This is exciting news indeed.
I was a bit skeptical when I first heard about the Oil's re-issue program and disappointed with the initial iTunes release. The news that the physical re-issues will include a box set with rare and previously unreleased material has me salivating.
So, Jim, Rob & Martin, lets see this box set contain material that rightfully reminds the public and reinstates Midnight Oil's place in the history of Australian music as the uncompromising, independent, brutally unapologetic live act and recording artists of the late 70s and early 80s that we on this list know they were. A lot of us here have bootlegs and some great early live footage (much of which is now on youtube) but as an historically document, I truly hope some of this stuff and more makes its way, remastered and cleaned-up, into the box set. I think I remember someone reporting that the Oils lost a lot of their archive in a warehouse fire or flood a while back, (confirmation anyone?) but lets hope, in terms of footage, the 1980 Nightmoves, '81 Tanelorn, '81 Last JJ concert, '82 Wanda Beach footage for a start makes it in. ANY footage from the late '70s (including the Back on The Borderline and original Used & Abused clips) plus ANY earlier live footage would be priceless. Bonus recordings in the form of radio broadcasts, live concerts, demos, alternative takes (Wedding Cake Island anyone?) and album out-takes would make this a box-set truly worthy of the band.
My interest and concern here goes beyond my personal desire to hear, see and own these recordings. This box-set is an opportunity to address the legacy of Midnight Oil and their rightful place in both the history of Australian music and their impact on the social and cultural fabric of the times. I will provocatively posit that the Oils longevity and in particular some, no, many, of their latter albums actively eroded their early reputation, position and dare I suggest "credibility".
The amount of people (particularly Gen Ys) I've had to educate/correct about who Garrett and the Oils were beyond their perception of them based on Olympic closing ceremony performances, "sorry suits", Beds Are Burning and Blue Sky Mining, natural disaster charity concerts and Labor front benchers, is tiring. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan; I just prefer one version of the Oils to the other. Their longevity necessitated their evolution and I respect that. My hope is that the box-set aptly expands and represents their early career as well as their latter.
Finally and to hopefully sum up what I'm saying, I recently read two books that may or may not be of interest to this group; Michael Chugg's "Hey You In the Black T-Shirt" and Murray Engleheart's "Blood, Sweat & Beers - OZ Rock from the Aztecs to Rose Tattoo". The second I would highly recommend. Its discussion of Thorpie, Lobby Loyd, the Sharpie subculture, the rise and fall of X, Rose Tattoo and the Angels is fascinating and insightful. Of course only having a passing interest in these bands I was reading it conscious of the Oil's parallel journey, particularly in its dissertation of the rise of Australia's pub rock scene. The Oil's only received the odd fleeting reference here and there, but this was quickly explained away in Englehearts intro:
"... There's been plenty of books written about Australian music over the years but not one, for some reason, specifically on OZ rock: you know, the definitive article, this country's other indigenous music - the stuff that made hotel owners not just pull out their hair and power leads in an attempt to kill off the noise, but occasionally reach fro a gun as well.
"... (Loyd & Thorpe) sparked a scrum and dragged the loud, bluesy beast they created through the beer, vomit, dirt and mud of the legendary Sunbury festivals of the seventies. That arms race soared with the artful menace of the Angels, and climaxed ultimately in the fierce sledgehammer grace of Rose Tattoo.
"... (Historically, Cold Chisel are well outside the these terms of reference, as are Midnight Oil, who were the Who or even U2 to Chisel's Free or maybe Led Zeppelin. Accordingly, neither is addressed here. Nothing personal.)
then later
"In a sense, then, this book is an argument, a case for the defense of a now long-lost and often willfully ignored and sneered at history.
Those rock bands who somehow think they are carrying a torch for the genre - documented here through my own interviews unless otherwise acknowledged - are kidding themselves.
Accordingly, what you are holding is both a grand f#*k you and a proud salute."
Its a great read, but I don't agree with Engleheart's placement of Chisel and the Oils as outside of the genre. Conversely, it's my hope that the Midnight Oil box set will indeed be a proud salute that rightfully represents the Oils (early) career, reinstating them as crucial, if not the pinnacle of Australian rock music.
Adrian
--- In powderworks@yahoogroups.com.au, Stephan Jänsch <stephan.jaensch@...> wrote:
From Reverberama.com.au:
"Work continues on Midnight Oil's boxed set which is going to be amazing
in its depth and presentation of the band's career, with rare recordings
and so far unseen and unheard film and music."
Expectancy rises ;)!
Stephan
