Boxed (Mike Oldfield album)


Boxed is a compilation album written and mostly performed by Mike Oldfield, released in 1976. It features SQ system 4 channel quadraphonic remixed versions of his first three albums and some collaborations.

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. 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, 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.
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.

Track listing

Vinyl

LP one – ''Tubular Bells''

Side one
  1. "Tubular Bells" Part One – 25:30
    Side two
  2. "Tubular Bells" Part Two – 25:47

    LP two – ''Hergest Ridge''

Side three
  1. "Hergest Ridge" Part One – 21:24
    Side four
  2. "Hergest Ridge" Part Two – 18:46

    LP three – ''Ommadawn''

Side five
  1. "Ommadawn" Part One – 20:06
    Side six
  2. "Ommadawn" Part Two – 17:22

    LP four – ''Collaborations''

Side seven
  1. "The Phaeacian Games" – 3:59
  2. "Extract from Star's End" – 7:33
  3. "The Rio Grande" – 6:34
    Side eight
  4. "First Excursion" – 5:57
  5. "Argiers" – 3:59
  6. "Portsmouth" – 2:04
  7. "In Dulci Jubilo" – 2:51
  8. "Speak Tho' You Only Say Farewell" – 2:56

    CD

Disc 1

  1. "Tubular Bells" Part One – 25:30
  2. "Tubular Bells" Part Two – 25:47
  3. "The Rio Grande" – 6:34
  4. "Portsmouth" – 2:04
  5. "In Dulci Jubilo" – 2:51

    Disc 2

  6. "Hergest Ridge" Part One – 21:24
  7. "Hergest Ridge" Part Two – 18:46
  8. "Extract from Star's End" – 7:33
  9. "Argiers" – 3:59
  10. "Speak Tho' You Only Say Farewell" – 2:56

    Disc 3

  11. "Ommadawn" Part One – 20:06
  12. "Ommadawn" Part Two – 17:22
  13. "The Phaeacian Games" – 3:59
  14. "First Excursion" – 5:57

    ''Collaborations'' 2016 release

On 2 December 2016, forty years after the original Boxed release, the Collaborations compilation was released on vinyl LP by Universal Records. 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.

Track listing

  1. "The Phaeacian Games" – 3:59
  2. "Extract from Star's End" – 7:33
  3. "The Rio Grande" – 6:34
  4. "First Excursion" – 5:57
  5. "Argiers" – 3:59
  6. "Portsmouth" – 2:04
  7. "In Dulci Jubilo" – 2:51
  8. "Speak Tho' You Only Say Farewell" – 2:56