Editing Blue Sky Mining

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Blue Sky Mining
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[Midnight Oil]]
| cover      = MidnightOil_BlueSkyMining.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = 9 February 1990
| recorded   = June−September 1989 
| venue      =
| studio     = Rhinoceros Studios, Sydney
| genre      = [[Rock music|Rock]]
| length     = 46:52
| label      = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
| producer   = [[Warne Livesey]] & [[Midnight Oil]]
| prev_title = [[Diesel and Dust]]
| prev_year  = 1987
| next_title = [[The Green Disc]]
| next_year  = 1990
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = Blue Sky Mining
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[Blue Sky Mine]]
 | single1date = January 1990
 | single2     = [[Forgotten Years]]/Shakers & Movers
 | single2date = April 1990
 | single3     = [[King of the Mountain (Midnight Oil song)|King of the Mountain]]
 | single3date = July 1990
 | single4     = Bedlam Bridge
 | single4date = October 1990
 | single5     = One Country
 | single5date = 1991
}}
}}

'''''Blue Sky Mining''''' is the seventh [[studio album]] by Australian [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Midnight Oil]], released on 9 February 1990 under the [[Columbia Records]] label. It received high ratings from critics. In March of that year, the album peaked at number one on the [[ARIA Charts|ARIA Albums Chart]] for two weeks. A limited release of the record featured clear blue [[Gramophone record|vinyl]]. This was the band's first studio album with bassist and backing vocalist [[Bones Hillman]], who would remain in the group until his death in 2020.

==Background==
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/blue-sky-mining-mw0000654610 |title=''Blue Sky Mining'' – Midnight Oil |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=2 October 2015 |last=Demalon |first=Tom}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''
| rev2score = {{Rating|4|4}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3985373.html |title=With its brilliant 'Blue Sky,' Midnight Oil gambles and wins |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=19 February 1990 |access-date=20 January 2018 |last=McLeese |first=Don |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121000007/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3985373.html |archive-date=21 January 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[New York Daily News|Daily News]]''
| rev3score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Midnight Oil Burns On |newspaper=[[New York Daily News|Daily News]] |date=25 February 1990 |last=Hinckley |first=David}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev4score = B<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/1990/02/23/blue-sky-mining/ |title=''Blue Sky Mining'' |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=23 February 1990 |access-date=20 January 2018 |last=Sandow |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Sandow}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''
| rev5score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-02-25-ca-1881-story.html |title=Midnight Oil 'Blue Sky Mining' Columbia |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=25 February 1990 |access-date=20 January 2018 |last=Willman |first=Chris}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev6score = 8/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Diggers with Attitude |magazine=[[NME]] |date=3 March 1990 |last=Collins |first=Andrew |author-link=Andrew Collins (broadcaster) |page=34}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Orlando Sentinel]]''
| rev7score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1990/03/16/midnight-oil-6/ |title=Midnight Oil |newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |date=16 March 1990 |access-date=2 July 2023 |last=Gettelman |first=Parry}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Midnight Oil: ''Blue Sky Mining'' |magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |issue=42 |date=March 1990 |last=Sutcliffe |first=Phil}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/midnightoil/albums/album/180354/review/5946494/blue_sky_mining |title=Midnight Oil: ''Blue Sky Mining'' |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=22 February 1990 |access-date=20 January 2018 |last=Fricke |first=David |author-link=David Fricke |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121164028/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/midnightoil/albums/album/180354/review/5946494/blue_sky_mining |archive-date=21 November 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev10score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Midnight Oil |last=Fricke |first=David |author-link=David Fricke |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor1-link=Nathan Brackett |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |editor2-link=Christian Hoard |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/540 540–541]}}</ref>
}}

''Blue Sky Mining'', produced by [[Warne Livesey]], was released by CBS/Columbia on 9 February 1990.<ref name="ARDb">{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927020538/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/m/midnightoil.html |url=http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/m/midnightoil.html |title=Midnight Oil |last1=Holmgren |first1=Magnus |last2=Stenerlöv |first2=Carl-Johan |publisher=[[Australian Rock Database]]. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren) |archive-date=27 September 2012 |url-status=usurped |access-date=12 February 2014 }}</ref> It peaked at number&nbsp;one on the [[Australian Recording Industry Association]] (ARIA) albums chart.<ref name="AusCharts">{{cite web |url=http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Midnight+Oil |title=Midnight Oil discography |publisher=Australian Charts Portal |access-date=20 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101029102343/http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Midnight+Oil |archive-date=29 October 2010 }}</ref> It stayed at number&nbsp;one for two weeks in Australia and had Top&nbsp;5 chart success in [[Sweden]], [[Switzerland]] and [[Norway]].<ref name="BlueSkyA">{{cite web |url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?key=1005&cat=a |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130101223316/http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?key=1005&cat=a |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 January 2013 |title=''Blue Sky Mining'' album charting |publisher=Australian Charts Portal |access-date=23 October 2008 }}</ref> It peaked at number&nbsp;20 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]<ref name="BillA">{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4911|pure_url=yes}} |title=Midnight Oil – Charts & Awards – ''Billboard'' Albums |website=allmusic |access-date=21 October 2008 }}</ref> and number&nbsp;28 on the UK charts.<ref name="UKCharts">{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artists/ |title=The Official Charts Company Midnight Oil |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=22 October 2008 }}</ref> The album was "more defiant and outspoken" than their previous work;<ref name="McF">{{Cite book |title=[[Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop]] |last=McFarlane |first=Ian |author-link=Ian McFarlane |publisher=[[Allen & Unwin]] |year=1999 |chapter=Encyclopedia entry for 'Midnight Oil' |chapter-url=http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=487 |isbn=1-86448-768-2 |access-date=20 October 2008 |archive-date=13 August 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040813100940/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=487 |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> the single "[[Blue Sky Mine]]" describes asbestos exposure in the [[CSR Limited#Wittenoom asbestos mine|Wittenoom mine tragedy]].<ref name="McF"/> The lead single peaked at number&nbsp;eight on the ARIA singles charts,<ref name="AusCharts"/> top&nbsp;15 in Norway and Switzerland,<ref name="BlueSkyS">{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Midnight+Oil&titel=Blue+Sky+Mine&cat=s |title="Blue Sky Mine" single charting |publisher=Australian Charts Portal |access-date=23 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141127014517/http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Midnight+Oil&titel=Blue+Sky+Mine&cat=s |archive-date=27 November 2014 }}</ref> number&nbsp;47 on [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and number&nbsp;one on both their Mainstream and Modern Rock Tracks charts,<ref name="BillS">{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4911|pure_url=yes}} |title=Midnight Oil – Charts & Awards – ''Billboard'' Albums |website=allmusic |access-date=22 October 2008 }}</ref> and appeared on the UK charts.<ref name="UKCharts"/> The second single, "Forgotten Years", was more moderately successful, reaching number&nbsp;26 on the ARIA singles chart, number&nbsp;97 in the UK, number&nbsp;11 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks, and number&nbsp;one on the Modern Rock Tracks.

At the [[ARIA Music Awards of 1991]], Midnight Oil won 'Best Group' and an 'Outstanding Achievement Award', and  were awarded 'Best Cover Art', 'Best Video' and 'Album of the Year' for ''Blue Sky Mining''.<ref name=arialist>{{cite web|url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-artist.php?letter=M&artist=Midnight%20Oil |title=ARIA Awards 2008: History: Winners by Artist search result for Midnight Oil |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) |access-date=25 August 2008 }}{{dead link|date=December 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name=aria1991>{{cite web|url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/1991 |title=ARIA Awards 2008: History: Winners by Year search result for 1991 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) |access-date=24 October 2008 }}</ref> Manager Gary Morris, accepting awards for Midnight Oil, was criticised for a speech lasting 20 minutes.<ref name=aria1991/><ref name="Jeff">{{Cite book |title=Molly Meldrum presents 50 years of rock in Australia |last=Jenkins |first=Jeff |author2=Ian Meldrum |year=2007 |publisher=Wilkinson Publishing |location=Melbourne |pages=21, 82, 237–241 |isbn=978-1-921332-11-1 }}</ref>

Hirst later said, "Warne's whole thing was to get as close to aural perfection as you possibly could, or as close as we were ever going to get- and Rhino the sort of place to do it. It was indulgent, excessive, and it was the kind of luxury that's afforded to bands with a hit album, which we had." Moginie added, "I didn't realise that we were making a commercial record and we certainty never set out to. We ended up going for good songs and lots of acoustic guitars, and it worked."<ref>{{cite magazine| magazine= Australian Musician | title=A Studio Tour| date=Winter 1998|page=15|issue=14}}</ref>

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| headline       = Side one
| title1         = [[Blue Sky Mine]]
| writer1        = Garrett, Hillman, Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey
| length1        = 4:18

| title2         = Stars of Warburton
| writer2        = Garrett, Moginie
| length2        = 4:43

| title3         = Bedlam Bridge
| writer3        = Hirst
| length3        = 4:25

| title4         = [[Forgotten Years]]
| writer4        = Hirst, Moginie
| length4        = 4:21

| title5         = Mountains of Burma
| writer5        = Hirst
| length5        = 4:50
}}
{{Track listing
| headline       = Side two
| title6         = [[King of the Mountain (Midnight Oil song)|King of the Mountain]]
| writer6        = Hirst, Moginie
| length6        = 3:58

| title7         = River Runs Red
| writer7        = Hirst, Moginie
| length7        = 5:28

| title8         = Shakers and Movers
| writer8        = Garrett, Moginie
| length8        = 4:32

| title9         = One Country
| writer9        = Garrett, Moginie
| length9        = 5:56

| title10        = Antarctica
| writer10       = Garrett, Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey
| length10       = 4:22
}}
{{Track listing
| headline       = Bonus track on some pressings
| title11        = You May Not Be Released**
| writer11       = Moginie
| length11       = 3:38
}}
** Some early Australian copies included the track "You May Not Be Released" - it was the B-side to a 12-inch issue of "Forgotten Years," and it is believed that this only appeared on the first 1,000 LP copies.  It also appeared on early cassette copies<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deadheart.org.uk/news_and_info/faq/album_faq/blue_sky_mining.htm |title=Album FAQ - Blue Sky Mining |access-date=2007-03-25 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206232756/http://www.deadheart.org.uk/news_and_info/faq/album_faq/blue_sky_mining.htm |archive-date=2012-02-06}}</ref><ref>Personal memory.  I went to the record store on release day and bought a cassette copy which included this "bonus rough mix track"</ref> and CDs.<ref>Physical CD media from 1990 release</ref>

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1990–1991)
! scope="col"| Peak<br /> position
|-
{{album chart|Australia|1|artist=Midnight Oil|album=Blue Sky Mining|rowheader=true|access-date=30 November 2018}}
|-
{{album chart|Austria|13|artist=Midnight Oil|album=Blue Sky Mining|rowheader=true|access-date=30 November 2018}}
|-
{{Album chart|Canada|6|artist=Midnight Oil|album=Blue Sky Mining|chartid=9030|access-date=1 December 2021|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|Germany4|2|id=1005|artist=Midnight Oil|album=Blue Sky Mining|rowheader=true|access-date=30 November 2018}}
|-
{{album chart|Netherlands|27|artist=Midnight Oil|album=Blue Sky Mining|rowheader=true|access-date=30 November 2018}}
|-
{{album chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Midnight Oil|album=Blue Sky Mining|rowheader=true|access-date=30 November 2018}}
|-
{{album chart|Norway|2|artist=Midnight Oil|album=Blue Sky Mining|rowheader=true|access-date=30 November 2018}}
|-
{{album chart|Sweden|3|artist=Midnight Oil|album=Blue Sky Mining|rowheader=true|access-date=30 November 2018}}
|-
{{album chart|Switzerland|2|artist=Midnight Oil|album=Blue Sky Mining|rowheader=true|access-date=30 November 2018}}
|-
{{album chart|UK|28|artist=Midnight Oil|rowheader=true|access-date=12 March 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|20|artist=Midnight Oil|rowheader=true|access-date=12 March 2021}}
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1990)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-50albums-1990.htm |title=ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums1990 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |access-date=31 December 2014}}</ref>
| 3
|-
! scope="row"| Canadian Albums (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9145&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9145.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9145|title=Top 100 Albums of 1990|language=en|publisher=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
| 28
|-
! scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-1990|title=Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts|language=de|publisher=[[GfK Entertainment]]|access-date=12 March 2021}}</ref>
| 19
|-
! scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/1990-12-31|title=Top Selling Albums of 1990|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=15 February 2022}}</ref>
| 8
|-
! scope="row"| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/1990/alben|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1990|website=hitparade.ch|access-date=12 March 2021}}</ref>
| 12
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1990/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1990|work=Billboard|access-date=12 March 2021}}</ref>
| 67
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications==
{{certification Table Top}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Australia|artist=Midnight Oil|title=Blue Sky Mining|award=Platinum|number=5|certyear=2014|refname="Album Certification"|access-date=31 December 2014}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Canada|artist=Midnight Oil|title=Blue Sky Mining|award=Platinum|certyear=1990|relyear=1990|access-date=July 22, 2022}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=France|artist=Midnight Oil|title=Blue Sky Mining|award=Platinum|source=infodisc|certyear=1990|relyear=1990|access-date=July 22, 2022}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Germany|artist=Midnight Oil|title=Blue Sky Mining|award=Gold|certyear=1990|relyear=1990|access-date=July 22, 2022}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=New Zealand|artist=Midnight Oil|title=Blue Sky Mining|award=Platinum|certyear=1991|id=1991-06-07|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|relyear=1990}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Sweden|artist=Midnight Oil|title=Blue Sky Mining|award=Gold|certyear=1990|relyear=1990|access-date=July 22, 2022}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Switzerland|artist=Midnight Oil|title=Blue Sky Mining|award=Platinum|certyear=1990|relyear=1990|access-date=2 May 2022}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United States|artist=Midnight Oil|title=Blue Sky Mining|award=Gold|certyear=1990|relyear=1990|access-date=July 22, 2022}}
{{certification Table Bottom}}

==Personnel==
'''Midnight Oil'''
* [[Peter Garrett]] - lead vocals, harmonica 
* [[Bones Hillman]] - bass, vocals
* [[Rob Hirst|Robert Hirst]] - drums, vocals
* [[Jim Moginie]] - guitars, keyboards, vocals
* [[Martin Rotsey]] - guitars

'''Additional personnel'''
* [[Warne Livesey]] - additional keyboards
* [[Jeremy Smith (Australian musician)|Jeremy Smith]] - French horn
* Phillip Hartl - String Leader
* Glad and Carl - Horn Swells

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.midnightoil.com Midnight Oil]

{{Midnight Oil}}
{{ARIA Award for Album of the Year 1990s}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1990 albums]]
[[Category:Midnight Oil albums]]
[[Category:Columbia Records albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Warne Livesey]]
[[Category:ARIA Award–winning albums]]