Heaven's Open
Encyclopedia
Heaven's Open is the 14th record album performed by Mike Oldfield
, released in 1991
. It was his last album on Virgin
, and also the only album he released under the name Michael Oldfield, instead of Mike Oldfield.
. The final goodbye to Virgin appears at the very end of "Music from the Balcony", where we can hear quiet laughter and Oldfield's voice saying "Fuck off!".
This is the only album where Mike Oldfield performs the lead vocals himself, and was pleased to find to discover that he was not as bad a singer as he thought he was. Probably because of his bad feelings towards Virgin, his name is spelled out in full - Michael Oldfield - on this album. The producer of the album, Tom Newman
's name was also spelt out in a similar manner, as Thom Newman.
After leaving Virgin, Oldfield released the anticipated Tubular Bells II
in 1992 with Warner Brothers
.
, when the working title was Breakfast in Bed; instead of yolk coming out of the egg, blood was pictured. The working title for Heaven's Open was Man in the Rain. The song "Heaven's Open" came largely from an early version of "Man in the Rain". The "Man in the Rain
" title was later used by Oldfield for a single from the Tubular Bells III
album.
" and the title track "Heaven's Open
" were released as singles in 1991. Both were also released under the name Michael Oldfield.
, C-Lab and Fairlight
products. Also featured are Roland
D50
and D550s, an Akai
S 1100, an EMU
Proteus, a Korg
M1
and the Steinberg
'Topaz'. A Harrison series X mixing console, a Sony
3348 digital tape machine and microphones made by Bruel & Kjaer were used in the creation of the album.
Mike Oldfield
Michael Gordon Oldfield is an English multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, working a style that blends progressive rock, folk, ethnic or world music, classical music, electronic music, New Age, and more recently, dance. His music is often elaborate and complex in nature...
, released in 1991
1991 in music
See also:* 1991 in music Record labels established in 1991-Summary:The year 1991 is the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough. Nirvana's Nevermind, led by the surprise hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit", becomes the most popular U.S. album of the year...
. It was his last album on Virgin
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
, and also the only album he released under the name Michael Oldfield, instead of Mike Oldfield.
History
By 1991 and the release of Heaven's Open, Oldfield was happy to leave Virgin RecordsVirgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
. The final goodbye to Virgin appears at the very end of "Music from the Balcony", where we can hear quiet laughter and Oldfield's voice saying "Fuck off!".
This is the only album where Mike Oldfield performs the lead vocals himself, and was pleased to find to discover that he was not as bad a singer as he thought he was. Probably because of his bad feelings towards Virgin, his name is spelled out in full - Michael Oldfield - on this album. The producer of the album, Tom Newman
Tom Newman (musician)
Not to be confused with Thomas Newman.Tom Newman is an English record producer and musician...
's name was also spelt out in a similar manner, as Thom Newman.
After leaving Virgin, Oldfield released the anticipated Tubular Bells II
Tubular Bells II
Tubular Bells II is the 15th music album by Mike Oldfield, released in 1992. The album - the first for his new record label, Warner Bros. Records, following an acrimonious departure from Virgin Records after twenty years - was conceived as a sequel to Oldfield's 1973 Tubular Bells...
in 1992 with Warner Brothers
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
.
Connections to other Oldfield albums
The album's cover is a reworked version of a photo originally taken for Tubular BellsTubular Bells
Tubular Bells is the debut record album of English musician Mike Oldfield, released in 1973. It was the first album released by Virgin Records and an early cornerstone of the company's success...
, when the working title was Breakfast in Bed; instead of yolk coming out of the egg, blood was pictured. The working title for Heaven's Open was Man in the Rain. The song "Heaven's Open" came largely from an early version of "Man in the Rain". The "Man in the Rain
Man in the Rain
"Man in the Rain" is a pop song written and performed by by English multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield. It was included on the album Tubular Bells III and released as a single in October 1998. The vocals were performed by Cara Dillon.- History :...
" title was later used by Oldfield for a single from the Tubular Bells III
Tubular Bells III
Tubular Bells III is the 18th album by Mike Oldfield, released in 1998. A sequel to Oldfield's 1973 Tubular Bells and his 1992 Tubular Bells II albums, it was released on the 25th anniversary of the first Tubular Bells album....
album.
Singles
"Gimme BackGimme Back
"Gimme Back" is a single by musician Michael Oldfield. It is from the album Heaven's Open. It was only released in Germany in 1991. Oldfield performs vocals himself.- Track listing :# "Gimme Back" – 4:12# "Amarok" – 3:22...
" and the title track "Heaven's Open
Heaven's Open (song)
"Heaven's Open" is a single by musician Michael Oldfield, released in 1991 . It was the lead single from the album of the same name...
" were released as singles in 1991. Both were also released under the name Michael Oldfield.
Equipment
Musical equipment on the album includes AtariAtari
Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Atari, SA . The original Atari, Inc. was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. It was a pioneer in...
, C-Lab and Fairlight
Fairlight
Fairlight is a digital audio company based in Sydney, Australia. In 1979 they created the Fairlight CMI, the first digital audio sampler, quickly used by artists such as Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, and Jean Michel Jarre. They are now a manufacturer of media solutions tools such as digital audio...
products. Also featured are Roland
Roland Corporation
is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...
D50
Roland D-50
The Roland D-50 is a polyphonic 61-key synthesizer produced by Roland. It was released in 1987. Its features include Linear Arithmetic synthesis, on-board effects, a joystick for data manipulation, and an analog synthesis-styled layout design. The external Roland PG-1000 Programmer could also be...
and D550s, an Akai
Akai
Akai is a consumer electronics brand, founded by Saburo Akai as , a Japanese manufacturer in 1929. It is now headquartered in Singapore as a subsidiary of Grande Holdings, a Hong Kong-based conglomerate, which also owns the formerly Japanese brands Nakamichi and Sansui. The Akai brand is now used...
S 1100, an EMU
E-mu Systems
E-mu Systems, Inc. is a synthesizer maker and pioneer in samplers and low-cost digital sampling music workstations.-History:Founded in 1971 by Scott Wedge and Dave Rossum, E-mu began making modular synthesizers...
Proteus, a Korg
Korg
is a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners...
M1
Korg M1
The Korg M1 is the world's first widely-known music workstation. Its onboard MIDI sequencer and palette of sounds allowed musicians to produce complete professional arrangements...
and the Steinberg
Steinberg
Steinberg GmbH is a German musical software and equipment company based in Hamburg. It mainly produces music recording, arranging and editing software as used in digital audio workstations and VSTi software synthesizers.- History :...
'Topaz'. A Harrison series X mixing console, a Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
3348 digital tape machine and microphones made by Bruel & Kjaer were used in the creation of the album.
Side one
- "Make Make" – 4:18
- "No Dream" – 6:02
- "Mr. Shame" – 4:22
- "Gimme BackGimme Back"Gimme Back" is a single by musician Michael Oldfield. It is from the album Heaven's Open. It was only released in Germany in 1991. Oldfield performs vocals himself.- Track listing :# "Gimme Back" – 4:12# "Amarok" – 3:22...
" – 4:12 - "Heaven's OpenHeaven's Open (song)"Heaven's Open" is a single by musician Michael Oldfield, released in 1991 . It was the lead single from the album of the same name...
" – 4:31
Personnel
- Mike Oldfield – vocals, guitars, keyboards
- Simon PhillipsSimon PhillipsSimon Phillips is an English jazz, pop and rock drummer.-Career:Phillips began to play professionally at the age of twelve in his father's Dixieland band for four years. He was then offered the chance to play in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar...
– drums - Dave Levy – bass
- Mickey SimmondsMickey SimmondsMickey Simmonds is an English session keyboardist, arranger and composer. He is best known for his work with progressive rock acts, Mike Oldfield, Renaissance, Camel and Fish...
– Hammond, piano - Andy Longhurst – additional keyboards
- Courtney PineCourtney PineCourtney Pine CBE is an English jazz musician. At school he studied the clarinet, although he is known primarily for his saxophone playing. Pine is a multi-instrumentalist, also playing the flute, clarinet, bass Clarinet and keyboards...
– saxophones, bass clarinet - The "Sassy Choir"
- Vicki St. James
- Sylvia Mason-JamesSylvia Mason-JamesSylvia Mason-James born in 1959 is a British singer who has worked extensively as a backing vocalist and solo artist.She started her career with the disco band Voyage in 1977....
- Dolly JamesDolly JamesDolly James is a British singer-songwriter and session singer. She released several singles in the 1990s and toured internationally with such acts as Simply Red and James Taylor Quartet.-Biography:...
- Debi DossDebi DossDebi Doss is an American-born photographer and singer.Doss attended Webster University in Webster Groves, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri in the United States, where she became interested in photography.- Career :...
- Shirlie Roden
- Valeria Etienne
- Additional vocal harmonies
- Anita HegerlandAnita HegerlandAnita Hegerland , is a Norwegian singer famous for her childhood career in the Scandinavian and German markets and subsequent vocal contributions to amongst others Mike Oldfield's work.- Biography :...
- Nikki "B" Bentley
- Tom NewmanTom Newman (musician)Not to be confused with Thomas Newman.Tom Newman is an English record producer and musician...
- Anita Hegerland
External links
- Mike Oldfield Discography - Heaven's Open at Tubular.net