Music Metrics Vault

Men At Work

Data updated on 2024-10-04 13:17:44 UTC
Men at Work were one of the more surprising success stories of the new wave era, rocketing out of Australia in 1982 to become the most successful artist of the year. With its Police-styled rhythms, catchy guitar hooks, wailing saxophones, and off-kilter sense of humor, the band's debut album, Business as Usual, became an international blockbuster, breaking the American record for the most weeks a debut spent at the top of the charts. Their funny, irreverent videos became MTV favorites, helping send "Who Can It Be Now?" and "Down Under" to number one. Men at Work's momentum sustained them through their second album, 1983's Cargo, before the bottom fell out of the band's popularity. After releasing Two Hearts in 1985, Men at Work broke up, becoming one of the better-remembered phenomena of new wave.

Colin Hay (lead vocals, guitar), a native of Scotland who moved to Australia at the age of 14, formed Men at Work as an acoustic duo with Ron Strykert (guitar, vocals) in Melbourne in 1978. Within a few months, the duo had expanded to a full group with the addition of John Rees (bass), Greg Ham (saxophone, flute, keyboards), and Jerry Speiser (drums). Over the next two years, the band became regulars at the Cricketer's Arms Hotel bar and on Australia's pub circuit, eventually becoming the highest-paid unsigned band in the country. By 1981, they had landed a contract with Australian Columbia, which released "Who Can It Be Now?" by the end of the year. The single became a huge hit, as did their debut album, Business as Usual, upon its spring 1982 release. Featuring contributions by Hay, Strykert, and Ham, Business as Usual spent ten weeks at the top of the Australian charts, beating a record held by Split Enz's True Colours. The album was released in America in the summer, and within a few weeks "Who Can It Be Now?" began its climb to the top of the U.S. charts. In November, Business as Usual hit the top of the charts, where it would stay for 15 weeks. "Down Under" became the group's second American number one early in 1983, and it became the band's first British hit single; the song reached number one in both countries simultaneously. In February, the band was named the Best New Artist of 1982 at the Grammys.

Men at Work's second album, Cargo, had been recorded during the summer of 1982, but its release was delayed because of the remarkable success of the debut. Largely written by Hay, Cargo reached number three in the U.S. and generated the Top Ten singles "Overkill" and "It's a Mistake." Following an extensive tour, during which the group co-headlined the U.S. Festival with the Clash and the Stray Cats, Men at Work took an extended break in 1984, which caused Speiser and Rees to leave the band. They were replaced by session musicians for the group's third album, 1985's Two Hearts. Though the record went gold in the U.S., it was a considerable commercial disappointment, failing to generate one Top 40 single. Following the release of Two Hearts, the band broke up.

Out of the remaining members, Hay was the only one to pursue a solo career, but neither of his two American solo albums -- Looking for Jack (1987) and Wayfaring Sons (1990) -- were successes. Hay continued to release albums in Australia during the '90s; he also began an acting career. He and Ham re-formed Men at Work in 1996, recording the live hits collection Brazil on tour in South America that year; the album (including a newly recorded bonus studio track) was released in the United States two years later. In subsequent years, Hay and Ham along with guest musicians resurrected the Men at Work name for occasional live appearances. On April 19, 2012, Ham was found dead in his home in Melbourne's Carlton North suburb; he was 58 years old. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

Total plays

1.6 billion
Updated on 2024-10-04

Country

Australia

Monthly listeners

12,360,904

Followers

1,332,916

Top Cities

  1. Chile
    323,751 listeners
  2. Australia
    238,425 listeners
  3. Australia
    200,633 listeners
  4. Brazil
    237,421 listeners
  5. Mexico
    186,911 listeners

Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Down Under
Down Under
908,189,585 3:42 1981-01-01
Who Can It Be Now?
Who Can It Be Now?
374,843,989 3:21 1981-01-01
Overkill
Overkill
100,839,164 3:44 1981-01-01
It's a Mistake
It's a Mistake
45,804,425 4:31 1981-01-01
It's A Mistake
It's A Mistake
45,804,425 4:47 1983-01-01
Be Good Johnny
Be Good Johnny
17,635,918 3:35 1981-01-01
Everything I Need
Everything I Need
10,890,851 3:32 1981-01-01
I Can See It in Your Eyes
I Can See It in Your Eyes
9,529,693 3:24 1981-01-01
Down By the Sea
Down By the Sea
6,146,755 6:53 1981-01-01
Down By The Sea
Down By The Sea
6,146,755 6:49 1996-02-01
Underground
Underground
5,542,631 3:05 1981-01-01
Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive
Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive
5,005,525 4:35 1981-01-01
Catch a Star
Catch a Star
4,034,841 3:29 1981-01-01
Helpless Automaton
Helpless Automaton
3,063,546 3:19 1981-01-01
Touching the Untouchables
Touching the Untouchables
2,305,196 3:40 1981-01-01
Blue for You
Blue for You
2,212,219 3:52 1981-01-01
Maria
Maria
2,180,021 4:34 1981-01-01
People Just Love to Play with Words
People Just Love to Play with Words
2,119,880 3:30 1981-01-01
High Wire
High Wire
2,009,905 3:04 1981-01-01
Still Life
Still Life
1,920,157 3:52 1981-01-01
Man with Two Hearts
Man with Two Hearts
1,807,989 3:56 1981-01-01
Hard Luck Story
Hard Luck Story
1,754,688 3:42 1985-04-23
Settle Down My Boy
Settle Down My Boy
1,666,518 3:27 1983-01-01
Upstairs In My House
Upstairs In My House
1,354,600 4:07 1983-01-01
No Sign Of Yesterday
No Sign Of Yesterday
1,272,761 6:34 1983-01-01
No Restrictions
No Restrictions
1,254,373 4:27 1983-01-01
Snakes and Ladders
Snakes and Ladders
1,248,960 3:16 1985-04-23
Snakes And Ladders
Snakes And Ladders
1,248,960 3:17 1996-02-01
Down Under - Extended Mix
Down Under - Extended Mix
964,832 5:24 1987-02-23
Giving Up
Giving Up
922,025 3:28 1985-04-23
Children On Parade
Children On Parade
827,735 3:36 1998-05-07
Children of Parade
Children of Parade
827,735 3:40 1985-04-23
Fallin' Down - Live at Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD - July 1983
Fallin' Down - Live at Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD - July 1983
686,269 7:56 1983-01-01
Down Under (I Am Sam vs. Men At Work) - I Am Sam Millennium Live 2011 Radio Mix
Down Under (I Am Sam vs. Men At Work) - I Am Sam Millennium Live 2011 Radio Mix
646,213 3:11 2011-04-06
Shintaro - Non LP B-Side
Shintaro - Non LP B-Side
635,841 2:53 1983-01-01
Analogic Pressure
Analogic Pressure
601,247 7:13 2015-10-17
I Like To
I Like To
461,203 4:03 1983-01-01
Stay at Home
Stay at Home
446,543 3:07 1985-04-23
Don't Preach To Me (Live in Christchurch 1982)
Don't Preach To Me (Live in Christchurch 1982)
437,208 4:31 2020-08-01
I Like To - Live at Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD - July 1983
I Like To - Live at Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD - July 1983
387,528 4:25 1996-02-01
The Longest Night - Live at the Hearst Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA - June 1983
The Longest Night - Live at the Hearst Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA - June 1983
385,679 4:04 1983-01-01
Sail to You
Sail to You
324,144 3:25 1985-04-23
Till The Money Runs Out - Non LP B-Side
Till The Money Runs Out - Non LP B-Side
317,029 3:06 1983-01-01
I Changed My Mind (Live in Christchurch 1982)
I Changed My Mind (Live in Christchurch 1982)
313,438 3:13 2020-08-01
Upstairs At My House - Live At Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD - July 1983
Upstairs At My House - Live At Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD - July 1983
236,747 3:14 1983-01-01
Mr Entertainer (Live in Christchurch 1982)
Mr Entertainer (Live in Christchurch 1982)
208,397 14:14 2020-08-01
Down Under (I Am Sam vs. Men At Work) - Bombs Away Remix
Down Under (I Am Sam vs. Men At Work) - Bombs Away Remix
184,288 5:59 2011-04-06
Down Under (I Am Sam vs. Men At Work) - I Am Sam Millennium Live 2011 Remix
Down Under (I Am Sam vs. Men At Work) - I Am Sam Millennium Live 2011 Remix
178,465 5:53 2011-04-06
Down Under (Live in Christchurch 1982)
Down Under (Live in Christchurch 1982)
175,308 5:32 2020-08-01
Overkill (Live in Christchurch 1982)
Overkill (Live in Christchurch 1982)
161,594 4:01 2020-08-01
Down Under (I Am Sam vs. Men At Work) - Ben Morris & Venuto’s Run For Cover Remix)
Down Under (I Am Sam vs. Men At Work) - Ben Morris & Venuto’s Run For Cover Remix)
159,471 5:54 2011-04-06
I Can See It In Your Eyes (Live in Christchurch 1982)
I Can See It In Your Eyes (Live in Christchurch 1982)
125,961 3:54 2020-08-01
Down Under (I Am Sam vs. Men At Work) - Che Jose Remix
Down Under (I Am Sam vs. Men At Work) - Che Jose Remix
115,783 6:12 2011-04-06
Who Can It Be Now (Live in Christchurch 1982)
Who Can It Be Now (Live in Christchurch 1982)
111,828 4:51 2020-08-01
Down Under (I Am Sam vs. Men At Work) - Steve Frank & The 14th Minute Remix
Down Under (I Am Sam vs. Men At Work) - Steve Frank & The 14th Minute Remix
94,591 4:29 2011-04-06
Touching The Untouchables (Live in Christchurch 1982)
Touching The Untouchables (Live in Christchurch 1982)
90,403 3:50 2020-08-01
Down By The Sea (Live in Christchurch 1982)
Down By The Sea (Live in Christchurch 1982)
89,558 7:45 2020-08-01
It's a Mistake (Live in Christchurch 1982)
It's a Mistake (Live in Christchurch 1982)
83,640 6:17 2020-08-01
Be Good Johnny
Be Good Johnny
70,636 3:36 1987-02-23
Crazy - Non LP B-Side
Crazy - Non LP B-Side
70,095 2:36 1981-01-01
Helpless Automaton (Live in Christchurch 1982)
Helpless Automaton (Live in Christchurch 1982)
67,020 3:35 2020-08-01
Till The Money Runs Out (Live in Christchurch 1982)
Till The Money Runs Out (Live in Christchurch 1982)
66,578 3:31 2020-08-01
Be Good Johnny (Live in Christchurch 1982)
Be Good Johnny (Live in Christchurch 1982)
65,347 3:15 2020-08-01
Underground (Live in Christchurch 1982)
Underground (Live in Christchurch 1982)
61,771 3:07 2020-08-01
F-19 - Non LP B-Side, Previously Unreleased In The US
F-19 - Non LP B-Side, Previously Unreleased In The US
55,265 3:53 1981-01-01
Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive
Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive
49,591 4:14 1987-02-23
Hard Luck Story
Hard Luck Story
36,533 3:43 1987-02-23
Still Life
Still Life
30,530 3:52 1987-02-23
Sail To You - Extended Mix
Sail To You - Extended Mix
23,959 5:47 1987-02-23
Who Can It Be Now (Blowfelt's Remix) [2021 Remastered Version]
Who Can It Be Now (Blowfelt's Remix) [2021 Remastered Version]
13,548 6:26 2014-05-30
Down Under - Acoustic Cover
Down Under - Acoustic Cover
1,806 3:03 2019-03-15

New releases

Live in Christchurch 1982
Live in Christchurch 1982
2020-08-01
[Black Box Records]
Who Can It Be Now (Blowfelt's Remix) [2021 Remastered Version]
Who Can It Be Now (Blowfelt's Remix) [2021 Remastered Version]
2014-05-30
[Blowfelt & Men at Work]
The Best Of Men At Work
The Best Of Men At Work
2005-01-31
[Sony Music Entertainment]
Definitive Collection
Definitive Collection
2000-01-01
[Columbia]
Super Hits
Super Hits
2000-01-01
[SBME Strategic Marketing Group]
Super Hits
Super Hits
2000-01-01
[Columbia]
Simply The Best
Simply The Best
1998-09-07
[Columbia]
Down Under
Down Under
1998-05-07
[Sony Music Catalog]
The Best Of Men At Work: Contraband
The Best Of Men At Work: Contraband
1996-12-08
[Columbia/Legacy]
The Best Of Men At Work: Contraband
The Best Of Men At Work: Contraband
1996-04-08
[Columbia/Legacy]
The Best Of Men At Work: Contraband
The Best Of Men At Work: Contraband
1996-02-01
[Columbia]
The Works
The Works
1987-02-23
[Columbia]
Two Hearts
Two Hearts
1985-04-23
[SMCMG]
Cargo
Cargo
1983-12-07
[Columbia]
Cargo
Cargo
1983-09-17
[Columbia]
Cargo
Cargo
1983-01-01
[Columbia/Legacy]
Cargo
Cargo
1983-01-01
[Columbia]
Business As Usual
Business As Usual
1981-11-09
[Columbia]
The Essential Men At Work
The Essential Men At Work
1981-01-01
[Columbia/Legacy]
Business As Usual
Business As Usual
1981-01-01
[Columbia]