''Essential Oils'' is a two-disc

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one Performing arts#Performers, performer or by several performers. If the recordings are from ...

by Australian rock band

Midnight Oil Midnight Oil (known informally as "The Oils") are an Australian rock band composed of Peter Garrett (vocals, harmonica), Rob Hirst (drums), Jim Moginie (guitar, keyboard) and Martin Rotsey (guitar). The group was formed in Sydney in 1972 by H ...

released in November 2012. At the time of its release, the compilation covered Midnight Oil's entire career, starting with the group's 1978 self-titled album and including, in chronological order, tracks from all their studio albums and EPs up to and including the album '' Capricornia'' (2002). ''Essential Oils'' was released during the period in which Midnight Oil had broken up in the wake of lead singer

Peter Garrett Peter Robert Garrett (born 16 April 1953) is an Australian musician, environmentalist, activist and former politician. In 1973, Garrett became the lead singer of the Australian rock band Midnight Oil. As a performer he is known for his sign ...

focusing on his political career. The band reformed in 2016, embarked on concert tours (2017, 2019, 2022) and released two further studio albums, ''

The Makarrata Project ''The Makarrata Project'' is the twelfth studio album by Australian band Midnight Oil, released on 30 October 2020 by Sony Music Australia. The album is the first new material from the band since 2002's '' Capricornia'', their first studio album ...

'' (2020) and ''

Resist A resist, used in many areas of manufacturing and art, is something that is added to parts of an object to create a pattern by protecting these parts from being affected by a subsequent stage in the process. Often the resist is then removed. For ...

'' (2022). Given its comprehensive 36-song track list, the two-disc ''Essential Oils'' effectively supplants Midnight Oil's previous greatest-hits compilation, the one-disc, 18-track album '' 20,000 Watt R.S.L.'' (1997). There is only one track in ''20,000 Watt R.S.L.'' ("What Goes On") that is not included in ''Essential Oils''. ''Essential Oils'' contains twelve songs that were included in ''

Flat Chat ''Flat Chat'' is a compilation album from the Australian rock band, Midnight Oil. It is a collection of their heavier rock songs, which gave them their reputation. ''Flat Chat'' peaked at No. 21 on the ARIA Charts, ARIA Albums Chart. The ...

'' (2006), an 18-track compilation of Midnight Oil's heavier rock songs. (The ''Flat Chat'' tracks that do not appear on ''Essential Oils'' are "Section 5 (Bus to Bondi)", "Tell Me the Truth", "Stand in Line", "Pictures", "Written in the Heart" and "Mosquito March".) ''Essential Oils'' contains liner notes by American music journalist

David Fricke David Fricke (born ) is an American music journalist who serves as the senior editor at ''Rolling Stone'' magazine, where he writes predominantly about rock music. One of the best known names in rock journalism, his career has spanned over 40 ye ...

. The album charted at number 7 on the

ARIA Charts The ARIA Charts are the main Australian record chart, music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA beca ...

and on the

Official New Zealand Music Chart The Official Aotearoa Music Charts, formerly the Official New Zealand Music Chart (), is the weekly New Zealand top 40 singles and albums charts, issued weekly by Recorded Music NZ (formerly Recording Industry Association of New Zealand). The M ...

Reception

* ''Vintage Rock'' says, "The aptly named ''Essential Oils'' is a double CD compilation that pretty much spans the entire career of Australia's Midnight Oil – beginning with tracks from their 1978 self-titled release, followed by more from the subsequent 10 albums and two EPs. The kinetic high-end bass, and a two-guitar kinetic punk-like sensibility of “Run By Night” is the only song on this 36-song collection from the band's first album." * ''Glide Magazine'' says, "One CD might have done the job, but there's little bloat here and more than enough to entice die-hards and new listeners with a proper reflection on the group's genesis, process and closure. ''Essential Oils'' draws from all 14 of their recordings between 1978 and 2002. At 36 songs, the album traces a journey of demanding social justice through song, ones that evolve from polished punk to textured pop to industrial mayhem." * ''Spectrum Culture'' say that "American audiences will likely know Midnight Oil for its 1987 hit “Beds Are Burning,” off the internationally popular ''

Diesel and Dust ''Diesel and Dust'' is the sixth studio album by Australian rock band Midnight Oil, released in August 1987 by SPRINT Music label under Columbia Records. ''Diesel and Dust'' was produced by Warne Livesey and the band. It is a concept album abo ...

''. That platinum-selling album was the band's first real success stateside, but Midnight Oil were already superstars back home in Australia, where their aggressive brand of politically-charged rock had taken on uranium mining, Tibet and a monopoly within the Sydney music industry."Midnight Oil – Essential Oils Review
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Track listing

Charts

Certifications

References

{{Authority control Midnight Oil compilation albums 2012 greatest hits albums Sony Music compilation albums