20,000 Watt R.S.L.

Last updated

20,000 Watt R.S.L.
20000 Watt RSL album.jpg
Greatest hits album by
Midnight Oil
Released12 October 1997
Recorded1979–1997
Genre Rock
Length75:55
Label Sprint Music / CBS Records
Midnight Oil chronology
Breathe
(1996)		20,000 Watt R.S.L.
(1997)		 Redneck Wonderland
(1998)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

20,000 Watt R.S.L. is a compilation album by Australian rock band Midnight Oil released in October 1997 on their own label Sprint Music. [2] [3] The word "Collection" appears on the front of the CD along the hinge in the same type face as the title and the name of the band and may have been intended as part of the album's title; however, it does not appear on the spine. The release has also been distributed inside a cardboard sleeve which adds "Midnight Oil: The Hits" to the album art, distinguishing it as a compilation album.

Contents

The compilation covers the majority of Midnight Oil's career, starting with their 1979 album Head Injuries , and includes tracks from all their major studio releases (and one EP), even including two songs from the forthcoming Redneck Wonderland album, which was released after this compilation in 1998. [3] The compilation does not include any material from the band's eponymous 1978 debut album or the Bird Noises EP (1980). The liner notes contain an essay on the band by Australian author Tim Winton.

The album peaked at #1 on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) album charts, [4] and achieved 5×Platinum sales, it also peaked at #18 in New Zealand. [5]

In 2012, Midnight Oil released the 2-disc compilation album Essential Oils , a more comprehensive summary of the band's career, and which includes material from all of the band's studio albums and EPs between 1978 and 2002. There is only one song ("What Goes On") included in 20,000 Watt R.S.L. that is not included in Essential Oils.

Background

Midnight Oil are an Australian rock band from Sydney formed in 1976 with vocalist Peter Garrett, drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboardist/lead guitarist Jim Moginie, [2] [3] Guitarist Martin Rotsey joined in 1977 [3] and Midnight Oil established their own record label Powderworks, [3] they released their second album Head Injuries on this label in October 1979. [3] Founding bass guitarist James left due to illness in 1980, he was replaced by Peter Gifford, Gifford was himself replaced by Bones Hillman in 1987. [2] [3]

Australian Top Ten singles were "Power and the Passion", "The Dead Heart", "Beds Are Burning" and "Blue Sky Mine". [4] Aside from chart success both "Power and the Passion" and "Beds Are Burning" were listed by Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) in the Top 30 best Australian songs of all time in 2001. [6] Through a long and distinguished career, the band became known for its driving hard-rock sound, intense live performances and political activism, particularly in aid of anti-nuclear, environmentalist and indigenous causes. [7]

The title refers to the Returned Servicemen's League, whose clubs the band has performed in, and the typical power used by a public address system. [8]

Track listing

Songwriters according to Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA): [9]

  1. "What Goes On" (Garrett, Hillman, Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey) [10]
  2. "Power and the Passion" (Garrett, Hirst, Moginie) [11]
  3. "Dreamworld" (Garrett, Hirst, Moginie) [12]
  4. "White Skin Black Heart" (Garrett, Hillman, Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey) [10]
  5. "Kosciuszko" (Hirst, Moginie) [13]
  6. "The Dead Heart" (Garrett, Hirst, Moginie) [12]
  7. "Blue Sky Mine" (Garrett, Hillman, Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey) [14]
  8. "US Forces" (Garrett, Moginie) [11]
  9. "Beds Are Burning" (Garrett, Hirst, Moginie) [12]
  10. "One Country" (Garrett, Moginie) [14]
  11. "Best of Both Worlds" (Hirst, Moginie) [13]
  12. "Truganini" (Hirst, Moginie) [15]
  13. "King of the Mountain" (Hirst, Moginie) [14]
  14. "Hercules" (Garrett, Hirst, Moginie) [16]
  15. "Surf's Up Tonight" (Garrett, Hillman, Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey) [17]
  16. "Back on the Borderline" (Garrett, Hirst, James) [18]
  17. "Don't Wanna Be the One" (Garrett, Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey) [19]
  18. "Forgotten Years" (Hirst, Moginie) [14]

Charts

Certifications

Album

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [25] 5× Platinum350,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Video

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [26] 5× Platinum75,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Personnel

Midnight Oil
Additional personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midnight Oil</span> Australian alternative rock band

Midnight Oil are an Australian rock band composed of Peter Garrett, Rob Hirst (drums), Jim Moginie and Martin Rotsey (guitar). The group was formed in Sydney in 1972 by Hirst, Moginie and original bassist Andrew James as Farm: they enlisted Garrett the following year, changed their name in 1976, and hired Rotsey a year later. Peter Gifford served as bass player from 1980 to 1987, with Bones Hillman then assuming the role until his death in 2020. Midnight Oil have sold over 20 million albums worldwide as of 2022.

<i>Midnight Oil</i> (Midnight Oil album) 1978 studio album by Midnight Oil

Midnight Oil is the debut album by Australian rock band Midnight Oil which was recorded in 1977 and released in November 1978 on the band's independent Powderworks label. It reached the top 50 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart. The album was later distributed by CBS Records and issued as a CD. The LP has a blue cover, however, the CD has a black cover. Because of the blue cover, the former version is often referred to, by fans, as the "blue album" or "the Blue Meanie". The lead single, "Run by Night", became the band's first minor hit in Australia and appeared on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart Top 100. It also had a video clip.

<i>Head Injuries</i> 1979 studio album by Midnight Oil

Head Injuries is the second studio album by Australian pub rockers Midnight Oil, which was released in October 1979 on their own Powderworks label and distributed by Columbia Records. The album was produced by Leszek J. Karski, recorded at 'Trafalgar Studios' in Sydney. It was the last Midnight Oil album to feature founding bass guitarist Andrew James, who quit the band due to illness. It peaked at No. 36 on the Australian Kent Music Report and by mid-1980 had achieved gold status in Australia.

<i>Scream in Blue</i> 1992 live album by Midnight Oil

Scream in Blue is a live album by Midnight Oil that was released in May 1992 under the Columbia Records label. It contains songs carefully culled from 5 live concerts recorded over a 9-year period. The audiences sound quite large, but also included is material from a 1990 protest concert held on the street in front of Exxon headquarters in New York City. The album is mixed so as to sound like one continuous concert.

<i>Breathe</i> (Midnight Oil album) 1996 studio album by Midnight Oil

Breathe is the ninth studio album by Australian rock band, Midnight Oil, which was released on 15 October 1996 under the Columbia Records label. It peaked at No. 3 on the ARIA Albums Chart and appeared in the top 40 on the New Zealand and Swiss Albums Charts. The album was produced by Malcolm Burn and according to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, it had a loose, raw style with almost a low-key sound.

<i>Redneck Wonderland</i> 1998 studio album by Midnight Oil

Redneck Wonderland is the tenth studio album by Midnight Oil that was released in July 1998 under the Columbia Records label, which peaked at No.7 on the ARIA Albums Chart. The title of the album was inspired by a wall graffiti, a picture of which can be seen in the promotional Oil Rag Vol. VI issued along with album release. The album was certified Gold in Australia in 2014. The album's eponymous song was ranked number 93 in Triple M's "Ozzest 100", the 'most Australian' songs of all time. The album marked a shift to an electronic influenced hard rock style.

<i>Bird Noises</i> 1980 EP by Midnight Oil

Bird Noises is the first extended play by Australian rock group, Midnight Oil, which was released on 24 November 1980 under the band's own independent label, Powderworks Records / Sprint Music. It was produced by Leszek Karski and manufactured and distributed by CBS/Columbia. Bird Noises reached the Top 30 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart.

<i>Species Deceases</i> 1985 EP by Midnight Oil

Species Deceases is an extended play by Australian rock music group, Midnight Oil, which was released on 26 November 1985 under the CBS record label. Species Deceases debuted at No. 1 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart for six weeks from December 1985 to January 1986. It was the first Australian single and/or EP to reach the number-one spot on its chart appearance and remains Midnight Oil's only No. 1 on the national singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Hirst</span> Musical artist

Robert George Hirst is an Australian musician from Camden, New South Wales. He is a founding member of rock band Midnight Oil on drums, percussion and backing vocals from the 1970s until the band took a hiatus in 2002. The band resumed activity as a group in 2017. Hirst also wrote a book, Willie's Bar & Grill, recounting the experiences on the tour Midnight Oil embarked on shortly after the 11 September terrorist attacks in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Moginie</span> Australian musician (born 1956)

James Moginie is an Australian musician. He is best known for his work with Midnight Oil, of which he is a founding member, guitarist, keyboardist and leading songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghostwriters (band)</span>

Ghostwriters are an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1990, principally involving Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst and Hoodoo Gurus bassist Richard Grossman. Their highest-charting single was "Someone's Singing New York New York" (1991) written by Hirst. It reached No. 29 on the ARIA Australian Singles Chart.

<i>The Real Thing</i> (Midnight Oil album) 2000 live album by Midnight Oil

The Real Thing is a mostly acoustic live album by Midnight Oil, which includes four additional studio recordings, among them a cover version of Russell Morris's classic "The Real Thing". It was initially issued in Australia with a bonus disk of interview material listed as containing 2 tracks but the CD was divided into 30 tracks, dividing the interview up so that past albums and each track on "The Real Thing" gets a short discussion followed by snippet from the album or song being discussed. Later international releases had a bonus disk with videos of "Cemetery In My Mind" and "Redneck Wonderland".

<i>Best of Both Worlds</i> (Midnight Oil album) 2004 live album by Midnight Oil

Best of Both Worlds is a DVD-Video release of two significant concerts performed by Australian rock band Midnight Oil. The featured concerts are Oils on the Water and Saturday Night at the Capitol (1982). Best of Both Worlds was released in 2004 by Triple J as part of their Live at the Wireless program. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2004 it won Best Music DVD.

<i>The Green Disc</i> 1990 compilation album by Midnight Oil

The Green Disc is a promotional album by Midnight Oil that was released in 1990 under the CBS label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Power and the Passion (song)</span> 1983 single by Midnight Oil

"Power and the Passion" is the second single from Midnight Oil's 1982 album 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. The song is one of the band's most famous, and it was performed on every Midnight Oil tour since the issue of 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 as well as at the WaveAid concert.

"Read About It" is a song by Australian rock band Midnight Oil, released as the third and final single from their 1982 studio album, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. It was a favourite with the band and with fans, appearing at least once on every tour since its release and appearing at the WaveAid concert. Very few other Midnight Oil songs have appeared so often.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">US Forces (song)</span> 1982 single by Midnight Oil

"US Forces" is the first single released from Australian rock band Midnight Oil's fourth studio album, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. The song, which denounces US military intervention in foreign affairs, charted at no. 20 in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Put Down That Weapon</span> 1987 single by Midnight Oil

"Put Down That Weapon" is a song by Australian rock band Midnight Oil. The song was released in December 1987 as the third single from their sixth studio album, Diesel and Dust. The lyrics describe US nuclear ships visiting Australia, with the "harbour town" referring to Sydney.

<i>The Makarrata Project</i> 2020 studio album by Midnight Oil

The Makarrata Project is the twelfth studio album by Australian band Midnight Oil, released on 30 October 2020 by Sony Music Australia. The album is the first new material from the band since 2002's Capricornia, their first studio album to hit #1 on the ARIA Charts since 1990's Blue Sky Mining, and one of the final releases to feature bassist and backing vocalist Bones Hillman before his death in November 2020.

<i>Live at the Old Lion, Adelaide, 1982</i> 2022 live album by Midnight Oil

Live at the Old Lion, Adelaide, 1982 is a live album by Australian rock band Midnight Oil.The album was released digitally on 2 December 2022 and physically on 13 May 2023.

References

  1. ↑ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Midnight Oil – 20,000 Watt R.S.L.: Greatest Hits". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  2. 1 2 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.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Midnight Oil discography". Australian Rock Database . Magnus Holmgren. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2008.
  4. 1 2 "Midnight Oil discography". Australian Charts Portal. Retrieved 20 October 2008.
  5. ↑ ""20,000 Watt R.S.L" album charting". Australian Charts Portal. Retrieved 16 December 2008.
  6. ↑ Kruger, Debbie (2 May 2001). "The songs that resonate through the years" (PDF). Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 October 2008. Retrieved 20 October 2008.
  7. ↑ Fricke, David (2004). "Midnight Oil Biography". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 3 November 2007. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  8. ↑ (Powderworks) 20,000 Watt RSL Title - Meaning
  9. ↑ "APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 17 May 2007. Retrieved 20 August 2008. Note: requires user to input song title e.g. WHAT GOES ON
  10. 1 2 from Redneck Wonderland (1998)
  11. 1 2 from 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (1982)
  12. 1 2 3 from Diesel and Dust (1987)
  13. 1 2 from Red Sails in the Sunset (1984)
  14. 1 2 3 4 from Blue Sky Mining (1990)
  15. ↑ from Earth and Sun and Moon (1993)
  16. ↑ from Species Deceases (1985)
  17. ↑ from Breathe (1996)
  18. ↑ from Head Injuries (1979)
  19. ↑ from Place without a Postcard (1981)
  20. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Midnight Oil – 20,000 Watt R.S.L.". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  21. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Midnight Oil – 20,000 Watt R.S.L." (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  22. ↑ "Charts.nz – Midnight Oil – 20,000 Watt R.S.L.". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  23. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 1997". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  24. ↑ "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1998". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  25. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  26. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2012 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 1 December 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.