Platinum (album)
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{{For|information on "Platinum status" for albums|Music recording sales certification}}
{{Infobox Album | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
Name = Platinum |
Type = studio |
Artist = [[Mike Oldfield]] |
Cover = Mike oldfield platinum album cover.jpg |
Released = {{start date|1979|11|23|df=yes}} |
Recorded = [[Blue Rock Studios|Blue Rock]] and [[Electric Lady Studios|Electric Lady]], ([[United States|U.S.]]);<br />Througham, Denham, and [[The Manor Studio|The Manor]], ([[United Kingdom|UK]]); 1979 |
Genre = [[Rock and roll|Rock]] |
Length = 37:41 (Platinum version) |
Label = [[Virgin Records|Virgin]] |
Producer = [[Tom Newman (musician)|Tom Newman]]|
Reviews =
* [[Allmusic]] {{rating-5|3}} [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:30q5g4ebtvnz link]
|
Last album = ''[[Exposed (Mike Oldfield album)|Exposed]]''<br />(1979) |
This album = '''''Platinum'''''<br />(1979) |
Next album = ''[[QE2 (album)|QE2]]''<br />(1980) |
Misc = {{Extra chronology 2
| Artist = Mike Oldfield studio album
| Type = studio
| Last album = ''[[Incantations (album)|Incantations]]''<br />(1978)
| This album = '''''Platinum'''''<br />(1979)
| Next album = ''[[QE2 (album)|QE2]]''<br />(1980)
}}
{{Singles
| Name = Platinum
| Type = studio
| Single 1 = [[Blue Peter (Mike Oldfield single)|Blue Peter]]
| Single 1 date = [[30 November]] 1979
}}
}}
'''''Platinum''''' is a [[vinyl record|record album]] written and mostly performed by [[Mike Oldfield]]. It was his fifth new album and the first to feature "regular" songs and cover material. A slightly different version of the album was released in the [[United States]] and titled ''[[#Airborn|Airborn]]''.
Released in 1979 (see [[1979 in music]]), it peaked at #24 on the [[UK albums chart]]. It spent 6 weeks on the [[VG-lista|Norwegian charts]], peaking at #24.
== Album analysis ==
=== "Platinum" parts 1 to 4 ===
The first side of LP features the nearly twenty-minute piece "Platinum" that is divided in four parts. The first two parts of "Platinum" can be taken as a form of instrumental [[progressive rock]]. (Those compositions rely on strong melody played mostly with [[electric guitar]].) The first part is in a slow tempo and has many changes, while the second part introduces a simple groove rhythm and a more repetitive song structure. The third part, "Charleston", is humoristic and intentionally naive, with a simplistic rhythm and swinging melody that is partly played by a horn section. A female vocalist adds some "spooky" bits while Oldfield himself makes some scat vocals in whispering voice. Platinum Part IV features an excerpt from the [[Philip Glass]] work "North Star" (hence the subtitle). The constant [[bass drum]] beat and octave-jumping bass line (both borrowed from [[disco]] music) start the part and guitar joins with melody later. A funky guitar riff and chorus appear, and the lead guitar continues to play the melody over them.
=== "Sally" ===
There is an interesting note regarding the song "Sally," originally written by Oldfield as a tribute to his girlfriend at the time, Sally Cooper (who features on the album). It's a rather silly but cute little song, with the chorus
:''Sally, I'm just a gorilla,''
:''I'll say I'll love you ever more.''
:''Even an ape from Manila''
:''Couldn't stop me knocking on your door.''
However, it was removed from the album (possibly on the orders of [[Richard Branson]]) and replaced with "Into Wonderland", sung by Wendy Roberts. Curiously though, the album covers still say "Sally" to this day. Only the earliest pressings of the LP have "Sally" included as part of the original tracklist, and bootleg recordings of the song are a popular trade item with fans.
"Sally" (the original) also appears to have been the start of Mike Oldfield's fascination with voice distortion gadgets ([[vocoder]]s, equalizers, etc.), which would continue through many albums, most particularly ''[[Five Miles Out]]''.
=== "Punkadiddle" ===
"Punkadiddle" is thought by many to be Oldfield's jocular take on [[punk music]], a genre which he has claimed in the past to be not at all impressed with. In fact, [[Virgin Records]]' rampant signing and promotion of many punk bands while not promoting Oldfield's albums is seen as one of the sources of the rift between him and the company.
== Track listing ==
# "Platinum Part I: Airborn" – 5:05
# "Platinum Part II: Platinum" – 6:06
# "Platinum Part III: Charleston" – 3:17
# "Platinum Part IV: North Star / Platinum Finale" – 4:49
# "Woodhenge" – 4:05
# "Into Wonderland" (mislabelled as ''Sally'') – 3:46 / "Sally" - 5:01
# "Punkadiddle" – 5:46
# "[[I Got Rhythm]]" – 4:44
== Airborn ==
[[Image:Airborn album cover.jpg|right]]
'''''Airborn''''' is the title of an alternate version of the album released in [[North America]] in 1980. It is identical except that "Woodhenge" is replaced by "[[Guilty (Mike Oldfield song)|Guilty]]", a fast-paced live track based on a theme from ''[[Incantations (album)|Incantations]]''.
=== Track listing ===
==== LP1 ====
In [[Canada]] a single LP version of Airborn was released.
# "Platinum Part I: Airborn" - 4:59
# "Platinum Part II: Platinum" - 4:36
# "Platinum Part III: Charleston" - 3:11
# "Platinum Part IV: North Star / Platinum Finale" - 4:36
# "Guilty" - 3:48
# "Into Wonderland" (mislabelled as "Sally") - 3:36
# "Punkadiddle" - 5:39
# "I Got Rhythm" - 4:35
==== LP2 ====
There is also a [[United States]] 2-LP release, with one LP being a version of Platinum (as above), the other having an alternate live version of Tubular Bells side one from the same tour that produced Exposed, and a mix of studio and live elements of Incantations and Tubular Bells side 2.
# "Tubular Bells (Part 1)" (live) [European Tour Mar-Apr 1979] - 23:40
# "Incantations" (studio & live) [European Tour Mar-Apr 1979] - 19:26
== Performers ==
*Mike Oldfield - [[Steel-string guitar|Acoustic guitars]], [[electric guitar]]s, [[marimba]], [[piano]], [[synthesiser]]s, [[vibraphone]], and vocals.
*[[Francisco Centeno]] - [[bass guitar]]
*[[Sally Cooper]] - [[tubular bell]]s
*[[Demelza]] - [[congas]]
*[[Neil Jason]] - bass
*[[Justin Lawes]] - [[synthesizer|keyboards]]
*[[Pierre Moerlen]] - [[drums]] and vibraphone
*[[Morris Pert]] - drums
*[[Nico Ramsden]] - keyboards
*[[Wendy Roberts]] - vocals
*[[Hansford Rowe]] - bass
*[[Allan Schwartzberg]] - drums
== External links ==
*[http://tubular.net/discography/Platinum.shtml Mike Oldfield Discography - ''Platinum''] at Tubular.net
{{Mike Oldfield}}
[[Category:Mike Oldfield albums]]
[[Category:1979 albums]]
[[Category:Virgin Records albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Tom Newman]]
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