Blue Sky Mining

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Blue Sky Mining
File:MidnightOil BlueSkyMining.jpg
Studio album by Midnight Oil
Released 25 February 1990
Recorded Sydney, 1989 in Rhino
Genre Rock
Length 46:52
Label Columbia
Producer Warne Livesey & Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil chronology
Diesel and Dust
(1987)Diesel and Dust1987
Blue Sky Mining
(1990)
The Green Disc
(1990)The Green Disc1990

Blue Sky Mining is an album by Australian alternative rock band Midnight Oil which was released on 25 February 1990 under the Columbia Records label. It received high ratings from critics. In March the album peaked at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart for two weeks. A limited release of the record featured clear blue vinyl. The lead single "Blue Sky Mine" reached #1 on Modern Rock Tracks.

Background

Blue Sky Mining, produced by Warne Livesey, was released by CBS/Columbia on 25 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]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic 4/5 stars link
Rolling Stone 4/5 stars link

Track listing

No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Blue Sky Mine"   Garrett, Hillman, Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey 4:18
2. "Stars of Warburton"   Garrett, Moginie 4:43
3. "Bedlam Bridge"   Hirst 4:25
4. "Forgotten Years"   Hirst, Moginie 4:21
5. "Mountains of Burma"   Hirst 4:50
6. "King of the Mountain"   Hirst, Moginie 3:58
7. "River Runs Red"   Hirst, Moginie 5:28
8. "Shakers and Movers"   Garrett, Moginie 4:32
9. "One Country"   Garrett, Moginie 5:56
10. "Antarctica"   Garrett, Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey 4:22
11. "You May Not Be Released**"   Moginie 3:38
    • Some early Australian copies included the track "You May Not Be Released" - it was the B-side to a 12-inch issue of "Forgotten Years," and it is believed that this only appeared on the first 1,000 LP copies.[12]

Chart positions

Year Chart Position
1990 Australian ARIA Albums Chart 1

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[13] 5× Platinum 350,000

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Year-end charts

Chart (1990) Position
Australian Albums Chart[14] 3

Singles

Singles
"Blue Sky Mine"
  • Released: 1990 (Netherlands, Australia, UK, US)
  • Written by: Midnight Oil
  • Produced by: Warne Livesey, Midnight Oil
  • Chart positions: #66 UK, #47 US, #8 Australia, #1 US Modern Rock Tracks
"Forgotten Years"
  • Released: 1990 (Netherlands, UK, US, Australia)
  • Written by: Moginie, Hirst
  • Produced by: Warne Livesey, Midnight Oil
  • Chart positions: #26 Australia, #1 US Modern Rock Tracks
"Bedlam Bridge"
  • Released: 1990 (Netherlands, US, Australia)
  • Written by: Hirst
  • Produced by: Warne Livesey, Midnight Oil
  • Chart positions: #46 Australia
"King of the Mountain"
  • Released: 1990 (Australia, US)
  • Written by: Moginie, Hirst
  • Produced by: Warne Livesey, Midnight Oil
  • Chart positions: #25 Australia
"One Country"
  • Released: 1991 (Australia)
  • Written by: Moginie, Garrett
  • Produced by: Warne Livesey, Midnight Oil
  • Chart positions: #51 Australia

[15][16]

Personnel

Midnight Oil
Additional personnel
  • Warne Livesey - additional keyboards
  • Jeremy Smith - French horn
  • Phillip Hartl - String Leader
  • Glad and Carl - Horn Swells

References

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  12. Album FAQ - Blue Sky Mining at the Wayback Machine (archived February 6, 2012)
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  15. True Believers - Hunters & Collectors Online at the Wayback Machine (archived May 10, 2013)
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External links

Preceded by
The 12th Man Again! by The 12th Man
Australian ARIA Albums Chart number-one album
11–24 March 1990
Succeeded by
I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got by Sinéad O'Connor