Rob riffs on the debut studio album by Men At Work, “Business As Usual” from September of 1982 (Who Can It Be Now? / Underground / Be Good Johnny / Helpless Automaton). ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:“Without Us” Theme from the television series "Family Ties" STAFF PICKS: “Somebody's Baby” by Jackson Browne - Brian. “Gypsy” by Fleetwood Mac — Bruce. “I've Known No War” by The Who — Wayne. “Someday, Someway” by Marshall Crenshaw — Rob. COMEDY TRACK: “Valley Girl” by Frank Zappa. **(NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.)
The debut studio album by Australian band Men at Work was released in April of 1982, but Business as Usual would steadily climb the charts through the year before peaking at the number 1 spot in November. We thought September would be a good month in which to feature it.
Founding member Colin Hay on lead vocals and guitar, was joined by Greg Ham on flute, keyboards, saxophone, and some vocals, Ron Strykert on guitar and vocals, John Rees on bass and background vocals, and Jerry Speiser on drums and background vocals for this iteration. As the band moved forward, Hay, Ham and Strykert would remain, then Hay and Ham when Strykert left in 1985. After the death of Greg Ham in 2012, Colin Hay would revive the name in 2019, and tour with session musicians. Through today, there have been 17 different iterations of Men at Work!
Business as Usual had a number of hits which would keep the band continually on pop stations throughout 1982 and 1983, including their biggest hit “Down Under,” which would introduce the world to the Australian peanut-butter-like spread, Vegemite. It would also inspire a lawsuit, after it was determined that the flute parts bore a striking resemblance to the Aussie folk song, "Kookaburra," written in 1932. The copyright, however, was still valid, and the band was forced to give up 5% of the royalties from 1982 through 2002.
Join us now as we feature a band that comes from the land down under!
Who Can It Be Now?
This is the first single from the album, and was inspired by Colin Hay's experience living in an apartment complex shared with a number of “dealers.” Folks would knock on his door at all hours of the night...leading to the questionable title of the song. Greg Ham is a master on the saxophone on this piece.
Underground
Colin Hay wrote this deeper cut, though it got some air play at the time. The story is built around conspiracy theories, and an underground that shelters the elite. “There's no need for you to fight, boys, hang up all your guns. Find your mask and as best as you can get ready to run.”
Be Good Johnny
Taking inspiration from Johnny B. Goode, this upbeat song finds Colin Hay playing the roll of Johnny's, mom, Johnny's dad, and Johnny himself. Greg Ham handles the spoken lyrics in the middle of the song. It's about a boy who gets in trouble for...daydreaming....
Helpless Automaton
Another deeper cut from the album, this has the true feel of an early 80's new wave song. Greg Ham takes over lead vocal duties here. Hay and Ham got their start in small clubs, — the size where folks on the front row would drop stuff into Ham's saxophone.
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
“Without Us” (Theme from “Family Ties”
Here's where Michael J. Fox got his break, as Michael Keaton, “Young Republican” conservative child of former hippies, now turned average American family.
STAFF PICKS:
Somebody's Baby by Jackson Browne
Brian's staff pick is off the soundtrack from the film “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” Browne calls this song “an unabashed pop song,” and didn't include it on his studio albums.
Gypsy by Fleetwood Mac
Bruce features a song that Stevie Nicks wrote when reminiscing about her days before fame, when she shopped at The Velvet Underground and slept on a mattress with no bed frame! It is also inspired by her friend, Robin Snyder Anderson, who had died of leukemia.
I've Known No War by The Who
Wayne takes up the tempo with a deep cut from The Who's album “It's Hard.” The song tells a story set in the Cold War, where there would be no war, just bombs dropping and the world on fire. Most people assumed at the time that instead of a war between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R., there would just be a quick annihilation.
Someday, Someway by Marshall Crenshaw
Rob's pick gets happier with Crenshaw's top 40 hit from his debut album. Crenshaw was also an actor, starring as Buddy Holly in “La Bamba,” and playing John Lennon in Beatlemania. "Someday, someway, maybe I'll understand you."
COMEDY TRACK:
Valley Girl by Frank Zappa
This song was a huge hit during the day. Frank Zappa's daughter, Moon Unit Zappa, voices the sound of the valley girl. “Gag me with a spoon! Bag your face!”