Power and the Passion (song)
Encyclopedia
"Power and the Passion" is the first single by Midnight Oil
from their widely-acclaimed 1982 studio album 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
. The song is one of the band's most famous, and it appeared on every Midnight Oil tour since the issue of 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 as well as at the WaveAid
concert. It was issued as the album's lead single in 1982. (The only other song on this album which has appeared on all tours since their issue is "Read about It
.")
The video for this song was filmed in 1982 amongst the "Wooloomooloo Mural Project" (Sydney, NSW, Australia) - http://woolloomooloomurals.blogspot.com/
The song includes a drum solo by Rob Hirst
; it is the only studio recording by Midnight Oil to feature a drum solo. It also features use of brass instruments, particularly at the end; this, however, was not the only song to include such. "Best of Both Worlds" and "Say Your Prayers" also included large amounts of brass.
In May 2001 the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA)
, as part of its 75th Anniversary celebrations, named "Power and the Passion" as one of the Top 30 Australian songs
of all time. It was the second Midnight Oil song in the list with "Beds Are Burning" declared third behind the Easybeats' "Friday on My Mind
" and Daddy Cool
's "Eagle Rock
".
It was performed by the band at the 2009 Sound Relief
concert in Melbourne
.
The collection was less a "greatest hits" than a compilation of the band's favorite songs. The band obviously had a soft spot for this song, considering how often it was played live.
More recently, the title of the collection Flat Chat
was derived from the lyrics of this song. However, this song was not featured on that collection.
and Dominic Malta at RPM Sound Studios specifically for the North American market. This special version, which runs for 6:40, did not appear on the 12" single as released elsewhere in the world, including in Australia, whose 12" single featured the standard album version which runs for 5:38. The remix features echo effects added to Peter Garrett
's vocals and a continuation or reprise of Rob Hirst
's drum solo after the nominal ending of the song.
live album. Live versions were not available legally until 2004, when the Best of Both Worlds
CD
/2DVD
set; both DVDs (also the CD, even though it was merely a soundtrack of one of the DVDs) included a different live version; one (the Oils on the Water CD/DVD) was from early 1985 (on tour for Red Sails in the Sunset
) and the other (the Saturday Night at the Capitol DVD) was from 1982 (on tour from 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1).
The song's drum solo was often performed significantly faster.
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...
from their widely-acclaimed 1982 studio album 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 is an album by Midnight Oil that was released on vinyl in 1982 under the Columbia Records label. The lengthy name is often pronounced "ten-to-one" or "ten-nine-eight" by fans. It peaked at No. 3 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart and remained on the...
. The song is one of the band's most famous, and it appeared on every Midnight Oil tour since the issue of 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 as well as at the WaveAid
WaveAid
WaveAid was a fund raising concert held on Saturday the 29th of January 2005 as a means for raising funds for the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, known as the Boxing Day Tsunami. It was held at the Sydney Cricket Ground and broadcast on television by Channel [V] and MTV, and on radio...
concert. It was issued as the album's lead single in 1982. (The only other song on this album which has appeared on all tours since their issue is "Read about It
Read about It
"Read About It" is the second single released by Australian rock band, Midnight Oil, from their 1982 studio album, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. It was a favorite with the band and with fans, appearing at least once on every tour since its release and appearing at the WaveAid concert...
.")
The video for this song was filmed in 1982 amongst the "Wooloomooloo Mural Project" (Sydney, NSW, Australia) - http://woolloomooloomurals.blogspot.com/
The song includes a drum solo by Rob Hirst
Rob Hirst
-External links:*******...
; it is the only studio recording by Midnight Oil to feature a drum solo. It also features use of brass instruments, particularly at the end; this, however, was not the only song to include such. "Best of Both Worlds" and "Say Your Prayers" also included large amounts of brass.
In May 2001 the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA)
Australasian Performing Right Association
The Australasian Performing Right Association is a copyright collective representing New Zealand and Australian composers, lyricists and music publishers. The association's head offices located in Sydney Australia, and it has branch offices in Auckland, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth...
, as part of its 75th Anniversary celebrations, named "Power and the Passion" as one of the Top 30 Australian songs
APRA Top 30 Australian songs
APRA's Top 30 Australian songs between 1926 and 2001 was a list created by the Australasian Performing Right Association to celebrate its 75th anniversary...
of all time. It was the second Midnight Oil song in the list with "Beds Are Burning" declared third behind the Easybeats' "Friday on My Mind
Friday on My Mind
"Friday on My Mind" is a 1966 song by Australian rock group The Easybeats. Written by band members George Young and Harry Vanda, the track became a worldwide hit, reaching #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 1967 in the US, #1 in Australia and #6 in the UK, as well as charting in several...
" and Daddy Cool
Daddy Cool (band)
Daddy Cool is an Australian rock band formed in Melbourne in 1970 with the original line-up of Wayne Duncan , Ross Hannaford , Ross Wilson and Gary Young . Their debut single "Eagle Rock" was released in May 1971 and stayed at number 1 on the Australian singles chart for ten weeks...
's "Eagle Rock
Eagle Rock (song)
"Eagle Rock" is a classic Australian song, released by Daddy Cool in May 1971 on the Sparmac Record Label. It went on to become the best selling Australian single of the year, achieving gold status in eleven weeks, and remaining at #1 on the national charts for a record ten weeks. "Eagle Rock"...
".
It was performed by the band at the 2009 Sound Relief
Sound Relief
Sound Relief was a multi-venue rock music concert held on 14 March 2009, which was announced by the Premier of Victoria, John Brumby on 24 February 2009...
concert in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.
Compilations
This track was an obvious choice to be placed on the band's "greatest hits" collection 20,000 Watt R.S.L.20,000 Watt R.S.L.
20,000 Watt R.S.L. is a compilation album by Australian rock band Midnight Oil released in October 1997 on their own label Sprint Music. The word "Collection" appears on the front of the CD along the hinge in the same type face as the title and the name of the band and may have been intended as...
The collection was less a "greatest hits" than a compilation of the band's favorite songs. The band obviously had a soft spot for this song, considering how often it was played live.
More recently, the title of the collection Flat Chat
Flat Chat
Flat Chat is a compilation album from the Australian band Midnight Oil. It is a collection of their heavier rock songs, which gave them their reputation...
was derived from the lyrics of this song. However, this song was not featured on that collection.
US 12" Version
The US 12" single release features a little known specially remixed version, mixed by Francois KevorkianFrançois Kevorkian
François Kevorkian, alias François K, is a French DJ of Armenian origin, remixer, producer and record label owner. Having started his career in renowned clubs such as the Paradise Garage and Studio 54, the New York City resident is widely considered as one of the forefathers of house...
and Dominic Malta at RPM Sound Studios specifically for the North American market. This special version, which runs for 6:40, did not appear on the 12" single as released elsewhere in the world, including in Australia, whose 12" single featured the standard album version which runs for 5:38. The remix features echo effects added to Peter Garrett
Peter Garrett
Peter 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...
's vocals and a continuation or reprise of Rob Hirst
Rob Hirst
-External links:*******...
's drum solo after the nominal ending of the song.
Live versions
Surprisingly, the song was not featured on the Scream in BlueScream in Blue
Scream in Blue is a live concert album by Midnight Oil that was released in 1992 under the Columbia Records label. It contains songs carefully culled from 5 live concerts recorded over a 9 year period. The audiences sound quite large, but also included is material from a 1990 protest concert...
live album. Live versions were not available legally until 2004, when the Best of Both Worlds
Best of Both Worlds (Midnight Oil album)
Best of Both Worlds is a DVD-Video release of two significant concerts performed by Australian rock band Midnight Oil. The featured concerts are Oils on the Water and Saturday Night at the Capitol...
CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
/2DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
set; both DVDs (also the CD, even though it was merely a soundtrack of one of the DVDs) included a different live version; one (the Oils on the Water CD/DVD) was from early 1985 (on tour for Red Sails in the Sunset
Red Sails in the Sunset (album)
Red Sails in the Sunset is an album by Midnight Oil that was released in 1984 under the Columbia Records label. This album was recorded and produced in Tokyo, Japan and is significant for becoming their first No. 1 album in Australia...
) and the other (the Saturday Night at the Capitol DVD) was from 1982 (on tour from 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1).
The song's drum solo was often performed significantly faster.
Personnel
- 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 - 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, backup vocals (later 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"...
) - 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...
- guitar - 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...
- guitar, keyboards - Rob HirstRob Hirst-External links:*******...
- drums, percussion