Business as Usual

Men at Work

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: 1982
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000025R3
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #76,824 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Who Can It Be Now?

2. I Can See It in Your Eyes

3. Down Under

4. Underground

5. Helpless Automaton

6. People Just Love to Play With Words

7. Be Good Johnny

8. Touching the Untouchables

9. Catch a Star

10. Down by the Sea

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Helped immeasurably by the heavy rotation with which its clever videos were greeted by the then brand-new MTV network, the Australian group Men at Work were one of the biggest--and least anticipated--success stories of 1982. On the strength of two No. 1 singles, the sax-driven "Who Can It Be Now" and the geocentric "Down Under," the band's debut album spent an astonishing 15 weeks at the top of the charts. Bandleader Colin Hay's Sting-like, reggae-influenced singing was welcomed by the emerging video music generation--even if they had no idea what a "Vegemite" sandwich was. --Billy Altman

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still Strong, August 3, 2001

By A Customer

Nineteen years after buying the original "Business as Usual" on cassette (and wearing it out years ago), my CD arrived today. I hadn't heard some of these songs for years; "People Just Love To Play With Words" and "I Can See It In Your Eyes" are particular gems that I've rediscovered like some momento lost in my attic. The track listing is awesome; can anyone name a better album closer than "Down By The Sea"? Outstanding. "Business" is as competitive and fresh as it was in 1982. For an '80's album, it does not sound dated (thanks in large part to the use of REAL drums at a time when machines were par for the course!). I will always regard Jerry Speiser as one of the better and more innovative drummers in rock and roll. Colin Hay's voice is timeless. The lyrics are intelligent (if not sometimes odd). Excellent musicianship and crafty songwriting make for a remarkable album.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of The Best Albums in the last 20 years!, January 26, 2001

By	"chickenbone67" (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews

Although the bands popularity has faded through the years, this album is an icon of the 80's. Known for its chart topping songs, the album also boasts 8 other very good songs, such as "Be Good Johnny", "Catch A Star" and "Down By The Sea". This is one of those albums you can put in your CD player and just let it play the whole way through. Most bands like to have a consistant sound, through instuments. This band uses it's vocals from lead singer Colin Hay. The instumentation varies throughout the entire album so it doesn't put in a "trance" with the same old sound. If you like musical variety with great vocals, then this is a MUST HAVE for your CD collection.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stands the TIme Test, December 9, 1999

By A Customer

This album is much more subtle than was appreciated in 1982. Now, 17 years later, it stands the time test. I got to hear Men At Work at a small concert they put on in Houston in 1999, and they were every bit as good as when I heard them in concert in 1983. This album had the monster hits Who Can It Be Now and Down Under but my favorite song was I Can See It In Your Eyes, the greatest morning ski song ever made. Plug it in when you first hit the slopes for the warm up run--amazing...[Winter kisses when your lips were blue/like chasing wild geese in the snow/Faces, places on the windowpane/but that's a long long time ago.../We go to a restaurant, but you don't like wine/you say it's love you want/but there is no time/I realize/I can see it in your eyes/You're moving on to something more...]