Oh you know this was a first and we all bought this not least because it was recorded just up the road from me . . . . . 
There was a fascinating biopic on Mike on the tele recently I watched for the second time and it never ceases to amaze me. The structure alone of the bars of music (one has seven beats and the next 8 is near on impossible to play live and they made it). Despite Mike nearly backing out all the way down the motorway to the Royal Albert Hall to perform it live. Viv Stanshall of the voice over is a legendary choice and the fellow musicians an extraordinary almagam of prog rock and included heavy rockers like Mick Taylor (go figure!)
Still a classic go buy it!
On vinyl! {turning it over was part of the composition IMHO}

buy it here

On this day in music history: May 25, 1973 - “Tubular Bells”, the debut album by Mike Oldfield is released. Produced by Tom Newman, Simon Heyworth and Mike Oldfield, it is recorded at The Manor in Oxfordshire, UK from Autumn 1972 - Spring 1973. The album consists of two side long movements featuring Oldfield playing nearly all of the instruments. Vivian Stanshall (of the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band) is featured as the voice of the “master of ceremonies”. The eclectic piece is rejected by numerous record labels as being “unmarketable” and “non-commercial”, until Richard Branson, the owner of The Manor Studios hears the album and agrees to release it. It is the first release on the newly established Virgin Records label. The record receives a major boost when director William Friedkin uses part of the first movement in his film “The Exorcist”. Its exposure in the film (also issued as a edited single #31 UK, #7 US Pop) leads to its worldwide popularity. The albums iconic cover artwork featuring a bent “tubular bell” is designed by graphic artist Trevor Key. “Bells” is also remixed and released in quadraphonic stereo in 1975. Reissued numerous times over the years since its original release, the quad stereo release from the mid 70’s, is remastered and reissued as a multi-channel hybrid SACD in 2001. The album is given new stereo remixes in 2009, that is released as part of a lavish boxed ediiton that contains three CD’s, a DVD-V disc and a vinyl copy of the original 1973 mix. “Tubular Bells” hits number one on the UK album chart, peaking at number three on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

BBC4 - Mike Oldfield - The making of Tubular Bells not currently available but ask them, who knows they may make it available again