The Original Broadcast Of Hergest Ridge: Live Orchestral Performance CD Release
A live orchestral performance of Mike Oldfield's 1974 album, Hergest Ridge, from 1975 at Kelvin Hall in Glasgow is set to be released on CD. The recording, titled "The Original Broadcast Of Hergest Ridge," features David Bedford's arrangement of the album and includes Steve Hillage on guitar. It will be released by FM Concert Broadcasts Ltd on September 5, coinciding with the 50th-anniversary reissue of the album. The performance with the Scottish National Orchestra was recorded on September 5, 1975, following a previous performance at the Royal Albert Hall in December 1974.
Steve Hillage stepped in for Mike Oldfield on guitar during the Kelvin Hall performance due to Oldfield's absence, as he was dealing with stress at the time. The liner notes of the reissue mention that Oldfield was in Italy and Greece with his brother Terry during the Royal Albert Hall shows. Mick Glossop, known for mixing The Orchestral Tubular Bells album, provided technical advice to Virgin Records' Chris Hollebone and John Jacob during the recordings of the performance.
Excerpts from the orchestral recording of Hergest Ridge in Glasgow were used in the soundtrack of the 1979 documentary "The Space Movie," which celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing. A cassette recording of the Scottish concert was discovered around the time of Tubular Bells' 50th anniversary and was found to be in good condition. With the help of modern digital editing and restoration equipment, the recording was prepared for release.
In an upcoming issue of Prog Magazine, Mike Oldfield and others discuss the challenges and stress involved in creating Hergest Ridge. The issue, number 162, will be available for sale soon. The release of "The Original Broadcast Of Hergest Ridge" offers fans a unique opportunity to experience a live orchestral performance of this iconic album from 1975.