20,000 Watt R.S.L.

20,000 Watt R.S.L.
Greatest hits album by Midnight Oil
Released	12 October 1997
Recorded	1979–1997
Genre	Rock
Length	75:55
Label	Sprint Music / CBS Records
Midnight Oil chronology
Breathe (1996) 20,000 Watt R.S.L. (1997) Redneck Wonderland (1998)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

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.^[2][3] 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 part of the album's title; however, it does not appear on the spine. The release has also been distributed inside a cardboard sleeve which adds "Midnight Oil: The Hits" to the album art, distinguishing it as a compilation album.

The compilation covers the majority of Midnight Oil's career, starting with their 1979 album Head Injuries, and includes tracks from all their major studio releases (and one EP), even including two songs from Redneck Wonderland, which was released after the compilation in 1998.^[3]

The album peaked at #1 on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) album charts,^[4] and achieved 4×Platinum sales,^[5] it also peaked at #18 in New Zealand.^[6] The R.S.L. in the title refers to the Returned and Services League of Australia.

Midnight Oil released a more comprehensive compilation album, the double-disc Essential Oils, in 2012. "What Goes On" is the only 20,000 Watt R.S.L track not present on Essential Oils.

Background

Midnight Oil was an Australian rock band from Sydney formed in 1976 with vocalist Peter Garrett, drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboardist/lead guitarist Jim Moginie,^[2][3] Guitarist Martin Rotsey joined in 1977^[3] and Midnight Oil established their own record label Powderworks,^[3] they released their second album Head Injuries on this label in October 1979.^[3] Founding bass guitarist James left due to illness in 1980, he was replaced by Peter Gifford, Gifford was himself replaced by Bones Hillman in 1987.^[2][3]

Australian Top Ten singles were "Power and the Passion", "The Dead Heart", "Beds Are Burning" and "Blue Sky Mine".^[4] Aside from chart success both "Power and the Passion" and "Beds Are Burning" were listed by Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) in the Top 30 best Australian songs of all time in 2001.^[7] Through a long and distinguished career, the band became known for its driving hard-rock sound, intense live performances and political activism, particularly in aid of anti-nuclear, environmentalist and indigenous causes.^[8]

Track listing

Songwriters according to Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA):^[9]

1. "What Goes On" (Garrett, Hillman, Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey)
2. "Power and the Passion" (Garrett, Hirst, Moginie)
3. "Dreamworld" (Garrett, Hirst, Moginie)
4. "White Skin Black Heart" (Garrett, Hillman, Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey)
5. "Kosciusko" (Hirst, Moginie)
6. "The Dead Heart" (Garrett, Hirst, Moginie)
7. "Blue Sky Mine" (Garrett, Hillman, Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey)
8. "US Forces" (Garrett, Moginie)
9. "Beds Are Burning" (Garrett, Hirst, Moginie)
10. "One Country" (Garrett, Moginie)
11. "Best of Both Worlds" (Hirst, Moginie)
12. "Truganini" (Hirst, Moginie)
13. "King of the Mountain" (Hirst, Moginie)
14. "Hercules" (Garrett, Hirst, Moginie)
15. "Surf's Up Tonight" (Garrett, Hillman, Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey)
16. "Back on the Borderline" (Garrett, Hirst, James)
17. "Don't Wanna Be the One" (Garrett, Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey)
18. "Forgotten Years" (Hirst, Moginie)

• Tracks 1 and 4 are taken from Redneck Wonderland (1998).
• Tracks 2 and 8 are taken from 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (1982).
• Tracks 3, 6, and 9 are taken from Diesel and Dust (1987).
• Tracks 5 and 11 are taken from Red Sails in the Sunset (1984).
• Tracks 7, 10, 13, and 18 are taken from Blue Sky Mining (1990).
• Track 12 is taken from Earth and Sun and Moon (1993).
• Track 14 is taken from Species Deceases (1985).
• Track 15 is taken from Breathe (1996).
• Track 16 is taken from Head Injuries (1979).
• Track 17 is taken from Place without a Postcard (1981).

Chart positions

Year	Chart	Position
1997	Australian ARIA Albums Chart	1
	New Zealand RIANZ Albums Chart	18

Year-end charts

Chart (1997)	Position
Australian Albums Chart[10]	28

Certifications

Region	Certification	Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[11]	5× Platinum	350,000^^
^^shipments figures based on certification alone

Personnel

Midnight Oil

• Peter Garrett – vocals, harmonica
• Peter Gifford – bass, vocals (on tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 14, 17)
• Bones Hillman – bass, vocals (on tracks 1, 4, 7, 10, 12, 13, 15, 18)
• Rob Hirst – drums, vocals
• Andrew James – bass (on track 16)
• Jim Moginie – guitars, keyboards, vocals
• Martin Rotsey – guitars

Additional personnel

• Gary Barnacle, Peter Thoms, Luke Tunney - brass on 'Power and the Passion'

References

1. Stephen Thomas Erlewine (1997-11-04). "20,000 Watt R.S.L.: Greatest Hits - Midnight Oil | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
2. McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Midnight Oil'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
3. "Midnight Oil discography". Australian Rock Database. Magnus Holmgren. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
4. "Midnight Oil discography". Australian Charts Portal. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
5. "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2008 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 2008-01-18.
6. ""20,000 Watt R.S.L" album charting". Australian Charts Portal. Retrieved 2008-12-16.
7. Kruger, Debbie (2001-05-02). "The songs that resonate through the years" (PDF). Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 2008-10-20.
8. Fricke, David (2004). "Midnight Oil Biography". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 2008-10-21.
9. "APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA). Retrieved 2008-08-20. Note: requires user to input song title e.g. WHAT GOES ON
10. "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums1997". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
11. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 31 December 2014.

External links

• Midnight Oil
• ARC Album Review