"The Midnight Oil" is a song written by Joe Allen, and recorded by American country music artist Barbara Mandrell. It was released in July 1973 as the fifth single and title track from the album ''

The Midnight Oil ''The Midnight Oil'' is the second solo studio album by American country music singer Barbara Mandrell, released in 1973. Mandrell had not released a solo studio album since 1971. It was her most successful album while under her Columbia label. Th ...

''. The song received positive critical reception and became one of Mandrell's first top ten hits on the North American country music charts.

Background and recording

Barbara Mandrell made the shift from background musician to recording artist upon signing to Columbia Records in 1970. Her singles reached the top 40 of country songs chart. Her highest-charting country single during this period was 1973's "The Midnight Oil". Composed by Joe Allen, the song told the story of a woman who lies working late in an effort to have her husband not find out that she is carrying on an affair. The song was considered to be one of the first "cheating songs" to be performed by a woman. The track was recorded on May 25, 1973, in a session produced by Billy Sherrill at the Columbia Studio, located in Nashville, Tennessee.

Critical reception

"The Midnight Oil" has received a positive reception from critics and writers. Kurt Wolff of ''Country Music: The Rough Guide'' called a "late-night love tryst" and a "cheating song". Greg Adams of AllMusic praised the song in reviewing her 1997 compilation ''Super Hits'', calling its production "glossy" and "firmly rooted in the 70s". He concluded by calling the track (along with the album's additional material) among "the best recordings Barbara Mandrell ever made."

Release and chart performance

"The Midnight Oil" was released as a single on Columbia Records on July 25, 1973. It was backed on the

B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...

by the song "In the Name of Love". The track was issued by the label as a seven inch vinyl single. The single spent multiple weeks on America's ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

country songs Country song may refer to: *National anthem, known as a "country song" in some languages * "Country Song" (Jake Bugg song), a 2011 song by British singer songwriter Jake Bugg * "Country Song" (Pink Floyd song), an untitled song by Pink Floyd from th ...

chart, peaking at number seven by the end of the year. It was Mandrell's second single to reach the top ten of the country songs chart in the United States. It was also her highest-climbing solo single up to that point. In Canada, "The Midnight Oil" was her first top ten entry on ''

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'' Country Singles chart, peaking at number five in 1973. The song was released on Mandrell's second studio LP, also titled ''

''. The album was released in November 1973.

Track listing

7" vinyl single * "The Midnight Oil" – 2:40 * "In the Name of Love" – 2:08

Charts

References

{{Barbara Mandrell songs 1973 singles 1973 songs Columbia Records singles Barbara Mandrell songs Song recordings produced by Billy Sherrill Songs about infidelity