Colin Hay and his group Men at Work seemed to be unstoppable in 1982 after scoring two Number One hits with "Who Can It Be Now?" and "Down Under." After Men at Work's music faltered, Hay's career was stagnant during much of the Nineties. Luckily, Hay's fortunes were revitalized through an unlikely medium, and showed that the offbeat zaniness of his former group belied a truly gifted songwriter and musician.
Grammy Winner With Men At Work
Men at Work were arguably the biggest international stars of the early Eighties. They won a Grammy for best new artist in 1983, charted four singles in the American Top Ten, and sold millions of copies of both Business as Usual and Cargo. Colin Hay was the lead singer and songwriter of the group, and also played a prominent role in the quirky MTV music videos that Men at Work released at that time.
But the group's fall was just as meteoric as its rise. According to All Music Guide, the band took an extended break in 1984 and two original members left the group. The remainder of the band released Two Hearts in 1985, but it was a commercial failure, and the group subsequently disbanded.
Solo Success On TV's Scrubs
Colin Hay was very prolific after the demise of Men at Work, but his solo career went virtually unnoticed for fifteen years, despite nine albums and incessant touring. However, his obscurity changed due to a chance meeting with a TV star.
According to Hay, he met actor Zach Braff at a gig in 2002. The star of the NBC series Scrubs assured Hay he would get his songs played on the show. The skeptical Hay was rewarded with a set of ongoing musical cameos on the program.
An acoustic version of the Men at Work classic, "Overkill," drew attention to the long forgotten song. These appearances didn't restore his flagging career to the kind of success he enjoyed with Men at Work, but it did give him enough exposure to release more albums and play to bigger crowds.
Colin Hay Unplugged
Most of Hay's solo albums have a full band playing with him, usually in an understated and laid back style. However, Hay's songs seem to work better without the extra production and fussiness of other instrumentation.
This unplugged approach can be best heard on his 2000 release Going Somewhere (which was re-released in 2005) and his 2003 effort, Man at Work. The latter highlighted several acoustic reinterpretations of Hay's solo numbers such as "Waiting for My Real Life to Begin" and "Beautiful World." Hay followed in 2004 by contributing the song "Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You" to the Garden State soundtrack.
American Sunshine And Live Work
Hay's newest release, American Sunshine, continues his winning streak. The album opens with four strong tracks: "Oh California," "Prison Time," "There's Water Over You," and "I Came Into Your Store." Each song is winsome, bittersweet, and melodic, full of Hay's ironic and world-weary observations. Hay's lyrics don't wallow in self-pity, but instead show the knowing wink of someone who's been on the top of his industry and is now content with a smaller audience.
Hay has toured relentlessly over the past decade, and it is during his live shows where his abilities really shine. The aforementioned tracks from American Sunshine worked even better during acoustic previews on Hay's 2009 tour. These intimate settings highlight his apparently ageless voice, underrated acoustic finger picking style, and his true penchant for comedy. His humorous stories and pointed observations make the time between songs just as entertaining as the musical material itself.
Colin Hay was the driving force behind one of New Wave's most beloved groups, Men at Work. Nonetheless, his substantial solo career and ongoing live work make him just as vital today, if not more so, than in his early Eighties heyday. The current and future tour itinerary, discography, and other relevant details can be found on Colin Hay's web site.
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