Sony Music Australia is cooking with gas when it comes to the legacy of Midnight Oil.  The Australian rock heroes are about to celebrated with not one, not two, but three box sets: The Vinyl Collection (containing all vinyl LPs and EPs), The Full Tank (all CDs and music videos), and The Overflow Tank (over 14 hours of rare and previously unissued material on 4 CDs and 8 DVDs).  These massive sets are due in Australasia on May 12 and May 26 in Europe.  The U.S. and Canadian release will happen on May 26 for both Tank collections, with the vinyl box arriving on June 9.

Midnight Oil had its roots in the band Farm.  Founded in 1972, Farm performed familiar classic rock as part of its repertoire and evolved to touch on the burgeoning sounds of progressive rock.  Eventually, the members of Farm - Peter Garrett on vocals and synthesizer, Rob Hirst on drums, Andrew James on bass guitar and Jim Moginie on keyboards and lead guitar - developed a hard-rock approach all their own, and the group's style solidified further with the addition in 1977 of guitarist Martin Rotsey.  Soon, the renamed and re-energized Midnight Oil was recording its first, self-titled album.   The group jumped from its independent Powderworks label to CBS with the 1981 release of the Glyn Johns-produced Place Without a Postcard, but its true breakthrough didn't come until one year later with 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.  Of course, there had been a personnel change by this point - Peter Gifford had replaced Andrew James on bass - but Midnight Oil scored a No. 3 hit in Australia with the album lasting 171 (!) weeks on the chart.  10-1 was also the group's first album to be picked up for U.S. distribution by Columbia Records.  Today, Garrett, Hirst, Moginie, and Rotsey are all still in the band, with Bones Hillman (a member from 1987-2002 who rejoined last year) rounding out the quintet.

The Vinyl Collection and The Full Tank both offer the complete core Midnight Oil discography, from 1978's eponymous debut to 2001's Capricornia, including two EPs.  For the vinyl set, each title has been remastered from the original tapes by Steve Smart at Studios 301, Sydney, Australia, and then prepared for vinyl at Abbey Road Studios, London.  The CD iteration, The Full Tank, adds a new DVD presentation of all the band's music videos.  The discs contain the remastered versions released over "recent years," per the Oils' website, and all original artwork has been restored.  A 36-page booklet features new liner notes by author/musician Sean Sennett.  The discs are housed in a special miniature water tank, made from recycled materials.

The Overflow Tank is also housed in its own miniature water tank.  This 4-CD/8-CD Oils treasure trove has one CD of unreleased studio recordings, one CD of B-sides and rarities, plus 2 live CDs drawn from performances across two decades. Across eight DVDs, you'll find the band's MTV Unplugged, a live concert from South Africa's Ellis Park, and Only The Strong, a behind the scenes documentary about the making of 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (all previously unreleased), plus the films Black Rain Falls, Oils On the Water, Saturday Night at the Capitol, Blackfella Whitefella, and a bonus DVD with rare and unseen live footage from six different shows.  Whew!  Author Andrew Stafford supplies the liner notes in this collection's own 36-page booklet.

You can peruse track listings and pre-order links for all three sets from  Australia's own Midnight Oil at the links below!

Midnight Oil, The Vinyl Collection (Sony Music Australia, 2017) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Album 1: Midnight Oil (Powderworks MLF-233, 1978)
Album 2: Head Injuries (Powderworks MLF-322, 1979)
Album 3: Bird Noises EP (Powderworks MSPD-462, 1980)
Album 4: Place Without a Postcard (CBS SBP 237704, 1981)
Album 5: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (CBS SBP 237868, 1982)
Album 6: Red Sails in the Sunset (CBS/Sprint Music SBP 238027, 1984)
Album 7: Species Deceases EP (CBS/Sprint Music EX 12023, 1985)
Album 8: Diesel and Dust (CBS/Sprint Music 460005, 1987)
Album 9: Blue Sky Mining (CBS/Sprint Music 465653, 1990)
Album 10: Earth and Sun and Moon (Columbia/Sprint Music 473605, 1993)
Album 11: Breathe (Columbia 485402, 1996)
Album 12: Redneck Wonderland (Columbia 489971, 1998)
Album 13: Capricornia (Columbia/Sprint Music 506203, 2001)

Midnight Oil, The Full Tank (Sony Music Australia, 2017) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Disc 1: Midnight Oil (Powderworks MLF-233, 1978)
Disc 2: Head Injuries (Powderworks MLF-322, 1979)
Disc 3: Bird Noises EP (Powderworks MSPD-462, 1980)
Disc 4: Place Without a Postcard (CBS SBP 237704, 1981)
Disc 5: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (CBS SBP 237868, 1982)
Disc 6: Red Sails in the Sunset (CBS/Sprint Music SBP 238027, 1984)
Disc 7: Species Deceases EP (CBS/Sprint Music EX 12023, 1985)
Disc 8: Diesel and Dust (CBS/Sprint Music 460005, 1987)
Disc 9: Blue Sky Mining (CBS/Sprint Music 465653, 1990)
Disc 10: Earth and Sun and Moon (Columbia/Sprint Music 473605, 1993)
Disc 11: Breathe (Columbia 485402, 1996)
Disc 12: Redneck Wonderland (Columbia 489971, 1998)
Disc 13: Capricornia (Columbia/Sprint Music 506203, 2001)

DVD: 40,000 Watt RSL (music video compilation)

1. Used and Abused
2. Cold Cold Change
3. Back On the Borderline
4. Armistice Day
5. US Forces
6. Power and the Passion
7. Read About It
8. Best of Both Worlds
9. Pictures
10. The Dead Heart
11. Beds Are Burning
12. Put Down That Weapon
13. Dreamworld
14. Blue Sky Mine
15. Forgotten Years
16. Bedlam Bridge
17. King of the Mountain
18. One Country
19. Truganini
20. My Country
21. Outbreak of Love
22. In the Valley
23. Surf's Up Tonight
24. Underwater
25. White Skin Black Heart
26. Redneck Wonderland
27. Too Much Sunshine

Midnight Oil, The Overflow Tank (Sony Music Australia, 2017) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD1: Lasseter's Gold: Unreleased Demos

1. Schwampy Moose (1972)
2. 21st Century Human (1992) (Demo for Earth and Sun and Moon)
3. Red Indian (1992) (Demo for Earth and Sun and Moon - re-written and released as "Land")
4. Can't See Reason (1990) (Demo from Blue Sky Mining)
5. Love Life (1990) (Demo from Blue Sky Mining)
6. Heart is Nowhere (1990) (Demo for Blue Sky Mining)
7. Wreckery Road (Midnight Oil version) (1990) (Demo for Blue Sky Mining, recorded by drummer Rob Hirst's side project Ghostwriters in 1991)
8. Farm (1976) (Recorded at 77 Albert Ave, Chatswood, the band's share house/early office)
9. Ghost of the Roadhouse (1982) (Demo for 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1)
10. The Band Played The Last Melody (1990) (Demo from Blue Sky Mining)
11. A Sunburnt Sky (1996) (Outtake from Breathe, recorded as "A Love So High" on guitarist Jim Moginie's Alas Folkloric in 2006)
12. Doghead (1989) (Recorded at same session as "You May Not Be Released")

CD2: Chiko Locallo: B-Sides & Rarities

1. Ships of Freedom (B-side to "In the Valley" - Columbia 659849 2, 1993)
2. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding (B-side to "Put Down That Weapon" - CBS 651268 7, 1987)
3. Heaven and Earth (B-side to "Cemetery in My Mind" - Columbia 666287 2, 1998)
4. Cemetery in My Mind (True Believers Blind Version) (B-side to "Cemetery in My Mind" - Columbia 666287 2, 1998)
   
5. The Real Thing (from The Real Thing - Columbia 498278, 2000)
6. The Last of the Diggers (from The Real Thing - Columbia 498278, 2000)
7. Spirit of the Age (from The Real Thing - Columbia 498278, 2000)
8. You May Not Be Released (B-side to "Forgotten Years" - CBS OIL 8, 1990)
9. Kiss That Girl (from Capricornia: Special Edition - Columbia 5078532, 2001)
10. Wharf Rat (from Deadicated - Arista ARCD-8669, 1991)
11. I See You (B-side to "Surf's Up Tonight" - Columbia 663866, 1996)
12. Smash the Wobbleboard (B-side to "Underwater" - Columbia 663736, 1996)
13. The Great Gibber Plain (Ambient Version) (B-side to "Redneck Wonderland" - Columbia 666087, 1998)
14. Land - Midnight Oil, Daniel Lanois, Hothouse Flowers, Crash Vegas, The Tragically Hip (Columbia single 661161, 1994)
15. Frontier...What Frontier? (B-side to "White Skin Black Heart" - Columbia 664988, 1997)
16. Devilfish Shuffle (B-side to "Cemetery in My Mind" - Columbia 666287 2, 1998)
    
17. Kingdom of Flaunt (B-side to "Underwater" - Columbia 663736, 1996)

CD3: Live At The Wireless, Studio 221 2JJ, Sydney - 4/4/1978

1. Ensemble
2. Dust
3. Surfing with a Spoon
4. Nothing Lost - Nothing Gained
5. Powderworks
6. Run By Night
7. Used and Abused
8. Take Me Down Easy

CD4: Punter Barrier BPM (Live)

1. Stand In Line (Live @ Parramatta Park, 2JJ, Sydney - 1/18/1981)
2. Brave Faces (Live @ Tanelorn Music Festival, Stroud - 10/4/1981)
3. Lucky Country (Live @ Tanelorn Music Festival, Stroud - 10/4/1981)
4. No Reaction (Live @ Tanelorn Music Festival, Stroud - 10/4/1981)
5. Back on the Borderline (Live @ Tanelorn Music Festival, Stroud - 10/4/1981)
6. Koala Spirit (Live @ Tanelorn Music Festival, Stroud - 10/4/1981)
7. Section 5 (Bus to Bondi) (Live @ Tanelorn Music Festival, Stroud - 10/4/1981)
8. Don't Wanna Be the One (Live @ Tanelorn Music Festival, Stroud - 10/4/1981)
9. Powderworks (Live @ Tanelorn Music Festival, Stroud - 10/4/1981)
10. Eye Contact (Live @ Narrabeen Sands Hotel, Sydney - 12/41996)
11. Pictures (Live @ Narrabeen Sands Hotel, Sydney - 12/41996)
12. E Beat (Live @ Penrith Leagues, Sydney - 2/1/1998)
13. Comfortable Place on the Couch (Live @ Penrith Leagues, Sydney - 2/1/1998)
14. What Goes On (Live @ Penrith Leagues, Sydney - 2/1/1998)
15. Concrete (Live @ Penrith Leagues, Sydney - 2/1/1998)
16. Redneck Wonderland (Live @ Penrith Leagues, Sydney - 2/1/1998)
17. Burnie (Live @ Alberta Studios - 1992)

DVD1: MTV Unplugged (recorded at Sony Music Studios, New York City - 4/20/1993 - previously unreleased)

1. Feeding Frenzy
2. Sell My Soul
3. Short Memory
4. Tell Me the Truth
5. Blue Sky Mine
6. Lucky Country
7. Now or Never Land
8. Antarctica
9. The Dead Heart
10. In the Valley
11. Beds Are Burning
12. Earth and Sun and Moon
13. Truganini
14. Drums of Heaven
15. My Country
16. Warakurna
17. We Gotta Get Out of This Place

DVD2: Black Rain Falls (documentary - released as CMV Enterprises 49048, 1992)

Midnight Oil's protest gig from May 30, 1990, during which they performed on a flatbed truck outside the Exxon Building in New York City to raise awareness for the Exxon Valdez oil spill the year before. The "King of the Mountain" music video was taken from this performance.

1. Intro
2. Dreamworld (Interview - Peter Garrett, Rob Hirst)
3. Blue Sky Mine (Press Conference - Peter Garrett, Rob Hirst)
4. Instant Karma (Interview, press conference - Peter Garrett, Rob Hirst)
5. River Runs Red (Interview - Peter Garrett, Rob Hirst)
6. Progress (Interview - Peter Garrett, Rob Hirst)
7. Sometimes (Press Conference - Peter Garrett, Rob Hirst)
8. King of the Mountain (Press Conference)

DVD3: Saturday Night At The Capitol (recorded at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney - 11/27/1982; released on Best of Both Worlds - ABC Video/Universal Music Australia 1778611, 2004)

1. Only the Strong
2. Brave Faces
3. Short Memory
4. Knife's Edge
5. Power and the Passion
6. Armistice Day
7. No Time for Games
8. Quinella Holiday
9. Lucky Country
10. Don't Wanna Be the One
11. Burnie
12. Powderworks

DVD4: Oils on the Water (recorded at Goat Island, Sydney Harbour to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Triple J Radio - 1/13/1985; released on Best of Both Worlds - ABC Video/Universal Music Australia 1778611, 2004)

1. Intro
2. Best of Both Worlds
3. When the Generals Talk
4. Minutes to Midnight
5. Sleep
6. Only the Strong
7. Short Memory
8. Kosciusko
9. US Forces
10. Jimmy Sharman's Boxers
11. Back on the Borderline
12. Tin-Legs & Tin Mines
13. Don't Wanna Be the One
14. Power and the Passion
15. Read About It
16. Harrisburg
17. Stand In Line

DVD5: Only the Strong: The Making of 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (documentary)

This new documentary, directed by Robert Hambling, tells the story behind Midnight Oil's classic breakthrough album with interviews with producer Nick Launay and band members Jim Moginie, Rob Hirst and Peter Garrett.

DVD6: Blackfella/Whitefella (released as SMV Enterprises VHS 200440, 1987)

In 1986, Midnight Oil toured central Australian Aboriginal settlements with the legendary Aboriginal group Warumpi Band, staging concerts, talking with tribal elders and seeing European occupation through the eyes of its original inhabitants. The Blackfella/Whitefella Tour became the creative catalyst for the writing and recording of Diesel and Dust, and this documentary also features videos for "The Dead Heart" and "Beds Are Burning" from that album.

DVD7: Ellis Park: The Concert (previously unreleased)

After boycotting South Africa during apartheid, Midnight Oil joined forces with other pop and rock icons around the world in honor of the inauguration of Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg on October 22, 1994

1. Intro
2. The Dead Heart
3. Best of Both Worlds
4. Truganini
5. Bullroarer
6. Put Down That Weapon
7. My Country
8. King of the Mountain
9. Warakurna
10. Sell My Soul
11. Forgotten Years
12. Dreamworld
13. Beds Are Burning
14. Sometimes

DVD8: Moments in Space

1. Cold Cold Change (Live @ Tanelorn Music Festival, Stroud - 10/4/1981)
2. Run By Night (Live @ Tanelorn Music Festival, Stroud - 10/4/1981)
3. Lucky Country (Live @ Tanelorn Music Festival, Stroud - 10/4/1981)
4. Stand In Line (Live @ Tanelorn Music Festival, Stroud - 10/4/1981)
5. Armistice Day (Live @ Wanda Beach, Cronulla - 1982)
6. No Time for Games (Live @ Wanda Beach, Cronulla - 1982)
7. Cold Cold Change (Live @ Wanda Beach, Cronulla - 1982)
8. Don't Wanna Be the One (Live @ Wanda Beach, Cronulla - 1982)
9. Stand In Line (Live @ Wanda Beach, Cronulla - 1982)
10. Brave Faces (Live @ "Stop The Drop" - Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne - 2/13/1983)
11. Short Memory (Live @ "Stop The Drop" - Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne - 2/13/1983)
12. US Forces (Live @ "Stop The Drop" - Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne - 2/13/1983)
13. Who Can Stand in the Way (Live @ RMIT 100th Anniversary Concert, Storey Hall, Melbourne - 3/7/1987)
14. Best of Both Worlds (Live @ RMIT 100th Anniversary Concert, Storey Hall, Melbourne - 3/7/1987)
15. The Dead Heart (Live @ RMIT 100th Anniversary Concert, Storey Hall, Melbourne - 3/7/1987)
16. Kosciusko (Live @ RMIT 100th Anniversary Concert, Storey Hall, Melbourne - 3/7/1987)
17. Pictures (Live @ RMIT 100th Anniversary Concert, Storey Hall, Melbourne - 3/7/1987)
18. Power and the Passion (Live @ RMIT 100th Anniversary Concert, Storey Hall, Melbourne - 3/7/1987)
19. Put Down That Weapon (Live on Our Common Future, Studio 221 Darlinghurst, Sydney - 6/4/1989)
20. Sometimes (Live on Our Common Future, Studio 221 Darlinghurst, Sydney - 6/4/1989)
21. Hercules (Live on Our Common Future, Studio 221 Darlinghurst, Sydney - 6/4/1989)
22. Beds Are Burning (Live on Our Common Future, Studio 221 Darlinghurst, Sydney - 6/4/1989)
23. Surf's Up Tonight (Live @ The Palace, St. Kilda, Melbourne - 9/18/1996)
24. Sins of Omission (Live @ The Palace, St. Kilda, Melbourne - 9/18/1996)
25. Star of Hope (Live @ The Palace, St. Kilda, Melbourne - 9/18/1996)