Editing Midnight Oil (section)

=== 1976–1981 ===
[[File:Martin Rotsey.jpg|thumb|upright|Martin Rotsey, Midnight Oil guitarist, at the Souths Leagues Club in Brisbane, 2007]]

After changing its name to Midnight Oil, the group began to develop an aggressive, punk-hard rock sound for their [[Pub rock (Australia)|pub rock]] audiences.<ref name="Howl" /> Guitarist [[Martin Rotsey]] joined in 1977<ref name="ARDb" /> and Midnight Oil, with their manager Gary Morris, established their own record label Powderworks.<ref name="ARDb" /> In June 1978 they entered the [[Albert Productions|Alberts Studio]] in Sydney with producer Keith Walker, from local radio station [[Triple J|2JJ]], to record their debut [[:wikt:eponym|eponymous]] album, ''[[Midnight Oil (Midnight Oil album)|Midnight Oil]]'', which was released by Powderworks in November 1978 and peaked at No.&nbsp;43 on the Australian albums charts.<ref name="Kent" /> Midnight Oil's first single "Run by Night" followed in December,<ref name="McF" /><ref name="Howl" /> but had very little chart success, peaking at No.&nbsp;100 on the singles charts.<ref name="Kent" />

The band built a dedicated fan base, initially restricted to Sydney, which was extended to other Australian cities through constant touring – performing some 200 gigs in their first year.<ref name="Howl" /> They became known for their furious live performances, which featured the two guitarists Moginie and Rotsey, the drumming and vocals of Hirst and the presence of the towering, bald Garrett as lead singer.<ref name="McF" /><ref name="Howl" /><ref name="RSBio" />

The ''Midnight Oil'' [[long play|LP]] disappointed some critics as it did not capture their powerful live performances, with undemanding playing and Garrett's vocals sounding stilted.<ref name="McF" /> Their second album ''[[Head Injuries]]'', released on Powderworks in October 1979, was produced by former [[Supercharge (band)|Supercharge]] member Leszek Karski.<ref name="ARDb" /> It mixed solid guitar rock with progressive flourishes and was an improvement by highlighting the group's strengths and growth.<ref name="McF" /><ref name="Howl" /> It peaked at No.&nbsp;36 and by mid-1980 had achieved gold status.<ref name="McF" /><ref name="Kent" /> In April 1980 founding bass guitarist Andrew James left because of ill-health and was replaced by [[Peter Gifford]] (ex-Huntress, Ross Ryan Band).<ref name="ARDb" />

Further interest in Midnight Oil was generated by the popular ''[[Bird Noises]]'' [[extended play|EP]], also produced by Karski, which peaked at No.&nbsp;28 on the Australian singles charts.<ref name="Kent" /> One of its four tracks was the surf-instrumental "Wedding Cake Island" named after the [[Wedding Cake Island|rock outcrop]] in the ocean off Sydney's [[Coogee, New South Wales|Coogee Beach]]. The band's third LP ''[[Place without a Postcard]]'', released by [[Columbia Records|CBS Records]] in November 1981, was recorded in [[Sussex]] with English producer [[Glyn Johns]] ([[The Rolling Stones]], [[The Who]]).<ref name="ARDb" /><ref name="Howl" /> Creative tensions between the band and Johns plagued the recording and the group were not totally happy with the outcome. Johns had an arrangement with [[A&M Records]] and they asked Midnight Oil to return to the studio to record material suitable for an American single release – they refused and returned to Australia.<ref name="Howl" /> ''Place without a Postcard'' peaked at No.&nbsp;12 on the albums charts and related singles "Don't Wanna be the One" and "Armistice Day" reached the Top 40 in Australia.<ref name="Kent" />