Jump to content

Midnight Oil

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Bohemianroots (talk | contribs) at 15:15, 17 January 2009 (cs:Midnight Oil). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Midnight Oil

Midnight Oil, or the Oils to fans, was an Australian rock band from Sydney originally performing as Farm from 1972 with drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie.[1][2] Vocalist Peter Garrett was studying at Australian National University in Canberra,[1] he answered an advert for a spot in Farm,[3][4] and by 1975 the band was touring the east coast.[1] By late 1976, Garrett moved to Sydney to complete his Law degree,[1][4] and Farm changed its name to Midnight Oil by drawing the name out of a hat.[5]

Important to their development was manager, Gary Morris, who was able to negotiate favourable contracts with tour promoters and record companies and frustrate rock journalists.[1][4] Guitarist Martin Rotsey joined in 1977[2] and Midnight Oil, with Morris, established their own record label Powderworks,[2] which released their debut eponymous album in November 1978 and their first single "Run by Night" followed in December.[1][4] Founding bass guitarist James left due to illness in 1980, he was replaced by Peter Gifford, Gifford was himself replaced by Bones Hillman in 1987.[1][2][4] Through a long and distinguished career, the band became known for its driving hard-rock sound, intense live performances and political activism, particularly in aid of anti-nuclear, environmentalist and indigenous causes.[6]

Midnight Oil’s albums which peaked in the Australian Top Ten were 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Red Sails in the Sunset, Species Deceases, Diesel and Dust, Blue Sky Mining, Scream in Blue, Earth and Sun and Moon, Breathe, 20,000 Watt R.S.L., Redneck Wonderland, The Real Thing, Capricornia and Flat Chat.[7][8] Australian Top Ten singles were "Power and the Passion", "The Dead Heart", "Beds Are Burning" and "Blue Sky Mine".[7][8] Aside from chart success both "Power and the Passion" and "Beds Are Burning" were listed by Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) in the Top 30 best Australian songs of all time in 2001.[9] In December 2002, Garrett announced that he would seek to further his political career and Midnight Oil disbanded.

Midnight Oil won eleven Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Awards during its career,[10] including induction into the Hall of Fame in 2006.[11][12] At the induction, ARIA chairman Denis Handlin described Midnight Oil as true legends that always led by example in a uniquely Australian way with music that is powerful, uncompromising, inspiring, entertaining and enduring.[5]

Farm 1972–1976

In 1971, drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie were performing together, they called themselves Farm from 1972,[2] and played covers of Cream, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Led Zeppelin.[4] They placed an advert for a band member[3] and Peter Garrett (ex-Rock Island Line) became their new vocalist and synthesiser player, to play progressive rock elements of Focus, Jethro Tull and Yes as well as their own material.[1][4] Garret was studying at Australian National University in Canberra, so Farm was only a part-time band,[1][4] they played for the northern Sydney surfing community and by 1975 the band was touring the east coast.[1] In late 1976, Garrett moved to Sydney to complete his Law degree,[1][4] Farm then became a full-time group and so changed its name to Midnight Oil by drawing a name out of a hat leaving behind Television, Sparta and Southern Cross.[5] Midnight Oil came from the Jimi Hendrix song "Burning of the Midnight Lamp".[4]

Midnight Oil to Place Without a Postcard 1976–1981

After changing its name to Midnight Oil, the group began to develop an aggressive, punk - hard rock sound for their pub rock audiences.[4] Important to their development was manager, Gary Morris, who was able to negotiate favourable contracts with tour promoters and record companies and frustrate rock journalists.[1][4] Guitarist Martin Rotsey joined in 1977[2] and Midnight Oil, with Morris, established their own record label Powderworks.[2] In June 1978 they entered the Alberts Studio in Sydney with producer Keith Walker, from local radio station 2JJ, to record their debut eponymous album, Midnight Oil, which was released by Powderworks in November 1978 and peaked at #43 on the Australian albums charts.[7] Midnight Oil's first single "Run by Night" followed in December,[1][4] but had very little chart success peaking at #100 on the singles charts.[7] The band built a dedicated fan base, initially restricted to Sydney, which was extended to other Australian cities through constant touring – performing some 200 gigs in their first year.[4] They became known for their furious live performances, which featured the two guitarists Moginie and Rotsey, the drumming and vocals of Hirst and the presence of the towering, bald Garrett as lead singer.[1][4][6]

Midnight Oil LP disappointed some critics as it did not capture their powerful live performances, with undemanding playing and Garret’s vocals sounding stilted.[1] Their second album Head Injuries, released on Powderworks in October 1979, was produced by former Supercharge member Leszek Karski.[2] It mixed solid guitar rock with progressive flourishes and was an improvement by highlighting the group’s strengths and growth.[1][4] It peaked at #36 and by mid-1980 had achieved gold status.[1][7] In April 1980 founding bass guitarist Andrew James left because of ill-health and was replaced by Peter Gifford (ex-Huntress, Ross Ryan Band).[2] Further interest in Midnight Oil was generated by the popular Bird Noises EP, also produced by Karski, which peaked at #28 on the Australian singles charts.[7] One of its four tracks was the surf-instrumental "Wedding Cake Island" named after the rock outcrop in the ocean off Sydney's Coogee Beach. The band's third LP Place without a Postcard, released by CBS Records in November 1981, was recorded in Sussex with English producer Glyn Johns (The Rolling Stones, The Who).[2][4] Creative tensions between the band and Johns plagued the recording and the group were not totally happy with the outcome. Johns had an arrangement with A&M Records and they asked Midnight Oil to return to the studio to record material suitable for an American single release – they refused and returned to Australia.[4] Place without a Postcard peaked at #12 on the albums charts and related singles "Don’t Wanna be the One" and "Armistice Day" reached the Top 40 in Australia.[7]

Fans, the Industry and the Media

Driven largely by commercial pressures to stay with reliable chart-toppers and teenage pop sensations, the Australian music industry in the mid-1970s cast a dismissive eye toward most bands with an alternative outlook. Although consistently championed by Sydney alternative rock station Double Jay and its FM band successor Triple J, Midnight Oil was almost totally ignored by Australia's mainstream commercial radio stations in their early career. Manager Gary Morris developed a reputation as one of the toughest managers and became notorious for banning critics or journalists, who were usually given free admission to concerts, for writing unfavourable reviews. Writer and critic Bruce Elder, in a mid-1980s newspaper review described their music as "narrow and xenophobic", and declared Midnight Oil were:

a kind of antipodean pub rock version of Queen [...] life-denying, sexist, secular and bigoted [...] endless touting of Australia and all things Australian[13]

— Bruce Elder quoted in Crème de la Phlegm: Unforgettable Australian Reviews (2006), ed.:Angela Bennie. ISBN 0522852416

In retaliation, Morris banned Elder from Oils shows permanently. Elder later recanted, describing them as the only Australian band to have developed a truly Australian sound.

The frostiness of Midnight Oil's relationship with the traditional music media quickly saw the band develop a strong "street cred", and a reputation for making no compromises with the music industry. In the early 1980s the band was scheduled to appear on an episode of the all-powerful Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) TV pop show Countdown, but on the day of the show they were "bumped" from the line-up. Countdown required artists to mime their songs during 'live' performances, Midnight Oil and Morris insisted they perform completely live and have their sound engineer supervising - neither side backed down.[14] According to Countdown producer Michael Shrimpton, the band had arrived late for rehearsal, and due to the show's very tight schedule and budget there was a strict policy that latecomers were not allowed to appear, and as such they were told they could not perform that day. In response, the group declared that they would never appear on the show, a promise they faithfully kept.[15] Countdown presenter Ian Meldrum shaved his head bald, imitating Garrett, for its final show on 19 July 1987 and expressed regret that Midnight Oil had never appeared on the show.[5][15][16]

Fans of the group were drawn to the band's "us and them" mindset, and fan loyalty to the Oils' ideas and music was fierce. Two venues at which they built significant fan bases from their early live performances were the Sydney northern beaches pub The Royal Antler at Narrabeen and the Bondi Lifesaver club near Sydney's Bondi Beach. Politically oriented rock of the style produced by the band was something of a new concept for the Australian music scene, and Peter Garrett quickly earned a reputation as one of the most charismatic and outspoken musicians in the country. He recalled that there were dangers in playing the pub scene:

You get booked into a pub or hotel, say in the western suburbs of Sydney. Halfway through your set, two large, drunk truck drivers decide to have a fight. They're beating each other up and careening towards the corner where the band is set up. Meanwhile, everyone else is going, 'Aaah, turn it down, I'm trying to watch TV.' Try to contemplate that as an environment to play music in every night for three years.[17]

— Peter Garrett quoted in The Big Australian Rock Book (1985) published by Rolling Stone Magazine, ed.:Ed St John, ISBN 0959061509

Rise to Fame 1982–1985

10 to 1

Their Australian breakthrough and first international recognition came in 1982, with the release of 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, which included the singles "Power and the Passion" and "Read about It". The album peaked at #3 and "Power and the Passion" peaked at #8.[7] The album also includes their denunciation of American military interference in foreign affairs in "US Forces" and their critique of imperialist repression in "Short Memory". 10 to 1 was recorded in London during September and produced by Englishman Nick Launay,[1][2] who had previously worked with acts including The Jam, XTC, Peter Gabriel, PiL, Gang of Four and The Birthday Party.[1]. Launay worked on several other major Australian recordings in this period including INXS' The Swing, Models' The Pleasure Of Your Company and The Church's Seance.

The album remained in the Australian charts for 171 weeks,[7] it retained their live energy but was more adventurous and radical than previous work.[1][4] Their ascendancy was signalled by a series of concerts on the release of the album at Sydney's Capitol Theatre, one of which was filmed and recorded, it was released on their 2004 Best of Both Worlds DVD. The band also played their first shows outside Australia during this time, with the album being released in USA on Columbia Records where it charted in 1984 on the Billboard 200,[18] in UK it was released on CBS.[1]

Red Sails in the Sunset

Midnight Oil undertook more politically motivated benefit concerts,[4] including organising the Stop the Drop Nuclear Disarmament concert in 1983 which received a United Nations Media Peace Prize.[1] 10 to 1 was followed by Red Sails in the Sunset in October 1984, which was recorded in Japan, produced by Launay again.[1][2] It peaked at #1 for four weeks on the Australian charts,[7] and charted on the Billboard 200.[18] Singles from the album were released in USA and UK but had no chart success.[1] Whilst the album showed an over-reliance on technical wizardry, their lyrical stance was positive.[1] The band continued to expand their sound and explore themes of politics, consumerism, militarism, the threat of nuclear war and environmental issues.[4] The album cover by Japanese artist Tsunehisa Kimura featured a photomontage of Sydney - both city and harbour - cratered and devastated after a hypothetical nuclear attack.[19] Live concert footage of "Short Memory" was used in the Australian independent anti-nuclear war movie One Night Stand.[20] A promotional video for "Best of Both Worlds", later on Best of Both Worlds, received airplay worldwide on cable music TV station MTV.[21]

Garrett ran as a Nuclear Disarmament Party (NDP) candidate for a NSW seat in the Australian Senate during the December 1984 federal election, Garrett obtained 9.6% of votes but was unable to obtain the required quota of 12.5%.[22] In April 1985, Garrett, with some 30 other members, walked out of the national conference and resigned from the NDP claiming it had been infiltrated by a Trotskyist group.[23][24] Although unsuccessful in the federal election, Garrett was now a recognised public figure.[1]

Goat Island Triple J concert

In January 1985, Midnight Oil performed Oils on the Water, a concert on Goat Island in Port Jackson to celebrate Triple J's tenth birthday,[1] before a select audience of fans who had won tickets in a radio competition. The concert was filmed, simulcast on ABC-TV and Triple J, and released on video,[1] which was remastered for their 2004 Best of Both Worlds DVD.

International success and activism 1985–2002

Diesel and Dust

File:Beds Are Burning.jpg
"Beds are Burning" single cover

In December 1985 a four-track EP Species Deceases produced with Francois Kevorkian was released by CBS/Columbia,[2] it peaked at #1 on the Australian singles charts for six weeks.[1][7] Species Deceases, including the track "Hercules", featured a return to their pub rock sound with hard hitting firepower.[1] Midnight Oil spent several months in 1986 on the Blackfella/Whitefella tour of outback Australia with indigenous groups Warumpi Band and Gondwanaland, playing to remote Aboriginal communities and seeing first hand the seriousness of the issues in health and living standards.[1] The tour was criticised by some journalists for being a one-off event instead of a long-term attempt to build bridges between communities.[25] The band was galvanised by the experiences and made these the basis of Diesel and Dust released in 1987 which was produced by Launay and Warne Livesey.[2] The album focussed on the need for recognition by white Australia of past injustices involving the Aboriginal nation and the need for reconciliation. Peter Gifford left the band before the album's release due to extensive touring schedules,[4] he was replaced by Bones Hillman, formerly of The Swingers.[2]

Diesel and Dust peaked at #1 on the Australian albums charts for six weeks,[7] #21 on the Billboard 200 in 1988,[18] and #19 on the UK albums charts.[26] "Beds Are Burning" was their biggest international hit single peaking at #6 in Australia,[7] #17 on the Billboard Hot 100,[27] #6 on the UK singles charts.[26] "The Dead Heart" peaked at #6 in Australia,[7] it charted on the Hot 100[27] and in the UK.[26] "Put Down that Weapon" also charted in Australia,[7] while "Dreamworld" charted on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks and at #16 on its Modern Rock Tracks.[27]

At the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) 1988 Awards ceremony, Midnight Oil won 'Best Cover Art' for Diesel and Dust and both 'Best Single' and 'Best Song' for "Beds Are Burning".[10][28] A fracas developed between Gary Morris, accepting awards for Midnight Oil, and former Countdown compere Ian Meldrum who was presenting: Meldrum objected to Morris making political commentary from the podium.[28]

There were concerns about Diesel and Dust and Midnight Oil's attempts to express indigenous issues to 'white' urban audiences, a question was raised, 'who holds the power to tell whose history?'[25] The lyrics of "The Dead Heart" consist of mostly monosyllabic words to tell the story of colonisation from an indigenous point of view but this reinforces the 'primitive' stereotype.[25] Use of the bullroarer was criticised as belonging to sacred rituals not rock songs.[25] "The Dead Heart" had been written in response to a request by organisers of the 1985 ceremony to hand back of control of Uluru to its indigenous care-takers; Midnight Oil had originally declined feeling an indigenous group should perform however the organisers insisted as the Oils would reach a wider audience in 'white' urban centres.[29] Midnight Oil requested that all royalties from the song go to indigenous communites,[19] and that two indigenous groups, Warumpi Band and Gondwanaland, tour with them.

Following the 1988 American tour in support of Diesel and Dust with Australian band Yothu Yindi, the Oils launched the Burning Bridges album with various artists contributing including Paul Kelly, Scrap Metal, Coloured Stone, Hunters & Collectors, James Reyne, The Saints, Crowded House, INXS and Yothu Yindi.[1] All sales proceeds were donated to the National Coalition of Aboriginal Organisations.[1]

During 1989–1993 and 1998–2002 Garrett was the President of the Australian Conservation Foundation, whilst during 1993–1998 he was on the International Board of Greenpeace.[30] In 1990 Midnight Oil played an impromptu lunchtime set in front of Exxon headquarters in New York with a banner reading, "Midnight Oil Makes You Dance, Exxon Oil Makes Us Sick", protesting the Exxon Valdez oil spill the previous year.[4]

Blue Sky Mining

In March 1990 Blue Sky Mining, produced by Livesey was released by CBS/Columbia,[2] it peaked at #1 on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) albums charts.[8] It stayed at #1 for two weeks in Australia and had Top 5 chart success in Sweden, Switzerland and Norway.[31] It peaked at #20 on the Billboard 200[18] and #28 on the UK charts.[26] The album was more defiant and outspoken,[1] the single "Blue Sky Mine" describes asbestos exposure in the Wittenoom mine tragedy.[1] It peaked at #8 on the ARIA singles charts,[8] top 15 in Norway and Switzerland,[32] #47 on Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on both their Mainstream and Modern Rock Tracks charts,[27] and appeared on the UK charts.[26]

In Sydney in 1990, while Midnight Oil were taking a break, Hirst joined up with guitarist Andrew Dickson, drummer Dorland Bray of Do-Ré-Mi, guitarist Leszek Karski (Midnight Oil producer) and bass guitarist Rick Grossman of Hoodoo Gurus to form a side project called Ghostwriters.[33] The name refers to ghostwriters where famous writers wish to be anonymous. Ghostwriters' line-ups - both live and in the studio - changed considerably through the years, with only founders Hirst and Grossman being mainstays. Between successive album releases Hirst and Grossman returned to active involvement with Oils and Gurus respectively. Ghostwriters have released Ghostwriters (1991), Second Skin (1996), Fibromoon (1999) and Political Animal (2007).[33]

At the 1991 ARIA Awards ceremony, Midnight Oil won 'Best Group' and an 'Outstanding Achievement Award' and 'Best Cover Art', 'Best Video' and 'Album of the Year' for Blue Sky Mining.[10][34] Gary Morris, accepting awards for Midnight Oil, was criticised for a speech lasting 20 minutes.[34]

Scream in Blue was their June 1992 live album produced with Keith Walker, it contained material from concerts between 1982–1990, including "Progress" from their Exxon Valdez protest gig.[1][2] It peaked at #3 on the ARIA albums charts;[8] Top 50 in Austria, Sweeden and Switzerland;[35] and appeared on the Billboard 200.[18]

Earth and Sun and Moon

Midnight Oil's Earth and Sun and Moon album, produced with Nick Launay, was released in April 1993 and also drew critical acclaim and international success, it peaked at #2 on the ARIA albums charts,[8] top 20 in Sweeden and Switzerland,[36] Top 50 on Billboard 200,[18] and top thirty in the UK albums chart.[26] The single "Truganini" referenced multiple issues including the 'last' Tasmanian Aboriginal, the treatment of indigenous artist Albert Namatjira and the Australian flag debate and republicanism.[25] Liner notes for the single claimed "Truganini was the sole surviving Tasmanian Aborigine, the last of her race, when she died in 1876."[25] The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, representing over 7000 contemporary Tasmainians, called for the single to be boycotted as it perpetuated a 'white' myth about the extinction of Tasmanian Aborigines,[25] their Native Title claims hinged upon establishing links with ancestral lands. Garry Morris, the Oil's manager, responded with, "My suggestion to these people is to stop shooting themselves in the foot and let a band like Midnight Oil voice its appeal to white Australia on behalf of black Australia".[25] Critics contended that Morris disparaged Indigenous Australians' ability to represent themselves and over-estimated Midnight Oil's ambassadorial powers while diminishing their errors, while some indigenous activists saw benefit in Midnight Oil's highlighting of the issues thus enabling their corrections to be widely heard.[25] Nevertheless, "Truganini" released in March peaked at #10 on the ARIA singles charts,[8] #10 on Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks and #4 on their Modern Rock Tracks charts,[27] and top thirty for the UK charts.[26]

In 1993, the band also participated in the Another Roadside Attraction tour in Canada, and collaborated with The Tragically Hip, Crash Vegas, Hothouse Flowers and Daniel Lanois on the one-off single "Land" to protest forest clearing in British Columbia.

Breathe to Capricornia

Breathe was released in 1996, it was produced by Malcolm Burn and had a loose, raw style with almost a low-key sound.[1] It peaked at #3 on the ARIA albums chart,[8] and had Top 40 success in New Zealand and Switzerland.[37] They returned to #1 on the ARIA albums charts[8] with the compilation 20,000 Watt R.S.L. in 1997 on Sony Records, which achieved 2×Platinum sales.[38] Later albums, Redneck Wonderland in 1998, The Real Thing in 2000 and Capricornia in 2002, all charted into the ARIA Top Ten.[8]

Sydney 2000 Olympics performance

Midnight Oil again brought the politics of Reconcilliation to the fore during their performance at the closing ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics. Then Prime Minister John Howard had triggered controversy that year with his refusal to embrace symbolic reconciliation and apologise to Indigenous Australians and members of the stolen generations. Midnight Oil performed their reconciliation-themed single "Beds Are Burning" at the ceremony with the word SORRY conspicuously printed on their clothes as a form of apology to indigenous people for their suffering under white settlement, and to highlight the issue to Howard, who was in the audience at the Olympic stadium.[25] Midnight Oil had consulted with tour mates Yothu Yindi and other indigenous activists, so that their performance brought popular protest to the world arena.[25] In 2001, Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) surveyed 100 music industry people for their Top 10 Best Australian songs of all time, "Beds Are Burning" was voted #3 behind The Easybeats' "Friday on My Mind" and Daddy Cool's Eagle Rock".[39] At the 2001 APRA Awards ceremony "Beds are Burning" was shown on video and introduced by Australian Democrats Senator Aden Ridgeway as an indigenous spokesperson on Reconcilliation.[39] "Power and the Passion" was also listed in APRA's Top 30 best Australian songs.[9]

Dissolution and reunion

Manly Leagues Club 2005

Garrett announced his decision to quit Midnight Oil on 2 December 2002, to refocus on his political career.[4] In the 1984 federal election, Garrett had stood for the Australian Senate under the Nuclear Disarmament Party banner, and narrowly lost. He won the seat of Kingsford Smith at the 2004 General Election for the Australian Labor Party and was selected as Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Heritage and the Arts. On Thursday, 29 November 2007, Labor Prime Minister elect Kevin Rudd named Garrett Minister for Environment, Heritage and Arts. The other members of the band continued to work together, but not under the Midnight Oil name, bringing the band's career to a close.

After a warm up gig the previous evening at the Manly-Warringah Leagues Club the band, including Garrett, reunited to perform at the WaveAid concert on 29 January 2005, to raise funds for the victims of the 26 December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The concert, which took place at the Sydney Cricket Ground, also included performances by Powderfinger, Silverchair, Nick Cave, John Butler Trio, Finn Brothers and others.

Post-dissolution

On 29 October 2006 Midnight Oil was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, with ARIA chairperson, Denis Handlin describing them:

For 30 years, on their journey from inside Sydney's Royal Antler Hotel to outside the Exxon Building in New York, the Oils have always led from the front. They spoke to us - and to the world - in a uniquely Australian way. [...] Their music speaks first - it's powerful, it's uncompromising, it's unique rock music that inspires, entertains and will last forever. [...] My favourite Oils lyric, which summarises it all is: 'It's better to die on your feet than live on your knees.'[5]

— Denis Handlin, 2006

Rob Hirst, in his acceptance speech, thanked his family, band mates and support from fellow Australians, he also bemoaned the fact that unlike the Vietnam war which had inspired some of the best protest songs ever written very few have been written on the George W Bush led invasion of Iraq.[5] Flat Chat, another compilation album, was released in November and peaked at #21 on the ARIA album charts.[8]

Rumours of an appearance by Midnight Oil at the Sydney leg of the Live Earth concert in July 2007,[40] were false. However Ghostwriters, which was founded by drummer Hirst and Hoodoo Gurus bass guitarist Rick Grossman, now included former Oils guitarist Martin Rotsey, they performed six tracks including the Oils' song "When the Generals Talk". While singer-turned politician Peter Garrett gave a speech introducing a reformed Crowded House.

Aside from Ghostwriters, Hirst has also been a member of Backsliders, performed with former Olympian Paul Greene, with fellow Backsliders member Dom Turner on the The Angry Tradesmen and with Rotsey assisted on Jim Moginie's solo album Alas Folkloric in 2006.

Personnel

  • Gary Morris — manager (1976–2002)

Discography

Albums and EPs

Numbers in brackets indicate original release year and peak position on Australian charts, EP chart positions are from the Australian singles charts.[7][8]

Compilations and live albums

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
AUS
[7][8] 		FRA
[41] 		UK
[26] 		US Hot
[18] 		US Main
[18] 		US Mod
[18]
1978 "Run by Night" 100 - - - - - Midnight Oil
1981 "Don't Wanna Be the One" 40 - - - - - Place Without a Postcard
1981 "Armistice Day" 31 - - - - -
1982 "Power and the Passion" 8 - - - - - 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1
1982 "US Forces" 20 - - - - -
1986a "The Dead Heart" 4 19 62c 53 11 - Diesel and Dust
1987a "Beds Are Burning" 6 5 6b 17 6 -
1987 "Put Down that Weapon" 32 34 - - - -
1988 "Dreamworld" - - - - 37 16
1990 "Blue Sky Mine" 8 25 66 47 1 1 Blue Sky Mining
1990 "Forgotten Years" 26 44 97 - 11 1
1990 "King of the Mountain" 25 - - - 20 3
1990 "Bedlam Bridge" 46 - - - - -
1990 "One Country" 51 - - - - -
1992 "Sometimes" 33 - - - - 20 Scream in Blue
1993 "Truganini" 10 - 29 - 10 4 Earth and Sun and Moon
1993 "My Country" 52 - 66 - - -
1993 "In the Valley" 57 - 60 - - -
1993 "Drums of Heaven" - - - - - 10
1993 "Outbreak of Love" - - - - - 9
1996 "Underwater" 22 - - - - - Breathe
2000 "The Real Thing" 48 - - - - - Real Thing
"-" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.
  • a 1988 releases in US/UK
  • b 1989 re-release; originally peaked at #48
  • c 1989 re-release; originally peaked at #68

Videos

  • Black Fella White Fella (1987) - Australian Broadcasting Corporation documentary on the Black Fella White Fella tour of Indigenous communities with the Warumpi Band which inspired the writing of the album Diesel and Dust
  • Black Rain Falls (1990) - Footage of the 1990 Exxon Valdez protest
  • 20,000 Watt R.S.L. (1997) - Live footage, video clips and band interviews
  • Best of Both Worlds (2004) - Footage from two live shows including the Triple J 10th anniversary performance on Goat Island, Sydney Harbour

Other contributions

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Midnight Oil'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Magnus Holmgren (ed.). "Midnight Oil discography". Australian Rock Database. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  3. ^ a b Rolling Stone Encyclopedia (3rd ed.). 2000. p. 648-649. ISBN 0743201205. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |chater= ignored (help)
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Ed Nimmervoll (ed.). "Midnight Oil". Howlspace. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Jenkins, Jeff (2007). Molly Meldrum presents 50 years of rock in Australia. Melbourne: Wilkinson Publishing. ISBN 9781921332111. Retrieved 2008-10-20. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b Fricke, David (2004). "Midnight Oil Biography". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 2008-10-21. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); |format= requires |url= (help)
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Midnight Oil discography". Australian Charts Portal. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  9. ^ a b Kruger, Debbie (2001-05-02). "The songs that resonate through the years" (PDF). Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 2008-10-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ a b c "ARIA Awards 2008: History: Winners by Artist search result for Midnight Oil". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 2008-08-25.
  11. ^ "ARIA 2008 Hall of Fame inductees listing". ARIA Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  12. ^ "Winners by Award: Hall of Fame". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  13. ^ Rose, Peter (2006). "Rose Review". Australian Book Review. Retrieved 2008-10-21. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ Verrender, Ian (14 September 1996). "Is anyone listening?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2008-10-22. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ a b "The quirks that made it work". The Sydney Morning Herald. 5 August 2006. Retrieved 2008-10-21. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ Grech, Jason (19 August 2004). "An interview with Molly Meldrum by Jason". Countdown Memories. Retrieved 2008-10-22. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  17. ^ Cockington, James (2001). Long Way to the Top. Sydney, N.S.W.: ABC Books. p. 188. ISBN 0733307507. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Midnight Oil - Charts & Awards - Billboard Albums". allmusic. Retrieved 2008-10-21. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |OIL&sql= ignored (help)
  19. ^ a b "Memorable TV - L to M". Retrieved 2008-10-22. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |publilsher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ "One Night Stand (1984) soundtrack". Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Retrieved 2008-10-24.
  21. ^ "Best of Both Worlds (2004)". Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Retrieved 2008-10-24.
  22. ^ "1984 Senate N.S.W. results". Adam Carr. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
  23. ^ MacLellan, Nic (1985). "The Election and Defection of the NDP". Peace Studies. p. 18-19. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  24. ^ Mansell, Ken. "Making Sense of the NDP Split". Peace Studies. p. 19-20.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Vellutini, Laetitia (2004). Richard Nile (ed.). "Rezoning Australia: Journal of Australian Studies". The Australian Public Intellectual Network. Retrieved 2008-10-22. {{cite web}}: |chapter= ignored (help)
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h "Chart Stats Midnight Oil". Chart Stats. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
  27. ^ a b c d e "Midnight Oil - Charts & Awards - Billboard Albums". allmusic. Retrieved 2008-10-22. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |OIL&sql= ignored (help)
  28. ^ a b "ARIA Awards 2008: History: Winners by Year search result for 1988". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 2008-10-24.
  29. ^ "Midnight Oil: a band with a conscience". BBC. 2005-02-11. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  30. ^ "Long Way to the Top Peter Garrett entry". Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). 2001. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
  31. ^ "Blue Sky Mining album charting". Australian Charts Portal. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  32. ^ ""Blue Sky Mine" single charting". Australian Charts Portal. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  33. ^ a b Magnus Holmgren (ed.). "Ghostwriters". Australian Rock Database. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  34. ^ a b "ARIA Awards 2008: History: Winners by Year search result for 1991". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 2008-10-24.
  35. ^ "Scream in Blue - Live album charting". Australian Charts Portal. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
  36. ^ "Earth and Sun and Moon album charting". Australian Charts Portal. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
  37. ^ "Breathe album charting". Australian Charts Portal. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
  38. ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 1997 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 2008-10-24.
  39. ^ a b Culnane, Paul (2001-05-28). ""The final list: APRA'S Ten best Australian Songs"". Australasian Performing Right Association. Retrieved 2008-05-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  40. ^ "Sydney to kick off Earth concerts". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2007-04-11. Retrieved 2008-10-25. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  41. ^ "Discographie Midnight Oil". French Charts Portal. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Midnight_Oil&oldid=264676263"