Music # 7 'Diesel and Dust'

Feeling nostalgic tonight and have been a little weary driving the car this week so if in doubt pull out the best CD album I've heard [albeit U2s 'Joshua Tree' isn't far off]

'Diesel and Dust' Midnight Oil 1986/87
Inspired by a journey through central Australia and time spent in remote and traditional Aboriginal communities. The Oils thought they were doing something unique until they discovered places Slim Dusty had been visiting for 30 years.
Nevertheless, their White Fella Black Fella Tour with the Warumpi Band brought us 'Beds are Burning', 'the Dead Heart' and 'Warakurna' amongst others. Read about the journey in the book 'Strict Rules'

The combination of the Oils unique acoustic rock sound plus traditional instruments like Charlie McMahon's Didge produce a very special album of social comment on Australian society and our landscape/environment.

'Sometimes' is one of my favourite songs to see live and it closed many an Oils gig.

Beds are Burning
Out where the river broke
The bloodwood and the desert oak
Holden wrecks and boiling diesels
Steam in forty five degrees

The time has come
To say fair's fair
To pay the rent
To pay our share
The time has come
A fact's a fact
It belongs to them
Let's give it back

How can we dance when our earth is turning
How do we sleep when our beds are burning

Four wheels scare the cockatoos
From Kintore East to Yuendemu
The western desert lives and breathes
In forty five degrees

The time has come
A fact's a fact
It belongs to us all
Let's give it back)

Despite being keen to do something new 'The Oils' were encouraged and cajoled into playing this for the 2000 Sydney Olympics Closing Ceremony and that's where they wore the famous 'Sorry' suits by the designer who produced all their kitsch 80's shirts and overalls.