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Ommadawn is the third
record album by
Mike Oldfield, released in
1975 on
Virgin Records. The cover photograph was by
David Bailey. It peaked at #4 on the
UK Albums Chart. The album was reissued in June 2010 with additional content.
Album history
As with
Hergest Ridge and
Tubular Bells,
Ommadawn is another two-movement work. Oldfield sought out the ancient
Celtic influence on English music and composed for traditional instruments such as
uilleann pipes on the original LP version. A set of
Northumbrian smallpipes were also recorded, and credited to "Herbie", but this recording was not used on the album.
The album was recorded at Oldfield's home at Hergest Ridge, The Beacon, and was the only album to be recorded there (though Oldfield's previous album shares its name with the location).
A quadrophonic remix version of Ommadawn was released on Boxed a year later. Oldfield's 1990 album Amarok was conceived as a sequel to Ommadawn, but turned into something quite different; Virgin had been pushing Oldfield for a sequel to Tubular Bells. Excerpts from Ommadawn were featured in the 1979 NASA film, The Space Movie.
The topic of Ommadawn is covered in the final episode of the Tony Palmer documentary series ; episode 17 "Imagine (New Directions)".
In June 2010 the album was reissued by Mercury Records.
Album title and lyrics
In his autobiography,
Changeling, Oldfield states that he just wanted "sounds" not "sensible" lyrics. He asked Clodagh Simmons to write down the first words that came into her head. This resulted in the following in English:
:Daddy's in bed, The cats drinking milk, I'm an idiot, And I'm laughing.
Oldfield states that Clodagh phoned a relative or friend to translate into Irish for the song. The word "idiot" translated into amadán which he Anglicised into "Ommadawn" for the title of the album.
Oldfield previously denied this meaning of ommadawn, calling it a nonsense word, apparently as a ruse to enhance the mystery of his music.
Jackanory
A small portion of
Ommadawn "Part One" was used as the theme music for the
BBC's
Jackanory on occasions when
John Grant narrated his
Littlenose stories.
"On Horseback" and "In Dulci Jubilo"
Though the actual work
Ommadawn is a two-part piece, there is a third track on the album, a short vocal song by Mike Oldfield and
William Murray called "On Horseback". "On Horseback" relates to Oldfield, Murray and Leslie Penning's time riding
ponies around the area of Hergest Ridge.
Track listing
All music written by Mike Oldfield, except where noted.
Side one
# "Ommadawn, Part one" – 19:23
Side two
# "Ommadawn, Part two" – 13:54
# "On Horseback"
(not actually titled on album) – 3:23
:* "On Horseback" is not listed on the record label, but added to the length of "Ommadawn part two", giving it a new length of 17:17. It is, however, referred to on the inner sleeve where it is noted that "the words to the horse song on side two by Mike Oldfield and William Murray". The songsheet for "On Horseback" says "Music by Mike Oldfield, Words by Mike Oldfield and William Murray".
Personnel
Mike Oldfield – acoustic bass, acoustic guitar, banjo, bouzouki, bodhrán, classical guitar, electric bass, electric guitars, electronic organs, glockenspiel, harp, mandolin, percussion, piano, spinet, steel guitar, synthesizers, twelve-string guitar and vocals.
Herbie – Northumbrian bagpipes
Don Blakeson – trumpet
The Hereford City Band conducted by Leslie Penning – brass
Jabula (Julian Bahula, Ernest Mothle, Lucky Ranku, Eddie Tatane) – African drums
Pierre Moerlen – timpani
Paddy Moloney – uilleann pipes
William Murray – percussion
Sally Oldfield – vocals
Terry Oldfield – Panpipes
Leslie Penning – recorders
"The Penrhos Kids" (Abigail, Briony, Ivan and Jason Griffiths) – vocals on "On Horseback"
Clodagh Simonds – vocals
Bridget St John – vocals
David Strange – cello
Mercury Records reissue
On 7 June 2010 the album was re-released by
Mercury Records. This came part of a deal in which Oldfield's Virgin albums were transferred to the label. Bonus features for the album include a 2010 5.1 mix of the album and a track titled the 'lost version'. The album includes "In Dulci Jubilo", "First Excursion", "Argiers" and "Portsmouth".
The original LP artwork was restored; in previous CD issues the text had been centralised and increased in size. A 180 gram vinyl was released as a part of the Back to Black series. The digital edition contains the content from the 2 CDs of the Deluxe Edition. The Japanese release uses the SHM-CD (Super High Material CD) manufacturing process.
There is also a limited edition box set of the album, comprising a deluxe edition, an LP and a framed, numbered and signed print of the album artwork. Only 250 copies were produced which were sold through mikeoldfieldofficial.com and released on 14 June. There are no un-signed variants.
Track listing
Single Disc Edition
# "Ommadawn (Part One)" 2010 Stereo Mix by Mike Oldfield
# "Ommadawn (Part Two)" / "On Horseback" 2010 Stereo Mix by Mike Oldfield
Deluxe Edition
CD 1
# "Ommadawn (Part One) 2010 Stereo Mix by Mike Oldfield
# "Ommadawn (Part Two)" / "On Horseback" 2010 Stereo Mix by Mike Oldfield
# "In Dulci Jubilo"
# "First Excursion"
# "Argiers"
# "Portsmouth"
CD 2
# "Ommadawn Part One" 1975 Stereo Mix
# "Ommadawn (Part Two)" / "On Horseback" 1975 Stereo Mix
# "Ommadawn (Lost Version)" 1975 Demo
DVD
# "Ommadawn (Part One)" 2010 5.1 Surround Mix by Mike Oldfield
# "Ommadawn (Part Two)" / "On Horseback" 2010 5.1 Surround Mix by Mike Oldfield
# "In Dulci Jubilo"
# "Portsmouth"
Back To Black Vinyl Edition
# "Ommadawn Part One" 1975 Stereo Mix
# "Ommadawn (Part Two)" / "On Horseback" 1975 Stereo Mix
References
External links
Mike Oldfield Discography - Ommadawn at Tubular.net
Possible translations of Ommadawn's lyrics at Tubular.net
MikeOldfieldOfficial.com
Towards Ommadawn: A critical study of Mike Oldfield's third studio album at Tubular.net
Category:Mike Oldfield albums
Category:1975 albums
Category:Instrumental albums
Category:Virgin Records albums
Category:Universal Deluxe Editions
