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Midnight at the Oasis

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"Midnight at the Oasis"
Single by Maria Muldaur
from the album Maria Muldaur
B-side"Any Old Time"
ReleasedFebruary 1974
Recorded1973
Genre
Length3:49
LabelReprise
Songwriter(s)David Nichtern
Producer(s)
Maria Muldaur singles chronology
"Midnight at the Oasis"
(1974)
"I'm a Woman"
(1974)
Official audio
"Midnight at the Oasis" on YouTube

"Midnight at the Oasis" is a song by the American singer Maria Muldaur from her 1973 debut album, Maria Muldaur. Written by David Nichtern, it is her best-known recording.

It peaked at #6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 the week of June 1, 1974, and #21 in the UK Singles Chart in 1974.[3] Billboard ranked it as the No. 13 song for 1974.[4] It was also nominated for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 17th Annual Grammy Awards, held in 1975. In Canada, the song reached #2 in the RPM singles charts and #45 in the year-end chart.

Description

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The song is an offer of a desert love affair in a fantasy setting. AllMusic reviewer Matthew Greenwald describes the song as "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."[5]

The song includes an instrumental section that features the guitar work of Amos Garrett.[6]

In 2008, Muldaur recalled that she wanted to add the song to her album as an "afterthought" at the last minute. She has acknowledged that people do approach her at her concerts or events and claim that this song has inspired sexual encounters, loss of virginity, and pregnancy.[7]

Personnel

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Source:[8]

Charts

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Brand New Heavies version

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"Midnight at the Oasis"
Single by The Brand New Heavies
from the album Brother Sister
ReleasedJuly 25, 1994[17]
RecordedMarch 1994
Genre
Length4:05
Label
Songwriter(s)David Nichtern
The Brand New Heavies singles chronology
"Back to Love"
(1994)
"Midnight at the Oasis"
(1994)
"Sometimes"
(1997)

A version of "Midnight at the Oasis" was recorded by British acid jazz and funk group Brand New Heavies, attributed to "Brand New Heavies featuring N'Dea Davenport".[18] This version was released in July 1994 by FFRR and Delicious Vinyl, and reached number 13 in the UK and number 11 in Scotland in August 1994. It was their biggest hit up until the departure of Davenport, when "Sometimes" made number 11 in 1997 with new singer Siedah Garrett. "Midnight at the Oasis" was featured on their 1994 album Brother Sister.

Critical reception

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Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian stated that N'Dea Davenport, "whose glistening voice glorifies even a lazy cover version of 'Midnight at the Oasis'."[19] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton described it as a "faithfully rendered cover".[20] A reviewer from Music & Media said, "Usually lite funky music is identified with garden parties and romantic restaurants at night by trendy clubbers, but not if marketed under the acid jazz banner. This is hip guys!"[21] Alan Jones from Music Week gave it four out of five and named it Pick of the Week, writing, "Stripped of the stretched jazzy gliding that typified Maria Muldaur's original, this 1974 hit is speeded up somewhat but adapts perfectly to the Acid Jazz treatment. More radical overhauls are also included for clubs, where the record is already going down a storm."[22] Ian McCann from NME declared it as "a latinish cover".[23] Tony Cross from Smash Hits said it "sounds suspiciously like a funked-up Barry Manilow song".[24]

Music video

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A music video was produced to promote the single. It was directed by directors Max Giwa and Dania Pasquini, known as just Max & Dania.[25]

Track listing

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  • CD single, UK
  1. "Midnight at the Oasis" (Radio Version) – (3:48)
  2. "Midnight at the Oasis" (Rogers Brand New Radio Anthem) – (4:35)
  • CD single, UK (BNHCD 05)
  1. "Midnight at the Oasis" (Radio Version) – (3:48)
  2. "Midnight at the Oasis" (Extended Version)
  3. "Midnight at the Oasis" (Opaz 7" Version)
  4. "Midnight at the Oasis" (Roger's Brand New Radio Anthem) – (4:35)

Charts

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Personnel

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Other covers

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Remix version

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In 2004, Muldaur's original version was featured on the CD What Is Hip: Remix Project 1, a compilation of pop songs remixed for the clubs. The single is billed as the "Cuica Remix", with the track extended from its 3:49 recording to 4:49, incorporating portions of the background vocal, strings, and instrumental break with semi-chilled out Ibiza-themed elements.[citation needed]

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References

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  1. ^ Fontenot, Robert (February 21, 2016). "Too Much Information: The 10 Ickiest '70s Love Songs". About.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  2. ^ Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (October 15, 1996). "Play Misty for Me: Jazz Pop". Precious and Few - Pop Music in the Early '70s. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 128. ISBN 031214704X.
  3. ^ Maria Muldaur, Billboard Hot 100 – Billboard.com. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  4. ^ "Top Pop Singles" (PDF). Billboard. New York, New York: Billboard Publications, Inc. December 28, 1974. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  5. ^ Greenwald, Matthew. "Song Review: Midnight at the Oasis, Maria Muldaur". AllMusic. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  6. ^ "Amos Garrett". Homespun Video. Archived from the original on November 5, 2006. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
  7. ^ Maria Muldaur (4 of 8) – Midnight at the Oasis on YouTube from Living Legends (January 8, 2008)
  8. ^ "Maria Muldaur (LP)". aln3.albumlinernotes.
  9. ^ Maria Muldaur at Discogs
  10. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 211. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  11. ^ "RPM Top Singles". RPM. June 8, 1974. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  12. ^ "RPM Pop Music Playlist". RPM. June 22, 1974. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  13. ^ "Adult Contemporary". Billboard. May 4, 1975. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  14. ^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1974". Kent Music Report. December 30, 1974. Retrieved January 15, 2022 – via Imgur.
  15. ^ "The Top 200 Singles of '74". RPM. December 28, 1974. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  16. ^ "Topp 100 Hits of 1974/Top 100 Songs of 1974". Music Outfitters. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  17. ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Music Week. July 23, 1994. p. 29. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  18. ^ Arena, James (December 5, 2016). Stars of '90s Dance Pop: 29 Hitmakers Discuss Their Careers. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co. p. 232. ISBN 978-1476667560. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  19. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (April 15, 1994). "Music: Love 'em or leave 'em - Rock/Pop". The Guardian.
  20. ^ Masterton, James (August 7, 1994). "Week Ending August 13th 1994". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  21. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 37. September 10, 1994. p. 10. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  22. ^ Jones, Alan (July 23, 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles - Pick of the Week" (PDF). Music Week. p. 20. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  23. ^ McCann, Ian (April 9, 1994). "Long Play". NME. p. 41. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  24. ^ Cross, Tony (July 20, 1994). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 57. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  25. ^ "the brand new heavies - midnight at the oasis ( viva tv )". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  26. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 34. August 20, 1994. p. 23. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  27. ^ "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 40. October 1, 1994. p. 18. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  28. ^ "The Brand New Heavies – Midnight At The Oasis" (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  29. ^ "THE BRAND NEW HEAVIES - MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  30. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 07 August 1994 - 13 August 1994". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  31. ^ "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. August 13, 1994. p. 26. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  32. ^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). July 30, 1994. p. 8. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  33. ^ "1994 – Singles". Hit Music. January 7, 1995. p. 31.
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