Capricornia (album)
Encyclopedia
Capricornia is an album by Midnight Oil
that was released in 2002 under the Sony Music label in Australia, and the Liquid 8 record label internationally. Capricornia was the band's last studio album before they disbanded in late 2002.
(1996) and Redneck Wonderland
(1998), all tracks were credited Midnight Oil; on Capricornia the band returns to crediting individual contributors for each track, with Moginie dominating the list as is seen on most of their records.
After the hard rock/industrial electronic sounds of the previous album Redneck Wonderland, on this record Midnight Oil moved to a stripped back sound, with acoustic and clean electric guitars dominating the sound of the album (Golden Age, Luritja Way, Under the Overpass), although some tracks (Too Much Sunshine, Mosquito March, Poets and Slaves) feature significant distorted guitars. These latter tracks also feature distorted vocals. The album also features a short piano solo track (A Crocodile Cries) in the middle of the record, the melody of which is reprised for the album closing Poets and Slaves.
The album was produced, mixed and arranged by Warne Livesey, who also worked on Midnight Oil's seminal Diesel and Dust
and Blue Sky Mining
records. The bonus track Say Your Prayers, which appears on US versions of the album and was one of the four new tracks on The Real Thing
, was produced by the band and Daniel Denholm.
written by the Australian author Xavier Herbert
. The name Capricornia refers to part of the Queensland
coast and inland region around Rockhampton
, which is close to the Tropic of Capricorn
.
not very long before) and also states that the album contains "Golden Age" and "Too Much Sunshine," the initial singles. "Mosquito March," the third single, was not released at the time. Another single, Luritja Way, was issued at a later date. (picture of sealed CD)
A DTS version was released in 2002, still before the last two singles for the album.
The European edition contained two bonus tracks, a cover of "Pub with no beer
" and "Kiss that Girl". The latter is the last all-new song the band released. To date, the European version of Capricornia remains the only official release to contain this song.
Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil , were an Australian rock band from Sydney originally performing as Farm from 1972 with drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie...
that was released in 2002 under the Sony Music label in Australia, and the Liquid 8 record label internationally. Capricornia was the band's last studio album before they disbanded in late 2002.
Writing and recording
On the two previous albums BreatheBreathe (Midnight Oil album)
Breathe is an album by Midnight Oil that was released in 1996 under the Columbia Records label.-Reception:-Track listing:-Midnight Oil:* Peter Garrett - Lead Vocals* Bones Hillman - Bass, Vocals* Rob Hirst - Drums, Vocals...
(1996) and Redneck Wonderland
Redneck Wonderland
Redneck Wonderland is an album by Midnight Oil that was released in 1998 under the Columbia Records label. The title of the album was inspired by a wall graffiti, a picture of which can be seen in the promotional Oil Rag Vol...
(1998), all tracks were credited Midnight Oil; on Capricornia the band returns to crediting individual contributors for each track, with Moginie dominating the list as is seen on most of their records.
After the hard rock/industrial electronic sounds of the previous album Redneck Wonderland, on this record Midnight Oil moved to a stripped back sound, with acoustic and clean electric guitars dominating the sound of the album (Golden Age, Luritja Way, Under the Overpass), although some tracks (Too Much Sunshine, Mosquito March, Poets and Slaves) feature significant distorted guitars. These latter tracks also feature distorted vocals. The album also features a short piano solo track (A Crocodile Cries) in the middle of the record, the melody of which is reprised for the album closing Poets and Slaves.
The album was produced, mixed and arranged by Warne Livesey, who also worked on Midnight Oil's seminal Diesel and Dust
Diesel and Dust
Diesel and Dust is an album by Midnight Oil that was released in 1987 under the CBS record label.The album is a concept album about the struggles of the Australian Aborigines and environmental causes, issues both near and dear to the band, and drew inspiration from the Black Fella White Fella tour...
and Blue Sky Mining
Blue Sky Mining
Blue Sky Mining is an album by Midnight Oil that was released in 1990 under the Columbia Records label. It received high ratings from critics. A limited release of the record featured clear blue vinyl...
records. The bonus track Say Your Prayers, which appears on US versions of the album and was one of the four new tracks on The Real Thing
The Real Thing (Midnight Oil album)
The Real Thing is a compilation of studio and live acoustic recordings by Midnight Oil, and includes a cover version of Russell Morris's classic "The Real Thing"...
, was produced by the band and Daniel Denholm.
Name and concept
The name and concept of Capricornia was taken from the novel of the same nameCapricornia (novel)
Capricornia is a novel by Xavier Herbert. Like his later work considered by many a masterpiece, the Miles Franklin Award winning Poor Fellow My Country, it provides a fictional account of life in 'Capricornia', a place clearly modelled specifically on Australia's Northern Territory, and to a...
written by the Australian author Xavier Herbert
Xavier Herbert
Xavier Herbert was an Australian writer best known for his Miles Franklin Award-winning novel Poor Fellow My Country . He is considered one of the elder statesmen of Australian literature...
. The name Capricornia refers to part of the Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
coast and inland region around Rockhampton
Rockhampton, Queensland
Rockhampton is a city and local government area in Queensland, Australia. The city lies on the Fitzroy River, approximately from the river mouth, and some north of the state capital, Brisbane....
, which is close to the Tropic of Capricorn
Tropic of Capricorn
The Tropic of Capricorn, or Southern tropic, marks the most southerly latitude on the Earth at which the Sun can be directly overhead. This event occurs at the December solstice, when the southern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun to its maximum extent.Tropic of Capricorn is one of the five...
.
Release
The album was issued in a digipak case, first released in 2001; the U.S. release date was 19 February 2002. By this time, the band had already began playing a few gigs in America. A callout label on the original US version sealed album correctly but somewhat confusingly states there are 11 new tracks (there are 12 tracks in all but only 11 were new; Say Your Prayers was issued on The Real ThingThe Real Thing (Midnight Oil album)
The Real Thing is a compilation of studio and live acoustic recordings by Midnight Oil, and includes a cover version of Russell Morris's classic "The Real Thing"...
not very long before) and also states that the album contains "Golden Age" and "Too Much Sunshine," the initial singles. "Mosquito March," the third single, was not released at the time. Another single, Luritja Way, was issued at a later date. (picture of sealed CD)
A DTS version was released in 2002, still before the last two singles for the album.
The European edition contained two bonus tracks, a cover of "Pub with no beer
Pub with No Beer
A Pub With No Beer is the title of a humorous country song made famous by country singers Slim Dusty and Bobbejaan Schoepen ....
" and "Kiss that Girl". The latter is the last all-new song the band released. To date, the European version of Capricornia remains the only official release to contain this song.
Australian version
- "Golden Age" (Jim Moginie, Rob Hirst, Peter Garrett)
- "Too Much Sunshine" (Moginie)
- "Capricornia" (Moginie, Hirst)
- "Luritja Way" (Moginie, Hirst)
- "Tone Poem" (Moginie, Garrett)
- "A Crocodile Cries" (Moginie)
- "Mosquito March" (Moginie, Garrett)
- "Been Away Too Long" (Moginie, Garrett)
- "Under the Overpass" (Moginie, Hirst)
- "World That I See" (Moginie, Hirst)
- "Poets and Slaves" (Moginie)
US version
- "Golden Age" (Jim Moginie, Rob Hirst, Peter Garrett) – 3:47
- "Too Much Sunshine" (Moginie) – 3:46
- "Capricornia" (Moginie, Hirst) – 3:19
- "Luritja Way" (Moginie, Hirst) – 4:03
- "Tone Poem" (Moginie, Garrett) – 4:54
- "A Crocodile Cries" (Moginie) – 1:07
- "Mosquito March" (Moginie, Garrett) – 3:06
- "Been Away Too Long" (Moginie, Garrett) – 3:17
- "Say Your Prayers" (Moginie) – 4:28
- "Under the Overpass" (Moginie, Hirst) – 4:07
- "World That I See" (Moginie, Hirst) – 4:11
- "Poets & Slaves" (Moginie) – 5:48
European version
- "Golden Age" (Jim Moginie, Rob Hirst, Peter Garrett<3 from benjamin)
- "Too Much Sunshine" (Moginie)
- "Capricornia" (Moginie, Hirst)
- "Luritja Way" (Moginie, Hirst)
- "Tone Poem" (Moginie, Garrett)
- "A Crocodile Cries" (Moginie)
- "Mosquito March" (Moginie, Garrett)
- "Been Away Too Long" (Moginie, Garrett)
- "Under the Overpass" (Moginie, Hirst)
- "World That I See" (Moginie, Hirst)
- "Poets & Slaves" (Moginie)
- "Kiss that Girl" (Moginie)
- "Pub with no beerPub with No BeerA Pub With No Beer is the title of a humorous country song made famous by country singers Slim Dusty and Bobbejaan Schoepen ....
" (Gordon ParsonsGordon ParsonsGordon James Parsons is a first class cricketer . A burly medium fast bowler, he was born in 1959 in Slough and played most of his cricket for Leicestershire, although he also appeared for Boland, Buckinghamshire, Griqualand West, Orange Free State, Orange Free State Country Districts and...
)
Personnel
- Bones HillmanBones HillmanBones Hillman is a New Zealand musician. He played bass guitar in his first band The Masochists, an early New Zealand punk act, formed with friends from the Auckland suburb of Avondale . In late 1977 he joined the Suburban Reptiles and appeared on their first single, "Megaton"...
: Bass, Vocals - Martin RotseyMartin RotseyMartin Rotsey is an Australian guitarist, and was a member of the rock band Midnight Oil from 1977 until the band's dissolution in 2002.In 2006, he joined fellow Midnight Oil member Rob Hirst's projects Ghostwriters and The Angry Tradesmen...
: Guitars - Rob HirstRob Hirst-External links:*******...
: Drums, Vocals, Percussion - Peter GarrettPeter GarrettPeter Robert Garrett, AM, MP , is an Australian musician, environmentalist, activist and politician.Garrett was lead singer of the Australian rock band Midnight Oil from 1973 until its disbanding in 2002...
: Lead Vocals - Jim MoginieJim MoginieJames "Jim" Moginie is an Australian musician. He is best known for his work with Midnight Oil, of which he was a founding member, guitarist, keyboardist and leading songwriter...
: Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals
- Produced By Warne Livesey and Midnight OilMidnight OilMidnight Oil , were an Australian rock band from Sydney originally performing as Farm from 1972 with drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie...
, except "Say Your Prayers," produced by Midnight Oil and Daniel Denholm.