Bird Noises
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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.
Background
[edit]On 24 November 1980, Australian rock music group, Midnight Oil, released their first four-track extended play, Bird Noises.<ref name="McFarlane">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Holmgren">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> It was the first recording by the band to feature Gifford who had replaced the band's earlier bass guitarist, Andrew James.<ref name="ODonnell">Template:Cite book</ref>
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.<ref name="Holmgren"/><ref name="BirdEP">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> 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.<ref name="Ruhlman"/>
Reception
[edit]Template:Music ratings Bird Noises peaked at No. 28 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Kent">Template:Cite book 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.</ref><ref name="AusCharts80">Template:Cite web</ref> 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'".<ref name="McFarlane"/> 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".<ref name="Ruhlman">Template:Cite web</ref>
Track listing
[edit]Charts
[edit]| Chart (1980/81) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Kent Music Report<ref>Template:Cite book NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.</ref> | 28 |
Certifications
[edit]Template:Certification Table Top Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Bottom
Personnel
[edit]Midnight Oil
[edit]- 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
[edit]- Producer – Leszek Karski (for Instant Relief)
- Engineer – Ross Cockle
- Mixer – Leszek Karski
- Studio – Music Farm Studio, Byron Bay; mixed at Studios 301, Sydney.
Credits:<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/><ref name="BirdEP"/>