Blue Sky Mining Explained

Blue Sky Mining
Type:studio
Artist:Midnight Oil
Cover:MidnightOil_BlueSkyMining.jpg
Released:9 February 1990
Recorded:June−September 1989
Studio:Rhinoceros Studios, Sydney
Genre:Alternative rock
Length:46:52
Label:Columbia
Producer:Warne Livesey & Midnight Oil
Prev Title:Diesel and Dust
Prev Year:1987
Next Title:The Green Disc
Next Year:1990

Blue Sky Mining is the seventh studio album by Australian alternative rock band Midnight Oil, released on 9 February 1990 under the Columbia Records label. It received high ratings from critics. In March of that year, the album peaked at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart for two weeks. A limited release of the record featured clear blue vinyl. This was the band's first studio album with bassist and backing vocalist Bones Hillman, who would remain in the group until his death in 2020.

Background

Blue Sky Mining, produced by Warne Livesey, was released by CBS/Columbia on 9 February 1990.[1] It peaked at number one on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) albums chart.[2] It stayed at number one for two weeks in Australia and had Top 5 chart success in Sweden, Switzerland and Norway.[3] It peaked at number 20 on the Billboard 200[4] and number 28 on the UK charts.[5] The album was "more defiant and outspoken" than their previous work;[6] the single "Blue Sky Mine" describes asbestos exposure in the Wittenoom mine tragedy.[6] The lead single peaked at number eight on the ARIA singles charts,[2] top 15 in Norway and Switzerland,[7] number 47 on Billboard Hot 100 and number one on both their Mainstream and Modern Rock Tracks charts,[8] and appeared on the UK charts.[5] The second single, "Forgotten Years", was more moderately successful, reaching number 26 on the ARIA singles chart, number 97 in the UK, number 11 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks, and number one on the Modern Rock Tracks.

At the ARIA Music Awards of 1991, Midnight Oil won 'Best Group' and an 'Outstanding Achievement Award', and were awarded 'Best Cover Art', 'Best Video' and 'Album of the Year' for Blue Sky Mining.[9] [10] Manager Gary Morris, accepting awards for Midnight Oil, was criticised for a speech lasting 20 minutes.[10] [11]

Track listing

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (1990)Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[15] 3
Canadian Albums (RPM)[16] 28
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[17] 19
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[18] 8
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] 12
US Billboard 200[20] 67

Personnel

Midnight Oil

Additional personnel

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20120927020538/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/m/midnightoil.html . Midnight Oil . Holmgren . Magnus . Stenerlöv . Carl-Johan . Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren) . 27 September 2012 . 12 February 2014 .
  2. Web site: Midnight Oil discography . Australian Charts Portal . 20 October 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101029102343/http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Midnight+Oil . 29 October 2010 .
  3. Web site: Blue Sky Mining album charting . https://archive.today/20130101223316/http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?key=1005&cat=a . dead . 1 January 2013 . Australian Charts Portal . 23 October 2008 .
  4. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4911|pure_url=yes}} Midnight Oil – Charts & Awards – ''Billboard'' Albums ]. allmusic . 21 October 2008 .
  5. Web site: The Official Charts Company Midnight Oil . . 22 October 2008 .
  6. Book: McFarlane, Ian . . Ian McFarlane . . 1999 . Encyclopedia entry for 'Midnight Oil' . http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=487 . 1-86448-768-2 . 20 October 2008 . 13 August 2004 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040813100940/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=487 . bot: unknown .
  7. Web site: "Blue Sky Mine" single charting . Australian Charts Portal . 23 October 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141127014517/http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Midnight+Oil&titel=Blue+Sky+Mine&cat=s . 27 November 2014 .
  8. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4911|pure_url=yes}} Midnight Oil – Charts & Awards – ''Billboard'' Albums ]. allmusic . 22 October 2008 .
  9. Web site: ARIA Awards 2008: History: Winners by Artist search result for Midnight Oil . Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) . 25 August 2008 .
  10. Web site: ARIA Awards 2008: History: Winners by Year search result for 1991 . Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) . 24 October 2008 .
  11. Book: Jenkins, Jeff . Molly Meldrum presents 50 years of rock in Australia . Ian Meldrum . 2007 . Wilkinson Publishing . Melbourne . 21, 82, 237–241 . 978-1-921332-11-1 .
  12. Web site: Album FAQ - Blue Sky Mining . 2007-03-25 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20120206232756/http://www.deadheart.org.uk/news_and_info/faq/album_faq/blue_sky_mining.htm . 2012-02-06.
  13. Personal memory. I went to the record store on release day and bought a cassette copy which included this "bonus rough mix track"
  14. Physical CD media from 1990 release
  15. Web site: ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums1990 . Australian Recording Industry Association . 31 December 2014.
  16. Web site: Top 100 Albums of 1990. en. RPM. 1 December 2021.
  17. Web site: Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts. de. GfK Entertainment. 12 March 2021.
  18. Web site: Top Selling Albums of 1990. Recorded Music NZ. 15 February 2022.
  19. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1990. hitparade.ch. 12 March 2021.
  20. Web site: Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1990. Billboard. 12 March 2021.

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