The Midnight Oil Explained

The Midnight Oil
Type:Album
Artist:Barbara Mandrell
Cover:Barbara Mandrell-The Midnight Oil.jpg
Released:November 9, 1973
Recorded:September 29, 1971–May 25, 1973
Studio:Columbia Recording Studio (Nashville)
Genre:Country
Length:
  • 26:41
  • (2010 CD reissue & 2018 expanded edition)
Label:Columbia
Producer:Billy Sherrill
Prev Title:A Perfect Match
Prev Year:1972
Next Title:This Time I Almost Made It
Next Year:1974

The Midnight Oil is the second solo studio album by American country music singer Barbara Mandrell, released in 1973.

Mandrell had not released a solo studio album since 1971. It was her most successful album while under her Columbia label. This album brought Mandrell into more controversial territory, especially with the title track, "The Midnight Oil" which discussed a woman cheating on her husband. The album spawned five Top 40 Country hits, "Tonight My Baby's Coming Home" (#10), "Show Me" (#11), "Holdin' On (To the Love I Got)" (#27), "Give a Little, Take a Little" (#24), and the title track (#7). This album brought Mandrell's first pair of solo Top 10 hits on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. The album consisted of 11 tracks, some of which were cover versions, including Tanya Tucker's "The Jamestown Ferry", Martha Carson's "Satisfied" and the George Jones and Tammy Wynette hit, "We're Gonna Hold On". The album peaked at #8 on the Top Country Albums chart in 1974.

Charts

Singles

YearSingleChartPosition
1971"Tonight My Baby's Coming Home"Hot Country Singles & Tracks
  1. 10
1972"Show Me"Hot Country Singles & Tracks
  1. 11
1972"Holdin' On (To the Love I Got)"Hot Country Singles & Tracks
  1. 27
1973"Give a Little, Take a Little"Hot Country Singles & Tracks
  1. 24
1973"The Midnight Oil"Hot Country Singles & Tracks
  1. 7

Notes and References

  1. Top Country Albums – Year-End 1974. Billboard. July 21, 2021.