20,000 Watt R.S.L. is a compilation album by Australian rock band Midnight Oil, released on 13 October 1997 on their own label Sprint Music. The compilation covers the majority of Midnight Oil's career, starting with their 1979 album Head Injuries, and includes tracks from all their major studio releases (and one EP), even including two songs from the then-forthcoming Redneck Wonderland album, which was released after this compilation in 1998. The compilation does not include any material from the band's eponymous 1978 debut album or the Bird Noises EP (1980). The liner notes contain an essay on the band by Australian author Tim Winton.

The album peaked at number 1 on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) albums chart, and achieved 5× Platinum sales. It also peaked at number 18 in New Zealand.

The word "Collection" appears on the front of the album along the hinge in the same type face as the title and the name of the band and may have been intended as part of the album's title; however, it does not appear on the spine. The release has also been distributed inside a cardboard sleeve that adds "Midnight Oil: The Hits" to the album art, distinguishing it as a compilation album.

In 2012, Midnight Oil released the 2-disc compilation album Essential Oils, a more comprehensive summary of the band's career, and which includes material from all of the band's studio albums and EPs between 1978 and 2002. There is only one song ("What Goes On") included on 20,000 Watt R.S.L. that is not included on Essential Oils.

Background Midnight Oil are an Australian rock band from Sydney formed in 1976 with vocalist Peter Garrett, drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboardist/lead guitarist Jim Moginie, Guitarist Martin Rotsey joined in 1977, after which Midnight Oil established their own record label Powderworks; they released their second album Head Injuries on this label in October 1979. Founding bass guitarist James left due to illness in 1980, he was replaced by Peter Gifford, Gifford was himself replaced by Bones Hillman in 1987.

Australian top-ten singles were "Power and the Passion", "The Dead Heart", "Beds Are Burning" and "Blue Sky Mine". Aside from chart success both "Power and the Passion" and "Beds Are Burning" were listed by Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) on their top 30 best Australian songs of all time list in 2001. Through a long and distinguished career, the band became known for its driving hard-rock sound, intense live performances and political activism, particularly in aid of anti-nuclear, environmentalist and indigenous causes.

The title refers to the Returned Servicemen's League, whose clubs the band has performed in, and the typical power used by a public address system.(Powderworks) 20,000 Watt RSL Title - Meaning

Track listing Songwriters according to Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA): Note: requires user to input song title e.g. WHAT GOES ON "What Goes On" (Garrett, Hillman, Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey)from Redneck Wonderland (1998) "Power and the Passion" (Garrett, Hirst, Moginie)from 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (1982) "Dreamworld" (Garrett, Hirst, Moginie)from Diesel and Dust (1987) "White Skin Black Heart" (Garrett, Hillman, Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey) "Kosciuszko" (Hirst, Moginie)from Red Sails in the Sunset (1984) "The Dead Heart" (Garrett, Hirst, Moginie) "Blue Sky Mine" (Garrett, Hillman, Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey)from Blue Sky Mining (1990) "US Forces" (Garrett, Moginie) "Beds Are Burning" (Garrett, Hirst, Moginie) "One Country" (Garrett, Moginie) "Best of Both Worlds" (Hirst, Moginie) "Truganini" (Hirst, Moginie)from Earth and Sun and Moon (1993) "King of the Mountain" (Hirst, Moginie) "Hercules" (Garrett, Hirst, Moginie)from Species Deceases (1985) "Surf's Up Tonight" (Garrett, Hillman, Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey)from Breathe (1996) "Back on the Borderline" (Garrett, Hirst, James)from Head Injuries (1979) "Don't Wanna Be the One" (Garrett, Hirst, Moginie, Rotsey)from Place without a Postcard (1981) "Forgotten Years" (Hirst, Moginie)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1997–1998) Peakposition

Year-end charts Chart (1997)PositionAustralian Albums (ARIA)28Chart (1998)PositionAustralian Albums (ARIA)72

Certifications Album

Video

Personnel Midnight Oil Peter Garrett – vocals, harmonica Peter Gifford – bass, vocals (on tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 14, 17) Bones Hillman – bass, vocals (on tracks 1, 4, 7, 10, 12, 13, 15, 18) Rob Hirst – drums, vocals Andrew James – bass (on track 16) Jim Moginie – guitars, keyboards, vocals Martin Rotsey – guitars

Additional personnel Gary Barnacle, Peter Thoms, Luke Tunney - brass on 'Power and the Passion'

References

External links Midnight Oil ARC Album Review