''Redneck Wonderland'' is the tenth studio album by

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 ...

that was released in July 1998 under the

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...

label, which peaked at No.7 on the

ARIA Albums Chart The ARIA Charts are the main Australian 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 became the offici ...

. The title of the album was inspired by a wall

graffiti Graffiti (plural; singular ''graffiti'' or ''graffito'', the latter rarely used except in archeology) is art that is written, painted or drawn on a wall or other surface, usually without permission and within public view. Graffiti ranges from s ...

, a picture of which can be seen in the promotional Oil Rag Vol. VI issued along with album release. The album was certified Gold in Australia in 2014. The album's eponymous song was ranked number 93 in

Triple M Triple M is an Australian commercial radio network owned and operated by Southern Cross Austereo. The network consists of 40 radio stations broadcasting a mainstream rock music format and 5 digital radio stations. The network dates back t ...

's "Ozzest 100", the 'most Australian' songs of all time. The album marked a shift to an electronic influenced hard rock style.

Track listing

Writing credits sourced from APRA WebWorks search engine, November 2009.

Song notes

* "Concrete" originally performed as "Free My Soul;" known to be played on ''

20,000 Watt R.S.L. ''20,000 Watt R.S.L.'' is a compilation album by Australian rock band Midnight Oil released on 13 October 1997 on their own label Sprint Music. The word "Collection" appears on the front of the CD along the hinge in the same type face as the tit ...

'' tour. * "Cemetery in My Mind" known to be played on ''20,000 Watt R.S.L.'' tour. * "Comfortable Place on the Couch" originally performed as "Haulaway;" known to be played on ''20,000 Watt R.S.L.'' tour.The Dead Heart Midnight Oil FAQ
retrieved 5 August 2007. * "Safety Chain Blues" originally performed as "Warm Babies;" known to be played on ''20,000 Watt R.S.L.'' tour. * "Blot" known to be played on ''20,000 Watt R.S.L.'' tour
(video of 22 November 1997 performance)
* "White Skin Black Heart" & "What Goes On" both first released on ''20,000 Watt R.S.L.''; known to be played on ''20,000 Watt R.S.L.'' tour. * "Return to Sender", "The Great Gibber Plain" and "Drop in the Ocean" were all played on the ''Redneck Wonderland'' tour, the latter two having rare appearances in 2017 on ''The Great Circle Tour'' and "Drop in the Ocean" being part of the final concert of the final tour in 2022 (which was also the longest Midnight Oil show ever)

The tour

The tour is noted for the use of a wheel featuring the titles of 64 Midnight Oil tracks. Most tracks from ''Redneck Wonderland'' were not played after the tour ended; the title track was generally the only song played, often as the opening track to shows on the '' Capricornia'' tour. The track was later placed elsewhere in the set list; "Concrete" and "Comfortable Place on the Couch" occasionally reappeared.

Personnel

Midnight Oil

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 ...

- lead vocals *

Bones Hillman Wayne Stevens (May 1958 – 7 November 2020), known by the stage name Bones Hillman, was a New Zealand musician best known as the bass guitarist for the Australian alternative rock band Midnight Oil, which he joined in 1987 and remained with un ...

- bass, vocals *

Rob Hirst Robert George Hirst (born 3 September 1955) is an Australian musician from Camden, New South Wales. He is a founding member of rock band Midnight Oil on drums, percussion and backing vocals (sometimes lead vocals) from the 1970s until the band t ...

- drums, vocals *

Jim Moginie James Moginie (born 18 May 1956) is an Australian musician. He is best known for his work with Midnight Oil, of which he is a founding member, guitarist, keyboardist and leading songwriter. Career In addition to Midnight Oil, Moginie has wor ...

- guitar, keyboards, synthesiser, vocals *

Martin Rotsey Martin Rotsey is an Australian guitarist and a member of the rock band Midnight Oil, which was active from 1977 to 2002 and resumed performing together in 2017. Career In 2006, he joined fellow Midnight Oil member Rob Hirst's projects Ghostwrit ...

- guitar

Additional musicians

Jeremy Smith Jeremy Smith may refer to: *Jeremy Theron Smith a man charged with aggravated assault for wounding three women in Koreatown Dallas on 17 May 2022 *Jeremy Smith (Royal Navy officer) (fl. 1660s), British sailor *Jeremy C. Smith (born 1959), British bi ...

(of H&C) - French horn * Helen Mountfort - cello * Hope Csutoros - violin

Charts

Certifications

References

External links

Midnight Oil
{{Authority control 1998 albums Midnight Oil albums Columbia Records albums Sprint Music albums Albums produced by Warne Livesey