Boxed (Mike Oldfield album)

Background

Boxed features quadraphonic remixed versions of his first three albums. Oldfield later explained that instead of being true 4 channel sound, the initial quad remix of Tubular Bells, released few months after the stereo version, was a "strange fake out-of-phase system", because it was so complex a mix without automation.

The quad remix of Tubular Bells on Boxed was entirely different and true 4 channel sound (later released on SACD). The Boxed-CD version still contains the SQ-encoded quad mixes and plays as normal stereo without a quad decoder. The SQ quad remix Hergest Ridge was the only version of the album available on CD (until the 2010 Mercury Records reissue, Deluxe Edition), as Oldfield disliked the original vinyl mix.

The traditional hornpipe melody "The Sailor's Hornpipe", which was the finale from Tubular Bells, has an extended speech from Viv Stanshall, which is from the recording sessions at The Manor Studio (see Tubular Bells original ending).

Tubular Bells was re-mixed in quad by Phil Newell, assisted by Alan Perkins. Hergest Ridge was re-mixed in quad by Mike Oldfield. Ommadawn was re-mixed in quad by Mike Oldfield and Phil Newell.

Cover

The album cover adapts the theme of two M. C. Escher's engravings: "Gallery" and "Other World".

Charts

Boxed charted at number 22 on the UK Album Chart in 1976. In 2009 it also charted on the Billboard European Album Chart at number 76.

LP one – Tubular Bells

Side one

1. "Tubular Bells" Part One (Mike Oldfield) – 25:30

Side two

1. "Tubular Bells" Part Two (Oldfield except "Sailor's Hornpipe" (Traditional)) – 25:47

LP two – Hergest Ridge

Side three

1. "Hergest Ridge" Part One (Oldfield) – 21:24

Side four

1. "Hergest Ridge" Part Two (Oldfield) – 18:46

LP three – Ommadawn

Side five

1. "Ommadawn" Part One (Oldfield) – 20:06

Side six

1. "Ommadawn" Part Two (Oldfield) – 17:22

LP four – Collaborations

Side seven

1. "Phaeacian Games" (David Bedford) – 3:59
2. "Extract from Star's End" (Featuring David Bedford, Chris Cutler and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) (Bedford) – 7:33
3. "The Rio Grande" (Traditional, arrangement by Bedford) – 6:34

Side eight

1. "First Excursion" (Oldfield, Bedford) – 5:57
2. "Argiers" (Traditional, arrangement by Oldfield) – 3:59
3. "Portsmouth" (Featuring Leslie Penning) (Traditional, arrangement by Oldfield) – 2:04
4. "In Dulci Jubilo" (Featuring Leslie Penning and William Murray) (Traditional, arrangement by Oldfield) – 2:51
5. "Speak Tho' You Only Say Farewell" (Featuring David Bedford) (Ray Morello, Horatio Nicholls) – 2:56

Disc 1

1. "Tubular Bells" Part One (Mike Oldfield) – 25:30
2. "Tubular Bells" Part Two (Oldfield except Sailor's Hornpipe (Traditional)) – 25:47
3. "The Rio Grande" (Traditional, arrangement by Bedford) – 6:34
4. "Portsmouth" (Featuring Leslie Penning) (Traditional, arrangement by Oldfield) – 2:04
5. "In Dulci Jubilo" (Featuring Leslie Penning and William Murray) (Traditional, arrangement by Oldfield) – 2:51

Disc 2

1. "Hergest Ridge" Part One (Oldfield) – 21:24
2. "Hergest Ridge" Part Two (Oldfield) – 18:46
3. "Extract from Star's End" (Featuring David Bedford, Chris Cutler and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) (Bedford) – 7:33
4. "Argiers" (Traditional, arrangement by Oldfield) – 3:59
5. "Speak Tho' You Only Say Farewell" (Featuring Bedford) (Ray Morello, Horatio Nicholls) – 2:56

Disc 3

1. "Ommadawn" Part One (Oldfield) – 20:06
2. "Ommadawn" Part Two (Oldfield) – 17:22
3. "Phaeacian Games" (David Bedford) – 3:59
4. "First Excursion" (Oldfield, Bedford) – 5:57

Collaborations 2016 release

On 2 December 2016, forty years after the original Boxed release, the Collaborations compilation was released on vinyl LP. Cut at Abbey Road by Sean Magee using the original masters, this was the first time that the album had been issued as a standalone release. The LP cover features new artwork from British designer Phil Smee, using the photos of Oldfield jumping shirtless on a trampoline, as featured in the original Boxed booklet.