| The Millennium Bell | |||||
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| Studio album by Mike Oldfield | |||||
| Released | 1999 | ||||
| Recorded | Roughwood Studios, Abbey Road Studios 1999 |
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| Genre | Progressive rock, New Age | ||||
| Length | 45:03 | ||||
| Label | Warner | ||||
| Producer | Mike Oldfield | ||||
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| Mike Oldfield chronology | |||||
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The Millennium Bell is a record album written and mostly performed by Mike Oldfield, released in 1999 (see 1999 in music). The theme of the album is a reflection of different periods of Human history. The album borrows its name from the dawning of the third (Christian) millennium and Oldfield's Tubular Bells series of albums. It was Oldfield's third album within one year, after Tubular Bells III and Guitars. It was also the first Mike Oldfield album available on the MiniDisc format.
Contents |
Millennium concert
A free live performance of the latter half of the album plus some older tracks was given in Berlin on New Year's Eve 1999, with an estimated audience of 500,000 people.[1] This concert was released on a DVD with the title The Art in Heaven Concert.
Album analysis
The spoken word on "Liberation" is an excerpt from The Diary of Anne Frank, spoken by Mike Oldfield's daughter, Greta. The verse from "Sunlight Shining Through Cloud" was written by Anglican clergyman John Newton.
Track listing
- "Peace on Earth" – 4:10
- "Pacha Mama" – 4:05
- "Santa Maria" – 2:44
- "Sunlight Shining Through Cloud" – 4:33
- "The Doge's Palace" – 3:07
- "Lake Constance" – 5:16
- "Mastermind" – 3:03
- "Broad Sunlit Uplands" – 4:03
- "Liberation" – 2:38
- "Amber Light" – 3:42
- "The Millennium Bell" – 7:37
Personnel
- Mike Oldfield - Producer, performer and writer
- Ben Darlow - Engineer
- Robyn Smith - Conductor, Arranger
- London Session Orchestra
- The London Händel Choir
- The Grant Gospel Choir
- Nicola Emmanuel - Vocals
- David Serame - Vocals
- Miriam Stockley - Vocals
- Camilla Darlow - Vocals
- Andrew Johnson - Vocals
- Gota Yashiki - Drums
References
- ^ Martin, Carole (Spring 2000). Ringing in the Millennium in Berlin. Dark Star magazine. Retrieved on 2006-08-02.
