Men At Work

A bit of a one hit wonder in the UK ('Down Under 1981) but Colin Hay their mainstay and singer songwriter deserved more attention and this song explains why I reckon . . . . . 

On this day in music history: April 18, 1983 - “Cargo”, the second studio album by Men at Work is released. Produced by Peter McIan, it is recorded at AAV Studios and Paradise Studios in Melbourne, Australia in Mid - Late 1982. Just as their debut album “Business As Usual”, is beginning to make its belated breakthrough in the US, after its international success, Men At Work return to the studio to record their sophomore effort. Less than a month after the band win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist, the public gets their first taste of the album with the single “Overkill” (#3 Pop) in late March of 1983. An immediate radio smash, Columbia Records in the US hypes the upcoming release of “Cargo” by issuing a special double vinyl promo LP to Top 40 pop and Album Rock radio stations, the weekend before its arrival in record stores. The four sided radio discs previewed cuts the songs interspersed with interviews of the band discussing the recording of the album. Though it is well received upon its release, it only sells roughly half of what the previous album sold in the US. Much of this is blamed on CBS in the US issuing it while the first album is still selling strongly, and that the band has reached the saturation point in terms of radio play and media exposure. The album is also criticized as in spite of containing strong singles, that it is weighted down by excess filler material. It spins off three singles including “It’s A Mistake” (#6 Pop) and “Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive” (#28 Pop). Following its release and the tour in support of it, Men At Work take an extended hiatus, before re-emerging nearly two years later with the album “Two Hearts”. Originally released on CD in tandem with the LP and cassette, it is remastered and reissued in 2003. The remastered CD contains the original ten song album, plus the two non LP B-sides “Til’ The Money Runs Out” (B-side of “Overkill”) and “Shintaro” (B-side of “It’s A Mistake”), and three live tracks. Out of print on vinyl since the late 80’s, it is remastered and reissued by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab in 2013, as part of their “Silver Label Vinyl Reissue Series”. Another limited edition pressing of the album is issued by MFSL in 2014 (Europe only), containing the UK only “Still Life” three track 12" EP. The “Still Life” EP is pressed on blue, black and white splatter vinyl, is numbered and limited to only 250 copies. “Cargo” peaks at number three on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified 3x Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

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