Song:Beds Are Burning
Album:Essential Oils
Midnight Oil were very successful in their native Australia in the late-70s. But they had worldwide success in the 80s especially with the 1987 top twenty hit Beds Are Burning. Midnight Oil are from Sydney, Australia. They started out as the cover band Farm in 1972. Lead singer Peter Garrett was studying law in Canberra and performing part time with Farm. When he moved to Sydney in 1976 to complete his law degree, Farm was turned into a full time band and the band name was changed to Midnight Oil. The name comes from the Jimi Hendrix song Burning of the Midnight Lamp. Several names were placed in a hat and Midnight Oil was chosen. Original members were Rob Hirst on drums and Jim Moginie in bass. Garrett joined in 1976 followed by guitarist Martin Rotsey in 1977. By the mid-80s, Midnight Oil was very successful in Australia. The 1987 album Diesel and Dust was their international breakthrough. The album was certified Platinum in the US. Beds Are Burning was an international hit. It reached #17 on the Billboard Hot 100. I think most music fans know the song. Like many songs Garrett wrote for Midnight Oil, the song has political and social significance in Australia. Some of their other songs charted but Beds Are Burning was their biggest hit. Midnight Oil continued to have success as an album band until the mid-90s. This 2CD comp covers their Columbia recordings. Garrett left Midnight Oil in 2002 to get into politics. He was elected to the senate in 2004 and he was Minister of the Environment among other things until he left in 2013. The other members worked on various projects. Midnight Oil reunited a couple of times. Then they reformed and toured in 2016 and did a world tour in 2017. They have yet to record new music. Midnight Oil are legends in Australia. Here's the video for Beds Are Burning by Midnight Oil.
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