Band Had 4 HUGE Hits & Was #1 for 15 WEEKS in 1983...By 1986 They'd DISAPPEARED! | Professor of Rock
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- čas přidán 13. 07. 2024
- Coming up, an interview with a true 80s icon. Colin Hay of Men at Work. This band was as big as anyone in 1982 and 1983. They actually pulled off something that not even the Beatles did… when their debut record, Business As Usual spent 15 weeks at #1 and they had 2 #1 hits Down Under and Who Can It Be Now and 4 top tens…they won a Grammy for best new artist and were on the cover of Rolling Stone… But By the mid-80s the band had disappeared.. and they NEVER had another hit. Up next we get the story behind these hits in an exclusive interview with Colin Hay and find out what the hell happened.
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Today’s band was on top of the world from 1982 into 1983 as rookies. Their debut record spent 15 weeks at #1 and they had 2 #1 hits in a row No rookie band had ever accomplished that Not even the Beatles. They won a Grammy, they were on the cover of Rolling Stone when that mattered and their next album did well too selling 3 million copies with two more top 10 hits by the mid-80s the band was gone…they never had another hit. I’m always fascinated by how a band can go scorched earth on the charts and blow up radio and then a mere year or two later disappear into the ether.
If you haven’t guessed by now. I’m talking about Men At Work and their 6 times platinum juggernaut Business as usual with their follow-up, Cargo. They were competing with the biggest out there in 82 and 83 holding their own on the charts against the police and Michael Jackson. Their twin #1 singles Who Can It Be and Down Under are still played today and define the early 80s, especially the iconic music videos. Well, today we are going to talk with lead singer and songwriter Colin Hay about both of these hits as well as their other two big boys… It’s a Mistake and Overkill…
These were massive hits. So what happened. Well after their 2nd album Cargo went to #3 and sold 3 million copies the band toured the world. Then in 1984, tension began to rise in the band, especially between singer Colin Hay and drummer Jerry Speiser. Furthermore, the band moved on without Speiser and bassist John Rees. From there Colin Hay multi-instrumentalist Greg Ham and guitarist Ron Strykert used studio musicians to record their third album Two Heart that was dropped in 1985.
The album failed to gain any traction critically or commercially only making #50 on the album charts and didn’t have any top 40 hits even though 4 singles were released from the album including Everything I Need and Man with Two Hearts. - Zábava
Poll: What is your pick for the greatest saxophone part from a hit song in the rock era?
Breathe - Hands To Heaven
Duran Duran - Rio
INXS - What You Need
Quarterflash - Harden My Heart
Spandau Ballet - True
Urgent - Foreigner
edited to add - forgot my other favorite - Baker Street, Gerry Rafferty
Pretty sure this is too early, but I just love Junior Walker & the All Stars' "Shotgun".
Careless Whisper, Wham
Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty
I was at a wedding down here in Panama in 2000 and suddenly they showed up in the middle of the dance, played their 5 or 6 hits, took pictures with all of us and left for their concert. They were humble and fun. Awesome wedding of course! thank you Professor.
Serious? Awesome.
@@ProfessorofRock Well, it was a banker's son's wedding so i guess they had the means to pull off something like that at the last minute before MaW concert. Big surprise to all of us.
They certainly were at work to keep the folks happy! 😊
Cool story. Life is full of surprises!
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT. NICE
Overkill is definitely my favorite Men at Work song. Definitely loved their use of the sax.
Same. I love to play it back to back on a bar jukebox with Motorhead's "Overkill" 😉
It's so good. Very unique.
...only "Overkill", for me ....ONLY, Man..... ; )
Have you heard of another Australian band, Moving Pictures?
Their songs have GREAT saxophone parts.
They were not nearly as popular internationally as Men at Work, their only USA hit being a masterpiece called "What About Me?". However, one of their (cover) songs was featured in the popular movie "Dirty Dancing".
EDIT: “Footloose”. ☝🏼
Me too.
True Blue dinky di Aussie here. "Down Under" was our unofficial national anthem for years and years and still gets air play. So good to see you cover world wide bands and not just stuff from the USA. They're worth remembering and celebrating.
Made me want to try a vegemite sandwich!
"Dinky Di"😎
First time I ever heard the Aussie term & saw it on anything was in the 80's movie Mad Max.
The slang was used & I even saw it on a can of dog food that Max & his dog were eating while staking out "the ayatola of rock&roll-a" Lord Humongous🤔😉
I haven't been to Australia YET...but my plan is to go to "the land down under" & to New Zealand from Thailand (my "2nd home" via. my wife).
Presently, I am in America near DC🇺🇸; where my wife has a Thai restaurant.😎
We got all sorts of representation this week! Germany, Britain, and Australia.
Love Australia!!!!!!!!
And New Zealand!!!!
You sorta got the Spicks and Specks thing wrong. (Probably to save time).
They used to have a game using just coloured notes on a little casio keyboard.
One of the players played the notes and the reply from other players was oh thats 'kookaburra sits in the old gum tree" which is a children's song.
Colin Hills, the host, looks at his answer sheet and says no your wrong, its Down Under.... and things went to shit from there.
Colin Hey's acoustic version of "Overkill" has been on my favorites list for nearly two decades. What a great sing along.
Same here. He did that song with his wife in-studio on a radio show I listened to back in the 2000's. It was awesome. Do you like "Are You Looking At Me?" too?
Yes, and his last name is spelled Hay.
It’s a cool version.
@@eightiesmusic1984 I should give that a listen as well. Colin’s voice is one of the most unique.
@@eightiesmusic1984 I loved the choral version as well, so fantastic!
Colin Hay was amazing!! He had people all over the world trying to figure out what Vegemite was!! Years later he even appeared on the show Scrubs!! Look that up!! It was unforgettable!!
Having many Aussie friends, I found out right away🤔😉
It's a really interesting...shall we say...sandwich "dressing" & toast spread.
@@maestroaxeman I like your description of vegemite. It works nicely. Got a couple of friends and a family member who are addicted and keep it on hand.
My favorite episode of scrubs by far.
Don't have to look it up.
I saw it. LOLOL
That acoustic performance of just he and guitar is really incredible agreed
On the cover of Rolling Stone, "back when that mattered"!😝 Good one, Adam!👍💜
Thanks. So true. When's the last time you bought an issue?
@@ProfessorofRock Never. By the time I could afford it, they were already irrelevant.
Thanks Dr. Hook
...and got sung about.
Back when Rolling Stone was a music magazine and Vogue was a fashion magazine. Now it's the other way around, but no one can tell the difference between the two.
My band played on a bill with Colin for a multicultural festival once. I convinced the promoter to let me come to Colin’s sound check that morning. I had a chance to meet and talk with him for ten minutes or so. He was so delightful and charming. Later that evening as we came offstage from performing our set Colin was waiting at the side of the stage to congratulate us on our performance. I was blown away that he came to check out our set.
Flash forward 13 years and Colin is playing at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, I am attending as a fan. I felt a tap on my shoulder and it was Colin. He said I thought that was you, how have you been? Like we had seen each other last month. He is a brilliant entertainer and if you ever have the chance to see him perform, do not pass it up.
I truly think Men At Work has to be one of the most unique bands of the 80s. Really interesting sound and themes! So cool man!
I agree. Very unique. What's your favorite track by them RC32?
@@ProfessorofRock Probably It's A Mistake! I love their way of showcasing social and political commentary, it's so unique to them
Just the other day the teacher played Down Under in our history class, and the boys went wild over the video.
*So sorry to say, since unique means "one of a kind" there's no such thing as "most unique", or "a little unique", or "very unique". With all due respect. Cheers.* 😊
As a teenager in the 80s, Men at Work were a big part of the soundtrack of my tumultuous teen years. Picking a favourite song, though, is akin to picking a favourite child. Down Under makes me laugh, Overkill makes me reflective, Who Can It Be Now makes me happy and It’s a Mistake makes me melancholic. Nope. Just can’t choose one
For me it was always "Overkill" with these guys. Such a beautiful song that anyone can relate to. Simply magnificent
A masterpiece.
Agreed. It is his/their timeless contribution. If you haven’t heard it in a while and have a peaceful few minutes to take it in it’s a song that gets into you somehow.
As an 80s kid, Men at Work and arcade games were LIFE. I absolutely love Colin Hay.
My college roommates & I DJ’d a school dance in 1993, and when it was over and the lights came up, we played “Down Under” as a last song. And no one would leave until the song ended. Everyone stayed and danced, and sang at the tops of their lungs. It was 10 years after that song was a hit, and it still had literal staying power. That’s a damn good song from an underrated band.
Around 2001 I was in my early 20's working as a pizza delivery guy... I was heading home and a couple of my musician buddies were coming back form a gig around 4 am. I had Land Down Under on the stereo.. They pulled up next to me at a red light. I didn't notice at first. I looked over and they are bobbin their heads to the song so I cranked it up and we had a lil Wayne's World moment that continued as the light changed and we cruised a few blocks til they turned off. No words spoken.. Just jammin to MaW.
Your Bohemian moment. Nice!
My favorite band back in 83. Overkill is also my favorite Men at Work song. Very haunting like Colin say's. It gave me goosebumps as a kid.
DID YOU Have the album?
Have you heard of another Australian band, Moving Pictures?
Their songs have GREAT saxophone parts.
They were not nearly as popular internationally as Men at Work, their only USA hit being a masterpiece called "What About Me?". However, one of their (cover) songs was featured in the popular movie "Dirty Dancing".
@@TheVeganVicar no, but will check them out.
The instrumentation is eerie and otherworldly. One of my favorites as well.
Still gives me chills
I saw Men At Work in concert last summer. Colin Hey was the only original member, but they still sounded really good. The young lady playing all the wind instruments did a fantastic job. I wish I had seen them in their 80's lineup. The very first video I ever saw on VH-1 was "It's a Mistake" and I loved it.
Very cool.
I heard they are really good live.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Hey Lilly, haven't seen you around in a while. Yes, it was a very good live show. They were touring with John Waite and Rick Springfield and it was a really fun night.
@@hallacarI just posted about them being on tour. I couldn't remember who they toured with, but they were here in Orlando. John Waite is here like all the time opening for whomever he can.
@@hallacar I love John and Rick as well. Sorry, this semester has been crazy with all this AP work and consulting with college admissions counselors! At least I’m a senior in August and part of the burden will be lifted off of me…phew
Colin Hay is one of my favorite singer-songwriters. I have all of his solo albums and there's not a bad song among them. "I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You" is a beautiful and sad song as is "I'm Doing Fine", both on "Transcendental Highway". Shame he's not a household name but I kind of like it that way.
Waiting for my new life to begin is also a beautiful song. I love his solo material
Colin Hay did a small solo show in Montgomery Alabama at a local theater. I had to go by and pick something up for work. He came in to do a sound check and struck up a conversation. He was a super nice guy, gave me a few tickets for my wife and I. It was a great show. He would chat with the crowd and after talked with my wife and I so much people thought we knew him. Great group, great guy!
The way that lawsuit effected Greg Ham is heartbreaking and in my opinion an example of how the nature of copyrights can be insidious. No consideration was given to the context of the song and how it borrowed from the past, and that, in fact all songs borrow from the past.
The people who filed the lawsuit had very little knowledge of how music works, it seems.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 They had none. They bought Kookaburra so they could sue Men at Work.
I felt the same way about what happened to George Harrison
My Sweet Lord
The difference being George already had years of experience with the music industry
@@fortunatomartino9797 That song sounds more like oh happy day anyway
Had no idea of this - will have to read up.
Colin Hay's acoustic version of Overkill is unbelievably good.
Did you see that episode of scrubs?
@@ProfessorofRock I did not, but I am aware of it. Colin came on a radio show I listened to back in the 2000's and played that song with his wife.
I like that version a lot.
@@ProfessorofRock Best season premier of any show I’ve ever seen…and it was mostly because of that performance/cameo. Best way to address the mess that happened in the finale of season 1.
Just saw him on the tour with Ringo Starr, and he's still so great! To anyone reading, I highly reccomend catching this tour. Business as Usual was actually the second LP I ever bought with my own money (the first being a K-Tel compilation). No regrets!
I think everyone had one of those K-Tel records. I bought 4 or 5. I mean my parents did😊
The tour is still on? I need to go see!
Colin Hay!
Wow... That's a HUGE interview man.
Congrats!!!
Thanks. He's the best. Great guy. Have you ever heard his solo stuff?
Can you include the date you do the interviews, of these artists?
I’m an Aussie, and loved all their early songs! I also was in disbelief at that frivolous lawsuit, and although I knew Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree, I never associated it with Land Down Under. Was really sorry for them.
I remember when "Overkill" debuted at number 28 on the hot 100 and that was a big feat at the time.
Wow, that’s about as high as any Beatles debut.
I loved this Adam! I graduated HS in 1983 and Men at Work, A Flock of Seagulls, The GoGos etc. were all huge for me. My longtime girlfriend broke up with me in March 1983 and Overkill along with Blue For You became the soundtrack of my life until I had a date with my future wife a few months later. Colin Hay’s a genius and honestly helped me go from devastation to unbridled elation. My wife and I are still happily together 39 years later. We have seen Colin many times as a solo artist live and he is just so good. His solo song “Dear Father” is spot on about my own Dad who took his life in 1994 and never got to see his incredible Grandchildren or to see me become the man I am now. This is my favorite video of yours. Thank you.
Chuck this is heartwarming. Best wishes to you and yours.
Oh man....blur for you after a breakup was key for me as well at 17. Ugh
How can You not love Colin Hay-His entire vibe makes Me happy
I love him as well.
I was 9 back in 82 and I could never get the lyrics to down under, it took me decades to finally know what the heck they were. A song you forgot to mention is "dr. Heckyll and mr. Jive", I always found it interesting and weird at the same time
The video for the latter is a quirky one.
Business as Usual was one of my first tapes. I played it over and over. Cargo was also a great album. I still randomly start singing Be Good Johnny.
Through mutual friends, Colin Hay kindly wrote a personal birthday message on a cassette of 'Cargo' for my younger sister, who was a huge Men At Work fan. The look on her 13 year-old face was priceless.
Years later I was able to thank Colin in person when I worked as his sound engineer for the Adelaide South Australia gig on his first solo tour which was a wonderful mix of new & revised songs highlighting his exceptional guitar playing and a euphonious voice that's been informed by a 1000 lifetimes of introspection.
Great interview, Adam !
I’m Australian and that little tune was easily recognisable. All our children sang it at school. I think people just assumed that it was out of copyright because it was sung so frequently it was considered iconic - it was almost as well known as Waltzing Matilda. I don’t think it wasn’t that the composer didn’t recognise it so much as she didn’t listen to “Land Down Under”. It’s very sad that the case caused the musician so much distress.
When I was in Australia 10 years ago in 1st grade I heard children singing the Kookaburra song on the beach (yes, it was summer down there in November). I’m about to go back in a few weeks. Maybe they’re still singing it somewhere. R.I.P. Greg.
I'm Aussie and sang Kookaburra Sits on The Old Gum Tree as a kid. I never recognised the flute and I never heard anyone mentioning it. First I heard about it was when Spicks and Specks mentioned it. The song and the rights to the song were originally meant to go to the Girl Guides. Said what's happened to the song and who owns it now.
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
HEY! It's Colin Hay! 😅
Yes, Men At Work. With Jethro Tull, a band that introduced the flute to the masses.
It's A Mistake is my fave from them.
Guess when the band broke up, Greg Ham was cooked? 😅
Thanks for this Professor! You are truly our Man at Work.
I used to play the recorder to this song, albeit haphazardly. Similar to a flute.
Greg Ham could also play saxophone and keyboards. As a multi-instrumentalist, he was as versatile in Men at Work as Poli Palmer had been in the British underground band Family. (Palmer played flute keyboards and vibraphone.)
Just saw Colin a few weeks ago near Seattle. I’ve seen him several times and once again he didn’t disappoint. It’s like a two for the price of one, great music, and he’s so humorous you get comedy as well. Been a fan since day one.
He’s on tour now, right?
One of the true highlights of the 80's, that band deserved to continue being famous.
It’s heartbreaking what happened to them with the Kookaburra drama.
Band tension seems to be the catalyst of so many breakups. I didn't realize they'd had such a short-lived career, their music was so prolific. As for the lawsuit, so much music can be heard as having similar sections, it's amazing that entirely new songs ever get produced. I feel bad for them that they had to go through that and that it ended so tragically. I love hearing the back stories to these songs through these interviews. Thank you for another great episode, Adam. Have an excellent day!
It wasn't "similar sections" though. It was the first half of Kookaburra. The band knew it, people who heard them sing the lyrics to Kookaburra at gigs knew it. That much was never really in dispute.
It seems to be a recurring theme, yesterday with After the Fire (I really want to know the story behind that band name) and today.
Being a young teen in the early 80's, Men at Work was refreshingly revolutionary compared to the classic rock I was raised on.
Now theirmusic has joined the pantheons of the immortals of the music world. I love it even more now.....
Deservedly so.
There’s an early, more reggae-influenced version of Down Under from 1980 available that is worth checking out. Glad to see you covering them and terrible what happened to Greg Ham
Colin is an amazing artist, singer, songwriter. Men At Work are the very first band whose music I fell in love with. Their time was brief, but those songs are well-remembered and beloved. "Cargo" is an amazing early-mid-80s album. "Overkill" is also my favorite MaW song, and that album features my favorite album of track of theirs, "Blue For You". And you're spot-on about discussing the "Next Year People" album, it's his best solo work in my opinion. P.S. : "They were on the cover of Rolling Stone back when that mattered"... LOL ! so true !!!!!
Unlike Dr Hook.
This one took me by surprise. Was not the biggest fan of their work because it was so overplayed where I lived, but this interview made me rethink it and give it another chance. I appreciate that.
No matter how hectic and chaotic life gets I can always count on the professor of rock to bring me great interviews and stories behind some of my favorite music and artists. Great interview I have often wondered what happened to this fantastic band and it's original sound. Great episode!
Right? Never even realized the hits dried up for them in like 1985.
Always love your total approach to bringing the background info that we missed about these epic songs. This in particular filled in the missing gaps about this group for me. I always remember that cameo appearance of Colin Hay on 'Scrubs." The man has a good voice and personality. Thank you for your dedication to maximizing the experience of the music history, it resonates.
He's a fabulous guy. Love his approach. What's your favorite song?
He’s charming!
For some reason, my favourite songs are usually ones no one else knows about. For Toto it's "Holyanna". For Chris de Burgh it's "Separate Tables". For Duran Duran it's "Hold Back the Rain". And for Men at Work it's "Everything I Need". It played on heavy rotation on MuchMusic in my native Canada back in 1985, so that's where I got it from. Such an amazing song.
I also love "Everything I Need," but it gets just edged out by " I Can See it In Your Eyes" as my favorite. And the songs I like best from any particular artist are rarely the hits.
So glad you talked about "Be Good Johnny'. That, I'd say, is my favorite Men At Work song.
Mine too, playing it right now, the rapid drum fills are so good.
Fun video too, with the boy saying, “NAH! NAH! NAH!”
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980you sure are a funny kid, Johnny.
Their debut is easily one of my fave 80’s albums EVER. Remember I had an iron on T-shirt of Men at Work and wore it proudly when I was 12/13 years old. Maybe my favorite underrated song on the album is “I Can See It In Your Eyes”. Amazing. Saw Colin Hay a few years back and also met him. Great down to earth guy. Thx for this great video Professor! RIP Greg…😔
Nice guy.
Great interview with Colin. Those Australian words and cultural references were a refreshing novelty at the time, and certainly contributed to Men At Work’s success, not to mention their inventive and unique sound. They rocked, too! Thanks, Adam!
Thanks Robster! Rock on my friend.
However, despite what Professor Adam thought, the word "Kombi" is not at all an Australianism.
It was the name of a popular Volkswagen van, often used as a campervan, and sold in Adam's country too.
I credit them for introducing me to vegemite.
1981 I was in 2nd year of high school in Sydney Australia. When "Who Can It Be Now" hit the radio, it almost seemed like from then on Men At Work had a song in the top 40 for the next 3 years. There was much rivalry between bands from Sydney vs Melbourne. Men At Work were touted as the next big thing to come out of Melbourne. They were awesome.
Colin Hay, alongside the amazing Paul Kelly, are Australian national music treasures
I was given Business as Usual as a birthday present in December 1981 (I'm Australian). To me, I will always associate the record with painless summer days and the joys of being a new teenager - I had just turned 13. I know every song on the record back to front, left to right, etc. It's been with me 40+ years. And you know, it wasn't until the mid 80s that I learned the band had been huge in the US. But best song on the record? I Can See It In Your Eyes. Oh, and Professor, it's said "Cook-a-burra" not "Kook". You need to come out here so you can hear these birds in person.
Glad you still have it.
If you've heard "jungle sound" background noises in almost any TV show, you've heard a kookaburra -- for some reason, the "laughing jackass" call is very popular among soundtrack artists for creating a jungle feel. I'm sure it sounds much more thrilling in person, though, which is why Ozzieland is still on my bucket list. Well, that & the wombats. WOMBATS!!!
I'm glad you brought up "Be Good (Johnny)". That was one of my favs from them. They may have been a short run band, but they sure made some catchy tunes. I think the MTV definitely helped their cause, because their videos were so much fun. I sure wish they could have made a few more albums together, but I guess that wasn't in their future. 😀
Their music videos were fantastic.
Be Good Johnny and Dr Heckyl And Mr Jive were my favorites.
IMO some bands and individual artists have way too many albums (ie Neil Young, Metallica etc.)
MAWs 2 major albums are worth their weight in gold.
I was a HUGE Men At Work fan as a kid! I had Business As Usual and Cargo on vinyl and wore them both out.
They are my favorite band from the 80's. Colin is an awesome solo artist. I saw his show in the early 2000s. Incredible. That lawsuit was ridiculous.
Loved Who Can It Be Now? Loved the sax and the drums in that song in late 1982 - played that song over and over again after school on my tape cassette when I was in 5th grade
You wore it out?
That lawsuit was a joke.
Agreed.
What was the point? 🙄
Very bad joke on legends of Australian music
Most music lawsuits are..... At least Daryl Hall had more sense about melodies getting jacked.
@@jeep2701 That one against George Harrison over "My Suit Lord". He was "Ed Sheeran" before Ed Sheeran.
"Overkill" is one of my favorite Men at Work songs too. I am surprised that you didn't talk about how the show Scrubs used "Overkill" in an episode, and Colin Hay sang the song throughout the episode.
Funny story about "Down Under." My dad who is in his 60s didn't understand the lyric about the vegemite sandwich until recently. He always thought it said, "He just smiled and gave me a bit of a sandwich."
I’m sure your dad and most others were like, “What the hell is a veggie-mite?”
Loved all these songs. Thanks for a great interview! Unique lead voice. Always recognizable and catchy tunes/ rhythm.
I love Men At Work's music. They were one of the top musical group's in the world during the years 1982 and 1983. Then, they completely disappeared. I always wondered what happened to them. Because they lacked the longevity, I always felt they were very underrated. However, their early 1980's run was very memorable with many great songs.
Well, it turns out they too were stricken with a case of band drama.
Saw Colin at Town Hall in NYC, what a great storyteller, and funny as hell! Loved the story of his family emigrating by ship from Scotland to Australia, “We left in dreary rain and fog, and weeks later we came in and it was dreary rain and fog. ‘F-k, did we turn around somewhere?’” 😂
Men At Work has to be one of the most under rated bands ever! Every member was a right genius! If you're reading this and don't dig Men At Work, go now and listen to "Touching The Untouchables" and get back with me.
Great episode as always!!!
Men at Work was my favorite band for over 20 years. They were the first band I saw in concert. My top 3 favorites are ‘It’s a Mistake’, ‘Man with Two Hearts’, and ‘Underground’.
All really good!
Love your interview with Colin, Adam. This band had so many catchy songs, with "Be Good Johnny" being my favourite.
It's a classic! When did you first hear these guys Trina?
"Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive" is mine.
I’d go for Heckyll & Jive, love that video.
@@TheVeganVicar I love spoonerisms.
This is also my favorite, the unique sounding intro and the drum fills. I'll never get tired them.
I think that Colin Hay doesn't get enough credit for his songwriting, and the fact that he has one of the most distinct voices.
I don't think you could mistake him for anybody else.
I’ll always remember this album because it was the first album that was actually mine it was Valentine’s Day I think like 1982 maybe somewhere in there and I gave my girlfriend at the time box of chocolates and she gave me the business as usual album as a gift so I’ll be eternally thankful for this. And of course I was lucky enough that my family had a bunch of good albums but I knew this album forward and backwards and then as things go my parents got divorced and then couple years later I’m living with my dad and I had that album and as I was playing it he fell in love with it as well and then the cargo album came out and he bought that and we listened to that together but I think that was the first time that one of my musical influences brought us to listening to music together instead of the other way around. And yeah overkill still to me I can listen to and the way the second verse is up a couple keys it’s just so nice it’s a perfect song for someone with a twisted mind like mine.
Professor of Rock you once again deliver a fantastic video and interview, Thank you. I am sure I and many would love to hear a playlist that you put together. Please put one out.
My high school’s drama students worked with Men At Work in Melbourne, a few years before they made it big, on a school-based musical. They were fantastic, generous and so much fun. Down By The Sea is still my favourite song of theirs, Colin’s voice is incredible.
I learned kookaburra as a young girl scout in the Midwest. And I regularly sang the song Down Under. 45 years later I would never have guessed that those two songs had anything to do with one another but I do hear it of course. That's a real tragic story and one that seems could have been avoided. Adding in that memorable kookaburra was intentional. I would think if permission had been ask for, most original musicians would have enjoyed the notoriety and gladly given consent. After it being such a worldwide hit of course they would want some credit monetarily. Live and learn. I never would have known without seeing this episode. Fascinating. Thank you
Colin is truly one of the great songwriters of our age, his voice is still all there and his guitar work is exceptional.
Colin Hay’s acoustical material is incredible.
My favorite Men at Work songs are not the huge hits off of Business as Usual, they are:
I can see it in your eyes (great song)
Be Good Johnny
Overkill (one of the all-time great songs)
It’s a mistake
Love all four.
I loved Its a Mistake. The video for that song is top five ever! 😂😂😂
Love this band. Business as Usual was such an amazing album, every track was addictive and I played it over and over. Cargo and Two Hearts were bought on their release dates and played repeatedly. Also they inspired me to check out other Australian acts like INXS, Mental as Anything and the Hoodoo Gurus. Great music.
I read INXS' book, and they opened for Men At Work on one of their first US tours.
And Midnight Oil too?
"They were on the cover of Rolling Stone back when it mattered". Well said,Adam.
Men at work has been my favorite band since 7th grade. I'm 50 now and still have the tee shirt that came with the Business as Usual cassette I got at the mall. I finally got to see them play at Janis Landing here in Florida in my 30's, loved every minute of it.
Does it have the cover of Business on the front?
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 yes it does
Colin is such an awesome guy. A unique and very addictive singing voice, a great sense of timing, and he’s extremely hilarious (especially his story about having a hit on a soundtrack record and sharing royalties). IMO Overkill is the definitive 80’s song and possibly the best of the decade. To this day, time stops for me (and so does work) when it comes on. The 80’s were better because of him and Men At Work.
Great interview! Men at Work really set the tone and feel of early '80s pop music. They were a key element in the early MTV programming. Thanks for posting and for the channel/content.
Thanks!
👍
Those two albums of theirs were played often in my home - later in the late 90s, my son found the albums and loved them - he was in the harder grung music but found these guys amazing as well
His appearance singing Overkill on Scrubs was one of the great moments in television that I’ve ever seen
The song, land down under is being used in the new Australia tourism video, 'G' day Australia' here in the UK.
Awesome!
@@ProfessorofRock thanks Adam, go for a kidney biopsy Thurs, wish me luck. Peace brother to you and your family.
I’ll be in Australia in just a few weeks!
Also on a totally unrelated note, are you planning to do a tribute to Andy Rourke of the Smiths who passed away recently? Would love to see that - The Smiths were amazing and Andy was a huge part of that.
And while he’s at it, do a Tina Turner salute.
Saw Men at Work in Milan,Italy in 2019.Colin Hay still has it.He's such a great songwriter.Sounded great.I would love to have seen them with all the original members.🎉
Thanks for the content! I loved this interview. So many groups came and went and it is nice to know what happpened.
Business As Usual and Cargo are both great albums. Men At Work didn’t do much, but what they did do is fantastic.
I totally loved Men at Work! It’s a shame about what happened to them, especially the lawsuit. I especially liked the Cargo album better than Business as Usual. And yes, I remember those days when I watched Friday Night Videos and then Saturday morning cartoons the next day!
Many of my teachers had a Friday Night Videos and Saturday morning cartoons routine.
At the time and to this day I consider Men at Work to be one of the three best bands to come out of the 80s. Overkill is an absolute classic! And I'd forgotten about Johnny. I'm going right back to listen to their old records.
I graduated in ‘83 and Men At Work, with many of the others mentioned, was the soundtrack of my young adulthood, first apartment and budding independence! Still love them and never heard about the lawsuit! Great interview! ❤
Colin had that Sting/reggae-style voice that personified the early '80s to me. Many new wave and mainstream bands (even RUSH!) were experimenting with reggae in their works at about that time. It was indeed a very interesting time in music. I particularly remember the kids in the school halls singing: "Be good, be good!!!"
You know it’s him and his men hard at work when their song comes on.
I remember hearing a story about a black music station in the West Indies playing Business as Usual and when they were told Men at Work were white they didnt believe it.
Rip Greg Ham
Have met with and spoken to Colin on several occasions after his solo concerts. What a terrific, down-to-Earth gentleman. They say you should never meet your heros, because they will only disappoint you, but Colin is definitely the exception to that rule. We saw him on his tour for Gathering Mercury. We got to sit right in the front row. He started with an acoustic version of Gathering Mercury. I have NEVER experienced a song, in concert, that moved me to actual tears, but I cried as he progressed through the song, as did one of my daughters. What a powerful moment. Colin is really something special and truly one of the greatest guitar players of all time. Don't believe me? Just go to one of his solo acoustic shows. And, Professor, I couldn't imagine a better guest for one of your live shows. In all likelihood I wouldn't be able to attend, but man would I LOVE the shorts you would post from it. Lol
I was lucky enough to see the full band in '98. They were great. I was singing along to every song. They were special. The first 2 albums were like rites of passage, but the third was not bad either. I still think of them as a favorite band.
I have Business As Usual album in my collection. Who Could It Be Now is one of my favorite songs on the record.
I played the flute in the band, and taught myself the flute melody from Down Under. I listened to this record alot.
Overkill is a bed time song for me. When I can't sleep, this is my song. 😊
Have you heard of another excellent 1980s Australian band, Moving Pictures?
Their songs have GREAT saxophone parts.
They were not nearly as popular internationally as Men at Work, their only USA hit being a masterpiece called "What About Me?". However, one of their (cover) songs was featured in the popular movie "Dirty Dancing".
@@TheVeganVicar I will check this out. Thanks. 😊
I played the recorder in elementary school music class. When I got to middle school, I found that old recorder in my sister’s room and started to attempt to play the flute solo in Down Under. It sounded awful. I never tried it again. Now I just hum the melody.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Yes, it takes a silver flute to create the sound. You knew the notes to give it a try. 👍
@@catherine6653 Yup! I did try playing “Never Gonna Give You Up” on recorder in 7th grade as well and laughed all the way through. Then, “Low Rider”. 😆
Funny how MaW brought Aussie culture to the U.S. (& world). Aside from their big radio hits, I have to agree w/others here: "Overkill" and "It's a Mistake", the songs and videos, resonate the most for me.
Like Adam said, It’s a Mistake was a really incredible video, depicting Cold War tensions
It’s 1982, I’m 12 years old and about to sign up for classes in Jr. High school. I’d heard Who Can It Be Now, and was addicted to it, so naturally I signed up for Concert Band, to learn the tenor saxophone. My immediate goal was to learn the song and I aced it after hours and hours of learning and practice. That done, I realized I ~loved~- playing music and saxophone was it. In high school, I moved to baritone saxophone and was in the marching band and it was such an important part of growing up for me. Went to see MaW on their first concert tour in the States, it was also my first concert as a kid! I want to thank Colin and MaW for being so awesome and inspiring to a kid in California. Also, Colin Hay has one of the most unique voices in music, much like Danny Elfman. Throaty, bluesy and full of soul. Their first 2 albums have ~no~ bad songs to me, they are perfect!
Met Colin Hay after a gig in New Hampshire about 12 years ago. Great guy. Talked to me and my buddy who was going thru some personal issues and he seemed very sincere and caring. Bought a CD and he autographed it.
A needless and frivolous lawsuit, and an obvious money grab. Utterly shameful. No one would've even given it a second though -- or a first one, for that matter -- had it not been for that game show.
It so true.
Indeed ! Have to agree 100%. Shame it happened at all.
Pointless. Incredibly pointless.
I have to wonder if the nursery rhyme's writer "conveniently" noticed that the MAW song sounded like hers once the money started rolling in.....
So glad you touched on Be good Johnny!! As a 12yr old, all the different music was absolutely amazing. Thx MTV, channel 12 in Colorado. Men at work deserve your great video! POR, you deserve an AMA for bringing back and diving deep into what makes these artists and songs, and how it drove a generation to love ALL music. No matter what genre.. keep up the great work. And thanks zenni, and your patreons for keeping your channel alive.
Blue For You is my favorite Men At Work song off Cargo. I thrashed that record as a teenager. I didn't really grasp how dark the song is until I was a few years older, and had gone through a few break ups, but it just resonated with me at the time.
And all this time I've been singing "He gave me a wedge of my sandwich"
Oh brother. I've turned into the Norm Crosby of song lyrics.
Ha ha. It's easy to mistake.
You’re in for a treat! 😀
Wow, pretty close we both are. I've always heard "He just smiled and give me a bit of my sandwich".
Being a Kiwi from New Zealand we know about Vegemite (and Marmite) but it was full of B vitamins that kids were told its good for you.i loved it.
The sax in Baker Street!
amen!
I said the same thing bd ! Baker Street was awesome ! Still is in my book.
Gerry Rafferty! Saxophone by Raphael Ravenscroft! Rest In Peace to both!
I never get tired of it. Ever.
Great interview! Thank you!
Men At Work’s first album was released in the US during my senior year in High School. I was a DJ at a local skating rink and remember convincing the 30-something manager who seemed old to me (ah perspective) for money so I could go to Specs and buy the album. Not a session went by without lots of requests for Men At work. Fun band, great toons, and fond memories.
I think the lawsuit was non-sense, especially so many years after the song was released
I agree. I don't hear it. It's a stretch.
Right? That children’s campfire song nonsense.
It's Colin Hay, not Colin Hey (unless you're trying to get his attention, in which case it would be "Colin, hey!")
Where does it say Hey?
@@ProfessorofRock It was in the description, but it's been fixed so I guess you figured out where.
Always loved this band, and got to see them live in Phoenix fall 1983. GREAT show. Got to see Colin acoustic just before the pandemic. Fun show with his telling stories and his great sense of humor.
The lawsuit was nothing more than SLIMEY lawyers grubbing for money that isn’t theirs!!! I’d say “shame on them” but shame requires a SOUL 🔥
Send lawyers, guns, and money to right this!
MORNING EVERYONE BE GOOD JOHNNY WAS MY FAVORITE
Great song
Overkill was mine.
Love that song? Did you know what it was about before now/
Yes!
@@ProfessorofRock YOU COULD SAY IT WAS AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL(HOPE THATE THE RIGHT WAY LOL)