Mike Oldfield/Tubular Bells Original Japanese CD

Mike Oldfield’s “TUBULAR BELLS” is the first release of Virgin Records’ glory and is the ultimate progressive rock album. The extremely rare first CD version of a historical masterpiece will be released. [Super Premier First Japanese Edition CD] The first CD edition is the old Japanese standard CD “VDP-64” released on September 5, 1984. This is one piece that has been precisely reprinted from the highest quality edition. Old standard editions have two extremes: those whose prices are falling and those whose prices are soaring, but this work is definitely the latter. Nowadays, it’s common for second-hand copies to cost tens of thousands of yen, but if you get a good-looking version with a obi, it’s a super-premium version that can fetch six figures. Although it has the rarity value of being released on CD for the first time, the main reason for its high price is the sound. It is also famous for PINK FLOYD’s “WISH YOU WERE HERE” and “ANIMALS,” but it is special for Japanese CDs from the early 1980s. As you know, CDs were standardized by PHILIPS and SONY, and in the very early days, masterpieces of various genres were made into CDs in order to popularize the new media. Although classical music was first released, popular classics from pop and rock music were also carefully selected and made into CDs. One of them is “TUBULAR BELLS”. The key point here is that, unlike the later development of CDs, there were only a few press factories in the world, and assembly lines had not yet been established. Rather than roll up copy masters in each country and press them individually as later, we borrowed the youngest generation master (or the actual original master tape) and digitally transferred it uniquely to Japan. Without knowing the characteristics of the CD, there was no indication of what kind of sound it would produce, and flat transfer CDs were simply produced without any compression. Yes, this is a CD where you can listen to the unprocessed pure sound that was preserved in the youthful master tapes of the album, which was created about 10 years ago. [The original “TUBULAR BELLS” that is closest to the master tape] The sound is overwhelmingly random/unprocessed and natural. The remix version emphasizes dynamism and a sense of space, creating a finish that makes you say, “Sounds like this exist, too.” However, this work is a nostalgic mix of the original, but it is also a master piece made 11 years ago. The youth of the tape and the direct detail add depth to the sound world. For example, the base. Unlike the remixes that come before it, the original mix was recorded to push the guitars and synths from behind, but the bass vibe is detailed and rich. Even if you listen to it casually, the depth of the sound will naturally sink in, and if you focus on it with headphones, you can hear the undulations of the bass weaving through the overdubbed instruments, bringing the ensemble together into a single tapestry. I understand. Of course, the bass is just an example, and each of the countless instruments that take the lead role and then leave the stage has its own reality. It’s not just a matter of “the sound being produced is clear,” but a sense of reality that the strings and body of the instrument are there and are actually vibrating. “TUBULAR BELLS” was born after 2400 overdubbings. This is a rare first CD edition that depicts its original form as it was back then. It was interesting to see what kind of sounds were included in the legendary album in the later remix/remastered editions, but it was a “matching of answers” so to speak. It’s like reexamining a masterpiece based on the results of radiological analysis. On the other hand, there are no such acts in this work. It is faithful to the original values, which prioritized “songs and worldview” that no one knew at the time, and is the one that digitizes the sound closest to the actual master tape. Even if you wanted to, you would not be able to touch the phantom “TUBULAR BELLS” without spending tens of thousands of thousands of dollars (and being lucky enough to come across one of good quality). Extremely rare 1984 Victor first CD (world’s first CD) that can be listened to with flat master sound. The overwhelmingly random/unprocessed natural feel is overwhelming! ! Taken from the original Japanese CD (VDP-64) (48:54) 1. Part One 2. Part Two