''Capricornia'' is the eleventh studio album by Australian band Midnight Oil, released in February 2002 by Columbia Records in Australia and Liquid 8 Records in America.

Album history

Writing and recording

On the two previous albums '' Breathe'' (1996) and ''

Redneck Wonderland ''Redneck Wonderland'' is the tenth studio album by Midnight Oil that was released in July 1998 under the Columbia Records label, which peaked at No.7 on the ARIA Albums Chart. The title of the album was inspired by a wall graffiti, a picture ...

'' (1998), all tracks were credited "Midnight Oil"; on ''Capricornia'' the band returns to crediting individual contributors for each track, with Moginie dominating the list as is seen on most of their records. After the hard rock/electronic sounds of the previous album ''Redneck Wonderland'', on this record Midnight Oil moved to a stripped back sound, with acoustic and clean electric guitars dominating the sound of the album (''Golden Age'', ''Luritja Way'', ''Under the Overpass''), although some tracks (''Too Much Sunshine'', ''Mosquito March'', ''Poets and Slaves'') feature significant distorted guitars. These latter tracks also feature distorted vocals. The album also features a short piano solo track (''A Crocodile Cries'') in the middle of the record, the melody of which is reprised for the album closing ''Poets and Slaves''. The album was produced, mixed and arranged by

Warne Livesey Warne Livesey (born 12 February 1959) is an English/Canadian music producer, mixing engineer, songwriter and musician. He has produced Midnight Oil, The The, Matthew Good Band and Deacon Blue. Life and career Warne Livesey started his career in ...

, who also worked on Midnight Oil's seminal Diesel and Dust and Blue Sky Mining records. The bonus track ''Say Your Prayers'', which appears on US versions of the album and was one of the four new tracks on

The Real Thing The Real Thing or Real Thing may refer to: Film and television * The Real Thing (film), ''The Real Thing'' (film) or ''Livers Ain't Cheap'', a 1996 American film * ''The Real Thing'', a 1980 television documentary by James Burke (science historian) ...

, was produced by the band and Daniel Denholm.

Name and concept

The name and concept of ''Capricornia'' was taken from the novel of the same name written by the Australian author

Xavier Herbert Xavier Herbert (born Alfred Jackson; 15 May 190110 November 1984) was an Australian writer best known for his Miles Franklin Award-winning novel '' Poor Fellow My Country'' (1975). He was considered one of the elder statesmen of Australian li ...

. The name ''Capricornia'' refers to part of the

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , establishe ...

coast and inland region around Rockhampton, which is close to the

Tropic of Capricorn The Tropic of Capricorn (or the Southern Tropic) is the circle of latitude that contains the subsolar point at the December (or southern) solstice. It is thus the southernmost latitude where the Sun can be seen directly overhead. It also reac ...

Track listing

Australian version

US version

European version

Charts

Personnel

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 signa ...

- 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 ...

- drums, vocals, percussion *

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 work ...

- guitars, keyboards, vocals * Martin Rotsey - guitars * Produced By

, except "Say Your Prayers," produced by Midnight Oil and Daniel Denholm.

References

External links

Midnight Oil

{{Authority control 2002 albums Midnight Oil albums Bertelsmann Music Group albums Columbia Records albums Albums produced by Warne Livesey