Midnight at the Oasis

"Midnight at the Oasis" is a song written by David Nichtern. It was recorded in 1973 by American folk and blues singer Maria Muldaur for her self-titled album (1973) and is her best-known recording; it peaked at #6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #21 in the UK Singles Chart in the spring of 1974. Billboard ranked it as the No. 13 song for 1974.[2] 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 magazine singles charts and #45 in the year-end chart.

"Midnight at the Oasis"
Single by Maria Muldaur
from the album Maria Muldaur
B-side"Any Old Time"
ReleasedFebruary 1974
Recorded1973
GenreSoft rock[1]
Length3:49
LabelReprise
Songwriter(s)David Nichtern
Producer(s)Lenny Waronker, Joe Boyd
Maria Muldaur singles chronology
"Midnight at the Oasis"
(1974)		 "I'm a Woman"
(1974)
Official audio
"Midnight at the Oasis" on YouTube

Description

The song is a saucy 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".[3]

The song includes an instrumental section that features the guitar work of Amos Garrett.[4]

The lyric, "Cactus is our friend", is used several times in the song, but cacti are New World plants (native to North America, South America, and the West Indies) and are not naturally found on the Arabian Peninsula.

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.[5]

Personnel

Source:[6]

Chart performance

Brand New Heavies version
"Midnight at the Oasis"
Single by The Brand New Heavies
from the album Brother Sister
Released25 July 1994[15]
RecordedMarch 1994
Genre
Length4:05
LabelFFRR, Delicious Vinyl
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".[16] 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

Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian stated that N'Dea Davenport, "whose glistening voice glorifies even a lazy cover version of "Midnight at the Oasis"."[17] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton described it as a "faithfully rendered cover".[18] 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!"[19] 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."[20] Ian McCann from NME declared it as "a latinish cover".[21]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single. It was directed by directors Max Giwa and Dania Pasquini, known as just Max & Dania.[22]

Track listing
  • 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
Chart (1994) Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[23] 51
Europe (European Dance Radio)[24] 8
Germany (Official German Charts) 68
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[25] 15
Netherlands (Dutch Single Tip)[26] 8
New Zealand (RIANZ) 48
Scotland (OCC)[27] 11
UK Singles (OCC) 13
UK Dance (OCC) 8
UK Dance (Music Week)[28] 8
UK Club Chart (Music Week)[29] 19

Personnel

Other covers

Remix version

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.

References
  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. "Top Pop Singles" (PDF). Billboard. New York, New York: Billboard Publications, Inc. December 28, 1974. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  3. Greenwald, Matthew. "Song Review: Midnight at the Oasis, Maria Muldaur". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  4. "Amos Garrett". Homespun Video. Archived from the original on 2006-11-05. Retrieved 2007-03-18.
  5. Maria Muldaur (4 of 8) – Midnight at the Oasis on YouTube from Living Legends (January 8, 2008)
  6. "Maria Muldaur (LP)". aln3.albumlinernotes.
  7. Maria Muldaur at Discogs
  8. 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.
  9. "RPM Top Singles". RPM. 8 June 1974. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  10. "RPM Pop Music Playlist". RPM. 22 June 1974. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  11. "Adult Contemporary". Billboard. 4 May 1975. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  12. "National Top 100 Singles for 1974". Kent Music Report. 30 December 1974. Retrieved 15 January 2022 – via Imgur.
  13. "The Top 200 Singles of '74". RPM. 28 December 1974. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  14. "Topp 100 Hits of 1974/Top 100 Songs of 1974". Music Outfitters. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  15. "Single Releases" (PDF). Music Week. 23 July 1994. p. 29. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  16. Arena, James (5 December 2016). Stars of '90s Dance Pop: 29 Hitmakers Discuss Their Careers. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co. p. 232. ISBN 978-1476667560. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  17. Sullivan, Caroline (15 April 1994). "Music: Love 'em or leave 'em - Rock/Pop". The Guardian.
  18. Masterton, James (7 August 1994). "Week Ending August 13th 1994". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  19. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 10 September 1994. p. 10. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  20. Jones, Alan (23 July 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles - Pick of the Week" (PDF). Music Week. p. 20. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  21. McCann, Ian (9 April 1994). "Long Play". NME. p. 41. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  22. "the brand new heavies - midnight at the oasis ( viva tv )". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  23. "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 20 August 1994. p. 23. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  24. "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. 1 October 1994. p. 18. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  25. "The Brand New Heavies – Midnight At The Oasis" (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  26. "THE BRAND NEW HEAVIES - MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  27. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 07 August 1994 - 13 August 1994". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  28. "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 13 August 1994. p. 26. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  29. "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 30 July 1994. p. 8. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
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