![Colin Hay Discusses Males at Work, His Solo Profession, and the Music Biz [Part One]](https://i1.wp.com/fastly-s3.allmusic.com/cms/30954/ColinHay1.jpg?ssl=1 "Colin Hay Discusses Males at Work, His Solo Profession, and the Music Biz [Part One]")
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.”
And it seems that Colin was in such a talkative temper, that there will probably be a “half two” of his chat coming quickly.
Let’s begin with discussing Man @ Work 2. What made you determine to do a “half 2,” 22 years after the primary one?
“Effectively, it was actually Compass Information’ concept to do a sequel to it. I suppose as a result of the primary one was the best-selling solo album that I’ve finished, and I launched a few albums a few years in the past on the finish of the pandemic, an album known as Now and the Evermore, after which a covers file [I Just Don’t Know What to Do With Myself], as properly. I am probably not positive why they determined to do it. It simply appeared like a good suggestion on the time.”
“I’ve virtually ‘mined’ all of the Males at Work materials or songs from that interval, as a result of the explanation why we did the primary one was that I began working with Compass, and so they mentioned, ‘Effectively, no offense or something, however not many individuals know your title. However they know Males at Work. So, why do not we do an album known as Man @ Work?’ That is why we did the primary one. And in order that contained completely different variations of Males at Work songs and plus some new songs.”
“And I believe that the considering was, ‘Okay, properly, we’ll do a number of extra Males at Work songs, after which re-record a few of my favourite songs from the solo recordings.’ However I am probably not positive past that, why we did the second. I believe it is simply principally as a result of they wished to maybe do one other model of the solo recording, which has finished the perfect for me, which is Man @ Work.”
Had been there any tunes you rediscovered or developed a reappreciation for whereas re-doing them?
“Yeah. I believe all of them. All the songs are fascinating while you re-record them – you uncover new issues about them. And you place data on the market, and it’s totally tough to get data seen nowadays. Particularly should you’re any individual like myself, who’s of their 70s. And it isn’t like everybody’s ready for a brand new album from me, y’know? So, there are songs that I believe could possibly be well-served by placing them on one other file.”
“I believe all of the songs that I re-recorded for this file had been songs I actually appreciated that in all probability most individuals are nonetheless very unaware of, that I get pleasure from. And I actually loved recording them once more, and I actually like taking part in them once I exit and play reside. So, I believe all of the songs, whether or not it is a tune like ‘Catch a Star’ or ‘No Signal of Yesterday’ from the Males at Work days, or a tune known as ‘Frozen Fields of Snow,’ which I actually like, and I actually loved recording that once more.”
“I’ve quite a lot of materials, however I haven’t got quite a lot of completed materials. Once I’ve been on the street a lot, I have not had a lot time to put in writing and end songs and file them. So, it might be that it seems to be a kind of interim data that you just put out, that is not a ‘better of’ in a means, however only a compilation file – which you’ll afford to do when quite a lot of the songs have not been overexposed.”
How outdated had been you while you developed an curiosity in music and started writing your individual songs?
“I believe I used to be about 14. I began taking part in music a bit earlier. Began taking part in music once I was about 12, after which I began to put in writing little songs, I believe once I was about 14 years outdated from then on.”
How did you discover you write your greatest songs? Is there a sure system you’ve got adopted all alongside, or has it modified over time?
“Sure little issues have modified. However principally, it is the identical course of. I do not declare to grasp the method, actually, but it surely’s simply one thing that because the age of 14, I’ve at all times form of finished. Which is actually simply to fiddle with musical concepts on guitar – often guitar – and little concepts, chordal constructions, little melodies pop into your head, and also you observe them. And miraculously, typically, you find yourself with a tune.”
“The concepts are free-flowing actually, quite a lot of the time, however the arduous work is actually ending the songs. Often, some songs appear to put in writing themselves. And whereas that is not actually true, generally songs seem in a means that they appear to simply seem, and also you write them down. And so, it could seem to be you seize them out of the air. After which some songs, you have to wrestle them to the bottom.”
Are you able to give examples of songs that had been simple, and others that had been tough to finish?
“‘Who Can It Be Now’ was quite simple. It took about 40 minutes and written within the bush of southern New South Wales with my girlfriend on the time. I used to be messing round with this concept, and that solely took 40 minutes. And a tune known as ‘Maggie’ that I recorded fairly a number of years in the past – I simply wrote that down in a single sitting, and that appeared easy. After which ‘Overkill’ was a bit like that – the outdated Males at Work tune. I am making an attempt to think about one which was tough to put in writing…those that spring to thoughts are those that had been comparatively simple.”
What do you attribute to the reappreciation of Males at Work’s music in recent times?
“Effectively, I would wish to say that there is one thing a bit timeless concerning the songs. I believe the songs have had strengths after they had been first launched, and so they nonetheless have strengths now, and folks uncover extra issues about them. As a result of I believe there was extra issues there to the Males at Work music that maybe was missed the primary time round. So, there is a density to the music that was maybe not absolutely appreciated, I believe now.”
“And in addition, Luude [Australian electronic dance music producer Christian Benson], he did an digital model of ‘Down Underneath,’ which I believe charted once more, and was top-5 within the UK. And that did very properly. It did very properly on TikTok, as properly – so folks turned conscious of the ‘Down Underneath’ tune. However past that, I am probably not positive what is going on on with the kids, and why they might select to reappreciate Males at Work. However I would wish to assume that it is simply due to the music, greater than the rest.”
Trying again, how did you first cross paths with the members of what’s thought-about the basic Males at Work line-up?
“Effectively, I would been alone for years, and I met Ron Strykert in a yard in West Melbourne round 1977. He was taking part in a 12-string guitar. And it form of hit me like a bolt of lightning, in a means – I noticed this younger man, very shy man, taking part in lovely 12-string guitar. And I instantly thought, ‘Ah, I need to work with this particular person.’ So I acquired launched to him, and we chatted for some time, and I needed to go off as a result of I had a job, really, in a musical known as Ned Kelly. And so I mentioned to Ron, ‘Once I’m finished with this musical – which is able to in all probability be a number of months – once I come again, we should always work collectively.’ And he mentioned, ‘Yeah, okay.’ And that was actually the nucleus of Males at Work – was Ron and myself.”
“We labored as an acoustic duo for a few 12 months – taking part in round a number of locations in Melbourne. And it was an amazing interval. We performed quite a lot of covers – we performed quite a lot of Bob Dylan and Beatles and James Taylor and Ry Cooder and various things. After which we’d put in these songs we might written. So, we had been growing this model, should you like, of songs and songwriting which was fairly completely different from Males at Work, in a means. It was extra influenced by folks like Nick Drake and John Martyn, and really form of meandering acoustic music.”
“And I had met Jerry Speiser, the drummer, at college. And Jerry known as and mentioned, ‘I need to strive taking part in with you guys.’ And so Jerry got here down, and it turned a three-piece. After which I would recognized Greg [Ham] for years, and I requested Greg to hitch. And Ron was taking part in bass then within the band. As a result of it was simply me and my guitar, Ron taking part in bass – which, he was an amazing bass participant, very creative. However I wished Ron to change again to guitar, as a result of he is a really unbelievable guitar participant.”
“Jerry knew John [Rees]. So, Jerry requested John to hitch. Over the course of in all probability two or three months, the basic line-up of Males at Work was born – I believe round October ’79, one thing like that.”
What was the music scene in Australia like on the time?
“We did not actually perceive it. We did not actually know what the music trade was, or how to do that, or how to try this. We solely did issues our means, which, was to try to discover an viewers. We simply discovered a spot to play, after which folks got here to see us. However there was a really wholesome…what you’ll name ‘pub rock.’ There have been quite a lot of pubs in Melbourne, and folks would play in pubs – which suited most individuals. It did not actually go well with everyone, as a result of should you play in a pub, you are a part of the leisure. You are not the leisure, since you’re battling alcohol. For instance, should you had been a singer-songwriter who required folks to take heed to your music and also you’re taking part in at a bar, you needed to form of combat in opposition to folks speaking. And so, it was actually conducive to rock music – since you had huge black packing containers [amps], and you may beat folks into submission by your quantity.”
“And in order that was what was happening. There was quite a lot of pub rock, and there was quite a lot of bands taking part in, and quite a lot of bands being signed. Y’know, we performed for a few years earlier than we had any curiosity from CBS – who ended up signing us. However I’d say that for essentially the most half, it was a spot which was musically looking for an id, making an attempt to outline itself and do fascinating issues. And in quite a lot of methods, we weren’t so slowed down by being both British or American. We had been Australian bands.”
“And due to the isolation, the tyranny of distance and so forth, you’ll collect music and musical concepts from all elements of the world, and it could form of get all jumbled up, and it could change into Australian music with out it being too ‘definable.’ It had some form of high quality, which was only a feeling greater than the rest – concerning the Southern Pacific, which was the place we had been all born and performed.”
“And it was wonderful. It was a wonderful place to reside, and a wonderful place to have a band and play. I imply, earlier than we got here to America and began touring, once we turned well-known, we’d tour up and down the coast of Australia, which was unbelievable – only a lovely a part of the world, and folks would come and see you play. And it was magic. It was incredible.”
Who got here up with the title “Males at Work”?
“Effectively, I considered the title, as a result of I’d see ‘males at work’ indicators all over the place. And I believed, ‘Effectively, that is one thing that was simply in folks’s consciousness, though they could not notice it.’ But it surely was a reputation that had been put ahead, and we had a bunch of names.”
“However we needed to have a reputation, as a result of we had this residency to begin on the Cricketers Arms Lodge in Richmond. And the man calls, and mentioned, ‘Pay attention, what am I going to name you guys?’ And Ron mentioned, ‘Let’s go together with Males at Work.’ So, we did.”
If I can title some Males at Work classics and should you can share some ideas about writing them, beginning with “Who Can It Be Now.”
“My girlfriend and I used to have this little bit of a bush block, what they name in Australia, in southern New South Wales. And it was fairly distant. And I simply arrived there one evening, and it was in the midst of nowhere, and simply messing round with that concept. And it appeared to circulation fairly simply and fairly shortly. I simply wrote the phrases down, and that was it. The tune was born, and took it to the band, and we began taking part in it that that week. It was form of a ‘crowd favourite’ from the beginning.”
“Down Underneath.”
“‘Down Underneath’ was a mix of Ron and myself. Ron used to provide me little cassettes of form of soundscapes that he had written – completely different musical concepts. Lots of it was percussive-based or bass and percussion. And this little musical concept was precisely that. And he gave me a bit cassette which I’d play within the automotive, and it was simply this [sings rhythm]. It was very hypnotic and tribal, virtually. I actually appreciated it.”
“And I would had this phrase operating round my head for a number of weeks earlier than that, which was ‘Dwelling within the land down underneath.’ And I simply began singing that line together with Ron’s little bassline, and it appeared to work. And I form of sang that each one the way in which house. And I believed, ‘That is in all probability one thing.’ After which the following day, I wakened and simply wrote down the phrases and the chordal construction to it, and we had a tune.”
How typically are you continue to requested about what Vegemite is and did you ever eat it your self?
“Yeah, I nonetheless get requested about it. However these days I simply say, ‘Effectively, y’know, there’s a factor known as Google – it is fairly simple to seek out out what Vegemite is!’ However it’s a product of the beer trade. It is a yeast extract, and Australians are introduced up on it. And you’ve got it on toast, or you’ve got it on a sandwich.”
“And sure, I’ve had had Vegemite many instances. I arrived in Australia from Scotland, by no means having skilled Vegemite. So, at some point in school, I had a roast beef sandwich and this child mentioned, ‘You need to swap sandwiches?’ I mentioned, ‘What have you ever acquired?’ He mentioned, ‘I’ve acquired Vegemite.’ That was the primary time that I ever skilled a Vegemite sandwich. And I fairly loved it.”
“Be Good Johnny.”
“Greg and I had been at rehearsal at some point, and the remainder of the blokes hadn’t turned up, so we had a bit time on our palms. And I acquired this new guitar pedal, a bit delay pedal, and I began messing round with the chorus firstly of the tune with this delay pedal.”
“And Greg and I made a decision it could be cool to put in writing a tune from the standpoint of a kid who’s at all times been instructed to toe the lane and to be good, and observe the straight and slender, should you like. And like quite a lot of children, we might nonetheless keep in mind being a baby and being dreamers and wanting to simply make our personal means with out essentially changing into our mother and father. And searching on the grownup world, and saying, ‘Yeah, properly, I believe possibly we might perform a little bit higher than that.'”
“Overkill.”
“‘Overkill’ got here a bit bit later for me. And I believe I already made the belief that, as a result of we had been changing into fairly profitable, I believed, ‘Effectively, nothing’s going to be the identical from this level on.’ And it is like asking your self the query about taking a dive into the unknown, and whether or not you had been going to be okay with that, as a result of issues had been completely different. You’ll be able to now not simply anonymously observe the world. And there was a sure darkness creeping into my life. And I believe what that was, was form of an growing love and dependence on alcohol – which was beginning to fear me.”
“Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive.”
“It is simply actually a tune concerning the injustice of the world, actually, and the way tough it’s to be the underdog, or to have somebody who desires to make efficient change in no matter subject you are in. I am making an attempt to think about what else I used to be going via at the moment…however I do not know, generally, simply issues pop into your head. You don’t have any actual purpose, no actual understanding of why or the place it is coming from, and it turns into a pleasant melody. And I just like the play on phrases with Jekyll and Hyde and Heckyll and Jive – so, it simply turned a tune.”
“It is a Mistake.”
“It was on the top of the Chilly Struggle, and we had been fairly scared of the US, as a result of while you develop up abroad, you’ve got a really completely different view of America than while you really reside right here. So, we had been all very involved concerning the Reagan years and any individual making a mistake. It was very influenced by the movie Dr. Strangelove. And the 2 superpowers in the end making a mistake and inflicting some Third World Struggle conflagration – which was going to finish up with no winners. That is actually what it was impressed by.”
“All the things I Want”
“It was a love tune. I believe it is a love tune each to my spouse and in addition Melbourne as a metropolis. I’ve an amazing love for Melbourne.”
We acquired so many nice tales from Colin, be looking out for half 2 of this interview within the upcoming weeks.
