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 albums | 12 |
Live albums | 4 |
Compilation albums | 6 |
Video albums | 4 |
Music videos | 38 |
EPs | 2 |
Singles | 40 |
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 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1979 | Head Injuries
|
36 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1981 | Place without a Postcard
|
12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1982 | 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
|
3 | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | 178 |
|
1984 | Red Sails in the Sunset
|
1 | — | — | — | 20 | — | — | — | 177 |
|
1987 | Diesel and Dust
|
1 | — | 11 | — | 1 | 5 | 7 | 19 | 21 | |
1990 | Blue Sky Mining
|
1 | 13 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 28 | 20 | |
1993 | Earth and Sun and Moon
|
2 | — | 57 | — | 5 | 15 | 5 | 27 | 49 | |
1996 | Breathe
|
3 | — | — | — | 26 | — | 31 | — | 155 |
|
1998 | Redneck Wonderland
|
7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
2002 | Capricornia
|
8 | — | — | — | 28 | — | — | — | — | |
2020 | The Makarrata Project
|
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
|
— | — | |
1997 | 20,000 Watt R.S.L.: Collection | 1 | 18 | |
2006 | Flat Chat
|
21 | — | |
2012 | Essential Oils
|
7 | 25 |
|
2017 | Lasseters Gold (Unreleased Demos)
|
— | — | |
2017 | Chiko Locallo (B-sides and Rarities)
|
— | — | |
"—" 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
|
3 | 30 | 70 | 28 | 42 | 28 |
| |
2000 | The Real Thing
|
7 | — | — | — | — | — |
| |
2004 | Best of Both Worlds[31]
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2018 | Armistice Day – Live at the Domain, Sydney
|
5 [32] |
— | — | — | — | — | ||
2019 | Breathe Tour '97
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"—" 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
|
38 [33] |
2017 | The Overflow Tank
|
— |
Video albums
Year | Album details |
---|---|
1987 | Blackfella/Whitefella[34]
|
1990 | Black Rain Falls[34][35]
|
1997 | 20,000 Watt R.S.L. The Midnight Oil Collection[34][36]
|
2004 | Best of Both Worlds[31]
|
2018 | Midnight Oil 1984
|
Extended plays
Year | Album details | Chart peak positions | Certifications | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AUS [4] |
NZ [8] | ||||
1980 | Bird Noises | 28 | 48 | ||
1985 | Species Deceases
|
1 | 42 |
| |
"—" 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
- "Outbreak of Love" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 8 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[45]
- "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
- Zuel, Bernard (4 December 2002). "The sun sets on Midnight Oil". The Age. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
- 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.
- 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.
- Australian chart peaks:
- Top 100 (Kent Music Report) peaks to 19 June 1988: Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 200. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 19 June 1988.
- Top 50 (ARIA Chart) peaks from 26 June 1988: "Midnight Oil discography". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 October 2008.
- Top 100 (ARIA Chart) peaks from January 1990 to December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. N.B. This book erroneously lists the peak for "Redneck Wonderland" (single) as No. 46.
- "Land" (ARIA Chart) peak: "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 26 Feb 1995". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- "Redneck Wonderland" (single) (ARIA Chart) peak: "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 16 Aug 1998". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- "Discographie Midnight Oil". Austriancharts.at. Retrieved 19 January 2009. Note: some information is in Austrian
- Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, Hitdossier
- "Discography Midnight Oil". Norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
- "Discography: Midnight Oil (NZ)". charts.nz. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
- "Discography Midnight Oil". Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
- "Discography Midnight Oil". Swisscharts.com. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
- "Official Charts > Midnight Oil". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- "Midnight Oil Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- "Midnight Oil > Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
- "Statistics – Certified Awards search: Midnight Oil". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
- "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
- "Awards 1994 – Singles and Albums". Swisscharts. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
- "CRIA search certifications: Midnight Oil". Canadian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 11 January 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2009.
- "Gold & Platinum search results: Midnight Oil". RIAA. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- "Awards 1990 – Singles and Albums". Swisscharts. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
- Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- "Awards 1993 – Singles and Albums". Swisscharts. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
- "Australian Music (The Best of Australian Rock) : Midnight Oil". Informationbrazil.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 September 2007. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations 2008 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
- "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
- "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2018 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
- "Lasseters Gold". Apple Music. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- "Chiko Locallo (B-sides and Rarities)". Apple Music. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, Hitdossier 1939 – 1994
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations 2000 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
- "Best of Both Worlds CD & DVD". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
- "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
- "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
- "Midnight Oil > Discography > DVDs & Videos". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
- "Midnight Oil: Black Rain Falls (1990) (V)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
- "Midnight Oil: 20,000 Watt R.S.L. – The Midnight Oil Collection (1997) (V)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
- Luke, George (31 July 2002). The Rough Guide to Rock: Midnight Oil. ISBN 9781572308268. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
- "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2014 Singles". www.aria.com.au.
- "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2014 Singles". www.aria.com.au.
- "Discographie Midnight Oil". French Charts Portal. Retrieved 25 October 2008. Note: some information in French
- "Discografie Midnight Oil". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 19 January 2009. Note: some information in Dutch
- "Midnight Oil Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- "Midnight Oil Chart History: Mainstream Rock". Billboard. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- "Midnight Oil Chart History: Alternative Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- "Midnight Oil Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- "Midnight Oil's Gadigal Land is an uncompromising song of rage". SMH. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- "Australia Digital Song Sales Chart: 22 August 2020". Billboard. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- "New single "First Nation" music video". midnightoil. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- 20,000 Watt R.S.L. The Midnight Oil Collection (Media notes). Midnight Oil. 1997.CS1 maint: others (link)
- "Video Clips". The Dead Heart. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
- ""Best of Both Words" (Promotional video)". The Dead Heart. June 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
- "History: Winners by Award – Best Video". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 27 February 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2009.
- Midnight Oil – Black Rain Falls (Media notes). Midnight Oil. The Dead Heart. 1990.CS1 maint: others (link)
- "Live at the Chapel". DVD.net.au. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
- "Capriconia (Special Edition)". discogs. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
- "Deadicated: A Tribute to the Grateful Dead". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 February 2009.
- 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.
- "Live @ the World Cafe Volume 15, Handcrafted CD". Xponentialmusic. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
- "The Very Best of MTV Unplugged, Vol. 2". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
- "CAUTION: Life Ahead!". Cautionlifeahead.com.au. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2009.
External links
- Official website
- Midnight Oil discography at Discogs
- Midnight Oil discography at MusicBrainz