Wonderful man

In 1974, Mike Oldfield defied the critics and hit the top of the UK charts with Hergest Ridge, the ambitious follow-up to his unexpectedly successful debut Tubular Bells . To coincide with the release of the 50th-anniversary edition, the musician, his siblings and collaborators recount the story of an album created by an overwhelmed 21-year-old taking refuge near the Welsh borders.

The piece I’d never part with

BRIAN WILSON shaped the ’60s pop-culture revolution, culminating in The Beach Boys’ masterpiece: Pet Sounds . But where did his incomparable songwriting gifts come from? Stephen Troussé investigates, while former bandmates and collaborators recall a genius at work. “He was a miracle, a walking miracle,” we learn. “There’ll never be another one like him. Everybody loved Brian.”

John Lennon called them “sons of The Beatles”. Axl Rose said there was nothing like them. But how did a trio of Brummies create the progressive orchestral pop rock band who eventually became a global phenomenon following 1975’s breakthrough album Face The Music ?

Strawbs co-founder Dave Cousins died in July following a long illness. The singer, songwriter and guitarist enjoyed an active musical career spanning more than six decades and has been name-checked by many musicians as a key influence and inspiration. We reflect on his rich legacy and reveal plans for a number of posthumous releases, including the long-awaited new Strawbs album.

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