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Maria Muldaur is an Italian singer who was born Maria D'Amato. Muldaur is to white female pop singers what Anita O'Day is to white female jazz singers - way hipper than the herd. She recorded in the '60s with the Even Dozen and Jim Kweskin jug bands and her then-husband, Geoff Muldaur, before going out on her own with this 1973 recording. Sidemen include Jim Dickinson, Spooner Oldham, Jim Keltner, Mac Rebennack, Ray Brown, and Dave Holland. Among the tunes on her self-titled album are Jimmie Rodgers' "Any Old Time," Dolly Parton's "My Tennessee Mountain Home," and the album's hit, "Midnight At The Oasis." (thanks, Paul - Detroit, MI)
Comments:
Guitar on "Midnight" was by the seminal Amos Garrett, who also worked with Doug Sahm, Gene Taylor, Geoff Muldaur, Paul Butterfield, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Elvin Bishop, Todd Rundgren, and Bonny Raitt, just to name a few.
http://www.melmusic.com/amos_garrett/
- Pat, Big Beach, NS
long live the genius of arranger Nick DeCaro, who worked a bit of his magic here on this tune!
RIP, Nick
- steve dotstar, los angeles, CA
Midnight at the oasis is in a class by itself! The style alone treaded on new turf. That guitarist did an amazing solo!! I'm navigating this site trying to fing the name of the guitarist.
- Rodney, CHICAGO, IL
The song was written by David NICHTER. The cheeky double entendres of the "dirty flirty" lyrics are great, although I wonder how many people spot the glaring mistake in them.
The lyrics are all about oases, dunes, camels and sultans- which all relate to the Arabian desert. Then there's the chorus refering to cactus, which are North American.
- Garry, Gold Coast, Australia
Pat/Albuquerque--Not so! There was a single from "Waitress in a Donut Shop," namely, "Gringo en Mexico," penned by Wendy Waldman, although I don't think it sold many copies. I (or one of my sisters) used to have the 45 when we lived back home, but I haven't seen it in decades. It may be my favorite song of hers. It pours forth even more of the joy of Wendy's composition than Wendy's own recording, which itself is no slouch, either, let me tell you! The Wiki article on Maria shows an album about every other year from back then until now, so she certainly hasn't slacked off. Unfortunately, that article doesn't list her singles. Maybe someone here with enough knowledge can add to that Wiki article? And although I have the words down for the English portion of the lyrics, I haven't a clue what the part in Spanish is saying, and I can't find the song's lyrics on any other lyrics site, or by Googling. Can anyone get those lyrics up here, complete with the Spanish?
- Fred, Laurel, MD
Muldhaur wasn't exactly a one hit wonder. She had minor hits after this with the songs "I'm A Woman" and "If You Feel My Leg".
- Ken, Louisville, KY
Hey I agree with you Guy in Woodinville, WA. Today's artists just can't duplicate this "subtle", erotic way of singing, and make is sound so good! And Maria's voice just sends it over the top! Just one of my "guilty listening pleasures" from my Senior Year in '74.
- Don, Indianapolis, IN
I've seen her perofrm with the Jerry Garcia Band years ago. Great talent!
- mitch, Miami Beach, FL
This song was a hit in the spring/summer of 1974, during my senior year of H.S. It brings back memories of that lazy last semester before college and adulthood.
- N, Staten Island, NY
In May of 1974 I bought a brand new 1974 Dodge Charger. Upon leaving the dealer's lot, I turned on the AM radio and what song was on? "Midnight At The Oasis" by Maria Muldaur. Now every time I hear that song, I think of that car and that moment. Priceless!
- Mike, Verona, VA
This song has some of the cleverest double-entendre sexually-charged lyrics ever written! Plus she completely captures it all in a delightful flirty mood. As Leya Qwest sez, it's an "exquisite gem" of a song.
Maria did indeed sing with Dylan and Sebastion in Greenwich Village in the 60s--she's been around.
- Guy, Woodinville, WA
This is such a grrrrrrrrrrrrreat song I love it! It's a story telling song an art that seems lost in today's music!
- michelle, wilmington, DE
We are attending a theme party this June and I was delighted to hear it will be "Midnight at the Oasis" one of my favorite songs and singers(Maria Muldaur) I am hinking od ideas of what to wear...
- kathleen, Palm Springs, CA
I didn't know Maria Muldaur did this song. She has a beautiful voice.
- Stefanie, Rock Hill, SC
This one hit wonder is forever an exquisite gem from the realm of mystery and magic that was the seventies. Ha! Ha! As I hear it, Maria performed during the early 1960s in Greenwich Village with Bob Dylan and John Sebastian. Who knew?
- Leya Qwest, Anchorage, AK
The Brand New Heavies - Midnight At The Oasis
this is one of the best cover version you could get.
this version i think is a better version but it might be it got a newer sound to it.
- neil, middlesbrough, United States
There were a lot of young guys (including me) in love with Maria's voice and personality when this song came out. She also put out another album, "Waitress in a Donut Shop," that was as good as or better than the album that "Midnight" was on, but no single came out of it. Too bad--she's (still) a great singer.
- Pat, Albuquerque, NM