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Men at Work
Business as Usual, the first album by Men at Work
Background information
Origin	Sydney, Australia
Genre(s)	Pop music Rock music
Years active	1979–1985, 1996–2000
Label(s)	Columbia, Sony
Website	Official MySpace
Members
Colin Hay Ron Strykert Jerry Speiser Greg Ham John Rees

For the movie "Men at Work", see Men at Work (film).

Men at Work was an Australian reggae-influenced rock band which achieved international success in the 1980s. They are the only Australian artists to reach the Number 1 position in album and singles charts in both the United States and the United Kingdom with Business as Usual and "Down Under" respectively. ^[1] The group won the 1983 Grammy Award for Best New Artist. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Cover for the album Business as Usual by Men at Work This is an album cover. ... Business as Usual is the first album by Australian band Men at Work, released in 1982. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The Sydney Opera House on Sydney Harbour Sydney (pronounced ) is the most populous city in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of 4,119,190, and 151,920 in the City of Sydney, as of the 2006 census. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For popular forms of music in general, see Popular music. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Sony Records is a record label courtesy of Columbia, Epic and American Recordings. ... Cover of the 2003 album by Colin Hay, Man At Work Colin James Hay is a musician who made his mark in the 1980s as a member of the Australian group Men at Work. ... Ron Strykert (born 18 August 1957) is an Australian guitarist known for playing lead guitar for reggae 80s band Men at Work and co-writing for the song Down Under. ... Jerry Speiser was the drummer and co-founder of the hit 1980s Australian musical group Men At Work. ... Greg Ham (27 September 1953) is an Australian songwriter, actor and saxophone player known for playing multiple instruments in reggae 80s band Men at Work when he replaced Greg Sneddon, where he played flute, organ, piano and the synthesizer. ... Men at Work is an action/comedy film directed and produced by Emilio Estevez. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Business as Usual is the first album by Australian band Men at Work, released in 1982. ... Down Under is the title of a New Wave song of the reggae flavour, recorded in 1982 by the Australian rock group Men at Work, and featuring on their album Business as Usual. ... The 25th Grammy Awards were held in 1983. ... The Grammy for Best New Artist has been awarded since 1960. ...

Early years

Colin Hay (born 29 June 1953 in Saltcoats, Scotland) ^[2] migrated to Australia in 1967 with his family. In 1978 he formed a duo with Ron Strykert (born 18 August 1957). The group expanded with the addition of drummer Jerry Speiser and keyboard player Greg Sneddon, although Sneddon soon left, to be replaced by multi-instrumentalist Greg Ham (born 27 September 1953). After a time, the band recruited bass guitarist John Rees and the group was complete. Cover of the 2003 album by Colin Hay, Man At Work Colin James Hay is a musician who made his mark in the 1980s as a member of the Australian group Men at Work. ... is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Saltcoats is a small town located on the west coast of Ayrshire, Scotland. ... Motto (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity Cha togar mfhearg gun dioladh (Scottish Gaelic) Wha daur meddle wi me?(Scots)1 Anthem (Multiple unofficial anthems) Scotland() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Monarch Queen... Ron Strykert (born 18 August 1957) is an Australian guitarist known for playing lead guitar for reggae 80s band Men at Work and co-writing for the song Down Under. ... August 18 is the 230th day of the year (231st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar). ... Jerry Speiser was the drummer and co-founder of the hit 1980s Australian musical group Men At Work. ... A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments. ... Greg Ham (27 September 1953) is an Australian songwriter, actor and saxophone player known for playing multiple instruments in reggae 80s band Men at Work when he replaced Greg Sneddon, where he played flute, organ, piano and the synthesizer. ... is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The electric bass guitar (or electric bass) is a string instrument played with the fingers by plucking, slapping, or using a pick. ...

The band played a regular residency at Melbourne's Cricketers Arms Hotel and built a strong local following. In 1980 they financed a single ("Keypunch Operator') backed by an early version of "Down Under". Melbournes CBD has grown to straddle the Yarra River in three major precincts. ... Down Under is the title of a New Wave song of the reggae flavour, recorded in 1982 by the Australian rock group Men at Work, and featuring on their album Business as Usual. ...

In 1981 Columbia Records signed Men at Work to a recording contract. Their first single "Who Can It Be Now?" reached Number 1 on the Australian chart in August 1981. A subsequent single (a re-worked version of "Down Under") and their first album Business as Usual also went to Number 1. The album also debuted at Number 1 in New Zealand. Columbia Records is the oldest brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888, and was the first record company to produce pre-recorded records as opposed to blank cylinders. ... Business as Usual is the first album by Australian band Men at Work, released in 1982. ...

International success

Despite its strong Australian showing, and having an American producer (Peter McIan), Business As Usual was twice rejected by Columbia's parent company in the United States. Thanks to the persistence of the band's management, the album was eventually released in the USA and the UK six months after its Australian release. Men at Work toured the USA to promote the album, supporting the likes of Fleetwood Mac. This article is about the band. ...

In October 1982 "Who Can It Be Now" hit Number 1 in the USA. Then, in November of that year, Business As Usual began a 12 week run at Number 1 on the US album chart. By January 1983 Men at Work had the top album and single in both the USA and the UK - a feat never achieved previously by an Australian act.

To culminate a meteoric rise, Men at Work won Australia's first-ever Grammy Award, winning Best New Artist for 1983 ahead of Asia, Jennifer Holliday, Human League and Stray Cats. Asia is an arena rock/progressive rock group. ... Jennifer Holliday (born Jennifer-Yvette Holliday on October 19, 1960 in Riverside, Texas) is an American singer and actress. ... The Human League are an English synthpop band formed in 1977, who, after several changes in line up, achieved great popularity in the 1980s and a limited comeback in the mid-1990s. ... Stray Cats is a rockabilly band first formed in 1979 by guitarist/vocalist Brian Setzer (Bloodless Pharaohs/Brian Setzer Orchestra) with school friends Lee Rocker (born Leon Drucker) and Slim Jim Phantom (born James McDonnell) in the Long Island town of Massapequa, New York. ...

Later years

Original band members

• Colin Hay – lead vocals and guitar (1979–1985), (1996–1998);
• Ron Strykert – guitar, vocals (1979–1985);
• Jerry Speiser – drums, vocals (1979–1984);
• Greg Ham – saxophone, flute, keyboards, harmonica, vocals (1979–1985), (1996–1998);
• John Rees – bass guitar, vocals (1979–1984)

Cover of the 2003 album by Colin Hay, Man At Work Colin James Hay is a musician who made his mark in the 1980s as a member of the Australian group Men at Work. ... A singer is a musician who uses his or her voice to produce music. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Ron Strykert (born 18 August 1957) is an Australian guitarist known for playing lead guitar for reggae 80s band Men at Work and co-writing for the song Down Under. ... Jerry Speiser was the drummer and co-founder of the hit 1980s Australian musical group Men At Work. ... Greg Ham (27 September 1953) is an Australian songwriter, actor and saxophone player known for playing multiple instruments in reggae 80s band Men at Work when he replaced Greg Sneddon, where he played flute, organ, piano and the synthesizer. ... The saxophone (colloquially referred to as sax) is a conical-bored instrument of the woodwind family, usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece like the clarinet. ... The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. ... Piano, a well-known instance of keyboard instruments A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a musical keyboard. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The electric bass guitar (or electric bass) is a string instrument played with the fingers by plucking, slapping, or using a pick. ...

Discography

Studio albums

• Business as Usual (1982) AMG Review
• Cargo (1983) AMG Review
• Two Hearts (1985) AMG Review

Business as Usual is the first album by Australian band Men at Work, released in 1982. ... Cargo is the second album by Australian band Men at Work, released in 1983. ... Two Hearts is the third album by Australian band Men at Work, released in 1985. ...

Live album

• Brazil (1998) AMG Review

Greatest hits albums

1987 The Works AMG Review	1996 Contraband AMG Review	2000 Definitive Collection AMG Review	2000 Super Hits AMG Review	2003 Essential AMG Review

Download high resolution version (715x715, 100 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Queen (band) ... Image File history File links Contraband. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Singles

The cover of the Australian single release of Down Under

• "Keypunch Operator"/"Down Under" (self-produced single) (1979);

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. ... The Mainstream Rock Tracks chart is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music but are not modern rock stations, which are counted in the Modern Rock Tracks chart. ... Business as Usual is the first album by Australian band Men at Work, released in 1982. ... Down Under is the title of a New Wave song of the reggae flavour, recorded in 1982 by the Australian rock group Men at Work, and featuring on their album Business as Usual. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Guest appearance

• Colin Hay made a guest appearance as 'Troubadour' on "My Overkill", Scrubs series 2 episode 1, singing "Overkill". [1]
• Greg Ham sang their hit Helpless automation in Oprah series 2002

My Overkill is the 25th episode of the American sitcom Scrubs. ... Scrubs is an Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning American situation comedy/dramedy that premiered on October 2, 2001 on NBC. It was created by Bill Lawrence, who also co-created Spin City. ...

See also

• Artists achieving simultaneous U.S. and UK number-one hits

These are the artists who have topped both the official album and singles chart for Billboard in the United States and The Official UK Charts Company from the United Kingdom (also the BPI). ...

External links

• Men at Work (Howlspace article)
• Men at Work official MySpace band site - three original band members help run the page
• Men at Work (Legacy Recordings)
• Brazilian fan website
• - Biografía en español

References