Crises (album)

By the 1980s, Oldfield had shifted musical direction from the longform compositions that he had become known for throughout the previous decade, towards more commercial and straightforward rock and pop songs. By the time he had finished the 1982 world tour in support of his previous album Five Miles Out in December of that same year, Oldfield had already started work on a follow-up.{{cite web|url=https://tubular.net/discography/CrisesInterview.shtml|title=Mike Oldfield – ten years of success|via=Tubular.net|date=May 1983|access-date=22 August 2019}} Crises sees Oldfield explore heavy metal elements which he had been a fan of for some time and enjoyed playing.

Oldfield described side one as material that he had wanted to write and perform "for personal satisfaction", while side two is "very commercial, full of singles". He added: "It's a case of keeping everybody happy." The North American version of Crises featured a different running order to capitalize on the commercial songs by switching the order of the sides, adding the non-album single "Mistake" as the lead track, and moving "Moonlight Shadow" to the end of its side. This North American version has not been reissued since its initial pressing. The "Moonlight Shadow" single from this album includes the rare track "Rite of Man".

The album was recorded from November 1982 to April 1983 at Tilehouse Studios in Denham, Buckinghamshire, using an Ampex ATR 124 tape recorder, a Neve 8108 with Necam console and Westlake Monitors. Oldfield used a Gibson SG Junior for overdriven guitar sounds and a Fender Stratocaster for clean sounds. Tama drums were Simon Phillips' brand of choice for drums on the album; Phillips also did some production work. Oldfield makes extensive use of Oberheim and Fairlight keyboards. Asked how he recruited Chapman and Anderson in an interview, Oldfield answered "we just hang out in the same bar".

The title track of the album is a twenty-minute-long piece, featuring a small amount of vocals, sung by Oldfield. The beginning and end of the track are driven by a synthesised lead passage, stylistically similar to the opening theme to Oldfield's Tubular Bells. Oldfield rated "Crises" as one of the best tracks he had done since "Tubular Bells".

"Moonlight Shadow" features Oldfield's touring vocalist Maggie Reilly, who had also sung on his previous albums. Oldfield had singer Hazel O'Connor sing on an early version of the track, which was then titled "Moment of Passion", but it failed to produce sufficient results. He then booked Reilly for a studio session, for which he prepared by drinking wine and writing a set of lyrics using a rhyming dictionary. Reilly sang the lyrics in a rock style at first, which prompted Oldfield to suggest a softer tone and "in the manner of a lullaby". The idea worked, despite recording the song in small sections and using multiple drop-ins which took some time to finalise and piece together.{{cite AV media notes|url=https://www.discogs.com/Mike-Oldfield-Two-Sides-The-Very-Best-Of-Mike-Oldfield/release/3791551|title=Two Sides (The Very Best of Mike Oldfield) [Booklet notes]|others=Mike Oldfield|publisher=Mercury Records|id=5339182|year=2012}}

"In High Places" was written by Oldfield with lyrics by himself and Yes vocalist Jon Anderson, who sings on the track. The pair had worked on several occasions prior to recording Crises, and Oldfield had enjoyed Anderson's vocal style and how easy it was working with him. Anderson was living in Barbados at the time of writing, so Oldfield phoned him from England and sang the song's tune to him, after which Anderson went away and wrote lyrics to it. The two later met and finished the song in Oldfield's studio.{{cite web|url=https://tubular.net/articles/1985_xx/Tim-Grundy-interviews-Mike-Oldfield|title=Tim Grundy interviews Mike Oldfield|first=Tim|last=Grundy|others=Piccadilly Radio|year=1985|access-date=30 August 2020|via=Tubular.net}} The track features Pierre Moerlen, who had toured with Oldfield and played on his albums, on vibraphone.

On the occasion of Virgin Records founder Richard Branson's launch of the then-largest hot-air balloon ever made, the song was released as a single in 1987, four years after the Crises LP.

"Foreign Affair" features Reilly on vocals, who co-wrote the lyrics with Oldfield.

"Taurus 3", a short fast-paced guitar piece unlike the previous two long multi-themed "Taurus" tracks featured on QE2 and Five Miles Out respectively.

"Shadow on the Wall" features vocals by Roger Chapman. Oldfield wrote the song with Chapman's voice in mind.

The album's cover art was by Terry Ilott and was originally created as an illustration for an edition of J. G. Ballard's The Drowned World.{{cite web|url=http://www.mundomikeoldfield.com/terryilottentrevista.htm |title=Terry Ilot Interview |language=es |publisher=Mundo Mike Oldfield |access-date=27 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101164611/http://www.mundomikeoldfield.com/terryilottentrevista.htm |archive-date=1 November 2008 }} Oldfield makes reference to the artwork with the line, "the watcher and the tower, waiting hour, by hour" (printed in the back cover of the LP, and sung by Mike Oldfield on the title track). In the interview mentioned before, Oldfield stated that "I'm the man in the corner, and the tower is my music".

It spent 19 weeks on Norway's album chart, peaking at No. 1 for two weeks, and is Oldfield's best selling album there. The album also topped the charts in Germany and Sweden.

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{{certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Mike Oldfield|title=Crises|type=album|award=Gold|source=infodisc|relyear=1983|certyear=1984|accessdate=18 November 2021}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Germany|artist=Mike Oldfield|title=Crises|award=Platinum|certyear=1983|relyear=1983|accessdate=1 May 2019}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Netherlands|artist=Mike Oldfield|title=Crises|award=Gold|certyear=1983|relyear=1983|accessdate=1 May 2019}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Italy|artist=Mike Oldfield|title=Crises|award=Gold|certyear=1983|relyear=1983|certref={{Citation | title = Receiving Ceremony | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKgiYsvUq6E?t=242| access-date = 15 March 2021}}}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Spain|artist=Mike Oldfield|title=Crises|award=Platinum|certyear=1983|relyear=1983|certref={{Citation | title = Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990 | year=2005 | url=http://www.mediafire.com/view/x263f6daopkswo8 | publisher=Iberautor Promociones Culturales | language=es | isbn=8480486392| access-date = 2 May 2019}}}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=Mike Oldfield|title=Crises|award=Gold|certyear=1983|relyear=1983|accessdate=1 May 2019|id=1571-2671-2}}

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All music by Mike Oldfield, except "Foreign Affair" by Oldfield and Maggie Reilly.

{{Track listing

| headline = Side one

| extra_column = Lead Vocals

| title1 = Crises

| extra1 = Mike Oldfield

| length1 = 20:40

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side two

| extra_column = Lead Vocals

| title1 = Moonlight Shadow

| extra1 = Reilly

| length1 = 3:34

| title2 = In High Places

| extra2 = Jon Anderson

| length2 = 3:33

| title3 = Foreign Affair

| extra3 = Reilly

| length3 = 3:53

| title4 = Taurus 3

| extra4 = (instrumental)

| length4 = 2:25

| title5 = Shadow on the Wall

| extra5 = Roger Chapman

| length5 = 3:09

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side one

| extra_column = Lead Vocals

| title1 = Mistake

| extra1 = Reilly

| length1 = 2:55

| title2 = In High Places

| length2 = 3:33

| title3 = Foreign Affair

| length3 = 3:53

| title4 = Taurus 3

| length4 = 2:25

| title5 = Shadow on the Wall

| length5 = 3:09

| title6 = Moonlight Shadow

| length6 = 3:34

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side two

| title1 = Crises

| length1 = 20:40

}}

• Mike Oldfield – electric guitars (all tracks except "Foreign Affair" & "Taurus 3"), Ovation Adamus electroacoustic guitar ("Taurus 3"), Ramirez Spanish guitar ("Taurus 3"), Manson acoustic guitar ("Taurus 3"), electric bass guitar ("Crises", "Shadow on the Wall" "Mistake"), acoustic bass guitar ("Taurus 3"), mandolin ("Crises", "Taurus 3"), banjo ("Shadow on the Wall"), harp ("Crises"), Fairlight CMI (all tracks except "Taurus 3"), Roland string synthesiser ("Crises", "In High Places", "Foreign Affair" "Shadow on the Wall"), Oberheim OB-Xa synthesiser ("Crises", "In High Places"), piano ("Crises"), Farfisa organ ("Crises"), Prophet 5 synthesiser ("Crises"), Oberheim DSX digital polyphonic sequencer ("Crises"), Oberheim DMX drum machine & Simmons electronic drums ("Crises"), bells & tambourine & shaker ("Taurus 3"), vocals ("Crises", "Mistake"), Quantec Room Simulator digital reverb ("Crises"), all instruments ("Jungle Gardenia", "Crime of Passion")

Additional musicians

• Maggie Reilly – vocals on "Moonlight Shadow", "Foreign Affair", and "Mistake"
• Jon Anderson – vocals on "In High Places"
• Roger Chapman – vocals on "Shadow on the Wall"
• Simon Phillips – acoustic Tama drums (all tracks except "Mistake"), special effects; shaker on "Foreign Affair" and "Taurus 3"; finger-snaps, bells, tambourine, and boots on "Taurus 3"
• Anthony Glynne (credited as "Ant") – guitars on "Crises" and "Shadow on the Wall"
• Rick Fenn – guitar on "Crises"
• Phil Spalding – bass guitar on "Crises" and "Moonlight Shadow"
• Pierre Moerlen – vibraphone on "In High Places", percussion on "Mistake"
• Tim Cross - keyboards on "Mistake"
• Tim Renwick – guitars on "Mistake"
• Morris Pert – percussion & keyboards on "Mistake"
• Barry Palmer - vocals on "Mistake"

Production

• Mike Oldfield – producer
• Nigel Luby – engineer
• Simon Phillips – co-producer, engineer (uncredited){{cite magazine|first=Simon|last=Goodwin|title=Simon Phillips|magazine=Modern Drummer|date=December 1986|pages=52, 55}}

Crises was re-issued by Mercury Records on 2 September 2013, along with Five Miles Out. It is available as a single CD, a 2CD Deluxe Edition (album disc and live highlights CD), a vinyl LP and a 5 disc (3 CD and 2 DVD) boxed set. The boxed set also includes a 32-page hardback book. There was also a 500 copy limited edition vinyl available on transparent green vinyl. The re-issue is also available as digital download in 16 and 24 bit 44.1 kHz FLAC/ALAC and 320 kbit/s MP3 in two versions. The super-deluxe edition contains the tracks of discs one through three, the LP contains the tracks of the single CD.

This reissue reached #30 in Germany's Media Control Charts in September 2013.

1. "Crises" (2013 Remaster) 20:57
2. "Moonlight Shadow" (2013 Remaster) 3:38
3. "In High Places" (2013 Remaster) 3:33
4. "Foreign Affair" (2013 Remaster) 3:53
5. "Taurus 3" (2013 Remaster) 2:25
6. "Shadow on the Wall" (2013 Remaster) 3:10
7. "Moonlight Shadow "(2013 Unplugged Mix) 3:35
8. "Shadow on the Wall" (2013 Unplugged Mix) 3:21
9. "Mistake" (2013 Remaster) 2:56
10. "Crime of Passion" (Extended Version / 2013 Remaster) 4:10
11. "Jungle Gardenia" (2013 Remaster) 2:46
12. "Moonlight Shadow" (12" single / 2013 Remaster) 5:15
13. "Shadow on the Wall" (12" single / 2013 Remaster) 5:09

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; Disc 1

: As per single disc edition

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; Disc 2

Live Highlights from Wembley Arena 22 July 1983 Crises Tour

1. "Taurus I" 9:14
2. "Taurus II" 23:08
3. "Crises" 23:15
4. "Moonlight Shadow" 5:28
5. "Shadow on the Wall" 6:26
6. "Family Man" 4:14

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; Disc 1

: As per single disc edition

; Disc 2

Live at Wembley Arena 22 July 1983 Crises Tour

1. "Woodhenge" / "Incantations Part Three" 8:09
2. "Sheba" 3:23
3. "Ommadawn Part One" 8:52
4. "Mount Teidi" 4:10
5. "Five Miles Out" 5:03
6. "Tubular Bells Part One" 18:44

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; Disc 3

: As per Deluxe edition Disc 2

; Disc 4 – DVD

1. "Crises" (Live at Wembley Arena) 22:35
2. "Tubular Bells Part One" (Live at Wembley Arena) 19:10
3. "Moonlight Shadow" 3:42
4. "Shadow on the Wall" 3:08
5. "Moonlight Shadow" (BBC Top of the Pops 23 June 1983) 3:15
6. "Crime of Passion" 3:42

; Disc 5 – DVD

2013 Remaster / 5.1 Surround Sound

1. "Crises" 20:38
2. "Moonlight Shadow" 4:00
3. "In High Places" 3:53
4. "Foreign Affair" 4:13
5. "Taurus 3" 2:50
6. "Shadow on the Wall" 5:13

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A number of songs from Crises have been covered by numerous acts, with "Moonlight Shadow" being the most popular. Dance act Groove Coverage took their cover of "Moonlight Shadow" to number 3 in the German charts. A 2009 cover version of "Foreign Affair" by Belgian dance band Sylver spent 8 weeks in the top 10 of the Belgian single charts, peaking at #3.{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/8e773/Sylver-Foreign-Affair |publisher=Ultratop |title=Sylver – "Foreign Affair" |access-date=13 April 2010}}

American rapper Kanye West samples Oldfield's song "In High Places". West incorporated the song's chorus into his song "Dark Fantasy" from his 2010 album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.mikeoldfieldofficial.com/ Mike Oldfield's official web site]
• [https://tubular.net/discography/Crises.shtml Mike Oldfield Discography – Crises] at Tubular.net
• [http://www.terryilott.com/ Terry Ilott's web site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518172202/http://www.terryilott.com/ |date=18 May 2014 }} (cover art)

{{Mike Oldfield}}

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Category:Mike Oldfield albums

Category:1983 albums

Category:Virgin Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Simon Phillips (drummer)