THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

795-Maria Muldaur-Midnight at the Oasis.

1974-Number 21 single.

Best Bit-At 1.20. I always thought that the plural of cactus was cacti, but it appears that cactuses is also acceptable.

Maria Muldaur was born Maria Grazia Rosa Domenica D’Amato, on September 12th, 1942, in New York City, United States. She began her career in music in the early 1960’s, as Maria D’Amato, in the ‘Folk/Rock’ group ‘Even Dozen Jug Band,’ other notable pre fame members of that group included Steve Katz, (later of Blood, Sweat and Tears) and John Sebastian (later of the Lovin’ Spoonful.) After the ‘Even Dozen Jug Band,’ Maria joined the ‘Jim Kweskin & the Jug Band,’ which was where she met her future husband Geoff Muldaur,’ after the ‘Kweskin’ band split, Maria, and Geoff, who were now married, recorded two Albums together in 1969, and 1972, when the couple divorced in 1972, Maria than pursued her solo career.

The discography of Maria Muldaur includes an Album with the ‘Even Dozen Jug Band’ in 1964, four Albums with the ‘Jim Kweskin & the Jug Band,’ between 1965-1968, and two Albums as ‘Geoff & Maria Muldaur. The solo discography of Maria Muldaur includes 39 official Albums released between 1973-2021, and in America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and also on the UK top 40, only ‘Midnight at the Oasis,’ has charted for her, reaching Number 6 on Billboard, and Number 21 in the UK.

‘Midnight at the Oasis’ was the first single released from Maria Muldaur’s self titled debut studio Album from August 1973, the song was written by David Nichtern, and produced by Lenny Waronker, and Joe Boyd. Nichtern played acoustic guitar on the track, with notable session musicians, including Jim Gordon, (1945-2023) (drums) Daniel Friedberg, (bass) and Amos Garrett, (electric guitar) who performed the instrumental section, also playing on the song. David Nichtern was born on February 19th, 1948, in Manhattan, New York City, United States, as well as writing ‘Midnight at the Oasis,’ he has won awards for his work on the American television soap operas ‘ One Life to Live,’ and ‘As the World Turns.’ In 1970 Nichtern became a student of the ‘Shambhala Buddhist tradition of Tibetan Buddhism,’ and was taught by the founder, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, (1939-1987) Nichtern went on to become a senior teacher in the faith.

‘Midnight at the Oasis’ is a song full of sexual innuendo, but the tone is playful throughout. David Nichtern has explained how it all came about,’I wrote the song before I started working with Maria, the details are a little bit intimate, but let’s just say there was a girl, a waterbed, feta cheese, and grape leaves, and a ‘Martin 000-18′ near by. I actually produced the demo that got Maria her Warner Bros individual artist deal, so I was on the map already with them to that extent.’ Nichtern has also gone on to say,’My memory is that I came out to LA, and got to play rhythm guitar on several tracks (on Maria Muldaur’s debut studio Album.) From there I got more and more involved with the record. At a rehearsal, I played ‘Midnight at the Oasis’ for Lenny Waronker and he liked it, and wanted to include it on the record. Warner’s released the album, and then Midnight as the first single, they hung in there with it for something like nine months until it took off, that might not happen today, the rest is herstory as they say…’

Because of the songs suggestive lyrics, Maria Muldaur has said that people have approached her at her concerts, and other events, and claimed that ‘Midnight at the Oasis’ had inspired sexual encounters, loss of virginity, and pregnancy. Maria Muldaur has said,’I could have written quite the little x-rated book. So when I start that song, people’s faces light up, and I see very happy, maybe slightly x-rated memories flitting across their faces. And so that’s worth more than any Grammy nomination or award, to hear first hand from your fans, from hundreds and hundreds of fans, how a piece of music I didn’t even write, but that I selected and recorded, and just put out there in the airwaves, just had such a happy impact on people’s lives. What a gift is that.’ In 1994 the British ‘Jazz/Funk’ group the ‘Brand New Heavies,’ with featured vocals by N’Dea Davenport, reached Number 13 on the UK top 40 singles chart, with their cover version of the song.

‘I know your daddy’s a sultan, a nomad known to all. With fifty girls to attend him, they all send him, jump at his beck and call. But you won’t need no harem, honey, when I’m by your side, and you won’t need no camel, no no, when I take you for a ride.’