Hergest Ridge

Hergest Ridge is Mike Oldfield's second studio album, released in 1974 as the follow-up to his massively successful 1973 debut Tubular Bells. While not a direct sequel in narrative terms, it follows the same format of a single continuous instrumental composition divided into two parts, and was Oldfield's attempt to prove he could repeat the formula.

The album is named after Hergest Ridge, a hill on the border between England and Wales near the town of Kington in Herefordshire. Oldfield lived in the area at the time and reportedly found the landscape inspiring during the period between recording Tubular Bells and his second album.

Yes, Hergest Ridge reached number one on the UK Albums Chart in 1974, briefly displacing Tubular Bells from the top spot. This made Oldfield one of the very few artists to have their first two albums both reach number one on the UK charts.

While both albums are multi-part instrumental suites, Hergest Ridge is generally considered more pastoral and atmospheric than the dramatic, often discordant Tubular Bells. It features a wider range of acoustic instruments, including guitar, glockenspiel, and orchestral elements, giving it a gentler, more textured sound.