Midnight Oil discography

The discography of Australian rock group Midnight Oil consists of twelve studio albums, forty singles, two EPs, four video albums, four live albums, and six compilation albums. As of 2002, the band had sold 12 million albums worldwide.[1]

Midnight Oil discography
The Oils at Manly Leagues Club in 2005
Studio albums12
Live albums4
Compilation albums6
Video albums4
Music videos38
EPs2
Singles40

Midnight Oil began under the name Farm in 1972, establishing their own record label 'Powderworks' in 1977. They released their debut self-titled album Midnight Oil in 1978 along with their first single "Run by Night".[2][3] Their first three albums charted in the top 50 of the Australian Kent Music Report; in Australia, Head Injuries was certified gold and Place without a Postcard was certified platinum.

Their fourth album was their first to reach the top 10; 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (1982) peaked at number three in Australia pushing them to the level of mainstream recognition locally. It also brought their first appearance on the United States charts, peaking at number 178 on the Billboard 200. The album's first single, "Power and the Passion", was their first top ten single in Australia, at number eight. In 1984, Midnight Oil's Red Sails in the Sunset became their first number one album in Australia. It was the first of four in a row between 1984 and 1993. 1985 saw the release of the EP Species Deceases – the group's only number one entry on the Australian singles chart – which features the anti-war song "Hercules" and the environmentalist anthem "Pictures".

"The Dead Heart" in 1986 became the band's highest-charting Australian single, peaking at number four. It was followed by "Beds Are Burning" at number six, with both singles from the 1987 album Diesel and Dust which edged them into mainstream global recognition. In addition to number one in Australia, Diesel and Dust peaked at number 20 on the United Kingdom Albums Chart; it was certified platinum in the US and three times platinum in Canada. Midnight Oil followed up the success of Diesel and Dust with their seventh studio album Blue Sky Mining in 1990. It was their first and only to peak in the top 20 of the Billboard 200. It brought the single "Blue Sky Mine", which charted at number one on both the US Mainstream and Modern Rock charts. The second single "Forgotten Years" also charted at number one on the Modern Rock chart. Their last Australian number one studio album was Earth and Sun and Moon, bringing another three top ten singles on the US Modern Rock charts.

In the next decade, Midnight Oil released three further studio albums, all of which registered on the top ten in Australia, but did not match the success of their earlier efforts. In 1997, the band released the greatest hits album 20,000 Watt R.S.L., which has since achieved four times platinum sales in Australia. In 2002, lead vocalist Peter Garrett announced his decision to leave Midnight Oil, concluding the band's 30-year career.[2] The group reformed in 2017.

Albums

Studio albums

Year Album details Chart peak positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
AUS
[4]
AUT
[5]
NLD
[6]
NOR
[7]
NZ
[8]
SWE
[9]
SWI
[10]
UK
[11]
US
[12]
1978 Midnight Oil
  • Recorded: September 1978
  • Released: November 1978
  • Label: Powderworks (MLF 233)
  • Formats: CD, cassette, LP
43
1979 Head Injuries
  • Recorded: July & August 1979
  • Released: October 1979
  • Label: Powderworks (MLF 322)
  • Formats: CD, cassette, LP
36
1981 Place without a Postcard
  • Recorded: June & July 1981
  • Released: November 1981
  • Label: CBS (SBP 237704)
  • Formats: CD, cassette, LP
12
1982 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
  • Recorded: September 1982
  • Released: December 1982
  • Label: CBS (SBP 237868)
  • Formats: CD, cassette, LP
3 5 178
  • ARIA: 7× Platinum[13]
1984 Red Sails in the Sunset
  • Recorded: June, July & August 1984
  • Released: October 1984
  • Label: CBS (SBP 238027)
  • Formats: CD, cassette, LP
1 20 177
  • ARIA: 4× Platinum[13]
1987 Diesel and Dust
  • Released: August 1987
  • Label: CBS (CDCBS 460005 2)
  • Formats: CD, cassette, LP
1 11 1 5 7 19 21
1990 Blue Sky Mining
  • Released: 25 February 1990
  • Label: CBS (465653 2)
  • Formats: CD, cassette, LP
1 13 20 2 1 3 2 28 20
1993 Earth and Sun and Moon
  • Released: 20 April 1993
  • Label: Columbia (CK 53793)
  • Formats: CD, LP
2 57 5 15 5 27 49
1996 Breathe
  • Released: October 1996
  • Label: Columbia (485402 2)
  • Formats: CD, LP
3 26 31 155
1998 Redneck Wonderland
  • Released: July 1998
  • Label: Columbia (489971 2)
  • Formats: CD
7
2002 Capricornia
  • Released: 19 February 2002
  • Label: Columbia (5062032000)
  • Formats: CD
8 28
2020 The Makarrata Project
  • Released: 30 October 2020
  • Label: Sony Music Australia (19439793942)
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
1 50
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

Year Album details Chart peak positions Certifications
AUS
[4]
NZ
[8]
1990 The Green Disc
  • Released: 1990
  • Label: Sprint Music
  • Formats: CD
1997 20,000 Watt R.S.L.: Collection
  • Released: 12 October 1997
  • Label: Sony (488866 2)
  • Formats: CD, LP
1 18
2006 Flat Chat
  • Released: 14 August 2006
  • Label: Sony BMG (82876 87409 2)
  • Formats: CD
21
2012 Essential Oils 7 25
2017 Lasseters Gold (Unreleased Demos)
  • Released: 26 May 2017[27]
  • Label: Sony Music Australia
  • Formats: DD
2017 Chiko Locallo (B-sides and Rarities)
  • Released: 26 May 2017[28]
  • Label: Sony Music Australia
  • Formats: DD
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Live albums

Year Album details Chart peak positions Certifications
AUS
[4]
AUT
[5]
NLD
[29]
NZ
[8]
SWE
[9]
SWI
[10]
1992 Scream in Blue: Live
  • Released: 5 May 1992
  • Label: Columbia (COL 471453 2)
  • Formats: CD, cassette, LP
3 30 70 28 42 28
2000 The Real Thing
  • Released: 8 July 2000
  • Label: Columbia (498278 2)
  • Formats: CD
7
2004 Best of Both Worlds[31]
  • Released: 5 April 2004
  • Label: ABC (13740)
  • Formats: CD, DVD
2018 Armistice Day – Live at the Domain, Sydney 5
[32]
2019 Breathe Tour '97
  • Released: 13 April 2019
  • Label: Mountain Man
  • Formats: LP
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Box sets

Year Album details Chart peak positions
AUS
[4]
2017 The Full Tank
  • Released: 12 May 2017
  • Label: Sony
  • Formats: 13×CD+DVD
38
[33]
2017 The Overflow Tank
  • Released: 12 May 2017
  • Label: Sony
  • Formats: 4×CD+8xDVD

Video albums

Year Album details
1987 Blackfella/Whitefella[34]
  • Released: 1987
  • Label: SMV Enterprises (200440 2)
  • Formats: VHS, DVD / CD (2008 re-release)
1990 Black Rain Falls[34][35]
  • Released: 1990
  • Label: CMV Enterprises (49048 2)
  • Formats: VHS
1997 20,000 Watt R.S.L. The Midnight Oil Collection[34][36]
  • Released: 1997
  • Label: SMV (200780 9)
  • Formats: DVD
2004 Best of Both Worlds[31]
  • Released: 5 April 2004
  • Label: ABC (13740)
  • Formats: DVD, CD
2018 Midnight Oil 1984

Extended plays

Year Album details Chart peak positions Certifications
AUS
[4]
NZ
[8]
1980 Bird Noises
  • Recorded: 21–22 July 1980
  • Released: October 1980
  • Label: Powderworks (MSPD 462)
  • Formats: CD, cassette, LP
28 48
1985 Species Deceases
  • Recorded: 5 days in September 1985
  • Released: December 1985
  • Label: Columbia (PCT 46135)
  • Formats: CD, cassette, 12" vinyl
1 42
  • ARIA: 2× Platinum[39]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
AUS
[4]
FRA
[40]
NLD
[41]
NZ
[8]
NOR
[7]
SWI
[10]
UK
[11]
US Hot
[42]
US Main.
[43]
US Alt.
[44]
1978 "Run by Night" 100 Midnight Oil
1979 "Cold Cold Change" Head Injuries
1980 "Back on the Borderline"
1981 "Don't Wanna Be the One" 40 Place without a Postcard
1982 "Armistice Day" 31
"US Forces" 20 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
1983 "Power and the Passion" 8 4
"Read About It"
1984 "When the Generals Talk" Red Sails in the Sunset
1985 "Best of Both Worlds"
1986 "The Dead Heart"[A] 4 19 40 14 62[B] 53 11 Diesel and Dust
1987 "Beds Are Burning"[A][C] 6 5 3 1 6[D] 17 6
"Put Down That Weapon" 32 34 9
1988 "Dreamworld" 54 37 16
1990 "Blue Sky Mine" 8 25 33 2 8 11 66 47 1 1 Blue Sky Mining
"Forgotten Years" 26 44 24 97 11 1
"King of the Mountain" 25 20 3
"Bedlam Bridge" 46
1991 "One Country" 51
1992 "Sometimes" (Live) 33 20 Scream in Blue (Live)
"Beds Are Burning" (Live)
1993 "Truganini" 10 4 29 10 4 Earth and Sun and Moon
"My Country" 52 49 66
"In the Valley" 60
"Drums of Heaven" 10
"Outbreak of Love" 57 45 [lower-alpha 1] 9
1995 "Land" 63 Non-album single
1996 "Underwater" 22 Breathe
"Surf's Up Tonight" 88
1997 "White Skin Black Heart" 80 Redneck Wonderland
1998 "Cemetery in My Mind"
"What Goes On"
"Redneck Wonderland" 54
1999 "Say Your Prayers" The Real Thing / Capricornia
2000 "The Real Thing" 48 The Real Thing
"Spirit of the Age"
2001 "Golden Age" Capricornia
"Too Much Sunshine"
2002 "Luritja Way"
"Mosquito March"
2003 "No Man's Land" 79 GAIA
2020 "Gadigal Land"
(featuring Dan Sultan, Joel Davison, Kaleena Briggs and Bunna Lawrie)[46]
[lower-alpha 2] The Makarrata Project
"First Nation"
(featuring Jessica Mauboy and Tasman Keith)[48]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Notes

  • A^ "The Dead Heart" and "Beds Are Burning" were both released in United States and United Kingdom in 1988
  • B^ "The Dead Heart" peaked at number 62 in 1989 after its re-release in the UK; its first release originally peaked at number 68
  • C^ "Beds Are Burning " was certified gold in Canada[18]
  • D^ "Beds Are Burning" peaked at number 6 in 1989 after its re-release in the UK; its first release originally peaked at number 48

Notes

    1. "Outbreak of Love" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 8 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[45]
    2. "Gadigal Land" did not enter the ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 5 on the Australian Digital Song Sales Chart.[47]

    Music videos

    Year Title Director
    1977 "Used and Abused" (Live) [B]
    1978 "Run by Night" [B]
    "Used and Abused" [A]
    1979 "Cold Cold Change" [A]
    1980 "Back on the Borderline" [B]
    1981 "Armistice Day" David Bradbury[49]
    1982 "No Time for Games" Ray Argall[49]
    "Lucky Country" Ray Argall[49]
    "US Forces" Tony Stevens[49]
    1983 "Power and the Passion" Ray Argall[49]
    "Short Memory" John Duigan, Ray Argall[49]
    1984 "Read About It" Ray Argall[50]
    1985 "Read About It" (Live) Mark Fitzgerald[49]
    "Best of Both Worlds" John Whitteron[51]
    "Pictures" John Whitteron, Tony Stevens[49]
    1986 "The Dead Heart" Ray Argall[49]
    1987 "Beds Are Burning" Andrew De Groot[49]
    "Put Down That Weapon" Martin Stauce / John Wilkinson[49]
    1988 "Dreamworld" Andrew de Groot / Paul Elliot[49]
    1989 "Hercules" Mark Fitzgerald[49]
    1990 "Blue Sky Mine" Claudia Castle[52]
    "Forgotten Years" Claudia Castle[49]
    "Bedlam Bridge" Claudia Castle[49]
    "King of the Mountain" John Diaz / Larry Jordan[53]
    1992 "Sometimes" Larry Jordan[49]
    1993 "One Country" Ken Duncan[49]
    "Truganini" Josh Taft[49]
    "My Country" Claudia Castle[49]
    "Outbreak of Love" Sally Bongers / Paul Elliott[49][52]
    "In the Valley" Paul Elliott[49]
    1996 "Surf's Up Tonight" Maurice Todman[49]
    "Sins of Omission" Maurice Todman[49]
    "Underwater" Maurice Todman / Tim Bonython[49]
    1997 "White Skin Black Heart" Andrew Lancaster[49]
    1998 "Redneck Wonderland" Jonathan Cohen[49]
    "Cemetery in My Mind" [B]
    2002 "Mosquito March" (Live) Jon Olb and Sean Riley[C]
    "Luritja Way" (Live) Jon Olb and Sean Riley[C]
    2020 "Gadigal Land" Robert Hambling
    "First Nation" Robert Hambling

    Notes

    • A^ These clips were filmed at the Channel Seven television station in Sydney and have no attributable director.[49]
    • B^ The name of the Director for these music videos has not been found in reliable sources.
    • C^ These clips were filmed for the TV series Live at the Chapel.[54] on 12 February 2002. They were included on a Special Edition release of Capricornia.[55]

    Other appearances

    Year Song contributed Album
    1991 "Wharf Rat" (Grateful Dead cover) Deadicated: A Tribute to the Grateful Dead[56]
    1998 "Pub with No Beer" (Slim Dusty cover) Not So Dusty – A Tribute to Slim Dusty[57]
    2002 "Beds Are Burning" (Live) Live at the World Café: Vol. 15 - Handcrafted[58]
    2003 "Beds Are Burning" (Acoustic) The Very Best of MTV Unplugged, Vol. 2[59]
    2003 "No Man's Land" Gaïa / Alan Simon
    2008 "Beds Are Burning" (Tamarama mix) Caution: Life Ahead![60]

    References

    General

    • "Midnight Oil discography". Midnight Oil website. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
    • "Midnight Oil discography". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
    • "Midnight Oil – Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 March 2008.

    Specific

    1. Zuel, Bernard (4 December 2002). "The sun sets on Midnight Oil". The Age. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
    2. Nimmervoll, Ed. "Midnight Oil". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music (Ed Nimmervoll). Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
    3. McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Midnight Oil'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2. Archived from the original on 13 August 2004. Retrieved 20 October 2008.
    4. Australian chart peaks:
    5. "Discographie Midnight Oil". Austriancharts.at. Retrieved 19 January 2009. Note: some information is in Austrian
    6. Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, Hitdossier
    7. "Discography Midnight Oil". Norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
    8. "Discography: Midnight Oil (NZ)". charts.nz. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
    9. "Discography Midnight Oil". Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
    10. "Discography Midnight Oil". Swisscharts.com. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
    11. "Official Charts > Midnight Oil". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
    12. "Midnight Oil Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
    13. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
    14. "Midnight Oil > Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
    15. "Statistics – Certified Awards search: Midnight Oil". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
    16. "Guld-Platina-1987-1998 (Gold-Platinum-1987-1998)" (PDF). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 May 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2009. Note: some information is in Swedish
    17. "Awards 1994 – Singles and Albums". Swisscharts. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
    18. "CRIA search certifications: Midnight Oil". Canadian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 11 January 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2009.
    19. "Gold & Platinum search results: Midnight Oil". RIAA. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
    20. "Awards 1990 – Singles and Albums". Swisscharts. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
    21. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
    22. "Awards 1993 – Singles and Albums". Swisscharts. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
    23. "Australian Music (The Best of Australian Rock) : Midnight Oil". Informationbrazil.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 September 2007. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
    24. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations 2008 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
    25. "Certifications Albums Or – année 1998 (Gold certifications Albums – 1998)". disqueenfrance. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2009. Note: some information in French
    26. "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2018 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
    27. "Lasseters Gold". Apple Music. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
    28. "Chiko Locallo (B-sides and Rarities)". Apple Music. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
    29. Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, Hitdossier 1939 – 1994
    30. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations 2000 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
    31. "Best of Both Worlds CD & DVD". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
    32. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
    33. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
    34. "Midnight Oil > Discography > DVDs & Videos". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
    35. "Midnight Oil: Black Rain Falls (1990) (V)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
    36. "Midnight Oil: 20,000 Watt R.S.L. – The Midnight Oil Collection (1997) (V)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
    37. Luke, George (31 July 2002). The Rough Guide to Rock: Midnight Oil. ISBN 9781572308268. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
    38. "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2014 Singles". www.aria.com.au.
    39. "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2014 Singles". www.aria.com.au.
    40. "Discographie Midnight Oil". French Charts Portal. Retrieved 25 October 2008. Note: some information in French
    41. "Discografie Midnight Oil". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 19 January 2009. Note: some information in Dutch
    42. "Midnight Oil Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
    43. "Midnight Oil Chart History: Mainstream Rock". Billboard. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
    44. "Midnight Oil Chart History: Alternative Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
    45. "Midnight Oil Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
    46. "Midnight Oil's Gadigal Land is an uncompromising song of rage". SMH. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
    47. "Australia Digital Song Sales Chart: 22 August 2020". Billboard. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
    48. "New single "First Nation" music video". midnightoil. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
    49. 20,000 Watt R.S.L. The Midnight Oil Collection (Media notes). Midnight Oil. 1997.CS1 maint: others (link)
    50. "Video Clips". The Dead Heart. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
    51. ""Best of Both Words" (Promotional video)". The Dead Heart. June 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
    52. "History: Winners by Award – Best Video". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 27 February 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2009.
    53. Midnight Oil – Black Rain Falls (Media notes). Midnight Oil. The Dead Heart. 1990.CS1 maint: others (link)
    54. "Live at the Chapel". DVD.net.au. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
    55. "Capriconia (Special Edition)". discogs. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
    56. "Deadicated: A Tribute to the Grateful Dead". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 February 2009.
    57. Holmgren, Magnus. "Not So Dusty – A Tribute to Slim Dusty". Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
    58. "Live @ the World Cafe Volume 15, Handcrafted CD". Xponentialmusic. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
    59. "The Very Best of MTV Unplugged, Vol. 2". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
    60. "CAUTION: Life Ahead!". Cautionlifeahead.com.au. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2009.
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