The SALLYANGIE: "Children Of The Sun"

Original released on LP Transatlantic TRA 176

(UK, 1968)

The Sallyangie's "Children of the Sun" album has its charm, but it wouldn't be nearly as interesting to collectors as it is had it not marked the first appearance on record of Mike Oldfield (15 years) and Sally Oldfield (21 years). Even by the standards of the late '60s, it's fey, naïve British folk with touches of pop in Ray Warleigh's flute, Terry Cox's percussion, and David Palmer's arrangements. A fairy tale ambience suffused Mike and Sally's original songs, on which Sally Oldfield's high, trilling vocals overshadow brother Mike's guitar playing and less-prominent singing. (Richie Unterberger in AllMusic)

MIKE OLDFIELD: "Hergest Ridge"

Original released on LP Virgin V2013

(UK 1974, August 28)

Released as another lengthy composition, "Hergest Ridge" was the album that followed Mike Oldfield's momentous "Tubular Bells" release, with many of the same instrumental elements and methods employed throughout its two sections. Because of the time of its release, "Hergest Ridge" was overshadowed by the effects of Oldfield's first album for Virgin, but even so he manages to invoke some interesting patches of music by using instruments like the glockenspiel, sleigh bells, the Lowrey organ, oboes, and a variety of mandolins and guitars to maintain the same type of diversity as "Tubular Bells". Symphonic throughout most of the album's two parts, the highlight of "Hergest Ridge" is Oldfield's use of 90 multi-tracked guitars clustered together to create one of the most unique sounds ever to surface on his albums. Actually, "Hergest Ridge" entered the British charts in the number one spot in the fall of 1974, but "Tubular Bells" finally took its place only three weeks later. The album was highly regarded in the U.K. upon its release and it continued Oldfield's creative pace, proving that the genius put forth on his claim-to-fame album would indeed have some effect on works to come. (Mike DeGagne in AllMusic)