Diesel and Dust
Encyclopedia
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 of remote Indigenous communities with the Warumpi Band
in 1985. The rhythm of "Beds are Burning" is said to be inspired by the noise of their vehicles' wheels on the corrugated dirt roads in the region.
The track "Gunbarrel Highway" was not included on the United States
release of the album. Reportedly, it is because the line "shit falls like rain on a land that is brown" was deemed too strong for U.S. audiences.
In 1989, Rolling Stone
magazine ranked it number 13 on their list of the 100 best albums of the 1980s. It was listed at No. 1 in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums
, in October 2010.
^ Not available on the U.S. or the Canadian LP. As of 2008, the track is available on Canadian CD.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Midnight Oil
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 1987 under the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
record label.
The album is a concept album about the struggles of the Australian Aborigines
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
and environmental causes, issues both near and dear to the band, and drew inspiration from the Black Fella White Fella tour of remote Indigenous communities with the Warumpi Band
Warumpi Band
The Warumpi Band is an Australian band from the bush, coming from Papunya, Northern Territory, Australia.The band was formed in 1980 by Neil Murray, a Victorian "whitefella" working in the region as a schoolteacher and labourer, George Burarrwanga, from Elcho Island, and local boys Gordon and...
in 1985. The rhythm of "Beds are Burning" is said to be inspired by the noise of their vehicles' wheels on the corrugated dirt roads in the region.
The track "Gunbarrel Highway" was not included on the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
release of the album. Reportedly, it is because the line "shit falls like rain on a land that is brown" was deemed too strong for U.S. audiences.
In 1989, Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine ranked it number 13 on their list of the 100 best albums of the 1980s. It was listed at No. 1 in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums
100 Best Australian Albums
100 Best Australian Albums is a compendium of rock and pop albums of the past 50 years as compiled by music journalists Toby Creswell, Craig Mathieson and John O'Donnell. The book was published on 25 October 2010 by Hardie Grant Books...
, in October 2010.
Reception
Track listing
- "Beds Are BurningBeds Are Burning"Beds Are Burning" is a 1987/1988 worldwide hit single by Australian rock band Midnight Oil, the first track from their album Diesel and Dust. This song was the second from the album to be released as a single, and is among the band's best-known songs outside Australia.It reached No. 1 in the New...
" (Rob Hirst, James Moginie, Peter Garrett) – 4:14 - "Put Down That WeaponPut Down That Weapon (song)Put Down That Weapon is the second single by Australian rock band Midnight Oil from their sixth studio album, Diesel and Dust.-Reception:"Put Down That Weapon" talks about war, and its effects...
" (Moginie, Hirst, Garrett) – 4:38 - "Dreamworld" (Moginie, Garrett, Hirst) – 3:36
- "Arctic World" (Moginie, Garrett) – 4:21
- "Warakurna" (Moginie) – 4:38
- "The Dead HeartThe Dead Heart"The Dead Heart" is a song by Australian rock band Midnight Oil. It was first released as a single in Australia in 1986 and in the United Kingdom and the United States in 1988 after it had been included on the 1987 album, Diesel and Dust. It peaked at number four on the Australian singles chart...
" (Hirst, Moginie, Garrett) – 5:10 - "Whoah" (Moginie, Garrett) – 3:50
- "Bullroarer" (Hirst, Moginie, Garrett) – 4:59
- "Sell My Soul" (Moginie, Garrett) – 3:35
- "Sometimes" (Moginie, Garrett, Hirst) – 3:53
- "Gunbarrel Highway" (Midnight Oil) - 3:38 ^
^ Not available on the U.S. or the Canadian LP. As of 2008, the track is available on Canadian CD.
Personnel
- 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 - Peter GiffordPeter GiffordPeter Gifford , sometimes known as "Giffo," is an Australian musician. From 1980 until 1987 he played bass guitar for Australian rock band Midnight Oil.-Midnight Oil:...
- bass, vocals - Robert Hirst - drums, 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 - 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...
- vocals
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Australian Kent Music Report Kent Music Report The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998... Albums Chart |
1 |