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''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 or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...
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 ...
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 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 alb ...
'' (2020) and '' Resist'' (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 Albums Chart. The title is take ...
'' (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. The album charted at number 7 on the
ARIA Charts 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 ...
and on the
Official New Zealand Music Chart The Official New Zealand Music Chart ( mi, Te Papa Tātai Waiata Matua o Aotearoa) 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 Musi ...
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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''. 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