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Quiz about Mike Oldfield Trivia 2 Tubular Bells Series

Mike Oldfield Trivia 2 - "Tubular Bells" Series Quiz

Mike Oldfield released "Tubular Bells" in 1973 and changed the face of music. Since then, he has made several reworked and special versions of this masterpiece. This quiz is all about these albums.

A multiple-choice quiz by tali21. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
tali21

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
175,983

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
12 / 20

Plays
240

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. On the original "Tubular Bells" album, who was credited as being the 'Master of Ceremonies' who introduced the instruments as they came in to a common theme? Hint

There wasn't one

John Cleese

Viv Stanshall

A Strolling Player

NEXT>

Question 2 of 20

2. Mike's second album, "Hergest Ridge" replaced "Tubular Bells" at the top of the album chart on its release in the UK - the year after the release of Tubular Bells?

True

False

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Question 3 of 20

3. On the album "The Orchestral Tubular Bells", who was credited as being the 'Master of Ceremonies'? Hint

There wasn't one

John Cleese

Viv Stanshall

A Strolling Player

NEXT>

Question 4 of 20

4. On the original "Tubular Bells" album, how many different instruments was Mike Oldfield credited as having played? Hint

NEXT>

Question 5 of 20

5. On the album "Tubular Bells II", who was credited as being the 'Master of Ceremonies'? Hint

Viv Stanshall

There wasn't one

John Cleese

A Strolling Player

NEXT>

Question 6 of 20

6. There were no tubular bells played on "Tubular Bells II" - just sampled sounds of them.

True

False

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Question 7 of 20

7. On the UK remixed version of "The Bell" from "Tubular Bells II" which came out as a single, who was credited as being the 'Master of Ceremonies'? Hint

A Strolling Player

Viv Stanshall

John Cleese

There wasn't one

NEXT>

Question 8 of 20

8. "The Bell" was the first single from "Tubular Bells II" and reached the top 10 in the UK.

True

False

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Question 9 of 20

9. On the album "Tubular Bells III", who was credited as being the 'Master of Ceremonies'? Hint

Viv Stanshall

A Strolling Player

John Cleese

There wasn't one

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Question 10 of 20

10. Which section of "Tubular Bells III" was vastly different from the others on the album, being as it was a song? Hint

"The Source Of Secrets"

"Outcast"

"Man In The Rain"

"Far Above The Clouds"

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Question 11 of 20

11. On the album "Tubular Bells 2003", who was credited as being the 'Master of Ceremonies'? Hint

There wasn't one

Viv Stanshall

John Cleese

A Strolling Player

12. The most significant thing about "Tubular Bells 2003" was that it was a re-recording of the original "Tubular Bells" album. The other significant thing was that it was released a specific number of years after the original - how many? Hint

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Question 13 of 20

13. How many of the Tubular Bells albums reached the number one spot in the UK on their original release run? Hint

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Question 14 of 20

14. On which of the albums would you hear a section called "The Top Of The Morning"? Hint

"Tubular Bells III"

"Tubular Bells"

"Tubular Bells II"

"Tubular Bells 2003"

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Question 15 of 20

15. On which of the albums would you hear a section called "Tattoo"? Hint

"Tubular Bells"

"Tubular Bells 2003"

"Tubular Bells III"

"Tubular Bells II"

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Question 16 of 20

16. On which of the albums would you hear a section called "Caveman"? Hint

"Tubular Bells"

"Tubular Bells 2003"

"Tubular Bells II"

"Tubular Bells III"

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Question 17 of 20

17. On how many of the albums is Mike's sister, Sally Oldfield, credited as having sung vocals? Hint

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Question 18 of 20

18. Which album, not actually part of the "Tubular Bells" series is often thought to be because of its title and front cover image? Hint

"The Centenary Bell"

"The Anniversary Bell"

"Tubular Bells 2000"

"The Millenium Bell"

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Question 19 of 20

19. When a section of "Tubular Bells" was released as a single in the UK, what was it called? Hint

"Tubular Bells"

"Tubular Bells (Opening Theme)"

Mike Oldfield's Single (Theme From Tubular Bells)

"Tubular Bells (Part One Edit)"

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Question 20 of 20

20. On which album does Mike make stylistic reference to the "Tubular Bells" opening theme at the start of a long instrumental piece as a tribute to his first work and an acknowledgement that he would not be where he was if it had not been for the success of "Tubular Bells"? Hint

"Five Miles Out"

"Crises"

"Platinum"

"QE2"

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. On the original "Tubular Bells" album, who was credited as being the 'Master of Ceremonies' who introduced the instruments as they came in to a common theme?

Answer: Viv Stanshall

Viv Stanshall was the leader of the group "The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band" who were recording at the same time as Mike Oldfield was recording Tubular Bells.

2. Mike's second album, "Hergest Ridge" replaced "Tubular Bells" at the top of the album chart on its release in the UK - the year after the release of Tubular Bells?

Answer: False

This is false - although for an interesting reason. "Hergest Ridge" got to number one on its immediate release in 1974, and actually it got to number 1 FIRST! "Tubular Bells" had been a main-stayer in the charts for a year but had done everything bar hitting the top of the chart.

Then, finally, with the release of "Hergest Ridge", enough interest in "Tubular Bells" was revived to take it to number one, knocking "Hergest Ridge" off the top spot. So in reality what happened is the reverse of the statement in the question.

3. On the album "The Orchestral Tubular Bells", who was credited as being the 'Master of Ceremonies'?

Answer: There wasn't one

The orchestral version was recorded by the Royal Philarmonic Orchestra, with Mike helping out with its production. There was, however, no Master of Ceremonies on the album.

4. On the original "Tubular Bells" album, how many different instruments was Mike Oldfield credited as having played?

Answer: 15

Instruments included in the original album were grand piano, mandolin, "double speed guitar" and, of course, tubular bells. It is actually thought that he played more, but he is only credited with 15.

5. On the album "Tubular Bells II", who was credited as being the 'Master of Ceremonies'?

Answer: A Strolling Player

For TBII, Mike wanted a voice that sounded a bit "Shakespearian" (hence the credit "A Strolling Player"). The person behind the voice is actually the famous actor Alan Rickman (Prof Snape in the Harry Potter films, featured in many other films over the years).

6. There were no tubular bells played on "Tubular Bells II" - just sampled sounds of them.

Answer: True

Amazingly it is true - the bells are synthesised samples of a set of tubular bells rather than the instrument itself. The album itself includes several references to the works of Arthur C Clarke - "Sentinel", "Sunjammer" and "Dark Star" being three. Mike's next album was to be "The Songs Of Distant Earth", which is the name of one of Clarke's novels.

7. On the UK remixed version of "The Bell" from "Tubular Bells II" which came out as a single, who was credited as being the 'Master of Ceremonies'?

Answer: Viv Stanshall

Viv Stanshall made a return to the MC job on the remixed version of the single having also been the MC on the original Tubular Bells album.

8. "The Bell" was the first single from "Tubular Bells II" and reached the top 10 in the UK.

Answer: False

It is false - the first single released from TBII did indeed reach the top 10 in the UK, but it was "Sentinel" and not "The Bell".

9. On the album "Tubular Bells III", who was credited as being the 'Master of Ceremonies'?

Answer: There wasn't one

TBIII is a very different album to the TB albums that came before. There is no introduction of instruments (and hence no need for an MC) but the tubular bells are definitely there - and very loud!

10. Which section of "Tubular Bells III" was vastly different from the others on the album, being as it was a song?

Answer: "Man In The Rain"

"Man In The Rain" is believed to have been written in the 1980s, but it took until 1998 and the release of TBIII for it to appear on an album.

11. On the album "Tubular Bells 2003", who was credited as being the 'Master of Ceremonies'?

Answer: John Cleese

John Cleese took over the role of Master of Ceremonies because Viv Stanshall, the MC on the original album, died in 1995 - just three years after the release of Tubular Bells II.

Answer: 30

Yes, it was the 30th anniversary of Tubular Bells. TBII came out at about 20 years after the original and TBIII about 25 years after.

13. How many of the Tubular Bells albums reached the number one spot in the UK on their original release run?

Answer: 2

The albums being "Tubular Bells" and "Tubular Bells II". TBIII reached the top 5, but didn't quite make it to number 1.

14. On which of the albums would you hear a section called "The Top Of The Morning"?

Answer: "Tubular Bells III"

A piano-based piece, it and "Man In the Rain" are somewhat different in feel to the rest of the album, which as a whole has a very Ibiza-style feel to it.

15. On which of the albums would you hear a section called "Tattoo"?

Answer: "Tubular Bells II"

"Tattoo" features lots and lots of sets of bagpipes playing the main theme. When TBII was about to be released Mike played at Edinburgh Castle and copies of this performance can still be found - needless to say the section containing the bagpipes went down very very well in Scotland's capital city!

16. On which of the albums would you hear a section called "Caveman"?

Answer: "Tubular Bells 2003"

This might have fooled some. "Tubular Bells" is only broken down into parts 1 and 2 (essentially the A- and B- side of an LP) which might have made some think it must be TBII. "Tubular Bells II" was indeed broken down into titled parts, but the caveman part was entitled "Altered State" and not "Caveman".

17. On how many of the albums is Mike's sister, Sally Oldfield, credited as having sung vocals?

Answer: 2

Sally Oldfield is credited on "Tubular Bells" and "Tubular Bells 2003". She is also "thanked" on "Tubular Bells III", but is not credited as having performed vocals on the album.

18. Which album, not actually part of the "Tubular Bells" series is often thought to be because of its title and front cover image?

Answer: "The Millenium Bell"

"The Millenium Bell" has the trademark bent tubular bell on the front but the album is not part of the series. It was, however, released in late 1999 in time to celebrate the millenium.

19. When a section of "Tubular Bells" was released as a single in the UK, what was it called?

Answer: Mike Oldfield's Single (Theme From Tubular Bells)

The track reached the top 40 in the UK, peaking in the 30s. Not quite the same success that the album received!

Answer: "Crises"

"Crises" also included Mike's most well known song - "Moonlight Shadow".

Source: Author tali21

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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