The discography of Australian rock group Midnight Oil consists of thirteen studio albums, forty-three singles, two EPs, five video albums, seven live albums, and six compilation albums. The band has sold over 20 million albums.
Midnight Oil began under the name Farm in 1972, establishing their own record label 'Powderworks' in 1977. They released their debut self-titled album Midnight Oil in 1978 along with their first single "Run by Night". Their first three albums charted in the top 50 of the Australian Kent Music Report; in Australia, Head Injuries was certified gold and Place without a Postcard was certified platinum.
Their fourth album was their first to reach the top 10; 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (1982) peaked at number three in Australia pushing them to the level of mainstream recognition locally. It also brought their first appearance on the United States charts, peaking at number 178 on the Billboard 200. The album's first single, "Power and the Passion", was their first top ten single in Australia, at number eight. In 1984, Midnight Oil's Red Sails in the Sunset became their first number one album in Australia. It was the first of four in a row between 1984 and 1993. 1985 saw the release of the EP Species Deceases – the group's only number one entry on the Australian singles chart – which features the anti-war song "Hercules" and the environmentalist anthem "Pictures".
"The Dead Heart" in 1986 became the band's highest-charting Australian single, peaking at number four. It was followed by "Beds Are Burning" at number six, with both singles from the 1987 album Diesel and Dust which edged them into mainstream global recognition. In addition to number one in Australia, Diesel and Dust peaked at number 20 on the United Kingdom Albums Chart; it was certified platinum in the US and three times platinum in Canada. Midnight Oil followed up the success of Diesel and Dust with their seventh studio album Blue Sky Mining in 1990. It was their first and only to peak in the top 20 of the Billboard 200. It brought the single "Blue Sky Mine", which charted at number one on both the US Mainstream and Modern Rock charts. The second single "Forgotten Years" also charted at number one on the Modern Rock chart. Their last Australian number one studio album was Earth and Sun and Moon, bringing another three top ten singles on the US Modern Rock charts.
In the next decade, Midnight Oil released three further studio albums, all of which registered on the top ten in Australia, but did not match the success of their earlier efforts. In 1997, the band released the greatest hits album 20,000 Watt R.S.L., which has since achieved four times platinum sales in Australia. In 2002, lead vocalist Peter Garrett announced his decision to leave Midnight Oil, concluding the band's 30-year career. The group reformed in 2017.
Albums Studio albums Year Album details Chart peak positions Certifications(sales thresholds) AUSAustralian chart peaks: Top 100 (Kent Music Report) peaks to 19 June 1988: N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 19 June 1988. Top 50 (ARIA Chart) peaks from 26 June 1988: Top 100 (ARIA Chart) peaks from January 1990 to December 2010: N.B. This book erroneously lists the peak for "Redneck Wonderland" (single) as No. 46. "Beds are Burning (live)" (ARIA Chart) peak: "Land" (ARIA Chart) peak: "Redneck Wonderland" (single) (ARIA Chart) peak: AUT Note: some information is in Austrian CANRPM GER NLDStichting Nederlandse Top 40, Hitdossier NOR NZ SWE SWI UK US1978Midnight Oil Recorded: September 1978 Released: November 1978 Label: Powderworks (MLF 233) Formats: CD, cassette, LP 43 — — — — — — — — — — AUS: 2× Platinum1979Head Injuries Recorded: July & August 1979 Released: October 1979 Label: Powderworks (MLF 322) Formats: CD, cassette, LP 36 — — — — — — — — — — ARIA: Platinum1981Place Without a Postcard Recorded: June - July 1981 Released: November 1981 Label: CBS (SBP 237704) Formats: CD, cassette, LP 12 — — — — — — — — — — ARIA: 2× Platinum198210, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Recorded: September 1982 Released: December 1982 Label: CBS (SBP 237868) Formats: CD, cassette, LP 3 — 98 — — — 5 — — — 178 ARIA: 7× Platinum RIANZ: Platinum1984Red Sails in the Sunset Recorded: June - August 1984 Released: October 1984 Label: CBS (SBP 238027) Formats: CD, cassette, LP 1 — — — — — 20 — — — 177 ARIA: 4× Platinum1987Diesel and Dust Recorded: January - April 1987 Released: August 1987 Label: CBS (CDCBS 460005 2) Formats: CD, cassette, LP 1 — 1 13 11 — 1 5 7 19 21 ARIA: 7× Platinum BPI: Gold GLF: Gold Note: some information is in Swedish IFPI SWI: 2× Platinum MC: 3× Platinum RIAA: Platinum RIANZ: Platinum 1990Blue Sky Mining Recorded: June - September 1989 Released: February 1990 Label: CBS (465653 2) Formats: CD, cassette, LP 1 13 6 2 20 2 1 3 2 28 20 ARIA: 5× Platinum GLF: Gold IFPI SWI: Platinum MC: Platinum RIAA: Gold RIANZ: Platinum 1993Earth and Sun and Moon Recorded: October 1992 - January 1993 Released: 20 April 1993 Label: Columbia (CK 53793) Formats: CD, LP 2 — 8 17 57 — 5 15 5 27 49 ARIA: Platinum IFPI SWI: Gold MC: Gold1996Breathe Recorded: May - June 1996 Released: October 1996 Label: Columbia (485402 2) Formats: CD, LP 3 — 32 33 — — 26 — 31 — 155 ARIA: Gold1998Redneck Wonderland Released: July 1998 Label: Columbia (489971 2) Formats: CD 7 — — — — — — — — — — ARIA: Gold2001Capricornia Released: 2001 Label: Columbia (5062032000) Formats: CD 8 — — — — — 28 — — — —2020The Makarrata Project Released: 30 October 2020 Label: Sony Music Australia (19439793942) Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 1 — — — — — — — 50 — —2022Resist Released: 18 February 2022 Label: Sony Music Australia (19439905882) Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 1 — — 17 — — 16 — 8 — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Compilation albums Year Album details Chart peak positions Certifications AUS NZ GER1990The Green Disc Released: 1990 (promo) Label: Sprint Music Formats: CD colspan="3" 199720,000 Watt R.S.L.: Collection Released: 12 October 1997 Label: Sony (488866 2) Formats: CD, LP 1 18 78 ARIA: 5× Platinum SNEP: Gold Note: some information in French1997The Best of the B-Sides Released: 1997 (promo) Label: Columbia Formats: CD colspan="3" 2006Flat Chat Released: 14 August 2006 Label: Sony BMG (82876 87409 2) Formats: CD 21 — —2012Essential Oils Released: 2 November 2012 Label: Sony Music Australia Formats: CD 7 7 — ARIA: Platinum2017Lasseters Gold (Unreleased Demos) Released: 26 May 2017 Label: Sony Music Australia Formats: DD — — —2017Chiko Locallo (B-sides and Rarities) Released: 26 May 2017 Label: Sony Music Australia Formats: DD — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Live albums Year Album details Chart peak positions Certifications AUS AUT CAN NLDStichting Nederlandse Top 40, Hitdossier 1939 – 1994 NZ SWE SWI US1992Scream in Blue: Live Released: 5 May 1992 Label: Columbia (COL 471453 2) Formats: CD, cassette, LP 3 30 60 70 28 42 28 141 ARIA: Platinum2000The Real Thing Released: 8 July 2000 Label: Columbia (498278 2) Formats: CD 7 — — — — — — — ARIA: Gold2017Live At the Wireless, 1978, Studio 221 Released: 26 May 2017 Label: Sony Music Australia Formats: DD — — — — — — — —2017Punter Barrier BPM Released: 26 May 2017 Label: Sony Music Australia Formats: DD — — — — — — — —2018Armistice Day – Live at the Domain, Sydney Released: 9 November 2018 Label: Sony Music Australia Formats: CD, DVD, Blu-ray, streaming, music download 5 — — — — — — —2019Breathe Tour '97 Released: 13 April 2019 Label: Mountain Man Formats: LP (limited edition) — — — — — — — —2022Live at the Old Lion, Adelaide, 1982 Released: 2 December 2022 Label: Black Box Records, MGM Distribution Formats: CD, digital 7 — — — — — — —2026Head Injuries (Live At Selina's) Released: 27 November 2026 Label: Formats: CD, LP, digital — — — — — — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Box sets Year Album details Chart peak positions AUS2017The Full Tank Released: 12 May 2017 Label: Sony Formats: 13×CD+DVD 382017The Overflow Tank Released: 12 May 2017 Label: Sony Formats: 4×CD+8×DVD —
Extended plays Year EP details Chart peak positions Certifications AUS NZ1980Bird Noises Recorded: 21–22 July 1980 Released: October 1980 Label: Powderworks (MSPD 462) Formats: CD, cassette, LP 28 48 ARIA: Gold1985Species Deceases Recorded: 5 days in September 1985 Released: December 1985 Label: Columbia (PCT 46135) Formats: CD, cassette, 12" vinyl 1 42 ARIA: 2× Platinum "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Singles Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Album AUS CAN"RPM". FRA Note: some information in French NLD Note: some information in Dutch NZ NOR SWI UK US Hot US Main. US Alt. 1978 "Run by Night" 100 — — — — — — — — x x Midnight Oil 1979 "Cold Cold Change" — — — — — — — — — x x Head Injuries 1980 "Back on the Borderline" — — — — — — — — — x x 1981 "Don't Wanna Be the One" 40 — — — — — — — — — xPlace Without a Postcard 1982 "Armistice Day" 31 — — — — — — — — — x "US Forces" 20 — — — — — — — — — x10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 1983 "Power and the Passion" 8 — — — 4 — — — — — x RMNZ: Gold "Read About It" — — — — — — — — — — x 1984 "When the Generals Talk" — — — — — — — — — — xRed Sails in the Sunset 1985 "Best of Both Worlds" — — — — — — — — — — x 1986 "The Dead Heart" 4 38 19 40 14 — — 62 53 11 xDiesel and Dust 1987 "Beds Are Burning" 6 1 5 3 1 — — 6 17 6 x ARIA: Platinum MC: Gold RMNZ: 2× Platinum SNEP: Silver "Put Down That Weapon" 32 — 34 — 9 — — — — — x 1988 "Dreamworld" — — — — — — 54 — — 37 16 1990 "Blue Sky Mine" 8 7 25 33 2 8 11 66 47 1 1 ARIA: Gold RMNZ: GoldBlue Sky Mining "Forgotten Years" 26 36 44 — 24 — — 97 — 11 1 "King of the Mountain" 25 76 — — — — — — — 20 3 "Bedlam Bridge" 46 — — — — — — — — — — 1991 "One Country" 51 — — — — — — — — — — 1992 "Sometimes" (Live) 33 — — — — — — — — — 20 Scream in Blue (Live) "Beds Are Burning" (Live) 108 — — — — — — — — — — 1993 "Truganini" 10 11 — — 4 — — 29 — 10 4Earth and Sun and Moon "My Country" 52 51 — — 49 — — 66 — — — "In the Valley" — — — — — — — 60 — — — "Drums of Heaven" — — — — — — — — — — 10 "Outbreak of Love" 57 — — — 45 — — — — — 9 1995 "Land" 63 — — — — — — — — — —align="center" 1996 "Underwater" 22 81 — — — — — — — — — Breathe "Surf's Up Tonight" 88 — — — — — — — — — — 1997 "White Skin Black Heart" 80 — — — — — — — — — — Redneck Wonderland 1998 "Cemetery in My Mind" — — — — — — — — — — — "What Goes On" — — — — — — — — — — — "Redneck Wonderland" 54 — — — — — — — — — — 1999 "Say Your Prayers" — — — — — — — — — — — The Real Thing / Capricornia 2000 "The Real Thing" 48 — — — — — — — — — — The Real Thing "Spirit of the Age" — — — — — — — — — — — 2001 "Golden Age" — — — — — — — — — — — Capricornia "Too Much Sunshine" — — — — — — — — — — — 2002 "Luritja Way" — — — — — — — — — — — "Mosquito March" — — — — — — — — — — — 2003 "No Man's Land" 79 — — — — — — — — — — Gaia 2020 "Gadigal Land" — — — — — — — — — — — The Makarrata Project "First Nation" — — — — — — — — — — — 2021 "Rising Seas" — — — — — — — — — — — Resist "Tarkine" — — — — — — — — — — — 2022 "At the Time of Writing" — — — — — — — — — — — "We Resist" — — — — — — — — — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. "x" denotes that chart did not exist at the time.
Notes
A "The Dead Heart" and "Beds Are Burning" were both released in United States and United Kingdom in 1988 B "The Dead Heart" peaked at number 62 in 1989 after its re-release in the UK; its first release originally peaked at number 68 C "Beds Are Burning" peaked at number 6 in 1989 after its re-release in the UK; its first release originally peaked at number 48
Notes
Video albums