Earth and Sun and Moon

Earth and Sun and Moon
Earth and Sun and Moon
Studio album by Midnight Oil
Released	April 1993
Recorded	October 1992 − January 1993
Studio	Megaphon Studios, Sydney, Australia
Genre	Rock, alternative rock
Length	54:00
Label	Sprint / Columbia
Producer	Nick Launay, Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil chronology
Singles from Earth and Sun and Moon
	"Truganini"; Released: March 1993; "My Country"; Released: 1993; "In the Valley"; Released: 1993; "Drums of Heaven"; Released: 1993; "Outbreak of Love"; Released: 1993;

Earth and Sun and Moon is the eighth studio album by Australian rock group, Midnight Oil, that was released in April 1993 under the Columbia Records label. It peaked at No.2 on the ARIA Albums Chart.

Background

Midnight Oil's Earth and Sun and Moon album, produced with Nick Launay, was released in April 1993 and peaked at No. 2 on the ARIA Albums Chart,^[1] top 20 in Sweden and Switzerland,^[2] top 50 on Billboard 200,^[3] and top 30 in the UK albums chart.^[4] The single "Truganini" referenced multiple issues, including the 'last' Tasmanian Aboriginal, the treatment of indigenous artist Albert Namatjira, the Australian flag debate, and republicanism.^[5] Liner notes for the single claimed "Truganini was the sole surviving Tasmanian Aborigine, the last of her race, when she died in 1876."^[5]

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, representing over 7000 contemporary Tasmanians, called for the single to be boycotted as it perpetuated a 'white' myth about the extinction of Tasmanian Aborigines.^[5] Their Native Title claims hinged upon establishing links with ancestral lands. Gary Morris, their manager, responded with, "My suggestion to these people is to stop shooting themselves in the foot and let a band like Midnight Oil voice its appeal to White Australia on behalf of Black Australia".^[5]

Critics contended that Morris disparaged Indigenous Australians' ability to represent themselves and overestimated Midnight Oil's ambassadorial powers while diminishing their errors, while some indigenous activists saw benefit in Midnight Oil's highlighting of the issues.^[5] "Truganini" released in March peaked at No. 10 on the ARIA singles charts,^[1] No. 10 on Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks and No. 4 on their Modern Rock Tracks charts,^[3] and top 30 for the UK charts.^[4]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[6]
Rolling Stone	^[7]

Tom Demalon of AllMusic remarked, "If Earth and Sun and Moon isn't Midnight Oil's best effort, it's certainly close. The band still sticks to themes that are close to its heart -- the environment, native peoples, and other social causes -- but rarely has it managed to fashion an album full of songs that are as musically intoxicating."^[6]

Andrew McMillen of The Australian said, "At a time when Nirvana et al turned toward angst and distortion, the Oils opted for a bounty of rich vocal harmonies and highly melodic rock songs, including two bass-led career highlights that bookend its eighth album."^[8]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Feeding Frenzy"	Garrett, Moginie	5:07
2.	"My Country"	Hirst	4:51
3.	"Renaissance Man"	Garrett, Moginie, Rotsey	4:41
4.	"Earth and Sun and Moon"	Moginie	4:33
5.	"Truganini"	Hirst, Moginie	5:11
6.	"Bushfire"	Garrett, Moginie	4:36
7.	"Drums of Heaven"	Garrett, Hirst, Moginie	5:31
8.	"Outbreak of Love"	Hirst	5:14
9.	"In the Valley"	Garrett, Hirst, Moginie	4:41
10.	"Tell Me the Truth"	Garrett, Moginie	4:06
11.	"Now or Never Land"	Garrett, Moginie	5:22

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1993)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[9]	2
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)^[10]	8
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[11]	72
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[12]	91
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[13]	5
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[14]	15
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[15]	5

Year-end charts

Chart (1993)	Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[16]	36
Canadian Albums (RPM)^[17]	67
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[18]	49

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[19]	Platinum	70,000^{^}
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)^[20]	Gold	25,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Personnel

Midnight Oil

Peter Garrett – lead vocals, harmonica
Bones Hillman – bass guitar, vocals
Rob Hirst – drums, vocals
Jim Moginie – guitar, keyboards, vocals
Martin Rotsey – guitar

Recording details

Producer – Nick Launay, Midnight Oil
Engineer – Brent Clark, Nick Launay
Mastering – Tony Cousins
Mixing – Nick Launay

Artwork

Design – Kevin Wilkins, Craig Simmons, Midnight Oil^[21]

References

^ ^a ^b "Midnight Oil discography". Australian Charts Portal. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
^ "Earth and Sun and Moon album charting". Australian Charts Portal. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
^ ^a ^b "Midnight Oil – Charts & Awards – Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
^ ^a ^b "The Official Charts Company Midnight Oil". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Vellutini, Laetitia (January 2003). "Finding a voice on indigenous issues: Midnight Oil's inappropriate appropriation". Journal of Australian Studies. 27 (79): 127–133. doi:10.1080/14443050309387893. S2CID 143645628. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2013 – via The Australian Public Intellectual Network.
^ ^a ^b https://www.allmusic.com/album/r169888
^ "Midnight Oil: Earth and Sun and Moon : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". www.rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
^ Andrew McMillen. "Flawless: 52 of the best albums you'll ever hear". The Australian.
^ "Australiancharts.com – Midnight Oil – Earth and Sun and Moon". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 1761". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
^ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Midnight Oil – Earth and Sun and Moon" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
^ "Charts.nz – Midnight Oil – Earth and Sun and Moon". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
^ "Swedishcharts.com – Midnight Oil – Earth and Sun and Moon". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
^ "Swisscharts.com – Midnight Oil – Earth and Sun and Moon". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums for 1993". ARIA. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
^ "The RPM Top 100 Albums of 1993". RPM. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
^ "Top Selling Albums of 1993 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1993 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Earth and Sun and Moon')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
^ "Credits: Midnight Oil - Earth and Sun and Moon". AllMusic.

External links

[AusCharts-1] "Midnight Oil discography". Australian Charts Portal. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 19 March 2013.

[EarthSunA-2] "Earth and Sun and Moon album charting". Australian Charts Portal. Retrieved 19 March 2013.

[BillS-3] "Midnight Oil – Charts & Awards – Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Retrieved 19 March 2013.

[UKCharts-4] "The Official Charts Company Midnight Oil". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 March 2013.

[Vellutini-5] Vellutini, Laetitia (January 2003). "Finding a voice on indigenous issues: Midnight Oil's inappropriate appropriation". Journal of Australian Studies. 27 (79): 127–133. doi:10.1080/14443050309387893. S2CID 143645628. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2013 – via The Australian Public Intellectual Network.

[amg-6] ttps://www.allmusic.com/album/r169888

[7] "Midnight Oil: Earth and Sun and Moon : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". www.rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2022.

[8] Andrew McMillen. "Flawless: 52 of the best albums you'll ever hear". The Australian.

[ac_Australia_Midnight_Oil-9] "Australiancharts.com – Midnight Oil – Earth and Sun and Moon". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2018.

[group=-10] "Top RPM Albums: Issue 1761". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 December 2021.

[ac_Germany_Midnight_Oil-11] "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved 30 November 2018.

[ac_Netherlands_Midnight_Oil-12] "Dutchcharts.nl – Midnight Oil – Earth and Sun and Moon" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2018.

[ac_New_Zealand_Midnight_Oil-13] "Charts.nz – Midnight Oil – Earth and Sun and Moon". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2018.

[ac_Sweden_Midnight_Oil-14] "Swedishcharts.com – Midnight Oil – Earth and Sun and Moon". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2018.

[ac_Switzerland_Midnight_Oil-15] "Swisscharts.com – Midnight Oil – Earth and Sun and Moon". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2018.

[16] "ARIA Top 50 Albums for 1993". ARIA. Retrieved 3 November 2021.

[17] "The RPM Top 100 Albums of 1993". RPM. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2021.

[18] "Top Selling Albums of 1993 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 3 November 2021.

[AustraliaMidnight_OilEarth_and_Sun_and_MoonalbumCertRef-19] "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1993 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2 May 2022.

[SwitzerlandMidnight_OilEarth_and_Sun_and_MoonalbumCertRef-20] "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Earth and Sun and Moon')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 May 2022.

[Credits:_Midnight_Oil_-_Earth_and_Sun_and_Moon-21] "Credits: Midnight Oil - Earth and Sun and Moon". AllMusic.

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