I have to say it... this is one of the best showcases of Mike's earlier work. This remixed version of "Tubular Bells" was created as a way to convince Mike that a quadraphonic mix should be created and released. Mike listened and proclaimed it perfect as was, so it was released. The original version, compared to this remix, sounded cluttered and confused. Also, the original American quad pressing, using the CD-4 system as opposed to the SQ format used in England, was marred by a very poor quality pressing. Contrary to what was said in the booklet accompanying this box set in CD, the recordings held on these discs are, in fact, SQ quad despite claims otherwise. I also have the LP set, and I directly compared them. So if you have a Dolby Pro Logic II setting on your playback system, by all means use it. The mix of "Ommadawn" is the same as was originally released on both SQ and QS quad versions in England, and on SQ here. The first part contains a chant, by Clodagh Simonds, that builds up toward the conclusion. Played back in surround, this chant takes on an etherial quality; Clodagh's voice suspended in mid-air as the additional instruments gradually come in. This is lost in the stereo mix, which I also have on another CD. "Hergest Ridge" features a musical tone poem, as it could be described, of where Mike was brought up. The shorter selections in the "Collaborations" album are also quite good. "In Dulci Jubilo", which is a Christmas song, takes on a highland fling style. As for "Speak", it's a duet with Mike and David Bedford on the vocals. This is a great box set, and I encourage any true Mike Oldfield fan to add it to their collection.

After getting over the initial disappointment of discovering that the CD was only recorded in stereo, as opposed to the original "Quadraphonic" mix that the Vinyl release had, I realised what great value this triple CD was.

Boxed contains re-mixes of Oldfield's first three Album's, as well as bonus tracks, some of which are hard to find anywhere else.

The re-mix of Tubular Bells even includes an "extra" bit of audio consisting of a rather drunken MC (Oldfield fans should know what I mean by that) tramping around the recording studio/mansion providing some rather silly and well, drunken commentary. It's quite a laugh and is a stark contrast to the mostly serious and sombre tones of the original album.

So if you are planning on completing your collection of Mike Oldfield recordings and have yet to replace your vinyl copies of Tubular Bells, Hergest Ridge or Ommadawn on CD, don't bother buying them individually - just get Boxed. Its nothing like the rather bizarre film of the same name!

This is a must have for real Oldfield's fan..."Ommadawn", "Hergest ridge" and "Tubular bells" are his classic works, here they come along in slightly different versions and unreleased songs...The songs are really interesting especially delicate piano tune "Speak..." with vocals by Mike and beautifull "first excursion", that signals a beginning of "Incantations" era....
"Tubular bells" has a bit different sound from original and it features diffrrent ending - very funny "sailor's hornipipe" version with crazy commentary by Drunken Vivian Stanhall (master of ceremony in part 1) - a very nice suprise...
If you are a big fan of Early progressive and instrumental music,or just a Mike Oldfield fan this is a must have for you - it is also good for those fans that don't have internet to collect Mike's rare songs...

I was thrilled to see that this was available. I had to get my copy through a friend in England.

This CD set is an excellent collection of Oldfield's early work, and the re-mix on Tubular Bells (including the original Sailor's Hornpipe, as opposed to the toned down version used for the original American release) is hysterical (but a bit blind-siding if you're very familiar with the original -- first time I listened to it I almost pulled the needle off the LP so I could check the LP for problems).

Well worth the money, as among other things it includes Hergest Ridge, which is hard to find.

Like most people, I suppose, first became aware of Mike Oldfield when THE EXORCIST first came out. Those haunting strains from TUBULAR BELLS really affected me when I saw the film lo these many yuears ago and again when I bought the album. I hyave owned that one in just about every format possible from Long Playing Record through Cassette tape to midi file and now on CD thanks to this beautiful set. A set which also features HERGEST RIDGE, OMMADAWN (another GREAT Mike Oldfield composition btw) and an album of collaborations. Unlike the LP version (which I have also owned of this boxed set) the cd boxed splits the collaborations on to the three cds that contain his first three albums. This seems to me a better way to hear them then all piled together on a separate cd the way they were with the record. They seem to complete the listening experience one has when one puts a Mike Oldfield work into one's cd player one soon notices that---whatever one is listening to: Tubular Bells, Hergest Ridge, Ommadawn...whatever---it's just not long enough. One wants the listening experience to continue..or, at least, one wants a few encores. And that's what you get here. What can I say, kids? BUY IT!!!