Hay spoke to AllMusic shortly after the discharge of his newest solo launch, Man @ Work: Quantity 2, which like its profitable predecessor, incorporates “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 Typical, Cargo, and Two Hearts?
“Effectively, Enterprise as Typical 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 awesome report 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 perhaps a six-minute music right into a three-and-a-half minute music – whereas retaining the integrity and what was essential to the music.”
“And once we truly bought into the studio, it was a really small studio referred to 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 shortly 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 just a little bit longer. We finally launched that album too shortly. I feel we must always have waited, however water beneath the bridge now. However yeah, Cargo took just a little bit longer. I nonetheless suppose we had some good songs on that report. Maybe we may have spent just a little bit extra time on that – we’d have had a greater report, who is aware of? However we have been just a little 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 completed. 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 demise throes of the band. Ron left midway by, and on the finish of it, Greg mentioned, ‘I’ve had sufficient,’ and he simply went residence – and the band was completed. I feel there’s some attention-grabbing songs on it, however the first two you would say have been the actual Males at Work albums, in a approach, due to the truth that these information contained the traditional line-up of the band.”
Enterprise as Typical 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’ll deal with every little thing nicely. It is like lots of people, if you’re younger…I imply, I would spend in all probability 15-20 years dreaming of getting a profitable recording profession and touring the world. And rapidly, if you get that, it is form of like, ‘Oh, okay, nicely, your goals grew to become realized.’ After which how do you deal with that? If you’re younger, nicely, definitely, when I was younger, I believed I knew every little 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 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 expertise 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 by myself. I would spent 15 years by myself, and I used to be fairly glad to be by myself once more, and begin once more, and experiment and play music and maintain transferring ahead.”
“However the influence of the band, I feel, has continued over an extended time frame. We solely made three albums, however two that have been profitable commercially. And but, there’s an awesome love for these songs by hundreds of thousands and hundreds of 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, in all probability not as a lot as quite a lot of bands. However we did our justifiable share 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 in all probability six years making an attempt to surrender alcohol. And I finally did in 1991. It wasn’t that essential to us. I imply, we have 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 ranking? I do not know. I discover the entire thing about whether or not one thing’s underrated as being bizarre. I feel there’s quite a lot of songs on the information which might be which might 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 is not underrated by them‘.”
I personally suppose the music “Blue for You” off Cargo was underrated, and would have been a very good single.
“It is a single now, off the brand new album. I do not 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 folks 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 appreciated 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 have been fairly legitimate in some ways. It isn’t like we went out of our solution 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 grew to become profitable earlier than we did. And so, clearly the comparisons had are available primarily I feel, due to the sound of my voice. And in addition, perhaps the add9 chords that we used, that Andy Summers used, as nicely. However I do not actually care. Should you’re gonna evaluate us to the Police, nicely, I will take that. They have been a implausible band.”
And what was your tackle the lawsuit in 2007 regarding “Down Underneath’ and “Kookaburra” [the latter of which was written in 1932 by Marion Sinclair]? Do you are 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 in the long run, as a result of there’s two bars of ‘Kookaburra Sits within the Previous Gum Tree’ and ‘Down Underneath,’ which have been added to the music – innocuously and unconsciously – though folks discover that tough 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 feel that they [Larrikin Music] misplaced, as nicely, actually. I imply, they acquired a really small proportion – 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 the court docket system.”
“However they wished 60% of ‘Down Underneath,’ which was a really cynical factor for them to say. That they had greed and greenback indicators of their eyes, and so they went for it. And so, we needed to defend it. EMI, that was, and I used to be sued, as nicely. I do not lose sleep over it. However it 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 demise 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 hassle 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 drastically. 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 awesome 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 might develop outdated with and snort at ridiculous issues till we may snort now not. So, it is very 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 suppose the music of Males at Work holds up at this time if you hear it, or from the followers’ response if you play it?
“Effectively, I feel it is actually robust. If I take heed to the information we made, it is nonetheless sonically very robust, and I feel all of the components nonetheless work. I feel it is music that can be round for lots longer than I am round.”
How would you evaluate taking part in with the present Males at Work line-up to the traditional line-up?
“Effectively, I really like the band that I’ve now. It is only a completely different band. You possibly can’t actually evaluate them, as a result of it is a completely different dynamic. It is a completely different construction. I imply, Males at Work was a band again then, who have been having an try at having a democratic band, and making choices collectively, and all these issues.”
“This can be a band now the place I am using folks. So, it is a complete completely different factor. It isn’t even actually one thing you may evaluate. However I really like taking part in with this band. I really like these musicians that I play with, as a result of they’re all glorious musicians, and we’ve a good time touring collectively. So, it is implausible.”
Are there any solo songs on the Man at Work 2 album that if you play them, you are feeling may have labored as Males at Work songs?
“There’s quite a lot of overlaps. However I’ve made like, 15 albums since Males at Work. So, it is quite a lot of materials to attract from. The songs that I recorded with Males at Work have been particular to that band. As a result of if I had a music and I might take a music to the band, the music contained everybody’s musicality and everybody’s enter. So, these Males at Work songs gave the impression of that band, as a result of we have been those who have been taking part in it.”
“Now once 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 must 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 folks wish to hear. So, I’ve no drawback taking part in 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 never actually completed 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 like it. However it’s not like I get up daily desirous 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 identify ‘Males at Work,’ or did you get the rights to it again? How did that work out, that you simply have been in a position to tour as ‘Males at Work’?
“Effectively, it is a nebulous factor, actually. Greg and I toured as ‘Males at Work’ – the identify 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 way in which 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 evaluate touring at this time to again within the outdated days?
“On stage, it is nice. I imply, technically, it is nice. All of the sound techniques are a lot better, and the way in which you may 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 beneath the moniker of Males at Work. I really like touring with them just below my very own identify, as a result of we will play much more materials from all of the completely different durations of various albums. And plus, we all the time play the Males at Work songs, anyway. It isn’t like we by no means play them. We all the time play a couple of of these within the set. So, it is not like we do not play Males at Work once we play the solo reveals.”
“After which once I play as Males at Work, I feel there’s one music we try this’s not a Males at Work music – however the remaining 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 in all probability the dearest factor to me, as a result of once I bought 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 folks, and now it is nonetheless not enormous stadiums or something – I play to perhaps 1,000 or 1,500 folks an evening once I play in theaters. And that is developed during the last 30 years.”
“And that is in all probability my favourite factor to do, as a result of it is very 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 anyplace else. It would not occur with the music business, 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 can have with an viewers, the place they arrive and see you, and so they 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 essential to me now, greater than anything – is that feeling of being helpful, and part of folks’s lives that has some resonance and that means at this time. 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 taking part in with Ringo Starr & His All-Star Band has introduced quite a lot of consideration in the direction of you as a solo artist and together with your previous work, proper?
“Not likely. The solo factor sits outdoors that in a approach, and taking part in with Ringo is unimaginable – as a result of he is Ringo, and he was in the Beatles. However that is a selected factor, I feel. Y’know, folks come alongside and so they wish to hear these outdated songs, and so they wish to hear ‘Down Underneath’ 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 awesome factor to be a part of. However taking part in solo – particularly taking part in for the final three many years – is one thing which has simply developed over time, which is its personal factor.”
“There are overlaps with every little 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 mentioned earlier than, pricey to me due to the truth that it simply entails myself and the viewers. Which, it has its personal life. It isn’t depending on huge success or something. It is simply relying on you are going to flip up and they’ll 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 have been the Beatles on you as a main affect early on? And have been there different artists?
“There have been different artists, however in actuality there was the Beatles, after which there was everyone else. My brother turned me on to black music. He turned me on to Otis Redding and Booker T & the MG’s. And quite a lot of quite a lot 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 have 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 lot of folks have been influences as I grew to become just a little bit older, like Randy Newman is a big affect. And I really like Joni Mitchell, and naturally Bob Dylan was nice. And James Taylor. After I began taking part in acoustic, James Taylor and folks like that have been an enormous affect by way of the way in which they performed the guitar and the way in which they structured songs and so forth.”
Do you have got 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’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 to December. So, I am not pondering an excessive amount of past that, besides that after that, like subsequent yr, 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 folks. So, that is what I am wanting ahead to, simply being extra at residence. Who is aware of if that’ll occur, however that is my plan.”
Lastly, my buddies 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 might by no means ever declare that myself. However I am very, very glad for different folks to make that declare.” [Laughs]