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Mike Oldfield — Dark Island
Album: Voyager
Avg rating:
6.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 347








Released: 1996
Length: 5:34
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Away to the westward
I'm longing to be,
Where the beauties of heaven
Unfold by the sea;
Where the sweet purple heather blooms
Fragrant and free
On a hilltop high above
The Dark Island

So gentle the sea breeze,
That ripples the bay,
Where the stream joins the ocean,
And young children play;
On the strand of pure silver,
I'll welcome each day,
And I'll roam for every more,
The Dark Island

True gem of the Herbrides,
Bathed in the light,
Of the mid-summer dawning,
That follows the night;
How I yearn for the cries,
Of the seagulls in flight,
As they circle above
The Dark Island
Comments (66)add comment
 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:
Why do I feel like I'm sitting in a Chinese restaurant in Aberdeen?
 

Funny.  But I've always liked Oldfield.  He had an amazing '80s - '90s output. 
Posted 4 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
Not many tunes could benefit from the addition of bagpipes, but I think this one could !! 
Posted 5 years ago by redart    [ Reply ]
Saddle up, boys. We're goin' home...
Posted 5 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
 rdo wrote:


Sound like Ray Lynch.  It's not a bad thing.  I like New Age.
 
This is on the album notes I believe as the origin of the title Deep Breakfast:

"Evelyn slapped Raymond on the back with a laugh. 'You must be starved, old friend. Come into my apartments, and suffer through a deep breakfast of pure sunlight.'"


Posted 5 years ago by mrtuba9    [ Reply ]
 Stephen_Phillips wrote:
Mike Oldfield seems stuck in 1972 - musically and technically.  The electronic sounds produced here seems like he dusted off his old Tubular Bells synthesizer and gave it another outing.

Retro synth - but not in a good way.


 

But helped launch Virgin Records.
Posted 5 years ago by mrtuba9    [ Reply ]
Mike Oldfield seems stuck in 1972 - musically and technically.  The electronic sounds produced here seems like he dusted off his old Tubular Bells synthesizer and gave it another outing.

Retro synth - but not in a good way.


Posted 6 years ago by Stephen_Phillips    [ Reply ]
 sine-quinn-non wrote:
i usually don't diss songs (though I have made that disclaimer before .. so apparently i DO dis songs) but .. wow .. this was WAAAY to new age easy listening for me.  talent or no talent .. it was almost as painful as easy listening jazz.
 

Sound like Ray Lynch.  It's not a bad thing.  I like New Age.
Posted 12 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
i usually don't diss songs (though I have made that disclaimer before .. so apparently i DO dis songs) but .. wow .. this was WAAAY to new age easy listening for me.  talent or no talent .. it was almost as painful as easy listening jazz.
Posted 13 years ago by sine-quinn-non    [ Reply ]
I had Tubular Bells on quadraphonic 8 track from my big brother. Geeez. 
Posted 13 years ago by slartibart_O    [ Reply ]
Would be nice to hear more Mike Oldfield songs, he has some pretty good "recent" albums, meaning in the last decade or so...
Posted 13 years ago by gigikent    [ Reply ]
 DoctorHooey wrote:
Stonehenge!

"and oh how they danced, the little people of Stonehenge, beneath the haunted moon..."
 


Hah! Love it!
Posted 13 years ago by shakitten    [ Reply ]
Stonehenge!

"and oh how they danced, the little people of Stonehenge, beneath the haunted moon..."
Posted 14 years ago by DoctorHooey    [ Reply ]
jäsp
Posted 14 years ago by BowTieDad    [ Reply ]
Nice to hear some Oldfield.  I really like this one.  Nice n' mellow.  It'd make a good cruising tune for riding on the motorsickle.
Posted 14 years ago by shutter    [ Reply ]
hmmmmm...is it just me?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyyqipBC4qI

Posted 14 years ago by Chinto    [ Reply ]
I love his music - mostly because he's so frellin' talented!  I can only dream of being as gifted as he is. {#Notworthy}
Posted 14 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]

Mike Oldfield by =zAPPiENCe
Sebastian Steinfort   ©2007-2010 =zAPPiENCe

As you can see this is a bit different editing pictures than my usual way. I tried a mix of a cross + dia push combined with the b/w and high contrast.
I like the pictures but I am still unsure if it is too bad for the artist. I like Oldfield's music and I do not want to give him a weird look or something like that.



Posted 14 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
Please no more.... {#Beat}
Posted 14 years ago by Yaourth    [ Reply ]
Tubular repeat and repeat and repeat

You can stop now Mike - we've all had enough


I'll get me kilt . . . 
Posted 14 years ago by ianmoff    [ Reply ]
 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:
Why do I feel like I'm sitting in a Chinese restaurant in Aberdeen?
 
Spot on!!!{#Roflol}
As we'd say in these parts twee as f$*%!
Posted 14 years ago by Glencoe_JC    [ Reply ]
I could have sworn that had a Mark Knopfler influence.... maybe it does. {#Cheesygrin}

8.
Posted 14 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
Tubular balls
Posted 14 years ago by EssexTex    [ Reply ]
He must be making fun of us, this is so bad.
Posted 14 years ago by nalle    [ Reply ]
i like that christmas track this guy did, where he played all the instruments himself.
Posted 14 years ago by Flipmode    [ Reply ]
Looks like he's ready for his "Lord of the Dance" audition...
Posted 14 years ago by accordionista    [ Reply ]
U don't get it.....far cry from Tubular Bells fer sure though....why do they let morons listen to music{#Nyah}

Posted 14 years ago by cattail321    [ Reply ]
Growing on me:  8 > 9

Posted 14 years ago by macadavy    [ Reply ]
 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:
Why do I feel like I'm sitting in a Chinese restaurant in Aberdeen?
 
{#Lol} {#Lol} {#Lol}
Posted 14 years ago by Rotterdam    [ Reply ]
Why do I feel like I'm sitting in a Chinese restaurant in Aberdeen?
Posted 14 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
Hey it's Braveheart!
Posted 14 years ago by More_Cowbell    [ Reply ]
Makes me want to dance a jig with a bonny lass...{#Good-vibes}

Posted 15 years ago by akmegan    [ Reply ]
Waiting for Enya or Jon Anderson to chime in ;-)

Nice though

;-)

 
Posted 15 years ago by ianmoff    [ Reply ]
whatever......END ALREADY

Posted 15 years ago by j7    [ Reply ]
 mandolin wrote:
RECORDINGS
1973 - Tubular Bells.........

REISSUES
1973 - Tubular Bells Quadraphonic (Tubular Bells).....

...say what you will about his range, but he's certainly earned the 'greatest hit' reputation - these are just his album releases (not even touching singles and videos) averaging one version each sixteen months for the past thirty-six years...

 
LOL!!
Before I scrolled down I was thinking "Isn't this "Tubular Bells" guy?"
I like this.  Dug TBells as well, way way back in the day.


Posted 15 years ago by Wizzuvvoz    [ Reply ]
 mandolin wrote:
RECORDINGS
1973 - Tubular Bells
1975 - The Orchestral Tubular Bells
1979 - Tubular Bells (Live I)
1980 - Tubular Bells (Live II)
1992 - Tubular Bells II
1998 - Tubular X
1998 - Tubular Bells III
1999 - The Millenium Bell
2003 - Tubular Bells 2003

REISSUES
1973 - Tubular Bells Quadraphonic (Tubular Bells)
1976 - Boxed (Tubular Bells)
1979 - Impressions (Tubular Bells)
1980 - Wonderland (Tubular Bells)
1981 - Episodes (Tubular Bells)
1985 - The Complete Mike Oldfield (Tubular Bells)
1987 - Mike Oldfield (Tubular Bells)
1990 - Collector's Edition Box (Tubular Bells, The Orchestral Tubular Bells)
1993 - Elements (Tubular Bells, Tubular Bells II)
1997 - XXV (Tubular Bells, Tubular Bells II, Tubular Bells III)
2000 - Tubular Bells SA-CD (Tubular Bells)
2001 - The Best of Tubular Bells (Tubular Bells, The Orchestral Tubular Bells, Tubular Bells II, Tubular Bells III, The Millenium Bell)
2002 - Collection (Tubular Bells, Tubular Bells II)
2003 - The Complete Tubular Bells (Tubular Bells 2003, Tubular Bells II, Tubular Bells III)
2006 - The Platinum Collection (Tubular Bells, Tubular Bells II, Tubular Bells III, The Millenium Bell)
2009 - Tubular Bells Ultimate Edition (Tubular Bells)
2009 - The Collection (Tubular Bells)

...say what you will about his range, but he's certainly earned the 'greatest hit' reputation - these are just his album releases (not even touching singles and videos) averaging one version each sixteen months for the past thirty-six years...

 
Like totally tubular, dude...

Posted 15 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
RECORDINGS
1973 - Tubular Bells
1975 - The Orchestral Tubular Bells
1979 - Tubular Bells (Live I)
1980 - Tubular Bells (Live II)
1992 - Tubular Bells II
1998 - Tubular X
1998 - Tubular Bells III
1999 - The Millenium Bell
2003 - Tubular Bells 2003

REISSUES
1973 - Tubular Bells Quadraphonic (Tubular Bells)
1976 - Boxed (Tubular Bells)
1979 - Impressions (Tubular Bells)
1980 - Wonderland (Tubular Bells)
1981 - Episodes (Tubular Bells)
1985 - The Complete Mike Oldfield (Tubular Bells)
1987 - Mike Oldfield (Tubular Bells)
1990 - Collector's Edition Box (Tubular Bells, The Orchestral Tubular Bells)
1993 - Elements (Tubular Bells, Tubular Bells II)
1997 - XXV (Tubular Bells, Tubular Bells II, Tubular Bells III)
2000 - Tubular Bells SA-CD (Tubular Bells)
2001 - The Best of Tubular Bells (Tubular Bells, The Orchestral Tubular Bells, Tubular Bells II, Tubular Bells III, The Millenium Bell)
2002 - Collection (Tubular Bells, Tubular Bells II)
2003 - The Complete Tubular Bells (Tubular Bells 2003, Tubular Bells II, Tubular Bells III)
2006 - The Platinum Collection (Tubular Bells, Tubular Bells II, Tubular Bells III, The Millenium Bell)
2009 - Tubular Bells Ultimate Edition (Tubular Bells)
2009 - The Collection (Tubular Bells)

...say what you will about his range, but he's certainly earned the 'greatest hit' reputation - these are just his album releases (not even touching singles and videos) averaging one version each sixteen months for the past thirty-six years...

Posted 15 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
{#Wink} I can live with this! Keep doin' the thing you do best, Bill. 
Thanks to everyone who has commented on this track, it's one reason I enjoy to RP. 
It's definitely mood music and guess what; I'm a moody guy!
I'd give it a high 7.

Posted 15 years ago by blueotis    [ Reply ]
 kaybee wrote:
Nice to hear some Mike Oldfield on RP!
 

Yes! Agreed with that!

Posted 15 years ago by monemose    [ Reply ]

Kind of a national anthem sound...some foreign nation, perhaps Scotland/Ireland



Posted 15 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
Nice to hear some Mike Oldfield on RP!
Posted 15 years ago by kaybee    [ Reply ]
 callum wrote:
I don't know anything about Mike Oldfield, but the Dark Island is a Scottish tune.
 
Thank you callum! As a child of Scottish parents I heard this many times over the years.

Apparently it was written as theme music for a 1962 film: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Island 


Posted 15 years ago by dezebel    [ Reply ]
I don't know anything about Mike Oldfield, but the Dark Island is a Scottish tune.
Posted 15 years ago by callum    [ Reply ]
Not as good as his older stuff, but still nice.
Posted 15 years ago by mattt    [ Reply ]
This is one of my early favourite Oldfield albums.
I do get the aromatherapy point however, Mike attracts fluffy thinking. ;)

Posted 15 years ago by Frater_Kork    [ Reply ]
 Tagish_girl wrote:

Hey, this is pretty.  Makes me want to go Ireland and walk barefoot in the misty (and poop-free) meadows, gathering flowers and looking for ghosts....
 

{#Meditate}
Posted 15 years ago by SantaFeGrace    [ Reply ]

This is such a relaxing CD.  And the cover is nice to look at too!


Posted 15 years ago by Bridieboo    [ Reply ]
Ex-cell-ent!  I think I'll put some Mike Oldfield on my Christmas list.  Via Amazon of course.{#Clap} 

Posted 15 years ago by brianlj    [ Reply ]
...mmmm, aromatherapy...
Posted 15 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
 calypsus_1 wrote:

 

the song "Recuerdos de la Alhambra" is an excellent version of the original piece composed in 1896 by spanish composer and guitarist Francisco Tárrega, as know the "Sarasate of the guitar", playing classical to guitar.

it exists one another excellent version of this part, by Mike Oldfield, will be the 10th record album "The Killing Fields" in 1984 and It was the soundtrack album will be the film of the same name; Mike Oldfield spent 6 months working on the score will be The Killing Fields.

** 8 **



 
Thanks for your analysis.
It reminds me to go see The Killing Fields again.
Great song, by the way.

Posted 15 years ago by lalalisa25    [ Reply ]

 

the song "Recuerdos de la Alhambra" is an excellent version of the original piece composed in 1896 by spanish composer and guitarist Francisco Tárrega, as know the "Sarasate of the guitar", playing classical to guitar.

it exists one another excellent version of this part, by Mike Oldfield, will be the 10th record album "The Killing Fields" in 1984 and It was the soundtrack album will be the film of the same name; Mike Oldfield spent 6 months working on the score will be The Killing Fields.

** 8 **



Posted 15 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
Sorry Irish Muzak, pick something better from Solas, Boys of the Lough, Silly Wizard, and the like.  A solid 2 {#No}
Posted 16 years ago by Slick    [ Reply ]
makes me wanna go find a bar of Irish Spring
or even better just a bar

{#Cowboy}
 

Posted 16 years ago by k_trout    [ Reply ]

Hey, this is pretty.  Makes me want to go Ireland and walk barefoot in the misty (and poop-free) meadows, gathering flowers and looking for ghosts....
Posted 16 years ago by Tagish_girl    [ Reply ]
Oldfield dosn't get old, he just fades away. . .
Posted 16 years ago by wferrier    [ Reply ]
"Take me home, country roads"
Posted 16 years ago by stevo_b    [ Reply ]
...hey, it's the tubular bells guy!..
Posted 16 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
Wonderful! Sounds like an old fiddle or pipe tune.
Posted 16 years ago by macadavy    [ Reply ]
oh I agree! this is too beautiful! please play more!
Posted 16 years ago by luckywhitegirl    [ Reply ]
I think Bill got your message...More of him has appeared lately.....THANKS, strong talent here-hear.DigitalJer wrote:
Not nearly enough Mike Oldfield on RP :)
Posted 16 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
DigitalJer wrote:
Not nearly enough Mike Oldfield on RP :)
Just as long as it's not "Shadow on the Wall."
Posted 16 years ago by quatsch    [ Reply ]
DigitalJer wrote:
Not nearly enough Mike Oldfield on RP :)
Hear hear, so very true!
Posted 16 years ago by nigelr    [ Reply ]
Mike is the master of moods!
Posted 16 years ago by iMacomania    [ Reply ]
This is just heartbreakingly pretty.
Posted 16 years ago by Baby_M    [ Reply ]
And, oh how they danced, the little children of Stonehenge...
Posted 16 years ago by big_gare    [ Reply ]
Not nearly enough Mike Oldfield on RP :)
Posted 16 years ago by DigitalJer    [ Reply ]