{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox album | name = Tubular Bells III | type = studio | artist = [[Mike Oldfield]] | cover = Mike oldfield tubular bells iii album cover.jpg | alt = | released = {{start date|1998|8|31|df=yes}} | recorded = December 1996–June 1998 | studio = Oldfield's home studio in [[Es Cubells]], [[Ibiza]] and London | genre = [[New-age music|New-age]], [[progressive rock]], [[Electronic music|electronic]], [[Chill-out music|chill out]] | length = 46:36 | label = [[Warner Music Group|Warner Music UK]] | producer = Mike Oldfield | prev_title = [[Voyager (Mike Oldfield album)|Voyager]] | prev_year = 1996 | next_title = [[Guitars (Mike Oldfield album)|Guitars]] | next_year = 1999 | misc = {{Extra chronology | artist = ''Tubular Bells'' series | type = studio | prev_title = [[Tubular Bells II]] | prev_year = 1992 | title = Tubular Bells III | year = 1998 | next_title = [[The Millennium Bell]] | next_year = 1999 }} {{Singles | name = Tubular Bells III | type = studio | single1 = [[Man in the Rain]] | single1date = 5 October 1998 | single2 = [[Far Above the Clouds]] | single2date = 12 April 1999 }} }}
'''''Tubular Bells III''''' is the eighteenth studio album by English guitarist, songwriter, and producer [[Mike Oldfield]]. It was released on 31 August 1998 by [[Warner Music Group|Warner Music UK]] as the third instalment in his ''Tubular Bells'' album series. After relocating from England to the Spanish island of [[Ibiza]] in 1996, Oldfield started work on the album and gained inspiration to incorporate electronic music from the island's local bars and clubs.<ref name="heart">{{cite web |url=http://tubular.net/articles/1998_08/Mike-Oldfield-Music-doesnt-mean-anything-if-it-has-no-soul-no-heart |title=Mike Oldfield - "Music doesn't mean anything if it has no soul, no heart." |publisher=Carlos Finaly |date=August 1998 |access-date=7 April 2015}}</ref>
==Background== By mid-1996, Oldfield had put his Buckinghamshire home for sale and relocated to the Spanish island of [[Ibiza]], setting up a recording studio at Casa Atlantis, a cliffside home in [[Es Cubells]] which he designed on a virtual reality simulator on his computer and had it built from scratch. With Ibiza being a major club destination, he became inspired by the electronic and dance music that local DJs were playing and decided to make a dance version of the familiar opening to "Tubular Bells (Part One)",<ref name=CF98/> which he used with a [[Nord Lead]] synthesiser and used the "caveman" beat from "Tubular Bells (Part Two)".<ref name=DT98/><ref name=CF98>{{cite web|url=https://tubular.net/articles/1998_08/Mike-Oldfield-Music-doesnt-mean-anything-if-it-has-no-soul-no-heart|title=Mike Oldfield - "Music doesn't mean anything if it has no soul, no heart."|first=Carlos|last=Finaly|publisher=Unknown|date=August 1998|access-date=13 December 2020}}</ref> Oldfield liked the results, which persuaded him to make a third ''Tubular Bells'' album, following ''[[Tubular Bells]]'' (1973) and ''[[Tubular Bells II]]'' (1992).<ref name=TB3P>{{cite web|url=https://tubular.net/articles/1998_09i/Tubular-Bells-III-programme|title=Tubular Bells III programme|author=Unknown|date=4 September 1998|publisher=WEA|access-date=14 December 2020}}</ref> Despite not having a recording contract at the time, Oldfield secured a new deal with [[Warner Music Group|Warner Music UK]] by informing the label that he wished to start work on a third ''Tubular Bells'' album.
Oldfield later admitted that Ibiza's hedonistic lifestyle was a negative influence on him and succumbed to alcohol and drugs. In one incident, he was caught driving while twice over the legal alcohol limit and received a one-year driving ban.<ref name=ST98>{{cite web|url=https://tubular.net/articles/1998_08b/Oldfield-back-with-a-ravers-Tubular-Bells|title=Oldfield back with a ravers, Tubular Bells|first=John|last=Harlow|date=23 August 1998|work=The Sunday Times|access-date=14 December 2020}}</ref> In April 1998, Oldfield left Ibiza and returned to live at Roughwood Croft, his home in [[Chalfont St. Giles]], Buckinghamshire, which he had bought in the late 1980s. He then continued recording ''Tubular Bells III'' in London until June 1998.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} In August, he put his Ibiza home, two cars, and powerboat for sale for £2 million.<ref name=ST98/><ref name=DT98>{{cite web|url=https://tubular.net/articles/1998_08c/I-know-Im-unstable-I-accept-that|title=I know I'm unstable. I accept that.|first=Mick|last=Brown|date=31 August 1998|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=14 December 2020}}</ref> The home was bought by [[Noel Gallagher]].
==Music== Unlike ''Tubular Bells II'', ''Tubular Bells III'' does not follow the pattern of the two pieces from the original album, but instead references ''Tubular Bells'' musically.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tubular.net/articles/1998_09g/The-Bells-Toll |title=The Bells Toll |date=9 September 1998 |publisher=Dagsavisen |access-date=17 April 2015}}</ref> For example, "The Source of Secrets" takes up music from the "Introduction" section of the original album,<ref name=DT98/> while "Far Above the Clouds" references the "Finale" section of "[[Tubular Bells|Tubular Bells (Part One)]]".<ref name="heart"/>
An early version of "The Source of Secrets" appears on Oldfield's compilation album ''[[XXV: The Essential]]'' (1997).
"[[Man in the Rain]]" is a pop song with lead vocals by Irish folk singer [[Cara Dillon]] and additional vocal takes by Heather Burnett. In the liner notes, Dillon is credited as "Cara from Polar Star", which references the short-lived name for a musical project she was involved in at the time. Oldfield wrote the song about ten years prior to recording and wrote the lyrics, which were influenced by his separation from his third wife. The drums on the song are sampled from Oldfield's 1983 song "[[Moonlight Shadow]]" from ''[[Crises (Mike Oldfield album)|Crises]]'' (1983), originally performed by drummer [[Simon Phillips (drummer)|Simon Phillips]].
The tracks "The Source of Secrets", "Jewel in the Crown", and "Secrets" feature [[Amar (British singer)|Amar]] as a vocalist. Oldfield can be heard on "Outcast". "The Inner Child" features [[Luar Na Lubre]] vocalist [[Rosa Cedrón]]. The live version of "Man in the Rain" was mostly sung by Helen [[Helen DeMacque|Pepsi DeMacque]], notably at the London Premiere of Tubular Bells III (1998). "Far Above the Clouds" features [[Clodagh Simonds]] performing the main vocals while the child's vocals are performed by Francesca Robertson.
Some of the instruments which appear on the album are a [[Roland Corporation|Roland]] D-550, [[Roland JD-990|JD-990]], JV1080, [[Clavia]] [[Nord Lead]], and [[Korg Trinity]] synthesisers. The Roland VG8 [[Guitar synthesiser]] is used on tracks such as "[[Man in the Rain]]".
Oldfield also used sampled drums from his ''[[Crises (Mike Oldfield album)|Crises]]'' and ''[[Ommadawn]]'' album on certain tracks. "Man in the Rain" features sampled drums from "[[Moonlight Shadow]]", "Outcast" features sampled drums from "[[Shadow on the Wall (song)|Shadow on the Wall]]" and "[[Far Above the Clouds]]" features sampled drums from the end of "Ommadawn part 1". "Far Above the Clouds" also features a sampled guitar rhythm from the "Finale" section of "Tubular Bells (Part 1)", though in this instance it is fairly low in the mix and at a much faster tempo.
== Artwork == The album artwork is Oldfield's trademark bent [[tubular bell]] shape in silver, based upon the original 1973 ''[[Tubular Bells]]'' album cover, set upon a grey background. The artwork itself does not contain any text and typically a sticker with Oldfield's name and the album title are placed on the outer packaging.
== Reception == {{Music ratings |rev1 = [[AllMusic]] |rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r376675}}</ref> |rev2 = ''[[Q magazine|Q]]'' |rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tubular.net/articles/1998_10/He-Only-Sells-Records-When-He-Calls-Them-Tubular-Bells |title=He Only Sells Records When He Calls Them Tubular Bells |date=October 1998 |publisher=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |author=Rib Beattie |access-date=21 September 2013}}</ref> }}<!-- Automatically generated by DASHBot--> ''Tubular Bells III'' is the least successful of the three main ''Tubular Bells'' albums, only attaining No. 4 on the [[UK Albums Chart|UK chart]], unlike its two chart topping <!-- No. 1 --> predecessors. Critical reaction was mixed. The very distinct similarity of "[[Man in the Rain]]" to the hit "[[Moonlight Shadow]]" was sometimes interpreted by listeners as Oldfield trying to retread old ground.
== Live performance == {{main|Tubular Bells III Live}} On 4 September 1998, six years to the day after the premiere of ''Tubular Bells II'' at [[Edinburgh Castle]], Oldfield held a premiere concert for ''Tubular Bells III'' at [[Horse Guards Parade]] in London in front of around 7,000 people.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tubular.net/articles/1999_07h/Oldfield-To-Turn-Heads-Again |title=Oldfield to Turn Heads Again |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=10 July 1998 |access-date=21 September 2013}}</ref> Much of the performance was held during torrential rain. The live version of the complete album from the premiere concert is available on the double DVD ''[[Tubular Bells II Live|Tubular Bells II]]/[[Tubular Bells III Live|Tubular Bells III]]''.
The [[Live Then & Now 1999]] tour was in promotion of this album and his following album, ''[[Guitars (Mike Oldfield album)|Guitars]]''.
On 27 July 2012 at the [[2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony]] Mike Oldfield performed renditions of ''[[Tubular Bells]]'', "[[Far Above the Clouds]]" and "[[In Dulci Jubilo]]" during a segment about the [[National Health Service|NHS]]. This track was later released on the ''[[Isles of Wonder (album)|Isles of Wonder]]'' album and as a limited edition blue/pink vinyl single.
== Reissues == ''Tubular Bells III'', along with ''[[Tubular Bells II]]'' and ''[[The Songs of Distant Earth (album)|The Songs of Distant Earth]]'', was reissued on 180g vinyl on 27 April 2015. This follows the recent releases of ''[[Tubular Bells]]'', ''[[Hergest Ridge (album)|Hergest Ridge]]'', ''[[QE2 (album)|QE2]]'', ''[[Five Miles Out]]'' and ''[[Crises (Mike Oldfield album)|Crises]]'' on the same format.
== Track listing == All tracks by [[Mike Oldfield]].
# "The Source of Secrets" – 5:35 # "The Watchful Eye" – 2:09 # "Jewel in the Crown" – 5:45 # "Outcast" – 3:49 # "Serpent Dream" – 2:53 # "The Inner Child" – 4:41 # "[[Man in the Rain]]" – 4:03 # "The Top of the Morning" – 4:26 # "Moonwatch" – 4:25 # "Secrets" – 3:20 # "[[Far Above the Clouds]]" – 5:30
== Charts == {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |+ Chart performance for ''Tubular Bells III'' ! scope="col"| Chart (1998) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row"| Australian Albums ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref>{{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia|edition=PDF|page=208}}</ref> | style="text-align:center"| 98 |- {{album chart|Austria|4|artist=Mike Oldfield|album=Tubular Bells III|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 December 2020}} |- {{album chart|Netherlands|46|artist=Mike Oldfield|album=Tubular Bells III|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 December 2020}} |- {{album chart|France|47|artist=Mike Oldfield|album=Tubular Bells III|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 December 2020}} |- {{album chart|Germany|9|id=2825|artist=Mike Oldfield|album=Tubular Bells III|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 December 2020}} |- {{album chart|Hungary|3|year=1998|week=38|rowheader=true|accessdate=6 January 2026}} |- !scope="row"|Spanish Albums ([[Productores de Música de España|PROMUSICAE]])<ref>{{cite book |last=Salaverri |first=Fernando |title=Sólo éxitos 1959–2012 |date=2015 |publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE |isbn=978-84-8048-866-2 |edition=1st |location=Spain}}</ref> |align="center"|1 |- {{album chart|Sweden|31|artist=Mike Oldfield|album=Tubular Bells III|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 December 2020}} |- {{album chart|Switzerland|26|artist=Mike Oldfield|album=Tubular Bells III|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 December 2020}} |- {{album chart|UK2|4|date=19980906|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 December 2020}} |}
==Certifications and sales== {{certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''Tubular Bells III''}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=Mike Oldfield|title=Tubular Bells 3|award=Platinum|number=4|type=album|relyear=1998|certyear=1999|certref=<ref>{{cite book |last=Salaverrie |first=Fernando |date=September 2005 |url=http://www.mediafire.com/file/pd758fesp2w7i7f/Spanish+Certifications+for+1996-1999.pdf |title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 |language=es |edition=1st |location=Madrid |publisher=[[Sociedad General de Autores y Editores|Fundación Autor/SGAE]] |page=952 |isbn=84-8048-639-2 |access-date=14 May 2019}}</ref>}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Mike Oldfield|title=Tubular Bells 3|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1998|certyear=1998|id=7793-2671-2|access-date=14 May 2019}} {{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}
==Personnel== '''Music''' *[[Mike Oldfield]] – all instruments *[[Amar (British singer)|Amar]] – vocals on "The Source of Secrets", "Jewels in the Crown", and "Secrets" *[[Rosa Cedrón]] – vocals on "The Inner Child" *[[Cara Dillon]] – vocals on "Man in the Rain" *Heather Burnett – additional vocals on "Man in the Rain" *[[Clodagh Simonds]] – vocals on "Far Above the Clouds" *Francesca Robertson – child vocals on "Far Above the Clouds"
'''Production''' *Mike Oldfield – producer, engineer *BSS20 – album design *Model Solutions – tubular bells construction *Silvia Müller – assistant engineer *Andy Earl – photography *Simon Fowler – portrait photography *[[Rob Dickins]] – executive producer
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Mike Oldfield}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Mike Oldfield albums]] [[Category:1998 albums]] [[Category:1990s instrumental albums]] [[Category:Warner Music Group albums]] [[Category:Sequel albums]]