Crises

CD (inc luding box and leaflet) in perfect state. Classic masterpiece including hits. I had already seen and heard it back in 1983. That was the period when I started to lend LP's at the bib of Bruges, where I gew up.

Nothing like getting hooked on a song when it first comes out, and sticks with you afterwards. I've been a fan of Mike Oldfield ever since I heard "Tubular Bells", and continue to be now. In the past few years, many of Oldfield's iconic albums have been remixed and remastered by Mike himself, to include box sets with the original versions along with updated remixes of the original, as well as a DVD with a discrete 5.1 surround mix of the album. I make no secret of the fact that that's why I buy these box sets. "TB" and "Ommadawn" are among my favorite albums, and when "Crises" was released, with its hit single "Moonlight Shadow" (sung by Maggie Reilly), I bought it immediately. The opening title track is one of Mike's long-form tracks, and comparing the original CD with the stereo remix shows several differences that some people on a website I frequent panned vehemently. I actually liked the reworking, and even said so on that site. One of the things Mike did was to expand the intro of "Shadow", which I found interesting. The sound of the 5.1 remix brought the textures out even more. My feeling is that Mike wouldn't have undertaken this project if he didn't think he could improve on the original mix, to make it fit more into the vision he had for it. I think he succeeded. This set is not cheap, but it's worth every cent in my opinion. I encourage the listener to go into it with an open mind and form their own opinions.

One of my favorite Oldfield albums from the 80s. (This review is for the 2013 Mercury reissue.) Great remaster, and nice selection of bonus tracks, though they left out Rite of Man (B-side of Moonlight Shadow). I suspect that may be because Oldfield didn’t like it and opted to leave it out. I wouldn’t mind that nearly so much if the packaging had been more complete. I had the first CD version, which included lyrics and liner notes, but this version has neither, just like the Discovery reissue. Maybe I’m spoiled, but there are so many reissues of classic albums with essays on the making of the album, a history of the artists, rare photos, etc., and to put out such a substandard package as this is inexcusable, IMO. Because of this I’m only giving this 4 stars. Again, no complaints about the music or the mastering; there’s plenty else to recommend here, as long as you’re not fussy about the packaging.

If you're an Oldfield fan, you need to get this. Sure, you're going to be buying a little repeat in music, but the live discs are worth the money alone. I have practically worn out the disc with the live version of "Shadow on the Wall", and this was from a song that was not one of my favorites from Crises! Chapman is crazy with his improvisation while the guitar work by The Master is simply breathtaking and lucid. My only regret from this album is that the live version of Moonlight Shadow isn't longer and doesn't include the long guitar work work that some of his liver performances have done. A real shame. Crises is one of Mike's best albums and I wish and hope that a similar 5-box set comes out on Discovery. Pleas be working on that mike! Thanks!

Great album, although I'm less of a fan of Oldfield's vocal stuff. The concert cd is essential to overall picture of his early 80's material.

Moonlight Shadow was a big hit for me several years ago. Travel and moving kind of made me forget about it. Then, one day, it came back to me. I hunted high and low, and finally found it on-line. I've probably listened to it a thousand times now in the cd changer in my Pilot. Thanks for having it. Regards, Joel S. Boswell

this reminds of the old days. the really old days wasted years . Maggie something sings Moonliht shadow , the biggest summer song ever . I think 1983. this is an album to fall in live with . side A is instrumental. side B is not.

Pure and simple. I've listened to Oldfield since 1973 and this release is worth every penny. Just the live video footage of the band performing Crises live at Wembley in 1983 is worth the purchase. An amazing moment captured in time. Wow!

C'est un commentaire sur le coffret super deluxe de Crises. ENORME, une nouvelle claque de bonheur, c'est un peu comme si je venais de redécouvrir cet album mythique. Les CD en live sont les meilleurs, particulièrement le 3 qui fait dresser les poils sur les bras. Crises en Live est un grand moment, les bonus avec de nouvelles versions acoustiques sont très intéressantes également. Enfin, le DVD avec le concert de Wembley, même si l'image n'est pas superbe (largement suffisante quand même..), est extraordinaire. Mike OLDFIELD y est fidèle à lui même, assez rigide a coté d'un bondissant Spalding ou d'un Simon PHILLIPS assurément touché par la grâce à la fin de Crises (mais il a combien de bras cet homme là pour jouer aussi bien de la batterie ??). L'oeuvre de Mike OLDFIELD est unique, ce coffret témoigne de son génie musical, de sa dextérité à la guitare bref, merci monsieur pour tant d'émotions depuis si longtemps. Je me souviens de cette année 1983 et de cette album, j'avais 14 ans !!!!! J'ai toujours le 33T et le 45 T de Moonlight shadows..... Trente après, c'est toujours la même émotion et quel plaisir de le partager maintenant avec mes enfants....Allez Mike, a quand une nouvelle tournée ???

Super Album

Una joya de un genio, musica adelantada a su epoca que suena vigente. Y que arte en su portada! 97% recomendable!

Cd nuovo. Perfetto.

I've always loved this album. I thought someday when CDs were cheap and plentiful (like, now...) that it might get a deluxe treatment with a second CD of out takes and b-sides, and maybe some of the EP tracks that I bought when I was a kid for a STOOOPID amount of money because they were English Imports only...but this is above and beyond. I listened to this in the car initially on a sucky winter morning at 5 am driving in the middle of nowhere with moose and wolves on the road, and I had a whole review in my head that would probably be too long....let me sum it up. Some of the lyrics hit home in a way that they hadn't initially, and were probably the reason I loved the album so much in the first place. The stereo was cranked, and the sound was so crisp it just about jumped off the speakers. The lyrics and Maggie and the day hit me like a piledriver, and I had to pull over to the side of the road to cry. Yup: it's that good. The box is a beautiful thing, the extras are complete and not throwaways, the live stuff is great....just...if you liked this record when it came out, you're gonna love this. Take out your plastic and get this box.