Blue Sky Mine

Last updated
"Blue Sky Mine"
Blue Sky Mine (Midnight Oil) single coverart.jpg
Single by Midnight Oil
from the album Blue Sky Mining
B-side
  • "You May Not Be Released"
  • "Wedding Cake Island"
  • "Blossom and Blood"
Released5 February 1990 (1990-02-05) [1]
Genre Garage rock [2]
Length4:18
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie, Peter Garrett, Martin Rotsey, Bones Hillman
Producer(s) Midnight Oil, Warne Livesey
Midnight Oil singles chronology
"Dreamworld"
(1988)		"Blue Sky Mine"
(1990)		"Forgotten Years"
(1990)

"Blue Sky Mine" is a song by Australian rock band Midnight Oil, released in February 1990 as the first single from their seventh studio album, Blue Sky Mining (1990). The song was inspired by the experiences of workers at the Wittenoom asbestos mines who contracted various asbestos-related diseases. [3] [4] [5] The "blue" refers to blue asbestos, and the "sugar refining company" mentioned in the lyrics refers to the Colonial Sugar Refining Company Ltd, the owner of the mines.

Contents

Reception

"Blue Sky Mine" peaked at No. 7 on the Canadian RPM 100 Singles chart, No. 8 on the Australian Singles Chart, No. 47 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and No. 1 on both the Billboard Album Rock Tracks and Modern Rock Tracks charts. It charted the highest in New Zealand, where it reached No. 2 for two weeks in March 1990. The music video, directed by Claudia Castle, won the ARIA Award for Best Video at the ARIA Music Awards of 1991. [6]

Double J named it in the top fifty Australian songs of the 1990s, saying, "It just so happens to also have a beat perfect for fist-pumping and a chorus crafted for hearty singalongs, which is why it appealed to the masses around the world. If even a small percentage of rock'n'roll fans took something from their message, the band's work was not in vain." [7] In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100", the 'most Australian' songs of all time, "Blue Sky Mine" was ranked number 39. [8]

Track listings

7-inch version
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Blue Sky Mine" R. Hirst, J. Moginie, P. Garrett, M. Rotsey, W. Stevens [9] 4:20
2."You May Not Be Released"R. Hirst, J. Moginie, P. Garrett, Rotsey, W. Stevens [10] 3:40
Total length:8:00
12-inch version
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Blue Sky Mine"R. Hirst, J. Moginie, P. Garrett, M. Rotsey, W. Stevens [9] 4:18
2."Wedding Cake Island"R. Hirst, J. Moginie, P. Garrett, M. Rotsey, P. Gifford [11] 3:15
3."Blossom and Blood"R. Hirst, J. Moginie, P. Garrett, M. Rotsey, P. Gifford [12] 4:35
Total length:12:08

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [31] Gold35,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midnight Oil</span> Australian 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 2021.

<i>Blue Sky Mining</i> 1990 studio album by Midnight Oil

Blue Sky Mining is the seventh studio album by Australian alternative rock band Midnight Oil, released on 9 February 1990 under the Columbia Records label. It received high ratings from critics. In March of that year, the album peaked at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart for two weeks. A limited release of the record featured clear blue vinyl. This was the band's first studio album with bassist and backing vocalist Bones Hillman, who would remain in the group until his death in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Are You Gonna Be My Girl</span> 2003 single by Jet

"Are You Gonna Be My Girl" is a song by Australian rock band Jet from their 2003 debut album, Get Born. It was released as the first single from the album on 18 August 2003 in the United States and on 1 September 2003 in Australia.

<i>20,000 Watt R.S.L.</i> 1997 greatest hits album by Midnight Oil

20,000 Watt R.S.L. is a compilation album by Australian rock band Midnight Oil released on 13 October 1997 on their own label Sprint Music. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beds Are Burning</span> 1987 single by Midnight Oil

"Beds Are Burning" is a 1987 song by the Australian rock band Midnight Oil, the first track from their album Diesel and Dust. This song was released as the second single from the album. It reached No. 1 in New Zealand, South Africa and Canada, No. 3 in the Netherlands, No. 5 in France, No. 6 in the United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland, No. 17 in the United States and Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prisoner of Society</span> Song by the Living End

"Prisoner of Society" is a song by Australian punk rock band the Living End. It was originally released in Australia on the 1997 EP Second Solution / Prisoner of Society. The song was later released as a single, separate from the EP, in the United States in January 1999. In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100", "Prisoner of Society" was ranked number 32.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friday on My Mind</span> 1966 single by The Easybeats

"Friday on My Mind" is a 1966 song by Australian rock group The Easybeats. Written by band members George Young and Harry Vanda, the track became a worldwide hit, reaching No.16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 1967 in the US, No.1 on the Dutch Top 40 chart, No.1 in Australia and No.6 in the UK, as well as charting in several other countries. In 2001, it was voted "Best Australian Song" of all time by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) as determined by a panel of 100 music industry personalities. In 2007, "Friday on My Mind" was added to the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia registry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Under the Milky Way</span> 1988 single by the Church

"Under the Milky Way" is a single by Australian alternative rock band The Church, released on 15 February 1988, and appears on their fifth studio album Starfish. The song was written by bass guitarist and lead vocalist Steve Kilbey and his then-girlfriend Karin Jansson of Curious (Yellow). It peaked at No. 22 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart, No. 24 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 and No. 25 on the New Zealand Singles Chart; it also appeared in the Dutch Single Top 100. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1989, the song won 'Single of the Year'. It was issued simultaneously in both 7" vinyl and 12" vinyl formats by Arista Records (internationally) and Mushroom Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Change</span> 1982 single by INXS

"Don't Change" is a song by Australian rock band INXS. It was released as a single from the album Shabooh Shoobah in October 1982. It has been described as the song that made the band internationally famous.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomorrow (Silverchair song)</span> 1994 single by Silverchair

"Tomorrow" is a song by Australian rock band Silverchair, which was released on 16 September 1994 on their debut extended play album, also titled Tomorrow. The song was later released on Frogstomp, the band's debut studio album, in 1995. Written by lead singer and guitarist Daniel Johns and drummer Ben Gillies, it was produced and engineered by Phil McKellar at the national radio station Triple J's studios for SBS-TV's show, Nomad, which aired on 16 June 1994. After the broadcast the band were signed to the Murmur label – a Sony Music subsidiary – which subsequently issued the Tomorrow EP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Straight Lines (song)</span> 2007 single by Silverchair

"Straight Lines" is a song by Australian rock band Silverchair. It was released on 12 March 2007 and debuted at number one on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, becoming the band's first number-one single since 1997's "Freak". The single was shortly followed by the release of the band's fifth studio album Young Modern on 31 March 2007. Unlike the songs written during Diorama, when Daniel Johns wrote all the tracks himself, "Straight Lines" was co-written by the Presets' Julian Hamilton.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Original Sin (INXS song)</span> 1983 single by INXS

"Original Sin" is a song by Australian rock group INXS, released as the first single from the band's fourth album, The Swing. It was written by Michael Hutchence and Andrew Farriss, and produced by Nile Rodgers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dead Heart</span> 1986 single by Midnight Oil

"The Dead Heart" is a song by Australian rock band Midnight Oil. It was first released as a single in Australia in 1986 and in the United Kingdom and the United States in 1988 after it had been included on the 1987 album, Diesel and Dust. It peaked at number four on the Australian singles chart and at number 11 on the U.S. Mainstream rock chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Run to Paradise</span> 1987 single by The Choirboys

"Run to Paradise" is a song by Australian hard rock group The Choirboys which reached No. 3 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart in December 1987. The related Big Bad Noise album peaked at No. 5, and was the twenty-first highest-selling album of 1988 in Australia. In New Zealand, "Run to Paradise" attained No. 13 on the RIANZ Singles Chart. Released in the United States in 1989, it appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 and Mainstream Rock charts. The song was re-worked for a 2004 release credited to Nick Skitz vs. Choirboys and reached No. 16 on the ARIA Singles Chart. In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100", the 'most Australian' songs of all time, "Run to Paradise" was ranked number 24.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midnight Oil discography</span>

The discography of Australian rock group Midnight Oil consists of thirteen studio albums, forty-three singles, two EPs, five video albums, seven live albums, and six compilation albums. The band have sold over 20 million albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Treaty (song)</span> 1991 single by Yothu Yindi

"Treaty" is a protest song by Australian musical group Yothu Yindi, which is made up of Aboriginal and balanda (non-Aboriginal) members. Released in June 1991, "Treaty" was the first song by a predominantly Aboriginal band to chart in Australia and was the first song partly in any Aboriginal Australian language to gain extensive international recognition, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play singles charts. The song contains lyrics in Gumatj, one of the Yolngu Matha dialects and a language of the Yolngu people of Arnhem Land in northern Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cool Change (song)</span> 1979 single by Little River Band

"Cool Change" is a song by Australian rock group Little River Band written by lead singer Glenn Shorrock. It was released in August 1979 the second single from their sixth album, First Under the Wire. The song peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of 19 January 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forgotten Years</span> 1990 single by Midnight Oil

"Forgotten Years" is a song by Australian rock band Midnight Oil, released in April 1990 as the second single from their seventh studio album, Blue Sky Mining (1990). The song peaked at No. 26 on the Australian Singles Chart, No. 1 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Chart and No. 11 on the Billboard Album Rock Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King of the Mountain (Midnight Oil song)</span> 1990 Midnight Oil song

"King of the Mountain" is a song by Australian rock band Midnight Oil, released in 1990 as the third single from their seventh studio album, Blue Sky Mining (1990). It peaked at No. 25 on the Australian Singles Chart, No. 3 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, and No. 20 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.

References

  1. ↑ "New Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 3 February 1990. p. 38. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  2. ↑ Fricke, David (2004). "Midnight Oil". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 541–542. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  3. ↑ "Wittenoom Community Education Campaign - Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia Inc".
  4. ↑ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r13029
  5. ↑ "Vanishing history: the most intriguing lost cities - travel tips and articles - Lonely Planet". www.lonelyplanet.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-12.
  6. ↑ ARIA Award previous winners. "Winners by Award – Artisan Awards – Best Video". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  7. ↑ Dan Condon. "The 50 best Australian songs of the 90s". Double J .
  8. ↑ "Here Are The Songs That Made Triple M's 'Ozzest 100'". Musicfeeds. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  9. 1 2 "'Blue Sky Mine' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "'You May Not Be Released' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  11. ↑ "'Wedding Cake Island' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  12. ↑ "'Blossom and Blood' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  13. ↑ "Midnight Oil – Blue Sky Mine". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  14. ↑ "Midnight Oil – Blue Sky Mine" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  15. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9099." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  16. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9060." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  17. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media . Vol. 7, no. 18. 5 May 1990. p. V.
  18. ↑ "Midnight Oil – Blue Sky Mine" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  19. ↑ "Midnight Oil – Blue Sky Mine" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  20. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Blue Sky Mine". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  21. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 12, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  22. ↑ "Midnight Oil – Blue Sky Mine" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  23. ↑ "Midnight Oil – Blue Sky Mine". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  24. ↑ "Midnight Oil – Blue Sky Mine". VG-lista. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  25. ↑ "Midnight Oil – Blue Sky Mine". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  26. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  27. ↑ "Midnight Oil Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  28. ↑ "Midnight Oil Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  29. ↑ "Midnight Oil Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  30. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles: March 31, 1990". Cash Box . Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  31. 1 2 "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1990". ARIA . Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  32. ↑ "Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990". RPM . Retrieved 30 July 2018– via Library and Archives Canada.
  33. 1 2 "The Year in Music 1990". Billboard . Vol. 102, no. 51. 22 December 1990. p. YE-47.
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.