Summer in Europe, time for some readings on Australian music.
 
On the book "Singing Australia" author Graeme Smith writes " Paul Kelly recalls that he only became inspired to write in a consciously Australian idiom after hearing Midnight Oil while living in France".
The footnote directs to insert notes of 1997 Paul Kelly's Songs from the south Greatest Hits. I've got this album and there is nothing related to the Oils on the insert notes..
 
So I went to read Paul Kelly's memoir, I couldn't find anything about it, but  I found some interesting and funny comments on the Oils
 
Regarding the support bands and the hard job of having to play before the Oils, Kelly define that experience as the "Midnight Oil Support Band Syndrome"...
 
Later on, when Kelly and Mandawuy Yunupingu went to see Garrett to ask him a collaboration for the Treaty song...Kelly writes ironically: 
 
"the most honourable lord Peter was expecting us and graciously bade us to be seated. Like a pair of petitioners humbly come to court, we played him...
 
Anyway, does anybody know anything regarding this alleged Oils influence on Kelly's music?
 
thanks folks
 
JM