To the person on the road, Mike Oldfield, born on Could 15, 1953, will eternally stay synonymous with The Exorcist, William Friedkin’s groundbreaking 1973 movie that, a long time after its launch, stays a chilling watch – with no small due to its iconic use of “Tubular Bells,” main many to imagine that the movie boasted a whole Mike Oldfield soundtrack. That wasn’t the case, however a decade after that movie terrorized cinema-goers, the primary bona fide Mike Oldfield soundtrack emerged when he scored The Killing Fields, the 1984 dramatization of two journalists’ experiences within the Cambodian civil battle. His shifting soundtrack was the right accompaniment to director Roland Joffé’s award-winning movie and cemented Oldfield’s popularity as a far-reaching composer whose music pushed the boundaries of expertise whereas offering an plain emotional impression.
Whereas The Killing Fields stays Oldfield’s sole authentic characteristic movie rating, his work has lengthy been used to soundtrack a big selection of tasks, from French crime thrillers to compilations of NASA area footage, tv comedies, and cutting-edge video video games. In celebration of his wide-ranging work, we take a look at a number of the best Mike Oldfield soundtrack appearances of all time.
Take heed to the perfect of Mike Oldfield on Apple Music and Spotify, and scroll down for our decide of the perfect Mike Oldfield soundtrack appearances.
Étude (from The Killing Fields, 1984)
The one single launched from Oldfield’s rating to The Killing Fields, “Étude” was performed over the movie’s closing credit.
Tubular Bells – Opening Theme (from Tubular Bells, 1973)
Initially composed for the long-lasting 1973 album of the identical title, “Tubular Bells” was put to chilling use in William Friedkin’s infamous horror traditional, The Exorcist, launched later the identical yr.
Ommadawn (Excerpt) (from Ommadawn, 1975)
Reflection: A Movie About Time And Relatedness was created in 1976 for the UK Arts Council, and marks the primary occasion of Oldfield composing music particularly for soundtrack use. That includes some then unreleased recordings and early variations of works that may later floor on albums reminiscent of 1978’s Incantations, it additionally used excerpts from Oldfield’s third album, Ommadawn.
Incantations Half One (from Incantations, 1978)
Compiled in 1979, The House Film was a group of footage launched to rejoice the tenth anniversary of the primary moon touchdown. Fittingly, it made liberal use of lots of Oldfield’s otherworldly recordings, notably items taken from his 1978 album, Incantations.
Portsmouth (non-album single, 1976)
The proposed soundtrack launch for The House Film by no means got here to fruition – a disgrace, because it featured Oldfield’s non-album single, “Portsmouth,” which reached No.3 within the UK singles chart in 1976 and is effectively value revisiting.
Moonlight Shadow (from Crises, 1983)
Proof that Oldfield’s music matches many moods, “Moonlight Shadow,” a High 5 UK single with vocals by Maggie Reilly, was used prominently because the theme tune for Simon Day’s character Dave Angel – Eco Warrior, in 90s sketch present The Quick Present. Extra not too long ago, and considerably extra obscurely, it has been used on Argentinian comedy drama Guapas.
Nuclear (from Man On The Rocks, 2014)
Oldfield broke a six-year silence when he launched Man On The Rocks in 2014. The next yr, one among its stand-out moments, “Nuclear” (with vocals by Luke Spiller from The Struts), was picked up to be used within the fifth instalment of the Metallic Gear Strong online game sequence, The Phantom Ache.
In Excessive Locations (from Crises, 1983)
The ultimate single to be taken from Crises, “In High Places” was sampled by Kanye West on “Dark Fantasy” in 2010, a monitor that was later used within the 2013 comedy “threequel,” The Hangover Half III.
Household Man (from 5 Miles Out, 1982)
Later lined by Corridor And Oates, “Family Man” was used prominently in Grand Theft Auto: Vice Metropolis Tales, the tenth launch within the GTA online game sequence.
Hergest Ridge Half One (from Hergest Ridge, 1974)
Having made his mark with Tubular Bells, Oldfield caught the eye of French filmmaker Roger Vadim, who used music from that album, plus its follow-up, Hergest Ridge, in his 1974 crime thriller, Le Jeune Fille Assassinée.
