Editing Head Injuries

{{About|a music recording|trauma to the head|Head injury}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Head Injuries
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[Midnight Oil]]
| cover      = MidnightOil_HeadInjuries.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = {{Start date|1979|10}}
| recorded   = July 1979 – August 1979
| venue      =
| studio     = Trafalgar (Sydney)
| genre      = *[[Post-punk]]
*[[New wave music|new wave]]
*[[hard rock]]<ref name="allmusic.com">{{cite web |last1=Deming |first1=Mark |title=Midnight Oil - 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-mw0000652251 |website=allmusic |access-date=14 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
| length     = {{Duration|m=34|s=04}}
| label      = Powderworks, Sprint, [[Columbia Records|CBS]]
| producer   = Leszek J. Karski
| prev_title = [[Midnight Oil (Midnight Oil album)|Midnight Oil]]
| prev_year  = 1978
| next_title = [[Bird Noises]]
| next_year  = 1980
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = Head Injuries
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = Cold Cold Change
 | single1date = October 1979
 | single2     = Back on the Borderline
 | single2date = February 1980
}}
}}

'''''Head Injuries''''' is the second studio album by Australian rock band [[Midnight Oil]], released in October 1979 on their own Powderworks label and distributed by [[Columbia Records]]. The album was produced by Leszek J. Karski, recorded at 'Trafalgar Studios' in [[Sydney]] (Engineer: Peter J. Walker, Photography: Philip Morris). It was the last Midnight Oil album to feature founding bass guitarist Andrew James, who quit the band due to illness. It peaked at No.&nbsp;36 on the Australian [[Kent Music Report]] and by mid-1980 had achieved gold status in [[Australia]].

The iconic Midnight Oil logo with the open hand, appeared first on the back cover of the 1978 eponymous album "Midnight Oil" (Design: Jan Paul & Midnight Oil). It is featured on all other albums, publications, merchandise and their touring equipment. It comes from a photo of Peter Garrett's left hand on the inner sleeve of the first album. 
(On the back of "Head Injuries" the hand is incorrectly facing up, turned 90 degrees).

The album was certified platinum in Australia in 2014.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupagesaria-charts-accreditations-albums-2014.htm | title=Accreditations – ARIA }}</ref>

==Background==
''Head Injuries'' is the second studio album by Australian rock band, [[Midnight Oil]]. They had formed in 1971 with [[Rob Hirst]] on drums, Andrew James on bass guitar, and [[Jim Moginie]] on [[keyboard instrument|keyboards]] and lead guitar.<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 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20040813100940/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=487|access-date=20 October 2008 |archive-date= 13 August 2004}}</ref><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> By 1972 they added [[Peter Garrett]] on [[vocals]] and [[synthesiser]].<ref name="McF"/><ref name="Howl"/> The group began to develop an aggressive, punk-hard rock sound for their [[Pub rock (Australia)|pub rock]] audiences.<ref name="Howl">{{cite web |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20120726191200/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/14231/20120727-0512/www.howlspace.com.au/en/midnightoil/midnightoil.htm |url=http://www.howlspace.com.au/en/midnightoil/midnightoil.htm |title=Midnight Oil |publisher=Howlspace |editor=Ed Nimmervoll |editor-link=Ed Nimmervoll |archive-date=26 July 2012 |access-date=22 January 2014 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In 1977 [[Martin Rotsey]] joined on guitar.<ref name="ARDb"/> Their debut [[eponymous]] album, ''[[Midnight Oil (Midnight Oil album)|Midnight Oil]]'', was released by their own label, Powderworks, in November 1978.<ref name="Kent">{{Cite book |title=[[Kent Music Report|Australian Chart Book 1970–1992]] |author-link=David Kent (historian) |last=Kent |first=David |publisher=Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. |year=1993 |isbn=0-646-11917-6 }}</ref> 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 backing vocals of Hirst and the presence of the towering, bald Garrett as lead singer.<ref name="McF"/><ref name="Howl"/> The first album had disappointed some critics as it did not capture their powerful live performances, with undemanding playing and Garrett's vocals sounding stilted.<ref name="McF"/>

In October 1979 ''Head Injuries'' was released on Powderworks, it was produced by former [[Supercharge (band)|Supercharge]] member, Leszek J. 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 on the Australian [[Kent Music Report]] and by mid-1980 had achieved gold status.<ref name="McF"/><ref name="Kent"/> In April 1980 founding bass guitarist James left because of ill-health and was replaced by [[Peter Gifford]] (ex-Huntress, [[Ross Ryan|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]]'', was released by [[Columbia Records|CBS Records]] in November 1981.<ref name="ARDb"/><ref name="Howl"/>

In his autobiography, Moginie says, "We sent Les a demo tape and he came back with a letter full of critical and funny comments. For "Profiteers" he wrote 'too much hippy waffle'. He was brutally direct, all for tightening up arrangements and cutting out superfluous sections, and had a punk-pop ethos."<ref>{{cite book | author= Jim Moginie|title=The Silver River|year=2024|page=85|publisher=Harper Collins|isbn=9781460717486}}</ref>

==Critical reception==
{{Album reviews
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
|rev1Score = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Head Injuries Review by William Ruhlmann |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/head-injuries-mw0000199359 |website=AllMusic |access-date=3 January 2024}}</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
|rev2score = {{rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite book |title=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |date=1992 |publisher=Random House |page=473}}</ref>
}}
At the time of release, [[Stuart Coupe]] said, "Right from the opening bars of 'Cold Cold Change', it's obvious that ''Head Injuries'' is a major development for Midnight Oil. This really sounds like the band live – soaring guitars, relentless thrashing of drums, Peter's strong voice... gee wiz, he's learnt how to pronounce words. You can understand the lyrics without referring to the lyric sheet."<ref>{{cite journal | title = Midnight Oil's Powderworks Explode Causing Head Injuries| last = Coupe | first = Stuart | journal = Roadrunner |page =6| date = November 1979| location = Parkside, SA}}</ref>

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| headline        = Side one
| title1          = Cold Cold Change
| writer1         = Hirst, Moginie
| length1         = 3:29

| title2          = Section 5 (Bus to Bondi)
| writer2         = Garrett, Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey
| length2         = 3:04

| title3         = Naked Flame
| writer3        = Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey
| length3        = 3:27

| title4         = Back on the Borderline
| writer4        = Garrett, Hirst, James
| length4        = 3:09

| title5         = Koala Sprint
| writer5        = Garrett, Moginie, Rotsey
| length5        = 5:12
}}
{{Track listing
| headline       = Side two
| title6         = No Reaction
| writer6        = Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey
| length6        = 2:59

| title7         = Stand in Line
| writer7        = Garrett, Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey
| length7        = 4:48

| title8         = Profiteers
| writer8        = Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey
| length8        = 3:46

| title9         = Is It Now?
| writer9        = Garrett, Moginie
| length9        = 4:20

}}

==Charts==
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
!scope="col"| Chart (1979/80)
!scope="col"| Peak<br>position
|-
!scope="row"| Australian [[Kent Music Report]]<ref>{{cite book|title=[[Kent Music Report|Australian Chart Book 1970–1992]]|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=[[St Ives, New South Wales|St Ives, NSW]]|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}} NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until [[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]] created their own [[ARIA Charts|charts]] in mid-1988.</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 36
|-
|}

==Certifications==
{{certification Table Top}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Australia|artist=Midnight Oil|title=Head Injuries |award=Platinum|certyear=2014|refname="Album Certification"|access-date=31 December 2014}}
{{certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes}}

==Personnel==
;Midnight Oil
* [[Peter Garrett]] – vocals
* [[Rob Hirst]] – drums, backing vocals
* Andrew James – bass, backing vocals
* [[Jim Moginie]] – guitar, keyboards
* [[Martin Rotsey]] – guitar

;Additional personnel
* Leszek J. Karski – producer
* Peter J. Walker – engineer

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.midnightoil.com}}

{{Midnight Oil}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Midnight Oil albums]]
[[Category:Sprint Music albums]]
[[Category:1979 albums]]