Men at Work were 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 and sold over 30 million albums worldwide. The band’s sound is distinguished by its use of woodwind and brass instruments.
Yeah. I don’t miss it that much either.
25 responses so far ↓
1
Mike
// Sep 7, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Man, Men at Work is one of the few good things to come out of the ’80s pop scene.
2
Mike
// Sep 7, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Forgot to mention, I was discussing ’80s music last month…pretty good compilation YouTube video of the greatest hits of the ’80s contained in this post over at my place.
3
MissBirdlegs in AL
// Sep 7, 2008 at 8:08 pm
I don’t miss the clothing styles that much, either.
4
ASM826
// Sep 7, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Lex,
What made you think of them? I remember the bands, and music that was playing when I was overseas during those years, and Men at Work was pretty far down the list. Asia, Journey, and U2 were ones that we played.
BTW, my son made it through the Crucible and graduates from Parris Island on Friday.
Semper Fi,
ASM826
5
Curtis
// Sep 7, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Congrats ASM826!
The music, if we may call it that, brought back rich memories of those that sponsored the Down Downs and bought case after case of Fosters for the Hash in Bahrain back then.
6
craig mclaughlin
// Sep 7, 2008 at 8:36 pm
mmmm, vegamite.
7
SJBill
// Sep 7, 2008 at 8:48 pm
I lasted 11 seconds. Do I get a prize?
Forgot how much I 1/liked that band.
ASM826 — Ooohrah and congrats to both!
8
MajHarvey
// Sep 7, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Congrats ASM826! In another month it’ll be 20 years since I first enlisted in the Corps - and Nov 17th will mark the 19th anniversary of my own graduation from Parris Island. Hats off to your son!
Oh, and Lex - I’m with ASM on this one — what in the world put this on your radar screen?
9
Kevin
// Sep 7, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Better MaW than Midnight Oil.
Haven’t heard anything from Peter Garrett lately. Maybe he discovered that being part of the ruling party is harder than sniping from the backbenches.
Or his leadership muzzled him. Either works for me.
10
Allen
// Sep 8, 2008 at 12:32 am
Yes a bit of the nostalgia. Coober Pedy, shincracker, and the off bit of opal you bring back.
11
Kris, in New England
// Sep 8, 2008 at 5:57 am
I used to enjoy Men at Work but Asia, Journey, and U2 were at the top of my list, by far (thanx ASM826).
I’m with others here Lex - where did this reminiscence come from anyway? Pretty obscure…
12
Don
// Sep 8, 2008 at 6:12 am
For whatever it’s worth, their frontman (Colin Hay) has done some great solo stuff in recent years. Acoustic, mostly. If you’re into that sort of thing.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=colin+hay
ASM826, congratulations!
13
Brian
// Sep 8, 2008 at 6:22 am
For some reason, hearing M@W always reminds me of being on the way to a well-earned hang-over at some party in college. Go figure…
14
lex
// Sep 8, 2008 at 7:28 am
Oh, it was just one of those things you stumble over going from here to there. Brought back so many memories and associations that I thought I’d share them.
Misery loves company, etc.
15
Kris, in New England
// Sep 8, 2008 at 9:08 am
Lex - it certainly does bring up more than music. And while I’m with Miss Birdlegs re’ the fashion of the time, I do miss “big hair”.
It also brings up things like what Brian in #13 said - college, peppermint schnapps hangovers (I don’t recommend that…), playing “quarters” on the way to another hangover…
Themes, people.
16
Flatlander
// Sep 8, 2008 at 9:23 am
I feel a bit like Pavlov’s dog; all those early to mid-80’s songs are so closely associated with the memories of being a happy JO that I can’t help but salivate.
Anybody remember the song “Mexican Radio” by a one-hit wonder band called “Wall of Voodoo”? (No, I didn’t think so.)
I heard it on the radio the other day for like the first time in 25 years and I laughed out loud - it put me right back to FRS circa 1983.
17
Hmrdrvr
// Sep 8, 2008 at 10:23 am
80’s, love that stuff.
This is not an ad…it’s just what I listen to…but there is a website called accuradio.com that has a great 80’s internet radio station. Again, no affiliation, just happened to find it many years ago.
Cox Cable has a great 80’s music channel too. Called Retro Active.
Craig, immediately thought of veggimite sandwich when I saw this post too…=)
18
Jeff
// Sep 8, 2008 at 10:40 am
As usual I can’t really contribute to the conversation because I have a slack jaw, and not much to say.
19
Humble1390
// Sep 8, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Colin Hay’s solo album “Man at Work” is awesome.
Well worth the $9.99 on iTunes. “Beautiful World” alone is probably worth the $.
20
Buck
// Sep 8, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Congrats to you and your son, ASM826!
Flatlander: FWIW, I remember Wall of Voodoo. Great tune, that. I didn’t care all that much for MaW, tho. The 80s were sorta The Doldrums for pop music.
21
jamrat
// Sep 8, 2008 at 5:34 pm
“I wish was I was in Tijuana, eating barbecued iguana!”
22
rt
// Sep 8, 2008 at 10:47 pm
SAFETY DANCE!
23
J.M. Heinrichs
// Sep 9, 2008 at 3:18 am
“Six Months in a Leaky Boat”?
Cheers
24
Bruce Jones
// Sep 10, 2008 at 6:54 am
I just got Video Killed the Radio Star driving into work this morning.
25
Nose
// Sep 11, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Hummerdriver,
Accuradio is very cool. Thanks for the tip.
Nose
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