Blue Sky Mining

Blue Sky Mining is the seventh studio album by Australian alternative rock band Midnight Oil, released on 9 February 1990 under the Columbia Records label. It received high ratings from critics. In March of that year, the album peaked at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart for two weeks. A limited release of the record featured clear blue vinyl. This was the band's first studio album with bassist and backing vocalist Bones Hillman, who would remain in the group until his death in 2020.

Blue Sky Mining
Studio album by
Midnight Oil
Released9 February 1990
RecordedJune−September 1989
StudioRhinoceros Studios, Sydney
GenreAlternative rock
Length46:52
LabelColumbia
ProducerWarne Livesey & Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil chronology
Diesel and Dust
(1987)		 Blue Sky Mining
(1990)		 The Green Disc
(1990)
Singles from Blue Sky Mining
  1. "Blue Sky Mine"
    Released: January 1990
  2. "Forgotten Years/Shakers & Movers"
    Released: April 1990
  3. "King of the Mountain"
    Released: July 1990
  4. "Bedlam Bridge"
    Released: October 1990
  5. "One Country"
    Released: 1991

Background
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Chicago Sun-Times[2]
Daily News[3]
Entertainment WeeklyB[4]
Los Angeles Times[5]
NME8/10[6]
Orlando Sentinel[7]
Q[8]
Rolling Stone[9]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[10]

Blue Sky Mining, produced by Warne Livesey, was released by CBS/Columbia on 9 February 1990.[11] It peaked at number one on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) albums chart.[12] It stayed at number one for two weeks in Australia and had Top 5 chart success in Sweden, Switzerland and Norway.[13] It peaked at number 20 on the Billboard 200[14] and number 28 on the UK charts.[15] The album was "more defiant and outspoken" than their previous work;[16] the single "Blue Sky Mine" describes asbestos exposure in the Wittenoom mine tragedy.[16] The lead single peaked at number eight on the ARIA singles charts,[12] top 15 in Norway and Switzerland,[17] number 47 on Billboard Hot 100 and number one on both their Mainstream and Modern Rock Tracks charts,[18] and appeared on the UK charts.[15] 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.[19][20] Manager Gary Morris, accepting awards for Midnight Oil, was criticised for a speech lasting 20 minutes.[20][21]

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Blue Sky Mine"Garrett, Hillman, Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey4:18
2."Stars of Warburton"Garrett, Moginie4:43
3."Bedlam Bridge"Hirst4:25
4."Forgotten Years"Hirst, Moginie4:21
5."Mountains of Burma"Hirst4:50
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."King of the Mountain"Hirst, Moginie3:58
7."River Runs Red"Hirst, Moginie5:28
8."Shakers and Movers"Garrett, Moginie4:32
9."One Country"Garrett, Moginie5:56
10."Antarctica"Garrett, Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey4:22
Bonus track on some pressings
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."You May Not Be Released**"Moginie3:38
    • 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. It also appeared on early cassette copies[22][23] and CDs.[24]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[42] 5× Platinum 350,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[43] Platinum 100,000^
France (SNEP)[44] Platinum 300,000*
Germany (BVMI)[45] Gold 250,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[46] Platinum 15,000^
Sweden (GLF)[47] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[48] Platinum 50,000^
United States (RIAA)[49] Gold 500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Personnel

Midnight Oil

Additional personnel

References
  1. Demalon, Tom. "Blue Sky Mining – Midnight Oil". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  2. McLeese, Don (19 February 1990). "With its brilliant 'Blue Sky,' Midnight Oil gambles and wins". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  3. Hinckley, David (25 February 1990). "Midnight Oil Burns On". Daily News.
  4. Sandow, Greg (23 February 1990). "Blue Sky Mining". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  5. Willman, Chris (25 February 1990). "Midnight Oil 'Blue Sky Mining' Columbia". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  6. Collins, Andrew (3 March 1990). "Diggers with Attitude". NME. p. 34.
  7. Gettelman, Parry (16 March 1990). "Midnight Oil". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  8. Sutcliffe, Phil (March 1990). "Midnight Oil: Blue Sky Mining". Q. No. 42.
  9. Fricke, David (22 February 1990). "Midnight Oil: Blue Sky Mining". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  10. Fricke, David (2004). "Midnight Oil". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 540–541. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  11. Holmgren, Magnus; Stenerlöv, Carl-Johan. "Midnight Oil". Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  12. "Midnight Oil discography". Australian Charts Portal. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2008.
  13. "Blue Sky Mining album charting". Australian Charts Portal. Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2008.
  14. "Midnight Oil – Charts & Awards – Billboard Albums". allmusic. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  15. "The Official Charts Company Midnight Oil". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 October 2008.
  16. McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Midnight Oil'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2. Archived from the original on 13 August 2004. Retrieved 20 October 2008.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  17. ""Blue Sky Mine" single charting". Australian Charts Portal. Archived from the original on 27 November 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2008.
  18. "Midnight Oil – Charts & Awards – Billboard Albums". allmusic. Retrieved 22 October 2008.
  19. "ARIA Awards 2008: History: Winners by Artist search result for Midnight Oil". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 25 August 2008.
  20. "ARIA Awards 2008: History: Winners by Year search result for 1991". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 24 October 2008.
  21. Jenkins, Jeff; Ian Meldrum (2007). Molly Meldrum presents 50 years of rock in Australia. Melbourne: Wilkinson Publishing. pp. 21, 82, 237–241. ISBN 978-1-921332-11-1.
  22. "Album FAQ - Blue Sky Mining". Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  23. Personal memory. I went to the record store on release day and bought a cassette copy which included this "bonus rough mix track"
  24. Physical CD media from 1990 release
  25. "Australiancharts.com – Midnight Oil – Blue Sky Mining". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  26. "Austriancharts.at – Midnight Oil – Blue Sky Mining" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  27. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 9030". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  28. "Offiziellecharts.de – Midnight Oil – Blue Sky Mining" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  29. "Dutchcharts.nl – Midnight Oil – Blue Sky Mining" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  30. "Charts.nz – Midnight Oil – Blue Sky Mining". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  31. "Norwegiancharts.com – Midnight Oil – Blue Sky Mining". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  32. "Swedishcharts.com – Midnight Oil – Blue Sky Mining". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  33. "Swisscharts.com – Midnight Oil – Blue Sky Mining". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  34. "Midnight Oil | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  35. "Midnight Oil Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  36. "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums1990". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  37. "Top 100 Albums of 1990". RPM. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  38. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  39. "Top Selling Albums of 1990". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  40. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1990". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  41. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  42. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  43. "Canadian album certifications – Midnight Oil – Blue Sky Mining". Music Canada. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  44. "French album certifications – Midnight Oil – Blue Sky Mining" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 22 July 2022. Select MIDNIGHT OIL and click OK. 
  45. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Midnight Oil; 'Blue Sky Mining')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  46. "New Zealand album certifications – Midnight Oil – Blue Sky Mining". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  47. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  48. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Midnight Oil; 'Blue Sky Mining')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  49. "American album certifications – Midnight Oil – Blue Sky Mining". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
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