For this, its 12th full-length album, Midnight Oil re-hired producer Warne Livesey, who had worked with them on their biggest international successes, Diesel and Dust and Blue Sky Mining. He helped them to achieve a sound that was a virtual compendium of familiar late-'60s rock styles -- Led Zeppelin on the title track, the Beatles on "Safety Chain Blues," the Who on "Blot," the Beach Boys on "Drop in the Ocean." At least, that was true musically; the vocals were sometimes so compressed they sounded like they were coming out of a bullhorn. Given the lyrics, that was appropriate, since the album was, as the band's press bio put it, "written and recorded in response to the rise of anti-Asia MP Pauline Hanson and her far-right One Nation Party." Outside of Australia, that could make the songs difficult to understand completely, although, for example, the environmentalist sense of "Concrete" and "Seeing Is Believing" were unmistakable, and the group's anger fueled its performances. Still, lines like "triumphalism gotta be a curse or even worse" probably sent more fans to the dictionary than the barricades. In Australia, the album went Top Ten, though it failed to chart in the U.S., which is less an indication of its local focus than of the group and/or its record company's diminished interest in the international market. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
Midnight Oil (Producer), Midnight Oil (Main Performer), Midnight Oil (Cover Art Concept), Brent Clark (Mixing), Peter Garrett (Vocals), Dwayne "Bones" Hillman (Bass), Dwayne "Bones" Hillman (Vocals), Rob Hirst (Drums), Rob Hirst (Vocals), Warne Livesey (Producer), Warne Livesey (Mixing), Jim Moginie (Synthesizer), Jim Moginie (Guitar), Jim Moginie (Keyboards), Jim Moginie (Vocals), Martin Rotsey (Guitar), Jeremy Smith (French Horn), Tim Young (Mastering), Helen Mountford (Cello), Kevin Wilkins (Cover Art Concept), Dave Davis (Assistant Engineer), Hope Csutoros (Violin), Hope Csutoros (Vocals), Alex Clark (Mixing), James Wagstaff (Mixing), Matt Voigt (Assistant Engineer), Paul Blackmore (Photography), Robin Casinader (String Arrangements)
First released on 20,000 Watt R.S.L.; known to be played on 20,000 Watt R.S.L. tour.
"What Goes On" (3:00)
First released on 20,000 Watt R.S.L.; known to be played on 20,000 Watt R.S.L. tour.
"Drop in the Ocean" (4:13)
(All tracks Midnight Oil)
The tour
The tour is noted for the use of a wheel featuring the titles of 64 Midnight Oil tracks. Most tracks from Redneck Wonderland were not played after the tour ended; the title track was generally the only song played, often as the opening track to shows on the Capricornia tour. Later, it was placed elsewhere in the set list; occasionally, too, "Concrete" and "Comfortable Place on the Couch" re-appeared.
Personnel
Midnight Oil
Jim Moginie: Guitar, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Vocals
1978: "Run by Night" •1981: "Don't Wanna Be the One" •"Armistice Day" •1982: "Power and the Passion" •"Read About It" •"US Forces" •1986: "The Dead Heart" •1987: "Beds Are Burning" •"Put Down that Weapon" •1988: "Dreamworld" •1990: "Blue Sky Mine" •"Forgotten Years" •"King of the Mountain" •"Bedlam Bridge" •"One Country" •1992: "Sometimes" •1993: "Truganini" •"My Country" •"In the Valley" •"Drums of Heaven" •"Outbreak of Love" •1996: "Underwater" •2000: "The Real Thing"
