This is so confusing I can't even begin to describe it-if I was to get one, I'd get the 2CD release w/ the best of 1972-83. Then again, I may not even bother as this album continues to never go away as great as it is! Talk about milking it!

From Your Way To Music.com:

Mike Oldfield is an artist like no other. Over the last 37 years he has produced timeless, unique and inspirational music that has enthralled listeners the world over. Fans old and new can celebrate the great man’s work with a special release of his classic, multiplatinum selling album Tubular Bells, out on 8th June through the Mercury Music Group/Universal Music Catalogue. This is the first classic album to be released from Oldfield’s back catalogue, which was transferred from Virgin to Mercury/Universal in 2008. It is 35 years since the opening passage was used in the film THE EXORCIST, making the album a global phenomenon.

This exciting new version of his 1973 groundbreaking album will not only be repackaged, but Mike himself has also remastered the tracks from his home in the Bahamas. There will be FOUR physical editions of the album, as well as TWO digital versions. All versions will carry a new 2009 stereo mix of the album. The DELUXE EDITION has a 5.1 mix, while the boxed ULTIMATE EDITION, complete with 60 page hardback book with a foreword by Mike Oldfield, poster, plectrums and all manner of Tubular delights, contains all of this as well as previously unheard demo and rough mixes of this epochal recording. There will 500 of these superb, limited editions available through http://www.mikeoldfield.com signed and numbered. For those who like things old school, there is a vinyl version being released as part of the acclaimed Back To Black series.

There will also be a double-disc edition of the album with a bonus disc of Oldfield’s biggest hits between 1974 and 1983. This edition will be extensively advertised on TV.

To celebrate the release, on June 6th at 6pm (6.6.6pm) a worldwide bell ringing event will take place. Bells will be rung in Milan (MTV), Berlin (at Siegessaule, the location were Mike performed the legendary millennium bell concert on New Years Eve Y2K), Brussells (Atomium), Paris (the George Pompidou centre), Sydney (Opera House), Japan/Narita (at one of the traditional Japanese Temples) and finally London, where bells will be rung on at famous landmarks. Footage will then be shown on Mike’s website.

Tubular Bells will be available on the following formats:

TUBULAR BELLS / THE MIKE OLDFIELD COLLECTION
DISC ONE:
TUBULAR BELLS PART ONE (new stereo mix by Mike Oldfield, Bahamas, March 2009)
TUBULAR BELLS PART TWO (new stereo mix by Mike Oldfield, Bahamas, March 2009)
MIKE OLDFIELD’S SINGLE
SAILOR’S HORNPIPE (Vivian Stanshall version)
DISC TWO: THE MIKE OLDFIELD COLLECTION 1974-1983
In Dulci Jubilo
Ommadawn (excerpt)
Portsmouth
William Tell Overture
Incantations Part Four (excerpt)
Guilty (long version)
Blue Peter
Five Miles Out
Taurus II (excerpt)
Wonderful Land
Family Man
Shadow on the Wall
Moonlight Shadow
Foreign Affair

TUBULAR BELLS DELUXE EDITION 2CD and 1DVD
DISC ONE CD
TUBULAR BELLS PART ONE (new stereo mix by Mike Oldfield, Bahamas, March 2009)
TUBULAR BELLS PART TWO (new stereo mix by Mike Oldfield, Bahamas, March 2009)
MIKE OLDFIELD’S SINGLE
SAILOR’S HORNPIPE (Vivian Stanshall version)
DISC TWO CD
TUBULAR BELLS PART ONE (original stereo mix May 1973)
TUBULAR BELLS PART TWO (original stereo mix May 1973)
DVD
AUDIO:
TUBULAR BELLS PART ONE (5.1 Surround mix by Mike Oldfield Bahamas 2009)
TUBULAR BELLS PART TWO (5.1 Surround Mix by Mike Oldfield Bahamas 2009)
MIKE OLDFIELD’S SINGLE (5.1 Surround Mix by Mike Oldfield Bahamas 2009)
VISUAL:
BBC TV 2ND HOUSE - 3RD DECEMBER 1973

TUBULAR BELLS THE ULTIMATE EDITION
Complete with 60-page hardback book, plectrums, poster, facsimile of Manor Studios recording brochure, gig ticket, postcard, recording information
DISC ONE CD
TUBULAR BELLS PART ONE (new stereo mix by Mike Oldfield, Bahamas, March 2009)
TUBULAR BELLS PART TWO (new stereo mix by Mike Oldfield, Bahamas, March 2009)
MIKE OLDFIELD’S SINGLE
SAILOR’S HORNPIPE (Vivian Stanshall version)
DISC TWO CD
TUBULAR BELLS PART ONE (original stereo mix May 1973)
TUBULAR BELLS PART TWO (original stereo mix May 1973)
DVD
AUDIO:
TUBULAR BELLS PART ONE (5.1 Surround mix by Mike Oldfield Bahamas 2009)
TUBULAR BELLS PART TWO (5.1 Surround Mix by Mike Oldfield Bahamas 2009)
MIKE OLDFIELD’S SINGLE (5.1 Surround Mix by Mike Oldfield Bahamas 2009)
VISUAL:
BBC TV 2ND HOUSE - 3RD DECEMBER 1973

VINYL
TUBULAR BELLS PART ONE (original stereo mix May 1973)
TUBULAR BELLS PART TWO (original stereo mix May 1973)
BONUS CD:
TUBULAR BELLS (1971 demos)
TUBULAR BELLS (Scrapped first mix Spring 1973)

TUBULAR BELLS VINYL EDITION
This will be part of the Back to Black series. Download will be available from Back To Black site.
TUBULAR BELLS PART ONE (original stereo mix May 1973)
TUBULAR BELLS PART TWO (original stereo mix May 1973)

TUBULAR BELLS DIGITAL EDITION
TUBULAR BELLS PART ONE (new stereo mix by Mike Oldfield, Bahamas, March 2009)
TUBULAR BELLS PART TWO (new stereo mix by Mike Oldfield, Bahamas, March 2009)
MIKE OLDFIELD’S SINGLE
SAILOR’S HORNPIPE (Vivian Stanshall version)
TUBULAR BELLS PART ONE (original stereo mix May 1973)
TUBULAR BELLS PART TWO (original stereo mix May 1973)
TUBULAR BELLS (1971 demos)
TUBULAR BELLS (Scrapped first mix Spring 1973)”

Universal Music

Milking The cow............... I've got a UK remaster that I'll likely stick with.

Agreed, Geff. If they want me to spend more money on Oldfield, they can release the original mix of Hergest Ridge.

Oldfield's 1979 album Platinum was issued in the US in 1980 as Airborne, a 2-record set. Side 1 of the second album had yet another live recording of "Tubular Bells (Part 1)." I don't think this performance has ever shown up anywhere else, it would make for good bonus material on this latest reissue.

I'm gonna wind up with some version of this.

Was the live version of "Tubular Bells" taken from the 1979 Exposed album maybe?

Mike is becoming like Meatloaf's "Bat Out of Hell with the upteenth reissue.

"As long as y'all will keep buying it, why not keep selling it?" says a relaxed Oldfield from his home base in the Bahamas...

Amazon.co.uk seems to be taking preorders for the Ultimate Edition at £71, but I would think that it's unlikely that they'll be able to supply it, since(unless there's a change of plans) only 500 copies are being made, and they're being sold only through Mike Oldfield's website.

When an artist has to rely on something they recorded in 1973, then they obviously have nothing new to give now days.

It's a great album but why does it need to be re-mastered, re-mixed 100 times over?

Is the 5.1 mix on this 2009 edition in high-res?

If not, are any high-res 5.1 mixes of the album available in any other editions?

There is a hi res 2001 SACD. I've only heard the 2.0, but the cover art states "multi channel" also. UPC 724385073328 One Amazon review states the mc mix is the old quad LP mix. It's not cheap.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000057NVH/?tag=imwan-20

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000057NVH/?tag=imwan-21

Thanks for that

So, the 2009 mix is NOT his-rez?

Also, I believe there was a 2003 edition with a 5.1 mix (a different one)

It's all so confusing....

The only one I have any knowledge of is the 2001.

I ended up with a 5 pound bargain version of the Deluxe edition with the DVD and I must say the mix on the DVD in 5.1 is a good as it gets rivaling even Steven Wilson's recent efforts.

Many thanks....and given that recommendation I think I will go for the Deluxe edition....sounds like value for money to me

5 pounds??! Good score!

You gotta be lucky sometimes. Doesn't happen very often for me, I do check my wish list on amazon every day, the prices change a lot.

I am ashamed to admit that I have never heard even a moment of Tubular Bells. I know about the album's history and realize that it's an important work, but I've never owned it, never borrowed it, never heard it on the radio.

If you've ever seen The Exorcist, you've heard a bit of "Tubular Bells." The 45 edit became an unlikely Top 10 hit in 1974, peaking at #7 in Billboard.

I have that 45 single!