(Sony) Some 21 years after its release in August 1987, Diesel And Dust, the sixth studio album by the beloved Australian band Midnight Oil, continues to burn a trail across the rock wilderness that is as relevant and politically savvy today as the moment it was created. Source of an enduring manifesto of songs that cut across environmental collapse, native human rights, nuclear devastation, and big government, the album earned RIAA platinum in this country (and 7-times platinum in Oz) on its way to desert-island-disc status. Underscoring Midnight Oil's activist core was the commitment of its lead singer Peter Garrett who first campaigned for the Australian Senate on a Nuclear Disarmament Party ticket in 1984, while still in the band (losing only by the slimmest margin). Today, six years after amicably departing Midnight Oil in 2002, Garrett's dedication is strong as ever, as Australia's Minister for Environment, Heritage and Arts.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the U.S. chart debut of DIESEL AND DUST in 1988, an expanded edition of the album will now contain the long-lost 11th track "Gunbarrel Highway" (banned from North American editions of the album because of the lyric "s*** falls like rain on a land that is brown"), coupled with a bonus DVD of the one-hour 1987 Blackfella/Whitefella Tour documentary its first appearance on commercial home video (with bonus clips of "The Dead Heart" and "Beds Are Burning"). Newly remastered for the first time in two decades, and complete with band member Rob Hirst's original liner notes, the new package will arrive in stores May 6th on Columbia/Legacy.
DIESEL AND DUST was the penultimate statement from Midnight Oil Peter Garrett, Martin Rotsey (guitar), Jim Moginie (guitar, keyboards), drummer Rob Hirst, and then-bassist Peter Gifford (who took over the spot in 1980 from Andrew 'Bear' James, and was succeeded in late-1988 by Bones Hillman, the only lineup changes in the band's history). The opening track, "Beds Are Burning" ("The time has come, a fact's a fact/ It belongs to them, let's give it back") was a grim reminder of similar battles fought by native American Indians in this country.
It took the album nearly six months to enter the Billboard chart, despite the fact that it debuted at #1 in Australia (their fourth #1 album there). But Progressive Rock radio in the U.S. forced the issue in February 1988, "Beds Are Burning" finally crossed-over to the Mainstream Rock singles chart (reaching #6) and the Hot 100 (making #17). DIESEL AND DUST followed suit in February, on its way to a 55-week chart stay (hitting #21) and RIAA platinum.
DIESEL AND DUST by Midnight Oil (Columbia/Legacy 88697 17653 2 8, originally issued August 1987, as Columbia 40967) Selections Disc One (CD): 1. Beds Are Burning 2. Put Down That Weapon 3. Dreamworld 4. Arctic World 5. Warakurna 6. The Dead Heart 7. Whoah 8. Bullroarer 9. Sell My Soul 10. Sometimes Bonus track: 11. Gunbarrel Highway.
Disc Two (Performances contained within the Blackfella/Whitefella Tour DVD documentary): 1. The Dead Heart 2. Stand In Line 3. The Power And The Passion 4. Blackfella/Whitefella 5. Gotta Be Strong 6. Warumpinya (Papunya) 7. Best Of Both Worlds 8. Nyuntu Nyaalyjirriku (What Are You Going To Do) 9. Helps Me Help You 10. Waru (Fire) 11. Kosciusko 12. Beds Are Burning 13. Island Home 14. Read About It Bonus tracks: 15. The Dead Heart (video clip) 16. Beds Are Burning (video clip).
Note:
All performances by Midnight Oil except number 4 (by Midnight Oil and the Warumpi Band); and numbers 5, 6, 8, 10, and 13 (by the Warumpi Band).
