself and used tape loops and overdubs to build up a long, repetitive piece of music.{{sfn|O'Casey|2013|loc=13:42}}{{efn|The demos titled "Tubular Bells Long", "Caveman Lead-In", "Caveman", "Peace Demo A" and "Peace Demo B" appeared on the [[DVD-Audio]] version of the rerecording of ''Tubular Bells'', ''[[Tubular Bells 2003]]'', while portions of these demos appear on the 2009 Ultimate Edition reissue of the album; also included on this release is a scrapped mix from spring 1973.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}}}

[[File:The Manor Studios (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|[[The Manor Studio]], where the album was recorded]]
Late in 1971, Oldfield joined the band of [[Arthur Louis]], who were recording demos at [[the Manor Studio]].<ref name="QSummer2001" /> The studio was being constructed in the former squash court of an old [[manor house]] in [[Shipton-on-Cherwell]], [[Oxfordshire]], which had recently been bought by the young entrepreneur [[Richard Branson]] and which was being turned into a residential recording facility run by his music production team of [[Tom Newman (musician)|Tom Newman]] and [[Simon Heyworth]].{{sfn|O'Casey|2013|loc=16:15}} Oldfield was shy and socially awkward, but struck up a friendship with the producers after they heard his guitar playing. Oldfield asked Newman to listen to his demos, but they were in his Tottenham flat, so one of Louis' roadies drove Oldfield to London and back to retrieve them.<ref name="SOSApril2013" /> Newman and Heyworth made a copy of the demos onto 4-track tape, and promised Oldfield that they would speak to Branson and his business partner Simon Draper about them.{{sfn|O'Casey|2013|loc=17:04}} After the album was released, Newman said he preferred the demo versions: "They were complete melodies in themselves – with intros and fade-outs or ends. I liked them very much and was a little nonplussed when Mike strung them all together."<ref name=NME75/>

Oldfield spent much of 1972 working with his old bandmates from the Whole World on their solo projects<ref>{{cite book |first=Patrick |last=Lemieux |title=The Mike Oldfield Chronology |publisher=Across the Board Books |location=[[Toronto]] |pages=18–19 |date=2014 |isbn=978-0-99198-406-0}}</ref> while trying to find a record label interested in his demos. Oldfield approached labels including [[EMI Records|EMI]] and [[CBS Records International|CBS]], but each rejected him, believing the piece was unmarketable without vocals.<ref name="SOSApril2013" /> Increasingly frustrated and short of money, Oldfield heard that the Soviet Union paid musicians to give public performances, and was at the point of looking through the telephone directory for the phone number of the Soviet embassy when Draper called him with an invitation to dinner with Branson on Branson's houseboat moored in London.<ref name="SOSApril2013" /> Branson told Oldfield that he liked the demos, and wanted Oldfield to spend a week at the Manor recording "Opus One".{{sfn|O'Casey|2013|loc=19:12}}

== Recording ==
''Tubular Bells'' was recorded on an [[Ampex]] 2-inch [[Multitrack recording|16-track tape recorder]] with the [[Dolby noise-reduction system]], which was the Manor's main recording equipment at the time.<ref name="SOSApril2013" /> Oldfield had Virgin hire instruments including guitars, keyboards and percussion instruments.{{sfn|O'Casey|2013|loc=19:40}} Oldfield has recounted differing stories over the years regarding the inclusion of the [[tubular bells]]; in 2001 he suggested that they were among the instruments he asked Branson to hire,<ref name="QSummer2001" />{{sfn|Oldfield|2007|p=124}} but in 2013, he said that he saw them among the instruments being removed from the studios after [[John Cale]] had finished recording there, and asked for them to be left behind.{{sfn|O'Casey|2013|loc=20:19}}

Oldfield, Newman, and Heyworth spent their evenings drinking in a pub, after which they returned to the Manor and recorded through the night. Heyworth recalled several disasters, including one instance where half a day's work was accidentally erased.<ref name="QSummer2001" /> Final mixing was an involved process, with the faders operated by Oldfield, Newman, Heyworth, and two others simultaneously. They followed detailed tracking charts and the process was restarted if one person made even a slight mistake.<ref name="2009DE" /> Heyworth recalled difficulty in cutting the album due to vinyl's limited [[dynamic range]], and insisted on heavy vinyl normally used for classical records.<ref name="1998CD" />

Oldfield played the majority of the instruments as a series of [[overdubbing|overdubs]], which was an uncommon recording technique at the time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://music.uk.msn.com/photos/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=150257680 |title=12 Albums That Changed Music |publisher=[[MSN Music]] |year=2009 |access-date=23 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714133818/http://music.uk.msn.com/photos/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=150257680 |archive-date=14 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In total, 274 overdubs were made and an estimated two thousand "[[Punch in/out|punch-ins]]",<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vAcEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA24|title=Talent – New on the Charts – Mike Oldfield – "Tubular Bells"|magazine=Billboard|date=9 March 1974|page=24|issn=0006-2510|volume=86|issue=10|access-date=22 August 2019}}</ref> although Newman said "it was really only 70 or 80" in total.<ref name="NME75">{{cite web|url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/tom-newman-the-man-who-taped-the-tubular-bells|title=Tom Newman: The Man Who Taped the Tubular Bells|first=Fred|last=Dellar|date=8 February 1975|work=New Musical Express|via=Rock's Backpages|access-date=9 October 2021}}</ref> Despite various guitars being listed on the album sleeve, such as "speed guitars", "[[Distortion (music)|fuzz guitars]]" and "guitars sounding like bagpipes", the only electric guitar used on the album was a 1966 blonde [[Fender Telecaster]] which used to belong to [[Marc Bolan]] and to which Oldfield had added an extra [[Bill Lawrence (guitar maker)|Bill Lawrence]] pickup. The guitars were recorded via [[DI unit|direct injection]] into the mixing desk.<ref name="SOSApril2013" /> To create the "speed guitar" and "mandolin-like guitar" named in the sleeve notes, the tape was recorded at half speed. An actual mandolin was used only for the ending of Part Two.<ref name="SOSApril2013" /> Oldfield also used a custom effects unit, the Glorfindel box, to create the "fuzz guitars" and "bagpipe guitars" distortion.{{efn|The Glorfindel box (named after [[Glorfindel|a character]] in [[Tolkien's legendarium]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Mike Oldfield - Tubular.net - Tubular Bells |url=https://tubular.net/discography/TubularBells_old.shtml |website=Tubular.net |access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref>) was given to David Bedford at a party, who then subsequently gave it to Oldfield. Tom Newman criticised the wooden cased unit in a 2001 interview with [[Q (magazine)|''Q'' magazine]], noting that it rarely gave the same result twice.<ref name="QSummer2001" />}} In 2011, Oldfield's Telecaster was sold for £6,500, and the money was donated to the mental health charity [[SANE (charity)|SANE]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sane.org.uk/resources/media_centre/archive/archive_show_news/184 |title=Historic guitar in safe hands of SANE supporter |publisher=SANE |date=25 February 2011 |access-date=17 August 2014}}</ref> According to the engineer Phil Newell, the bass guitar used on the album was one of his [[Fender Telecaster Bass]]es.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mikeoldfield.org/index.php/info/discography/tubular-bells/ |title=Tubular Bells |publisher=Dark Star |access-date=17 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418013249/http://www.mikeoldfield.org/index.php/info/discography/tubular-bells/ |archive-date=18 April 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

=== Side one ===
Oldfield recorded side one, known as "Opus One" at the time, during his one allotted week at the Manor in November 1972.<ref name="SOSApril2013" /> He was particularly interested in starting the piece with a repeating riff, and devised the opening piano sequence after experimenting with an idea for several minutes on Bedford's Farfisa organ. He wanted a slight variation on its 16/8 [[time signature]] by dropping the sixteenth beat, and chose the key of A minor as it was easy to play. Oldfield recorded the opening riff on a Steinway grand piano, but struggled to perform in time. Heyworth solved the problem by placing a microphone next to a [[metronome]] in another room and feeding it into Oldfield's headphones.<ref name=2009DE/> The short [[tack piano|honky-tonk piano]] section was included as a tribute to Oldfield's grandmother, who had played the instrument in pubs before [[World War II]]. The staff and workers at the Manor made up the "nasal choir" that accompanies it.<ref name="SOSApril2013" /> Oldfield had difficulty in producing a sound from the tubular bells, as he wanted a loud note from them but both the standard leather-covered and bare metal hammers did not produce the volume that he wanted. In the end, Newman obtained a heavier [[claw hammer]] and Oldfield used it to produce the desired sound intensity but cracked the bells in the process.{{sfn|O'Casey|2013|loc=32:53}}

The track closes with a segment featuring [[Vivian Stanshall]], formerly of the comedic rock group [[Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band]], introducing each instrument being played one by one. The idea originated when the band were due to use the Manor after Oldfield, and had arrived while he was still recording. Oldfield had liked the way Stanshall introduced the instruments one at a time on the Bonzos' song "[[The Intro and the Outro]]" on ''[[Gorilla (Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band album)|Gorilla]]'' (1967), and told Newman that he would like Stanshall to do the same.{{sfn|O'Casey|2013|loc=30:45}} Newman agreed, but had to persuade the shy Oldfield to ask Stanshall if he would carry out the request. Stanshall readily agreed to the idea and is credited on the liner notes as "[[Master of Ceremonies]]", but Newman recalled that the job proved to be more difficult than anticipated, as Stanshall forgot the names of the instruments and introduced them at the wrong points. Oldfield wrote a list of the instruments in order, indicating where Stanshall should introduce them.{{sfn|O'Casey|2013|loc=31:09}} The way in which Stanshall said "plus... tubular bells" inspired Oldfield to use it as the album's title.{{sfn|Oldfield|2007|p=140}}

=== Side two ===
After Part One had been recorded, Oldfield was allowed to stay on at the Manor to record additional overdubs during studio downtime. He spent Christmas and New Year at his family's home, but returned to the Manor from February to April 1973 to record the second part of his planned album.<ref name="SOSApril2013" /><ref>Lemieux (2014). p. 21.</ref> Oldfield had "Part Two" mapped out and sequenced by the time he came to record it.{{sfn|O'Casey|2013|loc=34:45}}

The "caveman" section is the only part of ''Tubular Bells'' that features a drum kit, which is played by Steve Broughton of the [[Edgar Broughton Band]]. The section begins with a backing track of bass and drums, with Oldfield overdubbing all other instruments. The shouting vocals developed near the end of the recording, when he had practically finished recording the instruments for the section but felt it needed something else. Heyworth recalled that Branson was getting impatient and pressured Oldfield to deliver the album, and to include vocals on one of the tracks so he could release it as a single. Angered by Branson's suggestion, Oldfield returned to the Manor where he drank half a bottle of [[Jameson Irish Whiskey|Jameson's whiskey]] from the studio's cellar and demanded that the engineer take him to the studio where, intoxicated, he "screamed his brains out for 10 minutes" into a microphone. The incident left Oldfield so hoarse that he was unable to speak for two weeks.<ref name="QSummer2001" /> The engineer ran the tape at a higher speed during the recording, so that upon playback the tape ran at normal speed, thus dropping the pitch of the voice track and producing the "[[Piltdown Man]]" vocals listed on the credits.<ref name="SOSApril2013" />

Side two closes with a rendition of "[[The Sailor's Hornpipe]]", a track Oldfield had been performing since he was in the Whole World.{{sfn|Oldfield|2007|p=85}} It was originally preceded by a longer version of the piece, featuring a vocal contribution from Stanshall over musical backing and marching footsteps. This session occurred at 4 a.m. after Oldfield, Stanshall, and Newman had spent the night drinking. Newman placed microphones in various rooms of the Manor and began recording, and the trio set off on an unplanned tour of the house, with Oldfield on mandolin and Newman on acoustic guitar playing "The Sailor's Hornpipe" while Stanshall gave an inebriated, improvised tour of the Manor.<ref name="QSummer2001" /> In the end, a more traditional instrumental version of the tune was put on the album although Stanshall's version was included on the ''Boxed'' compilation.<ref name="SOSApril2013" /> It is also found on the 2001 and 2009 remasters as a bonus track.

== Artwork ==
The cover of ''Tubular Bells'' was created by designer and photographer [[Trevor Key]], who was suggested by Sue Steward, a press officer at Virgin Records at the time.<ref name="Guardian19951219">{{cite news |first=Sue |last=Steward |title=Tones of magic in the bells |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |page=16 |date=19 December 1995}}</ref> Key was invited to present his portfolio, and one of his designs depicted a boiled egg with blood dripping from it, which Branson liked and wanted to use for the cover because he wanted to call the album ''Breakfast in Bed''. Oldfield hated both the image and the title and rejected them.<ref name="QSummer2001" /> A modified version of the image, with the blood replaced by egg yolk, was used as the cover for ''[[Heaven's Open]]'' (1991), Oldfield's final album for Virgin.{{sfn|Oldfield|2007|p=139}}

Steward accompanied Key to a beach on the [[Sussex]] coast to photograph the cover's backdrop. Key brought with him bones shown burning on the beach on the back cover, but the day was bitterly cold and it took some time to set light to them. The perfectionist Key also spent several hours photographing the seascape until he had a shot of the waves that he was happy with.<ref name="Guardian19951219" /> The triangular "bent bell" on the front was inspired by the damage Oldfield had caused to the tubular bells while playing them on the record.{{sfn|Oldfield|2007|pp=128, 140}} Key designed and constructed one, which he then photographed in his studio and superimposed on the beach backdrop. Oldfield was captivated by the finished artwork, and insisted that his name and the album title be in small letters and coloured pale orange, so as not to distract from the overall image.{{sfn|O'Casey|2013|loc=35:12}} According to Steward, Key was paid £100 for his work,<ref name="Guardian19951219" /> but he went on to design several other sleeves for Virgin and [[Factory Records]] artists, including ''[[Technique (album)|Technique]]'' (1989) by [[New Order (band)|New Order]] and ''[[Genetic Engineering (song)|Genetic Engineering]]'' (1983) by [[Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-41331715|title=Photographer Trevor Keys album sleeves go on show|work=BBC News|date=20 September 2017|accessdate=11 June 2021}}</ref>

The "bent bell" has become the image most associated with Oldfield, appearing on the cover of every ''Tubular Bells'' sequel album. It is also the logo of his personal music company, Oldfield Music Ltd. The cover of ''Tubular Bells'' was among ten images chosen by [[Royal Mail]] for a set of "Classic Album Cover" postage stamps, issued in January 2010.<ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Hall |title=Royal Mail unveil classic album cover stamps |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/royal-mail-unveil-classic-album-cover-stamps-1860738.html |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=7 January 2010 |access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Sean |last=Michaels |title=Coldplay album gets stamp of approval from Royal Mail |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/jan/08/coldplay-album-stamp-approval |newspaper=The Guardian |date=8 January 2010 |access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref>

== Release ==
In January 1973, Branson visited the [[MIDEM]] music conference in [[Cannes]], France, and pitched side one to various music companies with the hope of securing a record deal. One American executive offered $20,000 if vocals were added to the music.<ref name=1998CD>{{cite AV media notes|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/941816-Mike-Oldfield-Tubular-Bells|title=Tubular Bells (25th Anniversary Edition) [Booklet]|year=1998|id=CDVX2001|publisher=Virgin Records}}</ref> The unsuccessful visit led Branson and Draper to consider putting the album out through mail order, before they chose to form their own label, [[Virgin Records]], and use ''Tubular Bells'' as their first release.<ref name="QSummer2001" /> The album was released in the UK on 25 May 1973, and in North America in October 1973.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=International News |magazine=Billboard |page=45 |date=1 September 1973}} "The Virgin label is to be launched in the U.S. [...] First release under the new deal will be Mike Oldfield's ''Tubular Bells'' album which will be issued within the next few weeks."</ref>
 
Early sales were slow, and it was not until July 1973 that the album appeared in the [[UK Albums Chart]], reaching an initial peak of number seven. The situation changed following the release of ''The Exorcist'' in December 1973, Oldfield later attributing the music's successful use on the soundtrack to its unusual 15/8 opening time signature.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Helen |date=6 March 2014 |title=The Bells Are Ringing Again For Mike Oldfield – The Olympics Opening Ceremony and a Hurricane Led the Tubular Bells Creator to Fresh Creativity, He Tells Helen Brown |work=Daily Telegraph |location=London |page=27 |quote="Most music is in 4/4 time, but that curious figure at the beginning is in 15/8. It's like a puzzle with a little bit missing. That's why it sticks in the brain."}}</ref> From February 1974 to May 1975, ''Tubular Bells'' dropped out of the UK top 10 for only four weeks. Sixteen months after its release, it went to number one for the week ending 5{{nbsp}}October 1974, having spent 10 consecutive weeks in second place behind ''[[Band on the Run]]'' (1973) by [[Wings (band)|Wings]], and Oldfield's second album ''[[Hergest Ridge (album)|Hergest Ridge]]'' (1974).<ref name="UKchart19741005" />

In surpassing ''Hergest Ridge'' for the number one album, Oldfield became only the second artist in history to replace himself at the top of the UK album chart, after [[the Beatles]] in 1963, and again in 1964. The feat was later achieved by [[Michael Jackson]] and [[David Bowie]], although on both occasions this followed the death of the artist.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Alan |last=Jones |title=Official Charts Analysis: Zayn hits No.1 with solo debut |url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/official-charts-analysis-zayn-hits-no-1-with-solo-debut/064044 |magazine=Music Week |date=5 February 2016 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Prior to the 2020s, the album had re-entered the charts in every decade since its release,<ref>{{cite web |title=Official Albums Chart Results Matching: Tubular Bells – Chart Facts |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/albums/tubular-bells/ |website=Official Charts |publisher=The Official UK Charts Company |access-date=25 December 2022}}</ref> most recently appearing in the week ending 22 March 2018 (its 287th week in total).<ref>{{cite web |title=Official Albums Chart Top 100 |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20131020/7502/ |publisher=Official Charts Company |date=26 October 2013}}</ref>

On 22 April 2007, British newspaper ''[[The Mail on Sunday]]'' gave away 2.25 million free copies of ''Tubular Bells'' to its readers in a card packet displaying the artwork.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=28025 |title=Covermounts provoke fresh outrage |work=[[Music Week]] |date=30 April 2007 |access-date=22 March 2009 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The release was organised by [[EMI]], who had bought out Virgin Records, and the newspaper claimed that its promotion increased sales of the album by 30%.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/may/22/mailonsunday.pressandpublishing |title=Mail on Sunday hits back in Mike Oldfield row |newspaper=The Guardian |date=12 May 2007 |access-date=14 October 2015}}</ref> Oldfield was unhappy about the deal, as he had not been consulted about it and felt it devalued the work.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=28250 |title=Oldfield attacks Tubular Bells giveaway |work=Music Week |date=8 May 2007 |access-date=22 March 2009 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

''Tubular Bells'' has sold more than 2.63 million copies in the UK, and an estimated 15 million worldwide.<ref name="SOSApril2013" /> As of July 2016, it was the 42nd best-selling album of all time in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |first=Rob |last=Copsey |title=The UK's 60 official biggest selling albums of all time revealed |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-uks-60-official-biggest-selling-albums-of-all-time-revealed__15551/ |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |date=4 July 2016 |access-date=26 July 2016}}</ref>

=== Singles ===
The first single released from the album was created by the original US distributor, Atlantic Records. The single was an edit of the first three sections from Part One and was not authorised by Oldfield. The single was released in February 1974 in the United States and Canada only, where it peaked at number seven on the U.S. [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart on 11 May 1974,.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Mike Oldfield – Chart History – The Hot 100 |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/311207/mike-oldfield/chart |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=24 July 2017}}</ref> The track also reached number 15 on the Adult Contemporary chart.<ref>{{cite book|first= Joel |last= Whitburn |author-link= Joel Whitburn |year= 1993 |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 |publisher= Record Research |page=179}}</ref> In Canada, the single was released as "Tubular Bells (Theme from ''Exorcist'')", peaking at number three on the ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Top Singles chart on 18 May 1974,<ref>{{cite magazine |title=''RPM'' Top Singles |magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]] |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5010a&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=ifas7t5futudu432fnl3qf6qo3 |volume=21 |number=13 |date=18 May 1974 |access-date=16 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150131190955/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5010a&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=ifas7t5futudu432fnl3qf6qo3 |archive-date=31 January 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was placed at number 103 in the top 200 singles of the year.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Top 200 Singles of '74 |magazine=RPM |url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3893b&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.3893b.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3893b |volume=22 |number=19 |date=28 December 1974}}</ref>

"[[Mike Oldfield's Single]] (Theme from ''Tubular Bells'')" was the first 7-inch single released by Oldfield in the UK, in June 1974, peaking at number 31.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mike Oldfield – full Official Chart History |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/28053/mike-oldfield/ |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=24 July 2017}}</ref> The A-side was a re-recording of Part Two's "bagpipe guitars" section, arranged in a more pastoral version with acoustic guitars and featuring the oboe (played by [[Lindsay Cooper]]) as the lead instrument, with "[[Frog Went A-Courting|Froggy Went A-Courting]]" as the B-side.

==Reissues==
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Label
!Format
!Notes
|-
|1973
|Virgin
|Vinyl
|Standard stereo black vinyl with the catalogue number V2001. Reissued in 2009 as part of the Back to Black series.
|-
|1973
|Virgin
|Vinyl
|Standard stereo black vinyl (distributed by [[Atlantic Records]]) with the catalogue number VR 13-105. Original US version.
|-
|1975
|Virgin
|Vinyl
|Quadraphonic version in black vinyl with the catalogue number QV 2001 and number QD13-105 in the US. The first 40,000 copies are not true quadraphonic sound, but doctored versions of the stereo mix. This was corrected on subsequent copies, but there is no indication on the record that this substitution was made.<ref>{{cite book |first=Nick |last=Hamlyn |title=Musicmaster Price Guide for Record Collectors |edition=3rd |publisher=Retail Entertainment Data Publishing Ltd |year=1994 |page=599}}</ref>
|-
|1978
|Virgin
|Vinyl
|Catalogue number VP 2001. A picture disc version showing the bent bell on a skyscape. This is a stereo remix of the quadraphonic version, the only difference being in the sound of the "reed and pipe organ" during the finale of Part One. This version was included on the ''[[Boxed (Mike Oldfield album)|Boxed]]'' compilation.
|-
|1981
|Virgin
|Vinyl
|Re-mastered by Ray Janos at CBS Recording Studios on the CBS DisComputer System.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Mike-Oldfield-Tubular-Bells/release/759132 |title=''Tubular Bells'' |date=18 August 1981 |publisher=Discogs |access-date=9 May 2015}}</ref>
|-
|1983
|Virgin
|Vinyl, CD, cassette
|Tenth anniversary limited edition released at the same time as Oldfield's album ''Crises'' (1983). First CD issue of the album with a catalogue number of CDV2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mikeoldfield.org/index.php/info/biography/music-darkness/1983-10th-anniversary-year/|title=1983 10th Anniversary Year|publisher=Dark Start - The Mike Oldfield Magazine|access-date=18 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161216115828/http://www.mikeoldfield.org/index.php/info/biography/music-darkness/1983-10th-anniversary-year/|archive-date=16 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|2000
|Virgin
|CD, [[High Definition Compatible Digital|HDCD]]
|Remastered by [[Simon Heyworth]].
|-
|2001
|Virgin
|[[Super Audio CD|SACD]]
|Includes the 2000 remaster and uses the quadraphonic mix from ''Boxed'' for the multi-channel part. This release contains liner notes by David Laing and the SACD release notes were by Phil Newell and Heyworth. Some copies were labelled as the "25th Anniversary Edition".
|}

=== 2009 reissue ===
In 2008, Oldfield's original 35-year deal with Virgin Records ended and the rights to the album returned to him.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mikeoldfield.org/news/150409.htm |title=Universal press release – ''Tubular Bells'' |date=15 April 2009 |publisher=Mike Oldfield Information Service |access-date=20 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830133946/http://www.mikeoldfield.org/news/150409.htm |archive-date=30 August 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Alan |last=Jackson |title=Mike Oldfield regains control of ''Tubular Bells'' |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article3431337.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201180030/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article3431337.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 December 2008 |newspaper=[[The Times]] |date=1 March 2008 |access-date=5 April 2008 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> After signing to [[Mercury Records]] in 2005,<ref>{{cite web |title=Oldfield signs to Mercury for new album |url=http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=13712 |work=Music Week |date=24 May 2005 |access-date=22 March 2009 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Oldfield's albums originally released on Virgin were transferred to Mercury and re-released, starting the following year. ''Tubular Bells'' was reissued in June 2009 in a number of formats, including vinyl, 2-CD and DVD, and includes a new stereo mix by Oldfield in March 2009 from his home studio in [[Nassau, Bahamas]]. The Deluxe Edition contains a 5.1 surround sound mix and the Ultimate Edition contains an accompanying book and memorabilia.<ref name=2009DE>{{cite AV media notes|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/2394363-Mike-Oldfield-Tubular-Bells|title=Tubular Bells (2009 Deluxe Edition) [Booklet]|publisher=Mercury Records|year=2009|id=270 354-1|access-date=14 October 2022}}</ref>

The release was promoted by a series of bell-ringing events at 6 p.m. on 6 June 2009, a reference to the [[Number of the beast|Number of the Beast]].<ref name=tb2009about>{{cite web |url=http://www.tubularbells2009.com/about.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301202303/http://www.tubularbells2009.com/about.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 March 2010 |title=About |publisher=Tubular Bells 2009.com |access-date=26 September 2009}}</ref> One of the events was held at the [[British Music Experience]] at [[The O2 (London)|The O<sub>2</sub>]], featuring the 29-piece [[Handbell]] Ringers of Great Britain and a performance by [[The Orb]] named  "Orbular Bells".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://assets.umusic.co.uk/mercury/tubular_bells/images/BME_Tubular_Bells_V6.pdf |title=The Bell is Back |publisher=[[Universal Music Group]] |year=2009 |access-date=5 June 2009}}</ref> There were also bell-ringing workshops and competitions at the Experience.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britishmusicexperience.com/ |title=British Music Experience |publisher=[[British Music Experience]] |access-date=25 May 2009}}</ref> The album reached number 11 in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |title=Official Albums Chart Top 100: 21 June 2009 – 27 June 2009 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20090621/7502/ |website=Official Charts Company |access-date=11 June 2021}}</ref>

=== 2023 reissue ===
A 50th anniversary edition of the album was released on 26 May 2023 on CD and [[half-speed mastered]] 2LP.<ref name="TB50">{{cite web |title=Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells (50th Anniversary Edition): CD |url=https://hmv.com/store/music/cd/tubular-bells-50th-anniversary-edition |website=HMV |access-date=31 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref> It features a new master of the original album along with additional previously released tracks including the 2012 Olympics recording, the ''[[Tubular Beats]]'' recording with [[York (group)|York]], "[[Tubular X]]" (from ''[[The X-Files (film)|The X-Files]]''), and one new 8-minute track, the "Introduction to ''Tubular Bells 4''" which was recorded by Oldfield as a demo in 2017.<ref name="TB50"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Scharf |first1=Natasha |title=Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells to be reissued for 50th anniversary |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/mike-oldfields-tubular-bells-to-be-reissued-for-50th-anniversary |website=Louder Sounds |access-date=3 June 2023 |language=en |date=31 March 2023}}</ref> Oldfield's record label has indicated that after recording the 8-minute demo he decided not to go forward with the ''Tubular Bells 4'' project, and that this "may well be the last piece ever to be recorded by Oldfield".<ref name="uDiscover">{{Cite web |last=Sexton |first=Paul |date=2023-03-31 |title=Mike Oldfield's 'Tubular Bells' For 50th Anniversary Reissue With Unreleased Demo |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/mike-oldfield-tubular-bells-50th-anniversary-reissue/ |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=uDiscover Music |language=en-US}}</ref> A [[Blu-ray]] audio version was also being produced which includes new [[Dolby Atmos]] and [[Stereophonic sound|stereo]] mixes by [[David Kosten]] as well as Oldfield's 2009 [[5.1 surround sound|5.1]] mix and the 1975 [[Quadraphonic sound|quadrophonic]] mix by Phil Newell.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mike Oldfield / Tubular Bells 50th anniversary SDE-exclusive blu-ray – SuperDeluxeEdition |date=31 March 2023 |url=https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/mike-oldfield-tubular-bells-50th-anniversary-sde-exclusive-blu-ray/ |access-date=1 April 2023}}</ref>

== Live performances ==
=== Queen Elizabeth Hall, 1973 ===
[[File:23 4 2018 IMG 3462 QEH entrance.jpg|thumb|right|The first live performance of ''Tubular Bells'' was at the Queen Elizabeth Hall]]
After recording ''Tubular Bells'', Oldfield felt he had "got it out of his system" and was reluctant to do any promotional engagements.{{sfn|O'Casey|2013|loc=0:43}} However, Branson and Draper felt a live performance of the work was the best way to present it to journalists and the public, and organised a concert at London's [[Queen Elizabeth Hall]] on 25 June 1973.<ref name=2009DE/> Oldfield was convinced that the music would not come off well in a live setting, and despite several well-known and accomplished musicians agreeing to the one-off show, refused to do it. Desperate to prevent Oldfield pulling out, Branson offered to give Oldfield his [[Bentley]] car, which he had bought from [[George Harrison]] and knew Oldfield liked, if he went through with the gig.<ref>{{cite news |first=Joseph |last=Dunn |title=Me and My Motors: Richard Branson |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/article702963.ece |newspaper=[[The Sunday Times]] |date=9 April 2006 |access-date=14 March 2010 |url-access=subscription }}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name=2009DE/> Oldfield agreed, and following rehearsals at [[Shepperton]] film studios, Oldfield still had reservations about the performance until [[Mick Taylor]] of [[The Rolling Stones]] brought frontman [[Mick Jagger]] backstage to meet Oldfield, whose support gave Oldfield the confidence to "at least walk on stage."<ref name=2009DE/> The concert went ahead and was well received, leaving Oldfield "stunned".<ref name=2009DE/>

The concert featured members of [[Henry Cow]] and musicians associated with the [[Canterbury scene]], as well as [[Mick Taylor]] of [[the Rolling Stones]]. [[Steve Winwood]] and [[Robert Wyatt]] were also due to take part,<ref name="Listener">{{cite magazine |first=John |last=Peel |author-link=John Peel |title=Pop Music: ''Tubular Bells'' by John Peel |magazine=[[The Listener (magazine)|The Listener]] |volume=89 |number=2306 |pages=774–75 |date=7 June 1973}}</ref> but Winwood pulled out as he was unable to find time to attend the rehearsals, and Wyatt was recovering from the recent accident that had left him paralysed.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Winwood quits |magazine=[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]] |page=3 |date=9 June 1973}}</ref>

'''Musicians:'''
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
*[[Kevin Ayers]] – bass guitar
*[[David Bedford]] – grand piano, accordion, organ, choir master, string arrangements
*Steve Broughton – drums
*Jon Field – flute
*[[Fred Frith]] – electric guitar, bass guitar
*[[John Greaves (musician)|John Greaves]] – Davoli electric piano, Farfisa organ, tin whistle, [[Vox (musical equipment)#Organs|Vox organ]]
*Nick Haley – violin
*[[Tim Hodgkinson]] – Farfisa organ, [[Rhodes piano|Fender Rhodes electric piano]], Vox organ
*[[Steve Hillage]] – electric guitar
*Simon Ingram Hill – cello, organ
*[[Geoff Leigh]] (misspelt on the programme as "Jeff Leig") – flute
{{col-2}}
*Ashley Mason – viola
*[[Pierre Moerlen]] – cymbals, glockenspiel, gongs, [[Gong#Chau gong (tam-tam)|tam-tam]], tubular bells, [[timpani]]
*[[Tom Newman (musician)|Tom Newman]] – nasal chorus
*Mike Oldfield – acoustic and electric guitars, bass, [[Lowrey organ]], mandolin, "prehistoric poem"
*[[Terry Oldfield]] – flute
*Ted Speight – electric guitar
*[[Vivian Stanshall]] – master of ceremonies
*[[Mick Taylor]] – electric guitar
*Janet Townley – violin
*Vulpy – viola
{{col-end}}
*Girlie Chorus: Sarah Greaves, Kathy Williams, [[Sally Oldfield]], Maureen Rossini, Lynette Asquith, Amanda Parsons, Maggie Thomas, Mundy Ellis, Julie Clive, Liz Gluck, Debbie Scott, Hanna Corker.

=== BBC TV ''2nd House'', 1973 ===
Oldfield and many of the musicians who had taken part in the Queen Elizabeth Hall concert performed Part One again later in the year for the BBC arts programme ''2nd House'', this time as a pre-recorded performance in a studio setting without an audience. The performance was recorded on 30 November 1973 and transmitted on [[BBC2]] on 5 January 1974.<ref name="RT-SH">{{cite magazine |title=2nd House |url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/20eb54cd193f4daba83ab486eb6fe8d3 |magazine=[[Radio Times]] |issue=2617 |page=27 |publisher=BBC |date=5–11 January 1974 |access-date=16 October 2017}}</ref> The arrangement included a new part for oboe, played by Soft Machine's [[Karl Jenkins]], and accompanied on-screen visuals of tubular steel sculptures and sequences from the film ''Reflections'', both created by artist [[William Pye (sculptor)|William Pye]].<ref name="RT-SH" /> The performance was released on the ''[[Elements – The Best of Mike Oldfield (video)|Elements]]'' (2004) DVD and as part of the Deluxe and Ultimate Editions of the 2009 reissue of ''Tubular Bells''.

'''Musicians:'''
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
*Jon Field – flute
*Fred Frith – bass, guitar
*John Greaves – keyboards
*Steve Hillage – guitar
*Tim Hodgkinson – keyboards
*[[Karl Jenkins]] – oboe
*Geoff Leigh – flute
*Pierre Moerlen (credited as "Pierre de Strasbourg" in the ''[[Radio Times]]'' programme listing)<ref name="RT-SH" /> – percussion
{{col-2}}
*Tom Newman – voice (nasal choir) and mixing
*Mike Oldfield – bass, guitar, Hammond organ
*Terry Oldfield – flute
*[[Mike Ratledge]] – keyboards
*Ted Speight – guitar, bass
*Mick Taylor – guitar
*Choir (unknown)
{{col-end}}

== Reception ==
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |url={{AllMusic |class=album |id=r129945 |pure_url=yes}} |title=''Tubular Bells'' – Mike Oldfield |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=1 January 2014 |last=DeGagne |first=Mike}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''
| rev2score = {{Rating|4|4}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4157839.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119063615/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4157839.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 November 2018 |title=Mike Oldfield on CD |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=28 February 1993 |access-date=24 July 2017 |last=DeRogatis |first=Jim |author-link=Jim DeRogatis |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Creem]]''
| rev3score = C+<ref name="Creem">{{cite journal |url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/crm7405.php |title=The Christgau Consumer Guide |journal=[[Creem]] |date=May 1974 |access-date=1 January 2014 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
| rev4score = {{rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Mike Oldfield |title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]] |last=Larkin |first=Colin |author-link=Colin Larkin (writer) |publisher=[[Omnibus Press]] |edition=5th concise |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-85712-595-8}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev5score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |first=David |last=Cavanagh |title=Lord of the Rings |magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |issue=168 |page=126 |date=September 2000}}</ref>
}}

Influential British DJ [[John Peel]] was an early admirer of the record, and played it on his ''[[Top Gear (radio show)|Top Gear]]'' radio show on [[BBC Radio 1]] on 29 May 1973, four days after the album's release, calling it "one of the most impressive LPs I've ever had the chance to play on the radio, really a remarkable record". Branson and Oldfield were listening to the show on Branson's houseboat, and Oldfield stated in his autobiography that Peel played the album in its entirety,{{sfn|Oldfield|2007|p=145}} although the running order from the BBC archives and existing audio copies of the programme show that Peel played Part One only.<ref>{{cite book |first=Ken |last=Garner |title=The Peel Sessions: A story of teenage dreams and one man's love of new music |publisher=[[BBC Books]] |page=80 |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-84607-282-6}}</ref>

Peel reviewed the album for ''[[The Listener (magazine)|The Listener]]'' magazine the following week, describing it as "a new recording of such strength and beauty that to me it represents the first break-through into history that any musician has made".<ref name="Listener" /> The UK's major music magazines were also unanimous in their praise of the album. Al Clark of ''[[NME]]'' said that the "veritable orgy of over-dubbing results in a remarkable piece of sustained music, never content with the purely facile yet equally disinclined towards confusing the listener". He concluded that "''Tubular Bells'' ... is a superlative record which owes nothing to contemporary whims. It is one of the most mature, vital, rich and humerous [''sic''] pieces of music to have emerged from the pop idiom."<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Al |last=Clark |title=Mike Oldfield – ''Tubular Bells'' |magazine=[[NME]] |page=39 |date=16 June 1973}}</ref> ''[[Melody Maker]]''{{'}}s Geoff Brown observed that "''Tubular Bells'' is a vast work, almost classical in its structure and in the way a theme is stated and deftly worked upon" and that it was "an enjoyable, evocative album which bodes well for the future of both the country's newest label and of Mike Oldfield".<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Geoff |last=Brown |title=Mike Oldfield – ''Tubular Bells'' |magazine=[[Melody Maker]] |page=41 |date=16 June 1973}}</ref>

Reviewing the whole batch of Virgin's first album releases in ''[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]]'', Steve Peacock named ''Tubular Bells'' the best, saying that after careful listening he "ended up convinced that it really is a remarkable album", noting the "complex, interlocking carefully woven music that works its way through an enormous dynamic and emotional range", and stating, "I can't think of another album that I'd as unhesitatingly recommend to everyone who's likely to read this".<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Steve |last=Peacock |title=A young Virgin will never let you down |magazine=Sounds |page=24 |date=9 June 1973}}</ref> A more reserved review came from [[Simon Frith]] in ''[[Let It Rock (magazine)|Let It Rock]]'' who felt that ''Tubular Bells'' was "more than an attractive wall-paper, more than a nature-film score, because of Mike Oldfield's ability to make what happens to the music self-sufficient and satisfying", but questioned why Peel and other critics viewed the album as rock music, and concluded that "Oldfield's concern is the sound of rock, but ''Tubular Bells'' lacks rock's other essence — energy. This is no way body music — no sex, no violence, no ecstasy; nothing uncontrolled, nothing uncontrollable."<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Simon |last=Frith |author-link=Simon Frith |title=Mike Oldfield: ''Tubular Bells''; Iggy And The Stooges: ''Raw Power'' |magazine=[[Let It Rock (magazine)|Let It Rock]] |issue=11 |page=55 |date=August 1973}}</ref>

[[Paul Gambaccini]] wrote an enthusiastic review of the album for ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', calling it "the most important one-shot project of 1973" and "a debut performance of a kind we have no right to expect from anyone. It took Mike Oldfield half a year to lay down the thousands of overdubs required for his 49 minutes of exhilarating music. I will be playing the result for many times that long." He concluded, "I can say that this is a major work".<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Paul |last=Gambaccini |author-link=Paul Gambaccini |title=''Tubular Bells'' – Mike Oldfield |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |issue=147 |page=49 |date=8 November 1973}}</ref> On the other hand, in an article in the same magazine seven months later which discussed the current top twenty albums on the ''Billboard'' chart, [[Jon Landau]] dismissed the record as "a clever novelty" and said, "Light, rather showy and cute in places, it probably makes pleasant background music for a dinner or conversation".<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Jon |last=Landau |author-link=Jon Landau |title=Top Twenty: The Times, They Are A-Middlin' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com:80/artists/mikeoldfield/albums/album/122889/rid/6067563/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |issue=162 |page=43 |date=6 June 1974 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060509020506/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/mikeoldfield/albums/album/122889/rid/6067563/ |archive-date=9 May 2006 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Writing for ''[[Creem]]'', [[Robert Christgau]] was also left unmoved, saying, "The best I can come up with here is 'pleasant' and 'catchy'. Oldfield isn't [[Richard Strauss]] or even [[Leonard Cohen]] — this is a soundtrack because that's the level at which he operates."<ref name="Creem" />

In a retrospective review for [[AllMusic]] Mike DeGagne called the album "arguably the finest conglomeration of off-centered instruments concerted together to form a single, unique piece" and stated that "the most interesting and overwhelming aspect of this album is the fact that so many sounds are conjured up, yet none go unnoticed, allowing the listener a gradual submergence into each unique portion of the music. ''Tubular Bells'' is a divine excursion into the realm of [[new-age music]]."<ref name="AllMusic" />

=== Accolades ===
Oldfield won the 1974 [[Grammy Award]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition|Best Instrumental Composition]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Winners: 17th Annual GRAMMY Awards (1974) |publisher=[[The Recording Academy]] |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/17th-annual-grammy-awards |access-date=10 July 2017}}</ref> The album was inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]] in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |last=McPhate |first=Tim |title='Tubular Bells': 5 Facts About Mike Oldfield's Classic |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/tubular-bells-5-facts-about-mike-oldfields-classic-grammy-hall-fame |website=Grammy.com |date=6 April 2018 |access-date=18 June 2021}}</ref>

In ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' magazine's 1998 list of "The 50 Best Albums of the '70s", ''Tubular Bells'' was placed at number six.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The 50 Best Albums of the '70s |magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |pages=87–91 |date=April 1998}}</ref> In the ''Q'' & ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'' Classic special issue ''[[Pink Floyd]] & The Story of Prog Rock'' in 2005, the album was listed at number nine in its list of "40 Cosmic Rock Albums".<ref>{{cite magazine |title=40 Cosmic Rock Albums |magazine=Q & [[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]] Classic: Pink Floyd & The Story of Prog Rock |date=July 2005}}</ref> The album was also included in the book ''[[1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die]]''.<ref>{{cite book|first=Joel|last=McIver|editor-first=Robert|editor-last=Dimery|chapter=Mike Oldfield: ''Tubular Bells''|title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die|title-link=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die|publisher=[[Universe Publishing]]|year=2006|isbn=978-0-7893-1371-3|page=[https://archive.org/details/1001AlbumsYouMustHearBeforeYouDie/page/n148/mode/1up 299]}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
=== ''The Exorcist'' ===
The introduction to Part One was chosen to feature in the 1973 horror film ''[[The Exorcist]]''. According to the British film critic [[Mark Kermode]], the decision to include the music was the result of chance – the director, [[William Friedkin]], had decided to discard the original score by [[Lalo Schifrin]] and was looking for music to replace it. Friedkin was visiting the offices of [[Ahmet Ertegun]], the president of [[Atlantic Records]] (which distributed ''Tubular Bells'' in the US), and picking up a [[white label record]] of the album from the selection of records in Ertegun's office, he put it on the record player and instantly decided that the music would be perfect for the film.{{sfn|O'Casey|2013|loc=44:02}} Although the introduction only features briefly in two scenes, it has become the track most commonly associated with the film. Oldfield said he did not want to see the film because he believed he would find it too frightening.<ref>{{Cite episode|first1=Mike|last1=Oldfield|first2=Casey|last2=Kasem|author2-link=Casey Kasem|series=[[American Top 40]]|date=4 May 1974|title=Oldfield on countdown radio program AT40}}{{Request quotation|date=September 2023}}</ref>

=== Sequels and other albums ===
''Tubular Bells'' remains the album most identified with Oldfield, and he has released three sequels. ''[[Tubular Bells II]]'' was released in 1992 which, like its predecessor, reached number one in the UK. It was followed by the electronic and dance-oriented ''[[Tubular Bells III]]'' (1998) and ''[[The Millennium Bell]]'' (1999). On the thirtieth anniversary of ''Tubular Bells'', Oldfield re-recorded the original ''Tubular Bells'' with contemporary technology, making several corrections to what he saw as flaws in the album's original production. Since Stanshall died in 1995, the re-recording features new narration provided by actor [[John Cleese]]. ''[[Tubular Bells 2003]]'' went to number 51 in the UK.

In 1975, an orchestral arrangement of the original album was released as ''[[The Orchestral Tubular Bells]]''.

'''Compilations:'''
* ''[[The Best of Tubular Bells]]'' (2001)
* ''[[The Complete Tubular Bells]]'' (2003)

Oldfield and [[York (group)|York]]'s 2013 remix album ''[[Tubular Beats]]'' contains two remixes of sections of ''Tubular Bells''.

=== Virgin Group ===
{{Blockquote |text="I never thought that the word 'tubular bells' was going to play such an important part in our lives ... Virgin going into space most likely wouldn't have existed if we hadn't hired that particular instrument." |author=Richard Branson |source=2013{{sfn|O'Casey|2013|loc=20:40}}}}
Richard Branson recognised the significance of ''Tubular Bells'' to the [[Virgin Group]]'s success, who named one of his first [[Virgin America]] aircraft, an [[Airbus A319-112]], N527VA ''Tubular Belle''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=N527VA&distinct_entry=true |title=N527VA |publisher=Airliners |access-date=3 April 2009}}</ref> Prior to this [[Virgin Atlantic]] had named a [[Boeing 747-400|Boeing 747-4Q8]], G-VHOT ''Tubular Belle'', in 1994.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.v-flyer.com/aircraft.asp?search=yes&flight=G-VHOT |title=G-VHOT |publisher=V-Flyer |access-date=2 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051218100436/http://www.v-flyer.com/aircraft.asp?search=yes&flight=G-VHOT |archive-date=18 December 2005}}</ref>

In the United Kingdom [[Virgin Money UK|Virgin Money]] signalled its entry into the banking sector in January 2012 with a television advertisement titled '40 Years of Better'. The advertisement opened with an image of a record orbiting the Earth accompanied by the music of the introduction to ''Tubular Bells'', signifying the beginnings of Virgin, and ended with a shot of the same record framed and hanging on the wall of the new bank.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Virgin Money '40 years of better' by BMB |url=http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/virgin-money-40-years-better-bmb/1111708# |magazine=[[Campaign (magazine)|Campaign]] |date=11 January 2012 |access-date=20 September 2016}}</ref> Two months later a [[Virgin Media]] TV advertisement starring Branson and actor [[David Tennant]] also featured the record, where a younger version of Branson is seen holding a copy of ''Tubular Bells'' under his arm upon exiting a [[time travel|time machine]].<ref>{{cite magazine |first=John |last=Reynolds |title=Virgin Media launches TV ad with Branson and Tennant |url=http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/virgin-media-launches-tv-ad-branson-tennant/1124859 |magazine=Campaign |date=30 March 2012 |access-date=20 September 2016}}</ref> However, the advert was withdrawn shortly afterwards following objections from the BBC that it was being used to endorse a rival TV service (in the advert Tennant is shown searching on Virgin's [[TiVo]] on-demand service for episodes of ''[[Doctor Who]]'', a BBC series in which he formerly played the titular character).<ref>{{cite web |title=Virgin Media pulls David Tennant TiVo advert |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-17752997 |publisher=BBC |date=18 April 2012 |access-date=20 September 2016}}</ref>

In May 2021, [[Virgin Orbit]], the commercial rocket launch provider subsidiary of the Virgin Group, announced the first operational mission of their [[LauncherOne]] air-launched rocket would be named after the first track of the album, [[LauncherOne#Future launches|Tubular Bells, Part One]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Introducing our Next Mission: Tubular Bells, Part One|url=https://virginorbit.com/the-latest/introducing-our-next-mission-tubular-bells-part-one/|access-date=22 June 2021|website=Virgin Orbit|date=6 May 2021|archive-date=19 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619094055/https://virginorbit.com/the-latest/introducing-our-next-mission-tubular-bells-part-one/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Cultural references ===
The use of the opening theme in the 1973 film ''[[The Exorcist (film)|The Exorcist]]'' gained the record considerable publicity and introduced the work to a broader audience. Along with a number of other Oldfield pieces the theme was used in the 1979 [[NASA]] movie ''[[The Space Movie]]''. It has gained cultural significance as a "haunting theme", partly due to the association with ''The Exorcist'', and has been sampled by many other artists.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tubular.net/articles/1993_10 |title=Theme from 'The Exorcist', The Sequel |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=8 October 1993 |access-date=5 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220080449/http://tubular.net/articles/1993_10 |archive-date=20 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In television it was used in several episodes of the Dutch children's series ''[[Bassie and Adriaan|Bassie en Adriaan]]'', and an episode ("[[List of My Family episodes|Ghosts]]") of the [[BBC]] series ''[[My Family]]''. It was used in a television advertisement for the [[Volkswagen Golf]] Diesel in 2002<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prweek.com/uk/news/article/139878/Volkswagen-dispels-diesel-myth-eerie-new-TV-campaign/ |title=Volkswagen dispels diesel myth in eerie new TV campaign |publisher=[[PR Week]] |date=22 March 2002 |access-date=27 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224055841/http://www.prweek.com/uk/news/article/139878/Volkswagen-dispels-diesel-myth-eerie-new-TV-campaign/ |archive-date=24 February 2012 }}</ref> and in various films.

=== Computer tie-ins ===
With the aid of the software house [[CRL Group|CRL]] and distributor Nu Wave, Mike Oldfield released an interactive [[Commodore 64]] version of the album in 1986, which used the computer's [[MOS Technology SID|SID]] sound chip to play back a simplified re-arrangement of the album, accompanied by some simple 2D visual effects.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/staff_top_10/top-ten-rubbish-video-games-that-feature-musicians.htm |title= Top Ten Rubbish Video Games That Feature Musicians |work=Stylus|date=23 July 2004 |access-date=5 April 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vazcomics.org/mamend/gamend/endless5.htm |title=GamEnd |publisher=Vaz Comics |access-date=5 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513154243/http://www.vazcomics.org/mamend/gamend/endless5.htm |archive-date=13 May 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamebase64.com/game.php?id=9745&d=18&h=0 |title=''Tubular Bells'' game|publisher=Gamerbase64 |access-date=29 December 2008}}</ref> The "interactivity" offered by the album/program was limited to controlling the speed and quantity of the visual effects, tuning the sound's volume and filtering, and skipping to any part of the album.

In 2004, Oldfield launched a virtual reality project called ''[[Maestro (video game)|Maestro]]'' which contains music from ''Tubular Bells 2003''. The original title of the game was ''The Tube World''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2003/jul/31/interviews.onlinesupplement |title=Talk time: Mike Oldfield |work=The Guardian |date=31 July 2003 |access-date=5 April 2008 | location=London}}</ref> This was the second game which was released under the [[MusicVR]] banner, the first being ''[[Tres Lunas (video game)|Tres Lunas]]''. MusicVR set out to be a real-time virtual reality experience combining imagery and music, as a non-violent and essentially a non-goal driven game.

In 2012 Universal and [[Indaba Music]] created a ''Tubular Bells'' remix contest, where users could download original stem recordings to create their own pieces and the winner of the $1,000 prize was judged by Oldfield.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indabamusic.com/opportunities/mike-oldfield-tubular-bells-remix-contest |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723085610/http://www.indabamusic.com/opportunities/mike-oldfield-tubular-bells-remix-contest |url-status=usurped |archive-date=23 July 2012 |title=''Tubular Bells'' Remix Contest |publisher=[[Indaba Music]] |access-date=5 August 2012}}</ref>

=== 2012 Olympic Games ===
On 27 July 2012 at the [[2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony]] Mike Oldfield performed during a segment about the [[National Health Service|NHS]] and children’s literature. 600 dancers, all of whom were NHS staff, along with 1,200 volunteers recruited from British hospitals, along with people from the [[Great Ormond Street Hospital]], entered along with children on 320 hospital beds, some of which functioned as [[trampoline]]s.<ref name="GOSH">{{cite news |title=Incredible honour for Great Ormond Street Hospital at London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony |url=http://www.gosh.org/gen/news/latest-news/2012-archive/incredible-honour-for-great-ormond-street-hospital-at-london-2012-olympic-opening-ceremony/ |publisher=Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity |date=27 June 2012 |access-date=28 July 2012}}</ref> The show's director [[Danny Boyle]] stated that he had wanted to make ''Tubular Bells'' a "cornerstone" of a 20-minute sequence of the ceremony.{{sfn|O'Casey|2013|loc=55:40}} A studio version of Oldfield's performance appears on the soundtrack album ''[[Isles of Wonder: Music for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games|Isles of Wonder]]''. Although listed as "Tubular Bells"/"[[In Dulci Jubilo / On Horseback|In Dulci Jubilo]]", the track consists of a number of parts, the first being the introduction piece to his ''Tubular Bells'' in its normal arrangement, then this is followed by a rearranged version of that same theme that during interviews Oldfield has called "swingular bells". The piece that is used when children's literature villains appear features two arrangements of "[[Far Above the Clouds]]" (from ''[[Tubular Bells III]]''), and finally as the ''[[Mary Poppins (book series)|Mary Poppins]]'' characters appear to drive off the villains, there is a rendition of "In Dulci Jubilo" followed by a short [[Coda (music)|coda]].

The Olympics version was released as a 500-copy limited edition pink/blue vinyl single on 8 October 2012. This was also released on [[iTunes]] as "Tubular Bells/In Dulci Julio (Music from the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games)" as well as on the official 2012 Olympics album.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/tubular-bells-in-dulci-jubilo/id564251794 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130701054041/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/tubular-bells-in-dulci-jubilo/id564251794 |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 July 2013 |title=Tubular Bells / In Dulci Jubilo (Music from the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games) |publisher=Apple [[iTunes]]}}</ref> In 2023, this rendition appeared on the 50th anniversary release of ''Tubular Bells''.

This lists the movements as:
# "Tubular Bells (Part One Excerpt)"
# "Tubular Bells (Part One Swing)"
# "Tubular Bells (Part Two Excerpt)"
# "Tubular Bells III (Far Above the Clouds)"
# "Mary Poppins Arrival"
# "Fanfare for the Isles of Wonder"
# "In Dulci Jubilo"
# "Olympic Tubular Bells Coda"

== Adaptations ==
American artist [[Tori Amos]] has frequently used the opening ''Tubular Bells'' theme in her live shows.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2002/11/08/Artsandentertainment/Whispers_to_wails__Am.shtml |title=Whispers to wails, Amos dazzles |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |date=8 November 2002 |access-date=7 February 2009}}</ref> It began during the 1996 Dew Drop Inn Tour where she let "Father Lucifer" segue into ''Tubular Bells'' on the piano while singing words from [[Bronski Beat]]'s "[[Smalltown Boy]]" as well as playing it on the harpsichord during songs "[[Lovesong (The Cure song)|Love Song]]" (a [[The Cure|Cure]] cover) and "Bells for Her" (from the album ''[[Under the Pink]]''), usually while mixing in lyrics from a third song such as [[Björk]]'s "[[Hyperballad]]" or "Blue Skies". It appeared again in 2005 as part of "Yes, Anastasia", and on the 2007 tour promoting her album ''[[American Doll Posse]]'' where it was performed with full band as an intro to "Devils and Gods". On the 2011 tour, promoting her album ''[[Night of Hunters]]'' it is being performed as the intro to and backing melody for "God."

''[[Tubular Bells for Two]]'' is a music-theatre production created by two Australian multi-instrumentalists, Aidan Roberts and [[Daniel Holdsworth (musician)|Daniel Holdsworth]], in 2009. The two musicians perform over twenty instruments to recreate the original album 'as faithfully as physically possible'. The show won a [[The Sydney Fringe|Sydney Fringe Award]] for ''Best Musical Moment'' in the 2010 Festival, and has been performed at festivals around Australia and the Pacific. The show made its European debut at the [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe]] in 2012, where it won two awards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/blog/tubular-bells-for-two |title=Tubular Bells for Two |author=Richard Branson |publisher=Virgin Group |date=10 August 2012 |access-date=10 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812091346/http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/blog/tubular-bells-for-two |archive-date=12 August 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

In 2013, Oldfield invited Branson to the opening of St. Andrew's International School of The Bahamas, where two of Oldfield's children were pupils. This was the occasion of the debut of ''Tubular Bells for Schools'', a piano solo adaptation of Oldfield's work.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tribune242.com/news/2013/oct/21/famous-faces-for-bahamas-debut-of-tubular-bells/ |title=Famous faces for Bahamas debut of Tubular Bells for Schools |publisher=Tribune 242 |date=21 October 2013 |access-date=20 January 2016}}</ref>

The music from the 1973 film was used in a 1982 Hungarian traffic safety film. (Caution! Railroad crossing!) from 9:20.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw9PLuXkjWg | title=Vigyázat! Vasúti átjáró! (1982) javított hanggal | website=[[YouTube]] | date=25 January 2023 }}</ref>

== Track listing ==
All music by [[Mike Oldfield]], except on "Tubular Bells, Part Two" which includes "[[The Sailor's Hornpipe]]" (traditional).

'''Side one'''
#"Tubular Bells, Part One" – 25:30

'''Side two'''
#"Tubular Bells, Part Two" – 23:22

== Personnel ==
Credits are adapted from album sleeve notes.<ref name="sleeve notes">{{cite AV media notes |title=Tubular Bells |others=[[Mike Oldfield]] |year=1973 |type=album sleeve notes |publisher=[[Virgin Records]] |id=V2001}}</ref>

*[[Mike Oldfield]] – grand piano, glockenspiel, [[Farfisa]] organ, bass guitar, electric guitar (including "speed guitar", "fuzz guitar", "mandolin-like guitar" and "guitars sounding like bagpipes"), taped motor drive amplifier organ chord, assorted percussion, acoustic guitar, [[tin whistle|flageolet]], [[Tack piano|honky tonk piano]], [[Lowrey organ]], tubular bells, concert timpani, [[Hammond organ]], Spanish guitar, vocals ("Piltdown Man" and "Moribund chorus")

'''Additional musicians'''
*Steve Broughton – drums
*[[Lindsay L. Cooper]] – [[string bass]]es
*Jon Field – flutes
*Mundy Ellis – backing vocals ("Girlie Chorus")
*[[Sally Oldfield]] – backing vocals ("Girlie Chorus")
*[[Vivian Stanshall]] – [[Master of Ceremonies]]
*Nasal Choir (uncredited)
*Bootleg Chorus – the Manor Choir conducted by Mike Oldfield

'''Production'''
*Mike Oldfield – producer, 2009 stereo and 5.1 surround sound mix
*[[Simon Heyworth]] – producer, engineer, mastering
*[[Tom Newman (musician)|Tom Newman]] – producer, engineer
*[[Trevor Key]] – artwork

== Charts ==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

=== Weekly charts ===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+Weekly chart performance for ''Tubular Bells''
! scope="col" | Chart (1973–1975)
! scope="col" | Peak<br />position
|-
! scope="row" | Australian Albums ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref>{{cite book |first=David |last=Kent |author-link=David Kent (historian) |title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 |year=1993 |url=http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1974/19740629.html#albums |publisher=Australian Chart Book Ltd |location=[[St Ives, New South Wales]], Australia |page=222 |isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
| 1
|-
{{album chart|Canada|1|chartid=4999a|rowheader=true|access-date=30 November 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|Netherlands|2|artist=Mike Oldfield|album=Tubular Bells|rowheader=true|access-date=30 November 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|Germany|37|artist=Mike Oldfield|album=Tubular Bells|id=6174|rowheader=true|access-date=30 November 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|New Zealand|25|artist=Mike Oldfield|album=Tubular Bells|rowheader=true|access-date=30 November 2021}}
|-
!scope="row"|Spanish Albums ([[Productores de Música de España|PROMUSICAE]])<ref>{{cite book |last=Salaverri |first=Fernando |title=Sólo éxitos 1959–2012 |date=2015 |publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE |isbn=978-84-8048-866-2 |edition=1st |location=Spain}}</ref>
|4
|-

{{album chart|UK2|1|date=19741005|rowheader=true|refname="UKchart19741005"|access-date=30 November 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|3|artist=Mike Oldfield|rowheader=true|access-date=30 November 2021}}
|-
! scope="row" | US ''[[Cash Box (magazine)|Cash Box]]'' Top 100<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Cash Box Top 100 Albums |magazine=[[Cash Box (magazine)|Cash Box]] |page=25 |date=6 April 1974}}</ref>
| 1
|}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+2006 weekly chart performance for ''Tubular Bells''
! Chart (2006)
! Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|Spain|86|artist=Mike Oldfield|album=Tubular Bells|rowheader=true|access-date=30 November 2021}}
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+Weekly chart performance for ''Tubular Bells 50th anniversary edition''
! Chart (2023)
! Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|Austria|67|artist=Mike Oldfield|album=Tubular Bells|rowheader=true|access-date=7 June 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Flanders|126|artist=Mike Oldfield|album=Tubular Bells|rowheader=true|access-date=4 June 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Wallonia|87|artist=Mike Oldfield|album=Tubular Bells|rowheader=true|access-date=4 June 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Germany|22|id=6174|artist=Mike Oldfield|album=Tubular Bells|rowheader=true|access-date=2 June 2023|refname=ger-2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Poland2|89|date=26.05.2023–01.06.2023|rowheader=true|access-date=8 June 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Scotland|3|date=20230602|rowheader=true|access-date=3 June 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Spain|13|M|url=https://www.elportaldemusica.es/lists/top-100-albums/2023/22|title=Top 100 Albums Weekly|publisher=[[Promusicae]]|work=El portal de Música|rowheader=true|access-date=5 June 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Switzerland|21|artist=Mike Oldfield|album=Tubular Bells|rowheader=true|access-date=4 June 2023}}
|}
{{col-2}}

=== Year-end charts ===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+1974 year-end chart performance for ''Tubular Bells''
! scope="col" | Chart (1974)
! scope="col" | Position
|-
! scope="row" | Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)<ref>Kent (1993). "Top 25 Albums 1974". p. 426.</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 6
|-
! scope="row" | Canada Top Albums/CDs (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Top 100 Albums of '74 |url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3891&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.3891.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3891 |volume=22 |number=19 |date=28 December 1974 |magazine=RPM |access-date=6 August 2016}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 36
|-
! scope="row" | UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web |first=Sharon |last=Mawer |title=Album Chart History: 1974 |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/album_chart_history_1974.php |publisher=[[Official Charts Company|Official UK Charts Company]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217020432/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/album_chart_history_1974.php |archive-date=17 December 2007}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
|-
! scope="row" | US ''Billboard'' Pop Albums<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Top Pop Albums |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=28 December 1974}} ("Talent in Action" supplement, p. 16)</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 22
|-
! scope="row" | US ''Cash Box'' Albums<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Top 100 Albums 74 |magazine=Cash Box |page=32 |date=28 December 1974}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 17
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+1975 year-end chart performance for ''Tubular Bells''
! scope="col" | Chart (1975)
! scope="col" | Position
|-
! scope="row" | Dutch Charts (MegaCharts)<ref>{{cite web |title=Jaaroversichten - Album 1975 |url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1975&cat=a |publisher=GfK Dutch Charts |access-date=6 August 2016}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 5
|-
! scope="row" | UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite magazine |date=27 December 1975 |title=Top Selling Albums For 1975 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1975/Music-Week-1975-12-27.pdf |url-status=live |magazine=[[Music Week]] |page=10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309074922/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1975/Music-Week-1975-12-27.pdf |archive-date=9 March 2021 |via=worldradiohistory.com}}</ref>
| 7
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+1976 year-end chart performance for ''Tubular Bells''
! scope="col" | Chart (1976)
! scope="col" | Position
|-
! scope="row" | UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite magazine |date=25 December 1976 |title=Top 50 Albums of 1976 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1976/Music-Week-1976-12-25.pdf |url-status=live |magazine=[[Music Week]] |page=14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309081449/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1976/Music-Week-1976-12-25.pdf |archive-date=9 March 2021 |via=worldradiohistory.com |access-date=30 November 2021}}</ref>
| 27
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+1977 year-end chart performance for ''Tubular Bells''
! scope="col" | Chart (1977)
! scope="col" | Position
|-
! scope="row" | UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite magazine |date=24 December 1977 |title=Top Albums 1977 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1977/Music-Week-1977-12-24.pdf |url-status=live |magazine=[[Music Week]] |page=14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309080814/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1977/Music-Week-1977-12-24.pdf |archive-date=9 March 2021 |via=worldradiohistory.com |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
| 49
|}

=== Decade-end charts ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+Decade-end chart performance for ''Tubular Bells''
! scope="col" | Chart (1970–1979)
! scope="col" | Position
|-
! scope="row" | UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Albums of the 70's |magazine=[[Music Week]] |publisher=Spotlight Publications |location=London, England |page=15 |date=22 December 1979}}</ref>
| 3
|}
{{col-end}}

== Certifications and sales ==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for ''Tubular Bells''}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|artist=Mike Oldfield|title=Tubular Bells|type=album|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1973|certyear=1992|certref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/UbZNhJy.png|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Albums Chart – Week Ending 04 Oct 1992 (61–100) (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 140)|publisher=Imgur.com (original document published by [[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]])}}</ref>|salesamount=730,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/society-and-culture/blogs/the-tribal-mind/the-tribal-mind-archive-the-music-australia-loved-20130110-2cilw.html|title=The Music Australia Loved|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=1 January 2013|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112160723/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/society-and-culture/blogs/the-tribal-mind/the-tribal-mind-archive-the-music-australia-loved-20130110-2cilw.html|archive-date=12 January 2014}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Mike Oldfield|title=Tubular Bells|type=album|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1973|certyear=1982}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Mike Oldfield|title=Tubular Bells|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=1973|certyear=1976|source=infodisc|salesamount=250,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s//1980/BB-1980-06-07.pdf|title=Virgin Opens French Units|magazine=[[Billboard magazine|Billboard]]|page=49|date=7 June 1980|issn=0006-2510|accessdate=20 March 2022}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|artist=Mike Oldfield|title=Tubular Bells|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=1973|certyear=1979}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|artist=Mike Oldfield|title=Tubular Bells|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=1973|certyear=1992|access-date=12 May 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Mike Oldfield|title=Tubular Bells|type=album|award=Platinum|number=9|relyear=1973|certyear=2016|id=7792-2671-2|salesamount=2,760,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-uks-biggest-studio-albums-of-all-time__24431/|title=The UK's Top 40 biggest studio albums of time|last=Copsey|first=Rob|date=13 October 2018|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=21 November 2018}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Mike Oldfield|title=Tubular Bells|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=1973|certyear=1974|salesamount=3,000,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s//1980/CB-1980-03-15.pdf|title=Virgin Finds A Market For Its New Bands In America|magazine=[[Cashbox magazine|Cash Box]]|page=B-14|first=Aaron|last=Fuchs|date=15 March 1980|accessdate=20 March 2022}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Summary}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|artist=Mike Oldfield|title=Tubular Bells|nocert=true|salesamount=15,000,000|salesref=<ref name="SOSApril2013" />}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

== References ==
'''Notes'''
{{notelist}}

'''Citations'''
{{Reflist|30em}}

'''Sources'''
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite AV media |date=11 October 2013 |title=Tubular Bells: The Mike Oldfield Story |medium=television documentary |publisher=[[BBC Four]] |ref={{harvid|O'Casey|2013}}|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03cw8g0}}
* {{cite book |last=Oldfield |first=Mike |author-link=Mike Oldfield |title=[[Changeling: The Autobiography of Mike Oldfield]] |year=2007 |publisher=[[Virgin Books]] |isbn=978-1-85227-381-1}}
{{refend}}

'''Further reading'''
* {{cite book |title=Tubular Bells – Mike Oldfield (Music score for piano or guitar, analysis by David Bedford, text by Karl Dallas, photos by David Bailey and others) |publisher=Wise Publications |location=New York, London, Sydney |isbn=0-86001-249-2}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080312082353/http://tubular.net/discography/TubularBells.shtml Mike Oldfield Discography – ''Tubular Bells''] at Tubular.net
* {{YouTube|c7pVMuo8cvM|Tubular Bells. The Exorcist}}

{{Mike Oldfield}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1973 debut albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Tom Newman (musician)]]
[[Category:1970s instrumental albums]]
[[Category:Mercury Records albums]]
[[Category:Mike Oldfield albums]]
[[Category:Mike Oldfield songs]]
[[Category:The Exorcist]]
[[Category:Virgin Records albums]]