One of oz rocks notable achievers, Midnight Oil, recorded an awareness for Nuclear disarmament and the environment through their songs. With the release of "10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1" in November 1982, they score their major break on commercial radio, and their first top ten hit "power and the passion". It was this album that turned this group from a pub-band, into a world wide smash.
To co-inside with the 30th anniversary year of their first studio album, 2PR FM Pure Retro takes a special look at what was, one of the 80's most influential rock groups.
C l a s s I c B a c k t r a x S p e c I a l
M I d n I g h t O I l - 1 9 7 8 - 1 9 9 3
Listen to all the big hits from the groups best years. Program 36 highlights the groups chart-topping hits, as well as a collection of rare album tracks. Click here to listen.
MIDNIGHT OIL MIDNIGHT OIL Vinyl - Powderworks / CBS - MLF 233 Released - Monday 27th November 1978 Air-Play Score - 20%
The seed of Midnight Oil was planted in 1972 when the main members of the group, James Moginie, Andrew James, and Robert Hirst played under the name of "Farm". The group sound was influenced by arty rock groups such as Yes, Gun, Focus and Jethro Tull. This style was fused with their own high-energy rock, which gave them their unique sound. The group initially was known around Sydney's northern beaches surfing communities. Peter Garrett joined the group in 1975 as they continued touring around the east coast. Guitarist Martin Rotsey completed the group's original line up when he joined in early 1977.
Much of their music was aimed at the political left and green movement. As they had no success in gaining a contract with any record company, they established their own label in the mid seventies called "Powderworks". This particular label would grow by the early eighties, and would also carry local artists like Foster and Allen, the Allniters and distribute for overseas acts for the likes of Depeche Mode, Toto Coelo, and Freeez.
They recorded their first album in September 1978 in the Albert Studios in Neutral Bay, next door to 2UW. With the combination of strong live performing credentials and on-air exposure on the alternative radio network 2JJ, Midnight Oil made their first charting success with "run by night" in March 1979. This was a great track that contained a mixture of rock and punk elements, unfortunately the rest of the album was too raw and punky for my liking. The record was known as "the blue album" as it had no album title.
The line up for this album was Peter Garrett-Vocals, Robert Hirst-Drums and Vocals, James Moginie-Guitar and Keyboards, Andrew James-base, and Martin Rotsey-Guitar. Gary Morris Vasicek was managing the group during this period.
Midnight Oils "cold cold change" was played on 2PR FM off the following album: Various Artists Summer Gold Vinyl - Channel Seven Records - MLT 337 Released Monday 28th January 1980 Air-Play Score - 100%
MIDNIGHT OIL Head Injuries Powderworks / Sony Music Special Products - A 34213 Released Monday 29th October 1979 Air-Play Score - 30%
Head Injuries was the Oils second studio album, that contained the hit single "cold cold change", which gained air-play in December 1979. In April 1980 Peter Gifford replaced bassist Andrew James, due to a health condition. This album sold 35,000 copies by the middle of 1980 and went gold. One of the other stand-out tracks on this album was "Back on the Borderline".
MIDNIGHT OIL Bird Noises (EP) Powderworks / Sony Music Australia - 650770-2 Released - Monday 10th November 1980 Air-Play Score - 40%
Midnight oil recorded their bird noises EP on Monday Tuesday 21st and 22nd of July 1980, in the Music Farm Studios in Byron Bay. This record entered the Australian Music Report on Monday 24th November 1980 and peaked at #28. The EP charted for 24 weeks. Wedding Cake island was one of those legendary instrumentals that presented itself with flare and brightness. With a early sixties surfing sound, it came across well with it's light airy feel. Unfortunately like many of the oils early works, it suffered the "one good track" fate.
MIDNIGHT OIL Place without a Postcard Vinyl - CBS - SBP 237704 Released Monday 30th November 1981 Air-Play Score - 5%
Place without a Postcard was recorded in the United Kingdom and was produced by Glynn Johns. Armistice day was this albums best track. This particular single charted in the top 40 in May 1982. The other minor hit from this album was "don't wanna be the one" which reached #40 in October 1981.
MIDNIGHT OIL 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 CBS - CDCBS 25314 Released Monday 29th November 1982 Air-Play Score - 100%
An album that would ultimately sell 250,000 copies by the end of 1983. "10-9-8" would be the oils biggest success. It finally cracked them into the UK and US markets with the hit single "Power and the Passion", which also contained a flip-side like no other. I just loved that dub version.
Released in mid November 1982, "10-9-8" starts off with the album track "Outside World". This was the album with the hits "US Forces" reaching #20 in December 1982, "Power and the Passion" reaching #4 in April 1983, "Short memory" receiving solid air-play in August 1983, "Read about it" in early 1984 and another great album track, "Maralinga".
The album was produced by Nick Launay and the Oils. It was recorded in the Town House Studio in London during September 1982. This album would be one of the longest charting recordings by an Australian Group. By the end of February 1986, the album notched up an incredible 171 weeks, on the Australian Top 100 album chart, based on the Kent Music Report.
In 1983, Peter Garrett and the group used this success to force their political philosophy. The oils performed with a number of groups at a concert, "Stop the Nuclear disarmament" which was performed in October that year at the Myer Music Bowl. The event would later be televised around the country. As organisers of the event, they were awarded the United Nations Media Peace Prize of 1984..
Looking back at their career, this would have to be the peak of their success.
MIDNIGHT OIL Red Sails in the Sunset CBS - CDCBS 26355 Released Wednesday 24th October 1984 Air-Play Score - 45%
Produced by Nick Launay, Red sails in the Sunset was recorded in the Victor Aoyama Studio in Japan during the winter of 1984. I found that this album reflected the feel of their earlier works with an earthier feel. This records main highlights were "When the Generals Talk", "Kosciusko" and "Helps me helps you". All three of these tracks had great charting potential. Despite receiving strong air-play, neither of the singles entered the ARIA or Kent Music Charts.
The mid-eighties was a time when FM radio was establishing it self as the new media. Popular music during this time was being classified as either AM or FM pop, as Midnight Oil's music was receiving strong air-play on many FM stations.
MIDNIGHT OIL Species Deceases (EP) Vinyl - CBS / Sprint - Sprint EX 12023 Released Monday 2nd December 1985 Air-Play Score - 50%
In the later part of 1984, Peter Garrett took his anti-nuclear views to the next level as he registered his "Nuclear Disarmament Party" in the 1984 NSW Elections. His attempt at registering the party was unsuccessful. Another attempt at the Federal level in July 1987 met the same fate.
In Spring 1985 the Oils released their next project, The "Species Deceases" EP. I found "Progress" and "Hercules" of moderate liking. This album was a flip side presentation, of the clean studio sounds of "10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1". The roar pub rock sound "Species Deceases" expressed the failings associated with the progress of capitalism.
In 1986, Midnight Oil toured with the aboriginal group Blackfella/Whitefella. They played to a number of Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. Whilst touring, the Oils released another 12 inch. The A side contained the hit single "The dead heart" while the flip side contained music from Blackfella/Whitefella.
MIDNIGHT OIL Diesel and Dust CBS - CDCBS 460005-2 Released Monday 24th August 1987 Air-Play Score - 80%
The Single "The Dead Heart" which reached #4 in August 1986, would eventually appear on the heavily promoted "Diesel and Dust" album. Aside from the album "10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1", "Diesel and Dust" would stand out to be another of their best albums. "Beds are Burning" without doubt is definitely their best single in my opinion. (just love that "chick-a-chick-a-chick-a-chick-a-chick" at the end). This single would take them to #6 in mid September 1987. Their follow up single was "Put down that weapon" which only reached a modest #32 in Christmas that year. Another good album track was "Dreamworld" which received moderate air-play in early 1988. "Whoah" was another track that didn't sound bad.
Before the recording of the album, bassist Peter Gilfford had left the group. He was replace by Dwayne `Bones' Hillman, who once was part of New Zealand's answer to new-wave, "The Swingers". This group had the Hit "Counting the beat" which reached #1 in late February 1981.
In 1988, the Oils continued their touring in the United States. They toured with the Aboriginal group, "Yothu Yindi" who would come to light in the nineties with a number of minor hits. Midnight Oil used this tour to promote their "Diesel and Dust" album.
They appeared on a various artist double album entitled "Burning Bridges" which would raise proceeds for the National Coalitions for Aboriginal Organisations. (NCAO). Other artists appearing on the album included Paul Kelly, Coloured Stone, James Reyne, The Saints, Crowded House, Inxs, Yothu Yindi and some other groups who shared the same fund raising ambition. The Australian Conservation Foundation had appointed Peter Garrett as its president in 1988.
MIDNIGHT OIL Blue Sky Mining CBS - CDCBS 465653-2 Released Tuesday 20th February 1990 Air-Play Score - 55%
Ben Hills once wrote a book "Blue Murder" which tells about the blue asbestos mines in Wittenoom, Western Australia. This would be the inspiration for the writing of "Blue Sky Minding", the title cut from the Oils 1990 album. The title track together with "King of the Mountain" and "The Forgotten Years" would be this albums strong points.
The oils continued touring and recording throughout the nineties with moderate success. Midnight Oil's last notable hit, was "truganini" in March 1993. After this point, the Oils for me drifted into oblivion. Midnight Oil have been one of Australias most influential pop groups. I felt the group lost it's impact after the album "Blue Sky Mining".
I had awoken on Monday morning the 2nd of December 2002 at 8:35. Just after "AM" finished on the ABC, it was announced that Peter Garrett was leaving the oils, as several callers rang in one by one, reminiscing their favourite Oils memories. For many it was the concerts, parties and live gigs. For me, it was the video clip to "Power and the Passion". I remember watching the clip for the first time in April 1983, on ABC TV's Countdown. For me that was an exciting time of my life. One I truly would love to go back to.
But like many great things, the end of the oils has been just another of those sad days. What-ever side of the political fence we may come from, the great rock rifts will live forever, generation by generation.
MIDNIGHT OIL INFORMATION AND CD's
Please check out the following sites for further information about the groups history, and CD's.
