Hay spoke to AllMusic shortly after the discharge of his newest solo launch, Man @ Work: Quantity 2, which like its profitable predecessor, comprises “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 concerning the precise recording of the Males at Work albums from the ’80s, Enterprise as Ordinary, Cargo, and Two Hearts?
“Effectively, Enterprise as Ordinary 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 just lately. Very unhappy to listen to that information. He was an incredible report producer. He was good 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 elements, and turned possibly a six-minute music right into a three-and-a-half minute music – whereas retaining the integrity and what was necessary to the music.”
“And after we really received into the studio, it was a really small studio known as Richmond Recorders [in Melbourne]. And it took about ten days to report – 5 days for the rhythm tracks and 5 days for overdubs. So, it was very fast. We labored fairly rapidly and it was a really cheap report to make. However he was actually the important thing in bringing that album collectively – Peter McIan.”
“Cargo took us a little bit bit longer. We in the end launched that album too rapidly. I feel we should always have waited, however water underneath the bridge now. However yeah, Cargo took a little bit bit longer. I nonetheless suppose we had some good songs on that report. Maybe we might have spent a little bit bit extra time on that – we would have had a greater report, who is aware of? However we had been a little bit bit extra skilled and we nonetheless had McIan engaged on that report, in order that was good.”
“By the point Two Hearts got here round, the band was performed. 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 report.
“However it was actually the dying throes of the band. Ron left midway by way of, and on the finish of it, Greg stated, ‘I’ve had sufficient,’ and he simply went residence – and the band was performed. I feel there’s some attention-grabbing songs on it, however the first two you possibly can say had been the actual Males at Work albums, in a approach, due to the truth that these data contained the traditional line-up of the band.”
Enterprise as Ordinary topped the US charts for an unprecedented 15 weeks from late 1982 to early 1983. How overwhelming was the band’s success?
“Effectively you do not notice it is overwhelming. You suppose that you will deal with every thing effectively. It is like lots of people, if 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 abruptly, if you get that, it is form of like, ‘Oh, okay, effectively, your desires turned realized.’ After which how do you deal with that? While you’re younger, effectively, definitely, when I was younger, I believed I knew every thing. And it turned out that I knew virtually nothing. So, your training about life and concerning the enterprise you are in, and creativity and interpersonal relationships and all these sorts of issues usually occur after you’ve got had success. And that is what occurred to us.”
“We had unbelievable, 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 completely satisfied to be by myself. I would spent 15 years by myself, and I used to be fairly completely satisfied to be by myself once more, and begin once more, and experiment and play music and hold shifting ahead.”
“However the affect of the band, I feel, has continued over a protracted time period. We solely made three albums, however two that had been profitable commercially. And but, there’s an incredible love for these songs by thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of individuals. For which, I am eternally grateful.”
What do you recall concerning 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 numerous bands. However we did our fair proportion of that. I imply, alcohol was my Achilles’ heel. And I noticed that I had an issue with that fairly early on. And I spent about most likely six years attempting to surrender alcohol. And I ultimately did in 1991. It wasn’t that necessary to us. I imply, we had been extra form 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 music 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 feel there’s numerous songs on the data which can be which can be nice, and I feel that they’re appreciated by [fans]. Y’know, it doesn’t matter what music I play at a live performance, for instance, there’s all the time any individual within the viewers who loves that music, and I feel, ‘Effectively, it isn’t underrated by them‘.”
I personally suppose the music “Blue for You” off Cargo was underrated, and would have been 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 feel 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 music. 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 favored it.”
What was your tackle the comparisons on the time between Males at Work and the Police? Had been they legitimate or invalid?
“Yeah, I feel they had been fairly legitimate in some ways. It is not like we went out of our option 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 suppose, ‘Oh my God. There is a man that seems like me.’ After which, after all, they turned profitable earlier than we did. And so, clearly the comparisons had are available in primarily I feel, due to the sound of my voice. And in addition, possibly the add9 chords that we used, that Andy Summers used, as effectively. However I do not actually care. Should you’re gonna examine us to the Police, effectively, I am going to take that. They had been a unbelievable band.”
And what was your tackle the lawsuit in 2007 regarding “Down Below’ and “Kookaburra” [the latter of which was written in 1932 by Marion Sinclair]? Do you’re feeling that declare was based or unfounded?
“Effectively, clearly I did not suppose it was. It was a severe declare, as a result of we went to court docket for six years defending it. So, it is a sophisticated 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 Previous Gum Tree’ and ‘Down Below,’ which had been added to the music – innocuously and unconsciously – though individuals discover that onerous to imagine. 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 feel that they [Larrikin Music] misplaced, as effectively, actually. I imply, they obtained a really small share – not of the copyright of the music. So, the co-writer of the music remains to be because it was. I feel that it was a declare which ought to have by no means gotten to court docket. It ought to have been settled earlier than it went by way of the court docket system.”
“However they wished 60% of ‘Down Below,’ which was a really cynical factor for them to say. 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 effectively. I do not lose sleep over it. However it was one thing that I am going to 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?
“Effectively, I liked Greg. I all the time liked Greg, and I nonetheless love Greg. So, I liked 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 reveals, we had some nice excursions. And I feel when he handed away, it was a shock, however I knew that he was in bother earlier than that. I’d 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 significantly. 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 an incredible good friend of mine and somebody who I actually revered, and he was so sensible and intellectually succesful. And he was somebody that I all the time imagined that I’d develop outdated with and snicker at ridiculous issues till we might snicker now not. So, it’s extremely unhappy that he is gone, and I nonetheless get upset about it after 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 suppose the music of Males at Work holds up immediately if you hear it, or from the followers’ response if you play it?
“Effectively, I feel it is actually robust. If I hearken to the data we made, it is nonetheless sonically very robust, and I feel all of the elements nonetheless work. I feel it is music that will probably be round for lots longer than I am round.”
How would you examine taking part in with the present Males at Work line-up to the traditional line-up?
“Effectively, I like the band that I’ve now. It is only a totally different band. You may’t actually examine 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.”
“This can be 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 may examine. However I like taking part in with this band. I like these musicians that I play with, as a result of they’re all wonderful musicians, and we have now a good time touring collectively. So, it is unbelievable.”
Are there any solo songs on the Man at Work 2 album that if you play them, you’re feeling might have labored as Males at Work songs?
“There’s numerous overlaps. However I’ve made like, 15 albums since Males at Work. So, it is numerous 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 music and I’d take a music to the band, the music 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 taking part in it.”
“Now after we play the songs, it has a special taste to it due to the musicians who’re taking part in the songs. However you continue to should have respect for the unique recordings and the unique elements and the unique preparations – as a result of that is what was profitable, and that is what individuals wish to hear. So, I’ve no drawback taking part in these songs.”
“However I’ve solely been actually touring as Males at Work – other than the excursions that Greg and I did from ’96 till 2002. I have never actually performed any Males at Work excursions – solely since like, 2019. So, it is only a tour right here and there. It is not likely 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 adore it. However it’s not like I get up day-after-day fascinated about Males at Work.”
You simply talked about that in 2019 you started touring once more as Males at Work. Did you all the time 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 capable of tour as ‘Males at Work’?
“Effectively, it is a nebulous factor, actually. Greg and I toured as ‘Males at Work’ – the title was like a model, which was form 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 best way that it is occurred. I feel 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 examine touring immediately to again within the outdated days?
“On stage, it is nice. I imply, technically, it is nice. All of the sound programs are significantly better, and the best way you may hear on stage is nice. I am going out on tour solo, simply myself, and so I additionally exit with the band – the identical band that I’ve now, that’s underneath the moniker of Males at Work. I like touring with them slightly below my very own title, as a result of we will play much more materials from all of the totally different durations of various albums. And plus, we all the time play the Males at Work songs, anyway. It is not like we by no means play them. We all the time play just a few of these within the set. So, it isn’t like we do not play Males at Work after we play the solo reveals.”
“After which after I play as Males at Work, I feel there’s one music we try this’s not a Males at Work music – however the remainder are all Males at Work songs. After which if I play solo, that is a special form of touring altogether – it is simply me and a guitar and an viewers. And I feel that is most likely the dearest factor to me, as a result of after I received dropped by MCA Information, I simply began touring by myself, and folks began to come back. Not very many individuals, however they began off 40-50 individuals, and now it is nonetheless not big stadiums or something – I play to possibly 1,000 or 1,500 individuals an evening after 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 extremely 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 stand 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 completely satisfied to speak to you and so forth.”
“However there’s nothing just like the expertise 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 definitely know that I’m. So, that is actually what’s necessary 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 immediately. Which, is affected by what you probably did 40/45 years in the past – however it’s not outlined by it.”
I’d think about additionally taking part in with Ringo Starr & His All-Star Band has introduced numerous consideration in the 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 taking part in with Ringo is unbelievable – as a result of he is Ringo, and he was in the Beatles. However that is a selected factor, I feel. Y’know, individuals come alongside they usually wish to hear these outdated songs, they usually wish to hear ‘Down Below’ and ‘Who Can It Be Now?’ And that is form of kind of what that’s – it is a ‘hit fest,’ and you are a sideman for everybody else. And it is an incredible factor to be a part of. However taking part in solo – particularly taking part in 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 thing – 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 form 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 numerous numerous music that I used to be unaware of till he made me conscious of it. After which I turned 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 turned a little bit bit older, like Randy Newman is a big affect. And I like Joni Mitchell, and naturally Bob Dylan was nice. And James Taylor. Once I began taking part in acoustic, James Taylor and folks like that had been an enormous affect by way of the best way they performed the guitar and the best way they structured songs and so forth.”
Do you may have every 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. Effectively, I am 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 way of to December. So, I am not pondering an excessive amount of past that, besides that after that, like subsequent 12 months, I wish to spend a bit extra time at residence and within the studio, the place I can hopefully do some attention-grabbing issues downstairs with some attention-grabbing individuals. So, that is what I am trying ahead to, simply being extra at residence. 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 music of the ’80s, and a few of them took exception to that. Would you prefer to settle this argument for them?
“I’d by no means ever declare that myself. However I am very, very completely satisfied for different individuals to make that declare.” [Laughs]
