Colin Hay Discusses Males at Work, His Solo Profession, and the Music Biz [Part Two]

Hay spoke to AllMusic shortly after the discharge of his newest solo launch, Man @ Work: Quantity 2, which like its profitable predecessor, accommodates “re-imagined favorites from throughout Hay’s wealthy catalog, together with Males at Work classics, solo album highlights, and new materials.”

So with out additional ado, right here is the second a part of AllMusic’s prolonged interview with Hay.

What do you recall in regards to the precise recording of the Males at Work albums from the ’80s, Enterprise as Common, Cargo, and Two Hearts?

“Nicely, Enterprise as Common was very fast and it was nice, as a result of we had a ten day pre-production with the producer, Peter McIan, who sadly handed away fairly not too long ago. Very unhappy to listen to that information. He was a fantastic document producer. He was excellent for us, actually. And we had a means of pre-production the place in a approach, he ‘pop-ified’ the music. We had simplified sure components, and turned possibly a six-minute track right into a three-and-a-half minute track – whereas retaining the integrity and what was essential to the track.”

“And once we really obtained into the studio, it was a really small studio known as Richmond Recorders [in Melbourne]. And it took about ten days to document – 5 days for the rhythm tracks and 5 days for overdubs. So, it was very fast. We labored fairly shortly and it was a really cheap document to make. However he was actually the important thing in bringing that album collectively – Peter McIan.”

“Cargo took us somewhat bit longer. We in the end launched that album too shortly. I believe we must always have waited, however water below the bridge now. However yeah, Cargo took somewhat bit longer. I nonetheless assume we had some good songs on that document. Maybe we may have spent somewhat bit extra time on that – we would have had a greater document, who is aware of? However we had been somewhat bit extra skilled and we nonetheless had McIan engaged on that document, in order that was good.”

“By the point Two Hearts got here round, the band was achieved. We did not notice it on the time, however the band was over. And certainly, it was solely three of us left. John and Jerry had been sacked. So, it was Ron and Greg and I, and Russell [Deppeler] the supervisor, and we made the Two Hearts document.

“But it surely was actually the dying throes of the band. Ron left midway by means of, and on the finish of it, Greg stated, ‘I’ve had sufficient,’ and he simply went house – and the band was achieved. I believe there’s some fascinating songs on it, however the first two you can say had been the actual Males at Work albums, in a approach, due to the truth that these information contained the basic line-up of the band.”

Enterprise as Common topped the US charts for an unprecedented 15 weeks from late 1982 to early 1983. How overwhelming was the band’s success?

“Nicely you do not notice it is overwhelming. You assume that you’ll deal with every part properly. It is like lots of people, whenever you’re younger…I imply, I would spend most likely 15-20 years dreaming of getting a profitable recording profession and touring the world. And impulsively, whenever you get that, it is sort of like, ‘Oh, okay, properly, your goals grew to become realized.’ After which how do you deal with that? Whenever you’re younger, properly, actually, when I was younger, I believed I knew every part. And it turned out that I knew virtually nothing. So, your schooling about life and in regards to the enterprise you are in, and creativity and interpersonal relationships and all these sorts of issues usually occur after you have had success. And that is what occurred to us.”

“We had unimaginable, phenomenal success…after which all of it imploded. And we did not have the communication abilities to avert what, in essence, ended that profession, which was the demise of the band. When that occurred, I’ve to say that I wasn’t sad about the truth that Males at Work broke up. I used to be fairly glad to be alone. I would spent 15 years alone, and I used to be fairly glad to be alone once more, and begin once more, and experiment and play music and hold transferring ahead.”

“However the influence of the band, I believe, has continued over an extended time frame. We solely made three albums, however two that had been profitable commercially. And but, there’s a fantastic love for these songs by tens of millions and tens of millions of individuals. For which, I am eternally grateful.”

What do you recall in regards to the excursions within the ’80s, when Males at Work was on the peak of their success? As a result of lots of people level to the ’80s as a time of extra and partying. Is it honest to say that was the identical for Males at Work?

“Yeah. I imply, most likely not as a lot as a number of bands. However we did our fair proportion of that. I imply, alcohol was my Achilles’ heel. And I spotted that I had an issue with that fairly early on. And I spent about most likely six years making an attempt to surrender alcohol. And I finally did in 1991. It wasn’t that essential to us. I imply, we had been extra sort of cups of tea, have a little bit of weed or one thing after the present. It wasn’t a lot the opposite factor – of going loopy.”

What track is the underrated gem of the Males at Work catalog?

“I do not know. I imply, I do not find out about this complete ‘underrated’ factor. I imply, underrated by whom? Who’s doing the score? I do not know. I discover the entire thing about whether or not one thing’s underrated as being bizarre. I believe there’s a number of songs on the information which might be which might be nice, and I believe that they’re appreciated by [fans]. Y’know, it doesn’t matter what track I play at a live performance, for instance, there’s at all times any person within the viewers who loves that track, and I believe, ‘Nicely, it is not underrated by them‘.”

I personally assume the track “Blue for You” off Cargo was underrated, and would have been a superb single.

“It is a single now, off the brand new album. I don’t know [why it wasn’t a single off Cargo]. I can not even bear in mind whether or not it was talked about. I believe that the individuals determined that ‘Overkill,’ ‘It is a Mistake,’ and “Dr Heckyl and Mr. Jive’…I by no means actually cared for ‘Dr Heckyl and Mr. Jive’ that a lot as a track. I by no means cared for it then and I nonetheless do not look after it that a lot. However on the time, it appeared to work, and folks preferred it.”

What was your tackle the comparisons on the time between Males at Work and the Police? Have been they legitimate or invalid?

“Yeah, I believe they had been fairly legitimate in some ways. It is not like we went out of our strategy to copy the Police. It wasn’t like I began singing simply after the Police got here to the scene. However I bear in mind driving alongside and listening to the Police for the primary time, and I simply needed to pull over and assume, ‘Oh my God. There is a man that appears like me.’ After which, after all, they grew to become profitable earlier than we did. And so, clearly the comparisons had are available in primarily I believe, due to the sound of my voice. And likewise, possibly the add9 chords that we used, that Andy Summers used, as properly. However I do not actually care. When you’re gonna evaluate us to the Police, properly, I will take that. They had been a incredible band.”

And what was your tackle the lawsuit in 2007 regarding “Down Beneath’ and “Kookaburra” [the latter of which was written in 1932 by Marion Sinclair]? Do you’re feeling that declare was based or unfounded?

“Nicely, clearly I did not assume it was. It was a severe declare, as a result of we went to courtroom for six years defending it. So, it is a difficult topic, however there was a lawsuit which we needed to defend ultimately, as a result of there’s two bars of ‘Kookaburra Sits within the Outdated Gum Tree’ and ‘Down Beneath,’ which had been added to the track – innocuously and unconsciously – though individuals discover that onerous to consider. However that is the reality of it.”

“And after 28 years [since ‘Down Under’ was first released], there was a lawsuit, and we misplaced. However I believe that they [Larrikin Music] misplaced, as properly, actually. I imply, they acquired a really small proportion – not of the copyright of the track. So, the co-writer of the track remains to be because it was. I believe that it was a declare which ought to have by no means gotten to courtroom. It ought to have been settled earlier than it went by means of the courtroom system.”

“However they wished 60% of ‘Down Beneath,’ which was a really cynical factor for them to assert. That they had greed and greenback indicators of their eyes, they usually went for it. And so, we needed to defend it. EMI, that was, and I used to be sued, as properly. I do not lose sleep over it. But it surely was one thing that I will always remember – or forgive – for that matter.”

How was it touring once more as Males at Work with Greg within the late ’90s and early twenty first century, and did his dying in 2012 come as a shock?

“Nicely, I beloved Greg. I at all times beloved Greg, and I nonetheless love Greg. So, I beloved touring with him from ’96 till 2002 [which spawned a live album, 1998’s Brazil]. However he was struggling a bit throughout that point. However we had some nice exhibits, we had some nice excursions. And I believe when he handed away, it was a shock, however I knew that he was in bother earlier than that. I might go and see him, and Greg was by no means a drinker when he was youthful, however he developed an alcohol factor later in his life. And he appeared sad.”

“And the lawsuit had affected him enormously. He wasn’t sued for it, however he was the one who performed the road [on the flute], so he felt a accountability or a guilt for that, and thought that he’d be remembered for that. And it was horrible. It was simply horrible when he died, as a result of he was a fantastic good friend of mine and somebody who I actually revered, and he was so good and intellectually succesful. And he was somebody that I at all times imagined that I might develop previous with and snort at ridiculous issues till we may snort now not. So, it’s totally unhappy that he is gone, and I nonetheless get upset about it once I give it some thought.”

Are you continue to in contact with the opposite surviving former band members of Males at Work?

“No.”

How do you assume the music of Males at Work holds up right now whenever you hear it, or from the followers’ response whenever you play it?

“Nicely, I believe it is actually sturdy. If I hearken to the information we made, it is nonetheless sonically very sturdy, and I believe all of the components nonetheless work. I believe it is music that shall be round for lots longer than I am round.”

How would you evaluate enjoying with the present Males at Work line-up to the basic line-up?

“Nicely, I really like the band that I’ve now. It is only a totally different band. You may’t actually evaluate them, as a result of it is a totally different dynamic. It is a totally different construction. I imply, Males at Work was a band again then, who had been having an try at having a democratic band, and making selections collectively, and all these issues.”

“It is a band now the place I am using individuals. So, it is an entire totally different factor. It is not even actually one thing you possibly can evaluate. However I really like enjoying with this band. I really like these musicians that I play with, as a result of they’re all glorious musicians, and we now have a good time touring collectively. So, it is incredible.”

Are there any solo songs on the Man at Work 2 album that whenever you play them, you’re feeling may have labored as Males at Work songs?

“There’s a number of overlaps. However I’ve made like, 15 albums since Males at Work. So, it is a number of materials to attract from. The songs that I recorded with Males at Work had been particular to that band. As a result of if I had a track and I might take a track to the band, the track contained everybody’s musicality and everybody’s enter. So, these Males at Work songs appeared like that band, as a result of we had been those who had been enjoying it.”

“Now once we play the songs, it has a unique taste to it due to the musicians who’re enjoying the songs. However you continue to need to have respect for the unique recordings and the unique components and the unique preparations – as a result of that is what was profitable, and that is what individuals need to hear. So, I’ve no downside enjoying these songs.”

“However I’ve solely been actually touring as Males at Work – aside from the excursions that Greg and I did from ’96 till 2002. I have not actually achieved any Males at Work excursions – solely since like, 2019. So, it is only a tour right here and there. It is probably not an enormous a part of my life, is what I am saying. Y’know, what you probably did 45 years in the past is nice, and I find it irresistible. But it surely’s not like I get up every single day fascinated by Males at Work.”

You simply talked about that in 2019 you started touring once more as Males at Work. Did you at all times personal the title ‘Males at Work,’ or did you get the rights to it again? How did that work out, that you simply had been in a position to tour as ‘Males at Work’?

“Nicely, it is a nebulous factor, actually. Greg and I toured as ‘Males at Work’ – the title was like a model, which was sort of floating round there, like a rudderless ship. So, there’s an inner-dynamic that occurs, the place I can go on the market and play as Males at Work. That is simply the way in which that it is occurred. I believe if anybody has a proper to exit on tour as Males at Work, it is me. So, that is what I am doing.”

How would you evaluate touring right now to again within the previous days?

“On stage, it is nice. I imply, technically, it is nice. All of the sound programs are a lot better, and the way in which you possibly can hear on stage is nice. I’m going out on tour solo, simply myself, and so I additionally exit with the band – the identical band that I’ve now, that’s below the moniker of Males at Work. I really like touring with them slightly below my very own title, as a result of we are able to play much more materials from all of the totally different durations of various albums. And plus, we at all times play the Males at Work songs, anyway. It is not like we by no means play them. We at all times play a number of of these within the set. So, it is not like we do not play Males at Work once we play the solo exhibits.”

“After which once I play as Males at Work, I believe there’s one track we do this’s not a Males at Work track – however the remaining are all Males at Work songs. After which if I play solo, that is a unique sort of touring altogether – it is simply me and a guitar and an viewers. And I believe that is most likely the dearest factor to me, as a result of once I obtained dropped by MCA Information, I simply began touring alone, and folks began to come back. Not very many individuals, however they began off 40-50 individuals, and now it is nonetheless not enormous stadiums or something – I play to possibly 1,000 or 1,500 individuals an evening once I play in theaters. And that is developed during the last 30 years.”

“And that is most likely my favourite factor to do, as a result of it’s totally private, and it simply entails myself and the viewers. The viewers who know what their very own struggles are like, they know what it is prefer to rise up on stage and play music. And there is an understanding which occurs between myself and the viewers, which does not occur wherever else. It would not occur with the music trade, so to talk, and even doing what I am doing with you. Y’know, you write about it, and folks will examine it, and that is nice. And I am glad to speak to you and so forth.”

“However there’s nothing just like the expertise which you could have with an viewers, the place they arrive and see you, they usually need one thing from you. And so hopefully, you give them that. And everyone seems to be richer for it. I actually know that I’m. So, that is actually what’s essential to me now, greater than anything – is that feeling of being helpful, and part of individuals’s lives that has some resonance and which means right now. Which, is affected by what you probably did 40/45 years in the past – but it surely’s not outlined by it.”

I might think about additionally enjoying with Ringo Starr & His All-Star Band has introduced a number of consideration in direction of you as a solo artist and together with your previous work, proper?

“Probably not. The solo factor sits outdoors that in a approach, and enjoying with Ringo is unimaginable – as a result of he is Ringo, and he was in the Beatles. However that is a particular factor, I believe. Y’know, individuals come alongside they usually need to hear these previous songs, they usually need to hear ‘Down Beneath’ and ‘Who Can It Be Now?’ And that is sort of kind of what that’s – it is a ‘hit fest,’ and you are a sideman for everybody else. And it is a fantastic factor to be a part of. However enjoying solo – particularly enjoying for the final three a long time – is one thing which has simply developed over time, which is its personal factor.”

“There are overlaps with every part – there’s overlaps with Males at Work, there’s overlaps with Ringo, there’s overlaps with the solo factor. However the solo factor is simply sort of, as I stated earlier than, expensive to me due to the truth that it simply entails myself and the viewers. Which, it has its personal life. It is not depending on large success or something. It is simply relying on you are going to flip up and they will flip up and see you. And there is one thing nice about that.”

You simply talked about the Beatles. How a lot of an affect had been the Beatles on you as a main affect early on? And had been there different artists?

“There have been different artists, however in actuality there was the Beatles, after which there was all people else. My brother turned me on to black music. He turned me on to Otis Redding and Booker T & the MG’s. And a number of a number of music that I used to be unaware of till he made me conscious of it. After which I grew to become conscious of the truth that the Beatles had been conscious of it, so I believed, ‘Oh, that is the place all of it comes from.’ I used to be unaware of it earlier than that.”

“However a number of individuals had been influences as I grew to become somewhat bit older, like Randy Newman is a big affect. And I really like Joni Mitchell, and naturally Bob Dylan was nice. And James Taylor. Once I began enjoying acoustic, James Taylor and folks like that had been an enormous affect when it comes to the way in which they performed the guitar and the way in which they structured songs and so forth.”

Do you might have some other upcoming initiatives along with Man at Work 2 or excursions you would like to debate?

“I am going out on the street doing a solo tour. Nicely, I’m going again out with Ringo after this tour [on a bill with Toto and Christopher Cross], after which I do a solo tour within the fall of the US and the UK and Australia. So, that takes me by means of to December. So, I am not pondering an excessive amount of past that, besides that after that, like subsequent yr, I need to spend a bit extra time at house and within the studio, the place I can hopefully do some fascinating issues downstairs with some fascinating individuals. So, that is what I am trying ahead to, simply being extra at house. Who is aware of if that’ll occur, however that is my plan.”

Lastly, my pals had a debate not that way back: a few of them named ‘Overkill’ as the best track of the ’80s, and a few of them took exception to that. Would you prefer to settle this argument for them?

“I might by no means ever declare that myself. However I am very, very glad for different individuals to make that declare.” [Laughs]