William Tell Overture (Mike Oldfield single)

Infobox Single
Name = William Tell Overture


Cover size =
Caption =
Artist = Mike Oldfield
from Album =
A-side =
B-side =
Released = start date|1977|2|11
Format = 7-inch vinyl
Recorded =
Genre = Folk
Length =
Label = Virgin Records
Writer = Gioachino Rossini
Producer = Mike Oldfield
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single = "Portsmouth"
(1976)
This single = "William Tell Overture"
(1977)
Next single = "Cuckoo Song"
(1977)
Misc =

"William Tell Overture" is a single by musician Mike Oldfield, released in 1977. It is a rendition of the "William Tell Overture". However this version of the William Tell Overture did not have much of an impact on the UK charts. [cite web |url=http://www.mikeoldfield.org/info/features/1977.htm |title=1977 Mysterious Air Display |publisher=The Official Mike Oldfield Information Service |accessdate=2008-08-30] It is the first of the two non-album singles released by Mike Oldfield in 1977.

B-sides

The UK B side was "Argiers", which had previously been the European b-side for an earlier Oldfield single "Portsmouth". "Argiers" had been recorded in January 1976 at Througham and features Leslie Penning on recorders. Some European versions included the track "First Excursion" as the b-side, however in Brazil the b-side was "Portsmouth". [cite web |url=http://www.rainer-muenz.de/oldfield/singles.html |title=Mike Oldfield 7-inch vinyl Discography |publisher=Rainer-Muenz |accessdate=2008-08-30] The B-sides were taken from Oldfield's Collaborative / Remix Box-set, "Boxed".

Track listing

UK

VS 167
# "William Tell Overture" (Gioachino Rossini) - (3:55)
# "Argiers" - (3:59) (Traditional)

Europe

17 480 AT / VIN 45010
# "William Tell Overture" (Gioachino Rossini) - (3:53)
# "First Excursion" (David Bedford, Mike Oldfield) - (5:57)

Russia

6079 201
# "William Tell Overture" (Gioachino Rossini)
# "Portsmouth" (Traditional)

Promotional video clip

The music video for The William Tell Overture is comprised of multiple incarnations of Oldfield performing the song on different instruments. The effect is as if a room full of Oldfields were playing together.

Trivia

* When referring to his then most recent release, The William Tell Overture, Oldfield called "It a real rouser". [Record Mirror, December 18, 1976]

* In an advert for the single, the tagline "It'll shake you to the core" was used, referring to William Tell's apple incident.
** The full advert reads: "The new single from the more whimsical side of Mike Oldfield. You clog-danced to 'In Dulci Jubilo'. You crashed through the ceiling to 'Portsmouth'. Now hear William Tell Overture by Mike Oldfield. It'll shake you to the core."

References