It's 35 Years Since This Midnight Oil, Nay, AUSTRALIAN Classic Was Released

Power and passion!

Yes, we can't believe it either, but 35 years ago this month, a little Aussie band called Midnight Oil released an album that pretty much changed the landscape of Aussie music, forever.

Original Release Date: November 22, 1982

Peak Chart Positions:

Australia: 3
US: n/a
UK: n/a

The Track Listing

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The album was produced by Nick Launay, an Englishman who helped forge one of the most 'Australian' sounds of all time. No mean feat! Launay also produced the majority of INXS' The Swing, which is arguably their most 'Australian' sounding album.
The album was a monster hit in Australia. Whilst it only reached #3 on the charts, it stayed in the charts for 171 weeks. So yeah, over three years. Impressive.
Either the boys in Midnight Oil have the best lung capacity of all time, or they got up to some studio trickery... either way, the last song on the album, Somebody's Trying to Tell Me Something, ends on a last note that lasts for bloody ages. On the original vinyl release of the album (this was 1982, remember), the note lasted until the arm of the record player ran out of groove. On the Spotify version above, they've emulated the effect to suit.
The album's second single, Power And The Passion, is special for many reasons... but Wikipedia tells us that that particular song has been played live by the 'Oils on every tour since it came to light. Wikipedia also tells us that it's the only studio recording from the 'Oils to feature a Rob Hirst drum solo... and what a drum solo it is!
The album's tracks were written by various members of the band, but one had a hand in the writing of every song on the album. Jim Moginie, take a bow kind sir!