"So sensual and evocative that it was probably one of the most replayed records of the era and may be responsible for the most pregnancies from a record during the mid-'70s."
The above quote was by AllMusic reviewer Matthew Greenwald via the Wikipedia article for "Midnight at the Oasis", a song that had first seen the light of day through singer Maria Muldaur's self-titled debut album from August 1973. As a kid of course, I used to hear it all the time on AM radio at home and in the car, and I just thought it was a really nice song to listen to instead of it being considered to be the aural equivalent of oysters, ginseng and other vaunted aphrodisiacs. Of course, as a wee kid, I shouldn't have been privy to that sort of information back then in any case. Then again, I didn't know the truth behind guitarist David Nicthern's words until just a few years ago since I've never been a huge lyrics person.
So here I had thought that "Midnight at the Oasis" was referring to a lovely romp at a nightclub called The Oasis instead of a lovely romp on the oasis. Well, we all learn something every day, don't we? It was released as a single the following year in February, and it did very well on the US Billboard chart by placing in at No. 6 but it did even better in Canada where it hit No. 1 on RPM. On the yearly charts, there was a switch in results in that it placed in at No. 13 on Billboard while finishing at No. 45 on RPM.
All in all, though, I think "Midnight at the Oasis" is just the tonic while heading home late at night or very early in the morning in the car. Good times on the radio!
In terms of what was being released in Japan at the time that people first heard "Midnight at the Oasis" on Muldaur's album back in August 1973, I found these three songs that may actually have been re-releases rather than original releases, according to Showa Pops.
Chieko Baisho -- Sayonara wa Dance no Ato ni （さよならはダンスの後に）
Pinky and Killers -- Koi no Kisetsu (恋の季節）
Naomi Chiaki -- Yakan Hiko （夜間飛行）
Hello J-Canuck,
ReplyDeleteMaria Muldaur and Pinky and the Killers in the same post?
This is lovely!
Funny enough, I listen to an online radio station called soma fm from time to time. It has different channels for different genres of music. Not only does it have the best Northern Soul (7 Inch Soul) channel, it also has a good soft rock (AOR to you guys) called Left Coast 70s.
Of course I discovered this article after hearing that song a few hours previously. I agree it does bring back childhood memories. It always brings a smile to my face whenever it is played even after all those years ago.
Then you bring in Pinky and the Killers?!
There used to be a blog, it died back in the aughties, that concentrated on 60s era kaya kyoku and the blog really liked Yoko Kon. Her image was the main picture when you accessed the site. It was also the site that turned me on to Ayumi Ishida.
Thanks
Hi, Chasing Showa. Good to hear from you and I hope that you're staying healthy and safe. I'll have to check out this soma fm since the music seems like the type that's up my alley.
DeleteI've seen perhaps one other blog on kayo kyoku but that apparently died since there was no activity on it for some years. The blogger seemed to have a rather huge chip on his shoulder, though.