Bird Noises is the first extended play by Australian rock group, Midnight Oil, which was released on 24 November 1980 under the band's own independent label, Powderworks Records / Sprint Music. It was produced by Leszek Karski and manufactured and distributed by CBS/Columbia. Bird Noises reached the Top 30 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart. According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, the EP "continued the development heard on [their previous album], with 'No Time for Games' and 'I'm the Cure' being particularly impressive. [The EP] also boasted the anomalous, but delightful Shadows-like instrumental 'Wedding Cake Island'".
Background
On 24 November 1980, Australian rock music group, Midnight Oil, released their first four-track extended play, Bird Noises.[1][2] At the time Midnight Oil consisted of Peter Garrett on lead vocals and harmonica; Peter Gifford on bass guitar and backing vocals; Rob Hirst on drums and backing vocals; Jim Moginie on lead guitar and keyboards; and Martin Rotsey on lead guitar.[1][2] It was the first recording by the band to feature Gifford who had replaced the band's earlier bass guitarist, Andrew James.[3]
It was produced by former Supercharge band member Leszek Karski for Powderworks Records and Sprint Music label at Music Farm Studios in Byron Bay and distributed internationally by the CBS/Columbia Records.[2][4] The track, "Wedding Cake Island", refers to the island of the same name off Coogee Beach, Sydney. In 1990 the EP was re-released, on CD, in the United States by Columbia Records.[5]
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
Bird Noises peaked at No. 28 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart.[1][6][7] According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, Bird Noises "continued the development heard on Head Injuries, with 'No Time for Games' and 'I'm the Cure' being particularly impressive. Bird Noises also boasted the anomalous, but delightful Shadows-like instrumental 'Wedding Cake Island'".[1] AllMusic's William Ruhlman noted the group had tried "some musical variations after two albums of hard rock ... the music in fact was restrained, and the group tried acoustic instruments and a moody instrumental for an intriguing change of pace from their usual style".[5]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Garrett, Hirst, Moginie, and Rotsey[8].
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "No Time for Games" | Hirst, Moginie | 4:34 |
| 2. | "Knife's Edge" | Garrett, Rotsey, Moginie | 2:49 |
| 3. | "Wedding Cake Island" | Rotsey, Moginie | 3:16 |
| 4. | "I'm the Cure" | Moginie | 3:48 |
| Total length: | 15:17 | ||
Charts
| Chart (1980/81) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Kent Music Report[9] | 28 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[10] | Gold | 35,000^ |
| ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Personnel
- Midnight Oil
- Peter Garrett – lead vocals, harmonica
- Peter Gifford – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Rob Hirst – drums, backing vocals
- Jim Moginie – lead guitar, keyboards
- Martin Rotsey – lead guitar
- Production work
- Producer – Leszek Karski (for Instant Relief)
- Engineer – Ross Cockle
- Mixer – Leszek Karski
- Studio – Music Farm Studios, Byron Bay; mixed at Studios 301, Sydney.
References
- ^ a b c d e McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Midnight Oil'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2. Archived from the original on 8 September 2002. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
- ^ a b c d Holmgren, Magnus; Stenerlöv, Carl-Johan. "Midnight Oil". Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
- ^ O'Donnell, John; Creswell, Toby; Mathieson, Craig (October 2010). "1: Midnight Oil – Diesel and Dust". 100 Best Australian Albums. Prahran, Vic: Hardie Grant Books. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-74066-955-9.
- ^ a b Bird Noises (Media notes). Midnight Oil. Powderworks Records. 1980. MSPD 462.
- ^ a b c Ruhlman, William. "Bird Noises – Midnight Oil". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book Ltd. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. Note: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 until Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) created their own charts in mid-1988. In 1992, Kent back calculated chart positions for 1970–1974.
- ^ Ryan (bulion), Gary (2 April 2009). "1980 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Retrieved 23 July 2013.
- ^ "'Bird Noises, Powderworks – MSPD 462'". Discogs.com. Retrieved 24 March 2020. Note: Click on 'More Images' to see photos of vinyl labels of both sides, confirming the songwriters.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2014.