very spontaneous thing. It's not as if someone has put us together to write a hit song. It's more like sometimes when we write together, a song comes knocking on the door". While in September 2008 Kilbey discussed the track with Iain Shedden of The Australian. Willson-Piper said, Milky Way' is perfect really, in the way that it crosses over from our past records. It's still this very beautiful, textured song, which is what we write, but it doesn't challenge people to find out its deepest hidden meaning the way our other songs have in the past." Release history "Under the Milky Way" was released on 15 February 1988 in both 7" vinyl and 12" vinyl formats by Arista Records (internationally) and Mushroom Records (Australian region). The Church's fifth studio album, Starfish, was issued simultaneously with the single. In April the single was released in several formats worldwide including 7", double 7", 12", CD single, and compact cassette, using at least five different cover art designs. The 12" B-sides were "Musk" and "Warm Spell", whereas the 7" B-side was "Musk". Different Spanish versions added either "Anna Miranda" or "Perfect Child". The music video for the song featured on The Church's video compilation Goldfish (Jokes, Magic & Souvenirs). An acoustic version was initially released as a single in multiple formats including 7" vinyl, CD single, and others. It also appears on the "Sum Of The Parts" promotional release and the 2 CD re-issue of the Starfish album. Reception On the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart "Under the Milky Way" peaked at No. 22. However, it was not the band's highest charting single: "Almost with You" (1982) and "Metropolis" (1990) charted at No. 21 and No. 19, respectively, on the Australian charts. In the United States it reached No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the Mainstream Rock chart. Other charting peaks include No. 25 on the New Zealand Singles Chart, No. 69 on the Canadian RPM 100, No. 70 on the Dutch Single Top 100, and No. 90 in the United Kingdom. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1989 "Under the Milky Way" won 'Single of the Year', though Kilbey refused to attend the award ceremony. He said, "You will note that I didn't collect the award. I don't give a fuck about winning that award. I've been a big critic of the Australian music industry.