Business As Usual, Men At Work

Men At Work – Business as Usual

Artist: Men At Work

Title: Business as Usual

Album Type: Debut Studio Album

Original Release Date: November 9, 1981 (Australia) / April 1982 (US)

Label: Columbia / CBS Records

Genre: New Wave / Pop Rock / Reggae-Rock

Background & Production Business as Usual is one of the most successful debut albums in music history, marking the moment Australian "Pub Rock" went global. Recorded at Richmond Recorders in Melbourne and produced by Peter McIan, the album’s path to success was unprecedented. While it was an immediate hit in Australia, it took nearly a year to break into the American market. Once it did, it spent an incredible 15 weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200, a record for a debut album at the time. The band’s quirky, video-friendly image and highly melodic sound made them the faces of the early MTV era.

Musical Composition & Themes The album is defined by its clean, spacious production, blending tight reggae rhythms with catchy pop hooks and Greg Ham’s iconic saxophone and flute work.

• The Global Anthem: "Down Under" became an unofficial national anthem for Australia. Its distinctive flute riff and lyrics about a traveler's journey around the world struck a chord globally, though it later became the subject of a famous copyright dispute involving the nursery rhyme "Kookaburra."

• Anxiety & Paranoia: Despite the upbeat music, Colin Hay’s lyrics often explored darker themes. "Who Can It Be Now?" features a world-famous saxophone hook and lyrics about isolation and paranoia, while "Be Good Johnny" captures the perspective of a misunderstood child.

• Sonic Precision: The rhythm section of John Rees and Jerry Speiser provided a "bouncy" foundation that allowed Ron Strykert’s jagged guitar work and Greg Ham’s multi-instrumental talents to shine.

Legacy & Collector Notes The album's success earned Men At Work the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1983. For vinyl collectors, the original Australian CBS pressings (with the yellow/orange labels) are highly regarded, but the album was pressed in massive quantities worldwide due to its success. It remains a cornerstone of 80s New Wave and is essential for any store specializing in Australian music history or 80s pop-rock.

• Keywords: Men At Work, Colin Hay, Business as Usual, Down Under, Who Can It Be Now, Australian Rock, 80s New Wave, Columbia Records, Grammy Winner, Vinyl Records.

• Collection Ideas: Australian Classics, 80s Billboard #1s, New Wave Essentials, Debut Album Masterpieces.

• Related Artists: Midnight Oil, INXS, Crowded House, The Police, Split Enz.

MINT - sealed

NM - likely never played - almost perfect

VG+ - light scuffs, light scratches wont effect play

VG -  signs of wear, light scratches you can feel

GOOD -  surface noise, visible groove wear

POOR / FAIR- some damage, causing issues like skipping & distorted audio

OIS - original inner sleeve