As much as glam rock, flared trousers and Malcolm Macdonald banging in the goals for Newcastle United, Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells remains a vivid symbol of the eventful year that was 1973.
Rubbing shoulders with such diverse musical bedfellows at the time as Pink Floyd, Donny Osmond and Slade, the pioneering album, released 50 years ago, trod a previously unwalked path. A bold and progressive piece, Tubular Bells was a 49-minute journey through classical, jazz, folk, progressive rock and electronica.
It became an instant classic - a must-have record for those 'in the know' about music. Winning a Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition in 1974, Tubular Bells is credited with helping Richard Branson build the Virgin brand. To date it has spent 287 weeks on the UK album chart where it also reached number one.
