Run By Night Aussie rock classic here. Better sounding guitars on this track and a more effective vocals from Garret. If you skip everything else on this debut album, give this song a listen. Lyrics I'm on the whiskey flying, and I'll run by night I'm on the whiskey running, and I'll run by night I'm on the winter cycle, shut my eyes to the bite I'm on the winter cycle, shake my fist at the bite I'm on the whiskey flying, and I'll run by night I'm on the phone to summer, so I'll see you on the flight My friends are at a party, playing games with the light I hate to say I'm wrong, I just know I'm right We all run by night I'm on the whiskey flying, and I'll run by night I'm on the glaze a burning, and it burns in the light I'm on a turning circle, turn my face from the bite I'm on a turning circle, hear me screaming at the bite I'm on the edge of danger, and I'll run by night I'm on the phone to summer, so I;ll see you on the flight My friends are at a party, playing games with the light I hate to say I'm wrong, I just know I'm right We all run by night
Nothing Lost ... Nothing Gained Nice mellow opening into some nice lead guitar with a little power behind it. The song has more of a reflective feel about it and some interesting chord structures. Big outro lead. Definitely worth a listen and I think the second half of the album trumps the first half. Lyrics In my world there are sorrows I'd rather drown in happiness Come the morning, when the darkness through That story's bound to change And in my world And in my world It's all the same And nothing's ventured, nothing's gained And nothing's lost and nothing's changed Go and jump aboard the train of freedom It's a one way fare You can find out now that when the tunnel's through Your ticket's vanished, forgotten you And in my world... Turn up the TV, make the music loud Better to ignore the rabid dog baying at your door Draw the blind, change the channel if you dare Better to say, I don't care And in my world... You hear the bell, you know it's time to jump off Cause there's nothing at the platform's edge again It's too late It's over to you
Head Injuries - 1979 Head Injuries was released in October 1979 on the bands own Powderworks label and distributed by Columbia Records. The album was produced by Leszek J. Karski. 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. The band had stepped it up with this album obviously becoming more comfortable with the recording studio and having some strong song with which to work. From the opening bars of the first track you can hear instantly a better guitar sound and a more live feel Garret's vocals come over much better and things are heading in the right direction for the Oils. Also on this album there are some minor progressive type structures that will reach fruition two albums away with 10-1.
Cold Cold Change Opens with some solid guitar riffing and drops to a bass and vocals as the guitars build back up. A much more solid sounding song than anything on the debut .... Sound! Good songs on the debut but the sound of the band hadn't been quite right. Lyrics Cold cold change, we were so excited But you came and went so soon Cold cold change, we were not invited We smiled all the while we were taken in Cold cold change, bringing in the winter Freezing up the water, closing up the mind One more danger, gonna have to deal with One last moment fading all the time But no lasting change, well we were turned around We jumped in the air to see over the wall No master plan, it's a bad design Significant time in spite of us all Cold cold change, we were so excited Waiting on the outside, waiting to begin Left us all angry and bewildered Laughing at the way we were taken in You better lock the door, turn it off (the light) We'll leave the nights alone, better keep me hoping That the change is over, the ice is gone And when the weather's warmer you can hear me shouting yeah
Section 5 (Bus to Bondi) I would be interested to know what the guys were listening to while writing this album. The intro to this song sounds like a somewhat simplified Gentle Giant type riff. This song has a lot of sections and they gel together well. Again in comparison to the debut album the sound is ten fold better. Bondi is a very famous surfer beach in the Eastern states of Australia ... Give me some more details you Eastern Staters, I'm Perthite. Lyrics Push start that car tomorrow I'll take it to the tip yard Well I'll leave it as a metal wreck For cats to sleep Then I'll catch the bus to Bondi Swim the beach and wonder Who can wear the fashion when The place is oh so hot I'm just part of this play I'm making an inroad on the one and only I'm just part of this play I've finally decided I'm here to stay Then I'll stop the small talk Then I'll stop the games I'll show them that the plans I've made aren't wrong, what's wrong? Then I'll shop at New World Fill it up with real toys Initiate a face-lift for the captains to corrupt
Easy album and song guide Midnight Oil - 1978 Midnight Oil - the album thread track 1 Powderworks Midnight Oil - the album thread track 2 Head over heals Midnight Oil - the album thread track 3 Dust Midnight Oil - the album thread track 4 Used and Abused Midnight Oil - the album thread track 5 Surfing with a spoon Midnight Oil - the album thread track 6 Run by night Midnight Oil - the album thread track 7 Nothing lost ... nothing gained Midnight Oil - the album thread Head Injuries - 1979 Midnight Oil - the album thread track 1 Cold cold change Midnight Oil - the album thread track 2 Section 5 (bus to Bondi) Midnight Oil - the album thread
As an American, I didn't get into Midnight Oil until 10,9,8,7....., but I eventually worked my way backwards. I still have a bit of difficulty fully enjoying the debut album, but it starts to come together for me on Head Injuries. Really unique & great guitar parts. Some punk-y energy, but with elements of prog and hard rock. Section 5 even has an almost metal guitar riff in the verses. No Reaction and Is It Now? are probably my favorites on the album. I had been a bit of a fan for a few years by the time I finally saw them live, and I was absolutely blown away by how powerful they were live. Outside of Australia, not enough people realize the blinding energy they were (are still) capable of. Luckily there are number of professionally recorded videos available that do a reasonable job of capturing that energy. If you have stumbled across this thread without having ever seen the band, do yourself a favor and get to YouTube. Midnight Oil very slowly worked their way up to being on of my favorite bands.
i never got to see them live funnily enough. the thing that turned me from an interested observer to an album buying fan was Oils on water, live at goat island .... i reckon it is one of the most powerful and still professional live recordings ever. Quite remarkable as a document of the bands potency. The debut is spoiled a little by poor recording/production and inexperience. Like i say to me the second half of the album is better. Run by night was quite often played on the radio and a bit of a cult hit. Head injuries was a huge improvement in every aspect. Place without a postcard starts to get the band really into it's personality and 10-1 for me is an all time classic album that covers so many bases so well. Thanks for the input mate, very much appreciated
Naked Flame Another interesting structure in this song. A very different type of feel. Verse has a staccato guitar that leads into a chorus with a smooth keyboard. A lot of songs on here really make me wonder what they were listening to and inspired by in their writing, as it is quite different and interesting. Lyrics "This is a mad house, " she goes straight for the palm "You'll be luck to make it till Tuesday" I say "You must be joking, the idea's absurd" But the picture's hanging on her every word But she comes right back, her black velvet cat Has gone smiled all over the carpet He says "I know my rights, I've got nothing to say" But he cried all night on the night 'n' day I've seen the naked flame And I'm turning my eyes away "Yes it's a mad house, " the minister shouts But his words drown out in the crowd He says "I open my mouth and some idiot speaks" So he strikes the service for another two weeks Then the party's over, it's a free-for-all I'm under the table, I got my foot in the door Well she's a natural leader, and she's bound to win She's just waiting for the burning to begin I've seen the naked flame It's gonna burn me again I'm dying down in the rain And I'm turning my eyes away
Back on the borderline Another favourite from this early period of the Oils. Perhaps it's from being familiar with some live sets I've heard, but I think this song comes across really well. Lyrics From the bar to the bedroom I'm swimming in the neon Lighted pictures of a redhead, plastic-coated hot on And sometimes when that mirror shows The smile of disbelief Stained signature of nightmares They're stolen by the thief I'm back on the borderline Yes I'm back on the borderline By the end make a bet and only place is laminex Laugh a lot cry a lot salt and pepper supper sex And sometimes when that magic of the moment Fails the test In retrospect that diamond day Did not make second best And sometimes when a thousand voices Tell you that you're wrong A saint in any form Becomes a sinner all along
When Columbia (in the USA) started issuing the older catalogue in the early 90's I ate them up. Head Injuries was my favorite of the bunch, seemed like the perfect summer album. My favorite track was Back on the Borderline. The Oil's toured that fall and I never expected them to do deep cuts. Lo and behold they did Back on the Borderline. I don't think I've ever been happier at a show.
Koala Sprint This is another song that shows Midnight Oil to be somewhat different to their contemporaries. The band took a lot of chances with their structures and this song starts in an unusual manor before moving into more familiar territory, and yet the structure is again somewhat different. Lyrics And out from the echoes of the night Concrete caverns catch the sky and hold the stars to ransom A thousand dreams it's getting late Thousand runners standing still I can smell the sand and sea again I've had enough away City times down down I've got to go Lord don't let me wait Stay low 'Cause I'm going up north again It's a long way from Chatswood to the top of the gulf I'll be hitching pacific when the morning sun's up It's mile after mile on the long coast road Smell of frangipani ocean sky blue But I'm sick of seeing those beer can caravans I'm getting even sicker of the thong drive-in I'm feeling worse and worse at the chiko locallo And the pubs all close at ten Summer sun's got me stopping Summer sun's got me trying I'm waiting round for those waves and days I hope it never ends Well there's a new world bricking in the Old World charm Suburbs highway pass cicada-coloured farms Buy a car, sell a car, lead a car away 20 hours to Brisbane on night prowl play 20 hours to Brisbane...where's Brisbane...
No Reaction A little more straight forward on this one and back into a fairly straight rock song. Lyrics What do we want, we are going to be the winners or the losers? And who do we hear, do we listen to the beggars or the choosers? We're getting no reaction We haven't heard a word You're almost (but not quite) More than we deserve So what do we want, are we going to be the does or the talkers? And where do we go, can we separate the runners from the walkers? So what do we do, do we want to be the givers or the takers? And who do we hear, do we listen to the movers or the makers? So so what do we want, who do we hear? Where do we go and what can we do? And what would you say if it was all up to you?
I'm just talking about the YouTube and Facebook videos I have seen. But I think they will be releasing a live CD and DVD from the tour.
Oh the memories....I remember being 12 or 13 years old and bumping into an tv advertisement for Head Injuries. It left rather an impression on a young boy. Fast forward to my later teen years and 10-1 was released. What a great, great, album that was. I was lucky enough to see them for the first time on that tour. Oh my god, the energy they put out was beyond belief. I've seen a lot of bands in my time, but none have equaled the energy and ferocity that I witnessed that night. They are indeed a force of nature live.
Stand In Line Another good song from the Oils, also a very popular live track. Lots of dynamics and one of those quirky Oils riffs give this song a lot of character. Lyrics Oh get down, getting down, so much money in the ground For the people who don't deserve it now It's a circus we're the clowns as the giant ones disown Every bit of something we call home Said it's a pity 'bout the middle class Holden mass We get a bit to play around with doesn't really matter They kid us with their dole, kid us with the dope But generally speaking, nobody's got a hope We're playing the music of the middle-aged queens Getting fatter and fatter and splitting their jeans It's all the same, we're out in the cold The good ones died, the others just got old Everything's set, everything's fine You just got to stand in line Oh everything's set, everything's fine You just got to stand in line Getting down, getting down, we have to make it now Everybody's beaten, everybody's down, oh everybody's down So goodbye to the creeps who are making it Goodbye to the let it happen stand I'm moving out got no doubt they've forgettn twist 'n' shout They never ever listen to the man
Profiteers A very raw sound on this track. Starts off with some riffing then breaks down for the first verse. Lyrics Look up on the ledge, there's a bomber diving on the golden street Down below the crowd is falling, bullets under feet Don't tell me, don't tell me, hey don't tell me We're under the beat of a brand-new marching order Ears to be ground there's a party planned for the new recruits Hurricane lamps are burning, teargas fills the route, yeah
Is It Now? This song kicks in quickly with a melodic guitar riff then launches into the first verse. It's a fairly solid way to wrap up the second album. Lyrics There's a man who walks the lonely field at midnight He wears a matching suit, steel tipped shoes and the diamonds And he holds the dying flame, the loaded dice and the answer He stalks the open road that leads form here to there You'd better look out, watch out, beware There's no safety here Crouched by the fence, sweat dries cold on your every breath Where's the saviour that the critics dream about now He's telling jokes to all the saviours in the ward Be warned when it comes to that, to the point of indecision When you hesitate, he'll make his choice for you You better look out, beware There's no safety here (no, no, no safety) Crouched by the fence, sweat dried cold on your every breath His eyes, they turn red You think and recall what he said He puts a name to every face Table talk and wall to wall Winners win the game, and the losers win the war Resurrection, intersection, comic books and mass defection Vinyl floor and sliding doors, nothing more Lost the thread of conversation Sentence fails and engine roars No recall, blindfold to the stairs Is it now? Is it now?
