Midnight Oil
9-22-08
The Australian band!
CD 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 CBS AUS CDCBS 25314
1982 10 TRKS I would love to see a re-mastered CD of this title!
LP 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 CBS AUS SBP 237868
1982 10 TRKS insert, original issue
12" ARMISTICE DAY / STAND IN LINE CBS AUS BA 12032
1982 2 TRKS with pic sleeve
12" BEDS ARE BURNING
1988 5 TRK EP; no pic sleeve, promo
12" BIRD NOISES POWDERWORKS MSPD 462
1980 4 TRKS with pic sleeve
CD BIRD NOISES
1980 4 TRK CD Single CD5
CD BLUE SKY MINING CBS AUS 465653.2
1990 10 TRKS
CD BLUE SKY MINING (Interview disc) promo CBS AUS SAMP 258CD
1990 13 TRKS Interview Disc, promo
CD CAPRICORNIA LIQUID/BMG
2001 12 TRKS CD Extra
LP COLLEGE ROCK CONCERT
1983 12 TRKS Live, radio show (not a released record, but a record sent to
12" DEAD HEART CBS AUS BA 12208
1986 3 TRKS + 2 other bands
CD DIESEL AND DUST
New (’08) “Legacy Edition” 11 TRK CD + DVD (“Black Fella, White Fella” + 2 clips)
LP DIESEL AND DUST
1987 10 TRKS
CD EARTH AND SUN AND MOON
1993 11 TRKS
CD HEAD INJURIES CBS AUS 450903.2
1979 9 TRKS
LP HEAD INJURIES POWDERWORKS MLF 322
1979 9 TRKS
LP
1978 7 TRKS aka “The Blue Meannie” – the only orig. early Oil album I do not have on CD!
1981 11 TRKS
1981 11 TRKS insert
12" POWER AND THE PASSION CBS
1982 3 TRKS with pic sleeve
7" POWER AND THE PASSION / GLITCH BABY GLITCH EPIC/SONY JPN 07.5P-238
1983 2 TRKS with pic sleeve
7" READ ABOUT IT / (Same) promo
1982 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, promo
CD RED SAILS IN THE SUNSET CBS AUS CDCBS 26355
1984 12 TRKS I would love to see a re-mastered CD of this title!
LP RED SAILS IN THE SUNSET CBS NL 26355
1985 12 TRKS
CD SCREAM IN BLUE - LIVE
1992 12 TRKS Live, with the memorable purple tray!
12" SPECIES DECEASES CBS AUS EX 12023
1985 4 TRKS with pic sleeve
CD5 SPECIES DECEASES
1985 4 TRK CD Single CD5
7"
1982 2 TRKS with pic sleeve
Getting the recent “Legacy Edition” of “Diesel And Dust” CD + DVD set seems like a good enough reason to write about Midnight Oil. I have followed them since “10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1”; I’ve seen them live several times (almost always in Los Angeles). Back in the 80’s, it was a lot of work to collect all of their music videos – thank goodness that there’s a DVD out these days that pretty much takes care of that topic (“The Midnight Oil Collection”, via Columbia Records USA).
Midnight Oil were / are a very strong live band, so I can recommend any of their live videos, too – the “Legacy Edition” of “Diesel And Dust” includes their ‘86/’87 video documentary of “Black Fella, White Fella”. My abiding memory of them live is “loud, tight”. Here’s a funny thing that sticks in my memory: I was told by either Bill Wolfe or Cary Darling that the Oils “didn’t sign autographs”. I also remember that there is something in their C.V. that says they always refused to perform on “Countdown”, the Aussie music / chart show (as hosted by Ian “Molly” Meldrum).
There are two other artists that are ‘connected’ to Midnight Oil: The Ghostwriters and Gondwanaland Project. I think The Ghostwriters is / was Rob Hirst, their drummer – I absolutely love their single “Someone Singing New York, New York”! And Gondwanaland Project is / was Charlie McMahon, their roadie – playing a didgeridoo! Gondwanaland used to open for the Oils (I certainly remember seeing him / them a few times) – and my friends in Australiasia were always good about sending me their LP’s (& CD’s).
Gondwanaland Project:
LET THE DOG OUT POWDERWORKS POW 6112 LP 1985 7 TRKS
TERRA INCOGNITA HOT AUS HOT 1005 LP 1984 11 TRKS
WIDE SKIES EAST WEST AU 9031-77465.2 CD 1992 9 TRKS
Ghostwriters:
GHOSTWRITERS VIRGIN AUS VOZCD 2055 CD 1991 12 TRKS
IMPOSSIBLE SHAME MERCURY AUS 578101.2 CD5 1996 3 TRK CD Single CD5
SECOND SKIN MERCURY AUS 852726.2 CD5 1996 3 TRK CD Single CD5
More recently, I have tried to pick up all the Oil titles that I missed upon original issue (pretty much everything after “Blue Sky Mining”), and I am not certain that I have ‘em all. Other than live albums or collections, what am I missing (from the list above)?
Labels: Midnight Oil
posted by Ron Kane @ 6:57 AM
5 Comments:
Upon checking their Wikipedia page, you appear to be missing "Breathe" (1996) and "Redneck Wonderland" (1998). While I know you don't download, you might find it interesting at the first of September, the entire Oils back catalog including all their later titles is now available on U.S. iTunes.
That U.S. DVD is just the bomb.
I'm afraid I've never been able to tolerate Garrett's voice, and thus Midnight Oil are largely missing from my collection.
That didn't stop me from occasionally playing them on my radio show, including the current episode now online! :)
"That U.S. DVD is just the bomb."
- Agree 100%
Chas-san,
Find a cheap copy of "10,9,8..." - the sonic capabilities of the band at that time were just astonishing, Garrett notwithstanding. You could always buy a Berwin machine, the thing that takes the vocals off of recordings...
Anyone hear the roadie on the didgeridoo? Was it a good addition?
Garrett's vocals mellowed quite a bit in their later years. Songs like "Blue Sky Mine", "In The Valley" and my favorite "Outbreak Of Love" are much more melody driven. One of their later live LPs "The Real Thing" has several MTV Unplugged tracks. Listen to the iTunes samples and you'll hear what I mean.
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