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Mike Oldfield (Froggy Went A-Courting):

This page is about Mike Oldfield's 1974 "b" side ("a" in Holland and a double "a" release in Australia), "Froggy Went A-Courting". The song has been performed by countless artists, but Mike's version is detailed, complex and very enjoyable. To fan's amazement, the song has not been released (in any format).

I found this interesting article on the internet:

“ Froggy Went A-Courting (UK Version)” 4:26 Written by: Unknown (16th Century trad., arr. Oldfield) Appears on: UK 7” single Unlike the A-side, this recording of the traditional English folk song has been left off releases like the Elements boxed set and the 2009 Editions of Tubular Bells, making the only released formats the vinyl singles. Thus, it’s part of a group of Mike Oldfield tracks many yearn to see both remastered and released digitally. The song itself is unlike other modern recordings of it made by rock/pop stars. Mike does away with the olde time “uh-huh” in each line and sings it in a less quaint way. The backing track, though, is as beautifully arranged as anything Mike was doing at the time and is the real reason to seek this track out. Listen closely to just how much is going on in there. “ Froggy Went A-Courting (German Version)” 4:26 Written by: Unknown (16th Century trad., arr. Oldfield) Appears on: German 7” single This version, found on German singles (and possibly other territories), features a different vocal take each from Mike and Vanessa. It may even have been an earlier take, as it’s less polished (Branson actually seems to start giggling after her lines near the end). The most noticeable difference is that Mike sings one of her verses instead of her (“The owls did hoots…” bit)."

I've read other comments claiming the Mike "despised" 'Froggy'. While it's hard to imagine creating (2) two versions (of what turned out to be a fantastic rendition) and then "despising" it... Anything is possible.

I will continue to fill in the various versions of the song as they arrive... Enjoy! 

Mike Oldfield's Single / Froggy Went A-Courting - 1974 UK 45 (Picture Sleeve Version)

Format: 7" 45 RPM

Year / Country Issued / Label: 1974 - UK - Virgin

Comments: Original <Froggy> version. 3-dimensional, longer (~5 seconds) and nuanced vs. alternate version (below). The "b" side, "Froggy Went A-Courting" has never been re-released in any format. Picture sleeve issued for the first 30,000 copies.

Track Listing: Mike Oldfield's Single, Froggy Went A-Courting

HD Sound Sample:

Froggy Went A-Courting 

Mike Oldfield's Single / Froggy Went A-Courting - 1974 UK 45 (4-Prong Version)

Format: 7" 45 RPM

Year / Country Issued / Label: 1974 - UK - Virgin

Comments: 4-Prong version. Original <Froggy> version. 3-dimensional, longer (~5 seconds) and nuanced vs. alternate version (below). The "b" side, "Froggy Went A-Courting" has never been re-released in any format.

Track Listing: Mike Oldfield's Single, Froggy Went A-Courting

Mike Oldfield's Single / Froggy Went A-Courting - 1974 UK 45 (Solid Core Version)

Format: 7" 45 RPM

Year / Country Issued / Label: 1974 - UK - Virgin

Comments: Original <Froggy> version. 3-dimensional, longer (~5 seconds) and nuanced vs. alternate version (below). The "b" side, "Froggy Went A-Courting" has never been re-released in any format.

Track Listing: Mike Oldfield's Single, Froggy Went A-Courting

Format: 7" 45 RPM

Year / Country Issued / Label: 1974 - UK - Virgin

Comments: Original <Froggy> version. 3-dimensional, longer (~5 seconds) and nuanced vs. alternate version (below). The "b" side, "Froggy Went A-Courting" has never been re-released in any format.

Track Listing: Mike Oldfield's Single, Froggy Went A-Courting

Format: 7" 45 RPM

Year / Country Issued / Label: 1974 - UK - Virgin

Comments: Solid core version. Original <Froggy> version. 3-dimensional, longer (~5 seconds) and nuanced vs. alternate version (below). The "b" side, "Froggy Went A-Courting" has never been re-released in any format. Also worth noting, the solid core shares the same paper labels as the Sweden (see below) copy, but can be distinguished by the following:

     The UK vinyl is thinner
     The UK vinyl adds additional matrix #s (after the catalog #s) in the run out grove: 3U on the "A" side, 1U on the "B" side

Track Listing: Mike Oldfield's Single, Froggy Went A-Courting  

Tubular Bells / Froggy Went A-Courting - 1974 Australia 45 

Format: 7" 45 RPM

Year / Country Issued / Label: 1974 - Australia - Virgin

Comments: Froggy is edited down to 4:06 (the single is printed 4:10). Basically, this is the alternate version (see Holland below) but with a much earlier fade out). Note double "A" side.

Track Listing: Tubular Bells, Froggy Went A-Courting  

Mike Oldfield's Single / Froggy Went A-Courting - 1974 Germany 45

Format: 7" 45 RPM

Year / Country Issued / Label: 1974 - Germany - Virgin

Comments: Alternate version of "Froggy" - See Comments/Sound sample under Holland version (below).

Track Listing: Mike Oldfield's Single (Tubular Bells), Froggy Went A-Courting   

Froggy Went A-Courting / Extract From Tubular Bells - 1974 Holland 45 

Format: 7" 45 RPM

Year / Country Issued / Label: 1974 - Holland /Netherlands - Virgin

Comments: Alternate version. Not as complex as the UK version, shorter (~5 seconds).

Track Listing: Froggy Went A-Courting, Extract From Tubular Bells. Double "A" side.

HD Sound Sample:

Froggy Went A-Courting

 Froggy Went A-Courting / Extract From Tubular Bells - 1974 Holland 45 

Format: 7" 45 RPM

Year / Country Issued / Label: 1974 - Holland /Netherlands - Virgin

Comments: Rarer back cover version. Alternate version. Not as complex as the UK version, shorter (~5 seconds). Double "A" side.

Track Listing: Froggy Went A-Courting, Extract From Tubular Bells  

Tubular Bells / Froggy Went A-Courting - 1974 Italy 45 

Format: 7" 45 RPM

Year / Country Issued / Label: 1974 - Italy - Virgin

Comments: Alternate version of "Froggy" - See Comments/Sound sample under Holland version (above). Note "Exorcist" artwork for the "a" side.

Track Listing:  Tubular Bells, Froggy Went A-Courting 

Mike Oldfield's Single / Froggy Went A-Courting - 1974 Portugal 45

Format: 7" 45 RPM

Year / Country Issued / Label: 1974 - Portugal - Virgin

Comments: Alternate version of "Froggy" - See Comments/Sound sample under Holland version (above).

Track Listing: Mike Oldfield's Single (Tubular Bells), Froggy Went A-Courting       

Mike Oldfield's Single / Froggy Went A-Courting - 1974 Spain 45

Format: 7" 45 RPM

Year / Country Issued / Label: 1974 - Spain - Virgin

Comments: Alternate version of "Froggy" - See Comments/Sound sample under Holland version (above). Double "A" side release.

Track Listing: Mike Oldfield's Single (Tubular Bells), Froggy Went A-Courting    

Mike Oldfield's Single / Froggy Went A-Courting - 1974 Sweden 45

Format: 7" 45 RPM

Year / Country Issued / Label: 1974 - Sweden - Virgin

Comments: Alternate version of "Froggy" (see Holland version above). Picture sleeve is a "flip back" with the same picture on both sides. Also note that the paper labels are identical to the solid core UK version, but only feature the catalog #s in the matrix run out groves and the vinyl is thicker than the UK solid core (see UK solid core <above> for more details).

Track Listing: Mike Oldfield's Single (Tubular Bells), Froggy Went A-Courting     

Mike Oldfield's Single / Froggy Went A-Courting - 1974 Yugoslavia 45 

Format: 7" 45 RPM

Year / Country Issued / Label: 1974 - Yugoslavia - Virgin

Comments: UK version of "Froggy" - See Comments/Sound sample under UK version (above). 

Track Listing: Mike Oldfield's Single (Tubular Bells), Froggy Went A-Courting 

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