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{{Short description|1983 single by Men At Work}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}}
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| genre = {{flatlist|
| genre = {{flatlist|
* [[Pop rock]]
* [[Pop rock]]
* [[New wave music|new wave]]}}
* [[New wave music|new wave]]
* [[soft rock]]
* [[soft rock]]}}
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=44}}
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=44}}
| label = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
| label = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
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}}
}}


"'''Overkill'''" is a song by Australian pop rock band [[Men at Work]]. It was released in march 1983 as the second single from their second studio album ''[[Cargo (album)|Cargo]]''. Written by lead singer [[Colin Hay]], it peaked at No. 3 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]; No. 5 on the Australian [[Kent Music Report]] Singles Chart; and top 10 in [[RPM (magazine)|Canada]], [[Irish Recorded Music Association|Ireland]], and [[VG-lista|Norway]]. The song was a departure from the group's style of [[reggae]]-influenced pop rock, featuring a melancholic feel musically and lyrically.
"'''Overkill'''" is a song by Australian pop rock band [[Men at Work]]. It was released in March 1983 as the second single from their second studio album ''[[Cargo (album)|Cargo]]''. Written by lead singer [[Colin Hay]], it peaked at No. 3 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]; No. 5 on the Australian [[Kent Music Report]] Singles Chart; and top 10 in [[RPM (magazine)|Canada]], [[Irish Recorded Music Association|Ireland]], and [[VG-lista|Norway]]. The song was a departure from the group's style of [[reggae]]-influenced pop rock, featuring a melancholic feel musically and lyrically.


== Background ==
== Background ==
"Overkill" was written by Men at Work frontman [[Colin Hay]], who described the song as being about "stepping into the unknown." He elaborated,
⚫
Men at Work's second studio album, ''[[Cargo (album)|Cargo]]'', was released in Australia in April 1983, reaching No.&nbsp;1 on the Australian [[Kent Music Report]] Albums Chart.<ref name="Kent">{{Cite book|title=[[Kent Music Report|Australian Chart Book 1970–1992]]|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, NSW|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref> The album's lead single, "[[Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive (Men at Work song)|Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive]]", was issued in Australia ahead of the album in October 1982 and reached No.&nbsp;6 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart.<ref name="Kent"/> Despite recording having been completed in mid-1982, ''Cargo'''s release was held back due to the international commercial success of the band's 1981 debut album, ''[[Business as Usual (Men at Work album)|Business as Usual]]''.<ref name="McFarlane">McFarlane, [https://web.archive.org/web/20030513171104/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=482 'Men at Work'] entry. Archived from [http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=482 the original] on 13 May 2003. Retrieved 20 September 2014.</ref><ref name="Nimmervoll">{{cite web | archive-url = http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/14231/20120727-0512/www.howlspace.com.au/en2/menatwork/menatwork.htm | url = http://www.howlspace.com.au/en2/menatwork/menatwork.htm | title = Men at Work | last = Nimmervoll | first = Ed | author-link = Ed Nimmervoll | publisher = Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music (Ed Nimmervoll). White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd | archive-date = 27 July 2012 | access-date = 20 September 2014}}</ref><ref name="Holmgren">{{Cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120424083937/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/m/menatwork.html | url = http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/m/menatwork.html | publisher = [[Australian Rock Database]]. Passagen (Magnus Holmgren) | title = Men at Work | last1 = Holmgren | first1 = Magnus | last2 = Warnqvist | first2 = Stefan | archive-date = 24 April 2012 | access-date = 20 September 2014 }}</ref>


{{quote|"I was in [[St Kilda, Victoria|St. Kilda]] and I felt that my time there was coming to a close and that I was going to probably leave there quite soon. Just about to leave somewhere, knowing that you're about to step into something that's like leaving your comfort zone, you know? Because you spend a lot of years trying to get something - for example, fame or recognition - or getting to a certain point, and then when you actually achieve it, there's always a certain amount of fear that comes with that. Not necessarily fear, but a sense of loss of control. Because all of a sudden, you're not in control of a situation anymore. There are other people involved so it's much, much less controllable."<ref name="sf">{{cite web |last1=Wiser |first1=Carl |title=Colin Hay of Men at Work |url=https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/colin-hay-of-men-at-work |website=Songfacts |access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref>}}
⚫
"Overkill" was released in March 1983 and debuted on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart at No.&nbsp;28 on 9 April. It peaked at No.&nbsp;3 in early June.<ref>[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=men at work|chart=all}} The Billboard Hot 100], at [[Billboard.com]]</ref><ref name="AllMalbums">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4894/charts-awards/billboard-albums|pure_url=yes}}| title=Men at Work – Charts & Awards – Billboard Albums|publisher = [[AllMusic]] |access-date=20 September 2014}}</ref> The album's third single, "[[High Wire (song)|High Wire]]", followed in late 1983, peaking at only No.&nbsp;89 in Australia,<ref name="Kent"/> and No.&nbsp;23 on ''Billboard'''s Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks.<ref name="AllMalbums"/> The band toured the world extensively in 1983 to promote the album and related singles.<ref name="McFarlane"/> The song was #55 in the year-end Top 100 chart in Canada.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.6699&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.6699.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.6699|title=Image : RPM Weekly|date=17 July 2013}}</ref>

Hay was proud of the song after composing it; he recalled, "That was the first song that I wrote where I thought that maybe I could actually make a living as a songwriter, perhaps. I thought that was a good song that I'd written, one that will stand the test of time. I felt at the time it had something to it. I was very happy with that song."<ref name="sf" />

==Release==
⚫
Men at Work's second studio album, ''[[Cargo (album)|Cargo]]'', was released in Australia in April 1983, reaching No.&nbsp;1 on the Australian [[Kent Music Report]] Albums Chart.<ref name="Kent">{{Cite book|title=[[Kent Music Report|Australian Chart Book 1970–1992]]|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, NSW|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref> The album's lead single, "[[Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive (Men at Work song)|Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive]]", was issued in Australia ahead of the album in October 1982 and reached No.&nbsp;6 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart.<ref name="Kent"/> Despite recording having been completed in mid-1982, ''Cargo'''s release was held back due to the international commercial success of the band's 1981 debut album, ''[[Business as Usual (Men at Work album)|Business as Usual]]''.<ref name="McFarlane">McFarlane, [https://web.archive.org/web/20030513171104/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=482 'Men at Work'] entry. Archived from [http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=482 the original] on 13 May 2003. Retrieved 20 September 2014.</ref><ref name="Nimmervoll">{{cite web | archive-url = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20120726191200/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/14231/20120727-0512/www.howlspace.com.au/en2/menatwork/menatwork.htm | url = http://www.howlspace.com.au/en2/menatwork/menatwork.htm | title = Men at Work | last = Nimmervoll | first = Ed | author-link = Ed Nimmervoll | publisher = Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music (Ed Nimmervoll). White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd | archive-date = 26 July 2012 | access-date = 20 September 2014}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name="Holmgren">{{Cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120424083937/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/m/menatwork.html | url = http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/m/menatwork.html | publisher = [[Australian Rock Database]]. Passagen (Magnus Holmgren) | title = Men at Work | last1 = Holmgren | first1 = Magnus | last2 = Warnqvist | first2 = Stefan | archive-date = 24 April 2012 | access-date = 20 September 2014 }}</ref>

⚫
"Overkill" was released in March 1983 and debuted on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart at No.&nbsp;28 on 9 April. It peaked at No.&nbsp;3 in early June.<ref>[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=men at work|chart=all}} The Billboard Hot 100], at [[Billboard.com]]</ref><ref name="AllMalbums">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4894/charts-awards/billboard-albums|pure_url=yes}}| title=Men at Work – Charts & Awards – Billboard Albums|publisher = [[AllMusic]] |access-date=20 September 2014}}</ref> The album's third single, "[[High Wire (song)|High Wire]]", followed in late 1983, peaking at only No.&nbsp;89 in Australia,<ref name="Kent"/> and No.&nbsp;23 on ''Billboard'''s Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks.<ref name="AllMalbums"/> The band toured the world extensively in 1983 to promote the album and related singles.<ref name="McFarlane"/> The song was No. 55 in the year-end Top 100 chart in Canada.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.6699&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.6699.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.6699|title=Image : RPM Weekly|website=[[Library and Archives Canada]] |date=17 July 2013}}</ref>

''[[Cash Box]]'' praised the "supple sax line."<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Reviews|magazine=Cash Box|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1983/CB-1983-04-02.pdf|date=April 2, 1983|accessdate=2022-07-17|page=8}}</ref>


== Music video ==
== Music video ==
The video was mostly shot in the [[Melbourne]] suburb of [[St Kilda, Victoria|St Kilda]] which featured landmarks such as [[Esplanade Hotel (Melbourne)]] and the [[St Kilda Pier]].
The video was mostly shot in the [[Melbourne]] suburb of [[St Kilda, Victoria|St Kilda]] and featured landmarks such as the [[Esplanade Hotel (Melbourne)|Esplanade Hotel]] and the [[St Kilda Pier]].


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
Line 44: Line 54:
== Personnel ==
== Personnel ==
* [[Colin Hay]] – lead vocals, guitar
* [[Colin Hay]] – lead vocals, guitar
*[[Greg Ham]] – saxophone, synthesizers, background vocals
* [[Greg Ham]] – saxophone, synthesizers, background vocals
*[[Ron Strykert]] – guitar, background vocals
* [[Ron Strykert]] – guitar, background vocals
* John Rees – bass, background vocals
* John Rees – bass, background vocals
* [[Jerry Speiser]] – drums, background vocals
* [[Jerry Speiser]] – drums, background vocals


== Chart history ==
== Chart history ==
===Weekly charts===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
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! Peak<br>position
! Peak<br>position
|-
|-
| Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name="Kent"/><ref name="Australian Chart Book 1970–1992">{{cite book|title=[[Kent Music Report|Australian Chart Book 1970–1992]]|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|publisher=Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W |year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
| Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name="Kent"/>
| style="text-align:center;"|5
| style="text-align:center;"|5
|-
|-
Line 63: Line 74:
| style="text-align:center;"|6
| style="text-align:center;"|6
|-
|-
| Germany ([[Media Control Charts]])<ref name="International">{{cite web | url = http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Men+At+Work&titel=Overkill&cat=s | title = Men at Work – 'Overkill' | last = Hung | first = Steffen | publisher = Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien | access-date = 20 September 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Men at Work – 'Overkill' | last = Hung | first = Steffen | publisher = [[Media Control Charts]]. Hung Medien | url = http://www.officialcharts.de/song.asp?artist=Men+At+Work&title=Overkill&cat=s&country=de | language = de | format = ASP | access-date = 20 September 2014}}</ref>
| Germany ([[Media Control Charts]])<ref name="International">{{cite web | url = http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Men+At+Work&titel=Overkill&cat=s | title = Men at Work – 'Overkill' | last = Hung | first = Steffen | publisher = Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien | access-date = 20 September 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Men at Work – 'Overkill' | last = Hung | first = Steffen | publisher = [[Media Control Charts]]. Hung Medien | url = http://www.officialcharts.de/song.asp?artist=Men+At+Work&title=Overkill&cat=s&country=de | language = de | format = ASP | access-date = 20 September 2014}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|30
| style="text-align:center;"|30
|-
|-
Line 69: Line 80:
| style="text-align:center;"|9
| style="text-align:center;"|9
|-
|-
|Italy (''[[Musica e dischi]]'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php|title=Classifiche|work=[[Musica e dischi]]|language=it}} Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Men At Work".</ref>
| Italy ([[FIMI]])
| style="text-align:center;"|12
|align="center"|12
|-
|-
| Netherlands ([[Dutch Top 40]])<ref name="International"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Men at Work – 'Overkill' | last = Hung | first = Steffen | publisher = [[MegaCharts]]. Hung Medien | url = http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Men+At+Work&titel=Overkill&cat=s | language = nl | format = ASP | access-date = 20 September 2014}}</ref>
| Netherlands ([[Dutch Top 40]])<ref name="International"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Men at Work – 'Overkill' | last = Hung | first = Steffen | publisher = [[MegaCharts]]. Hung Medien | url = http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Men+At+Work&titel=Overkill&cat=s | language = nl | format = ASP | access-date = 20 September 2014}}</ref>
Line 95: Line 106:


{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}

===Year end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|-
! Year-end chart (1983) !! Rank
! Chart (1983) !! Rank
|-
|-
|Australia <ref name="Australian Chart Book 1970–1992">{{cite book|title=[[Kent Music Report|Australian Chart Book 1970–1992]]|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|publisher=Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W |year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
|Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name="aus83">{{cite web |url=https://i.imgur.com/860ttad.jpg |title=Kent Music Report – National Top 100 Singles for 1983 |publisher=[[Kent Music Report]] |via=Imgur.com |access-date=22 January 2023}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|81
| style="text-align:center;"|81
|-
|-
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American [[alternative rock]] band [[Lazlo Bane]] covered the song and originally released it as a b-side of their debut single "Buttercup" on Fish of Death Records.
American [[alternative rock]] band [[Lazlo Bane]] covered the song and originally released it as a b-side of their debut single "Buttercup" on Fish of Death Records.


After signing with Almo Sounds the song was released as promo single and included on the [[Extended Play|EP]] ''[[Short Style]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/505528/man-back-at-work.jhtml|title=Man (Back) At Work|publisher=mtv.com|date=22 September 1996| access-date=2015-01-26}}</ref> and it was later released on the band's debut album ''[[11 Transistor]]'', which came out in January 1997.
After signing with Almo Sounds the song was released as promo single and included on the [[Extended Play|EP]] ''[[Short Style]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/505528/man-back-at-work.jhtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411094708/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/505528/man-back-at-work.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 April 2013|title=Man (Back) At Work|publisher=mtv.com|date=22 September 1996| access-date=2015-01-26}}</ref> and it was later released on the band's debut album ''[[11 Transistor]]'', which came out in January 1997.
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/508932/lazlobane-sm-lazlobanegif.jhtml|title=Debut album due soon|publisher=mtv.com|date=20 January 1997| access-date=2015-01-26}}</ref> As a commercial single "Overkill" was released in some territories in 1997 and 1998.
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/508932/lazlobane-sm-lazlobanegif.jhtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411102734/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/508932/lazlobane-sm-lazlobanegif.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 April 2013|title=Debut album due soon|publisher=mtv.com|date=20 January 1997| access-date=2015-01-26}}</ref> As a commercial single "Overkill" was released in some territories in 1997 and 1998.


The song was recorded with participation of Colin Hay, who plays guitar on the track and sings the last verse solely and last chorus together with [[Chad Fischer]].
The song was recorded with participation of Colin Hay, who plays guitar on the track and sings the last verse solely and last chorus together with [[Chad Fischer]].
Line 170: Line 183:
==Other cover versions==
==Other cover versions==
* [[The Benjamin Gate]] released a [[cover version|cover]] of the song on their 2002 album ''Contact''.
* [[The Benjamin Gate]] released a [[cover version|cover]] of the song on their 2002 album ''Contact''.
* In 2003 [[Colin Hay]] released ''[[Man @ Work]]'' album that consisted of re-recordings of songs from the Men at Work catalog as well as his solo career songs. The album featured an acoustic version of "Overkill". An edited version of that track was previously released in September 2002 on ''[[List of Scrubs soundtracks|Music from Scrubs]]'', the first [[NBC]] series ''[[Scrubs (TV series)|Scrubs]]'' [[soundtrack album]]. Colin Hay also appeared in the series itself, performing an acoustic version of the song in Season's 2 premiere episode "My Overkill".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ45xrtNnzk "Overkill" - Scrubs]</ref>
* In 2003, Colin Hay's ''[[Man @ Work]]'' album consisted of re-recordings of songs from the Men at Work catalog as well as his solo career songs. The album featured an acoustic version of "Overkill". An edited version of that track was previously released in September 2002 on ''[[List of Scrubs soundtracks|Music from Scrubs]]'', the first [[NBC]] series ''[[Scrubs (TV series)|Scrubs]]'' [[soundtrack album]]. Hay also appeared in the series itself, performing an acoustic version of the song in Season's 2 premiere episode, "My Overkill".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ45xrtNnzk "Overkill" - Scrubs]</ref>
* In 2003 [[Emmerson Nogueira]] released an [[acoustic music|acoustic]] cover of the song on his ''[[Versão Acústica 3]]'' album.
* In 2003, [[Emmerson Nogueira]] released an acoustic cover of the song on his ''[[Versão Acústica 3]]'' album.
* [[John Farnham]] covered the song for his 2005 album ''[[I Remember When I Was Young]]'', which consist entirely of cover versions of songs by chart-topping [[Australian]] artists.
* [[John Farnham]] covered the song for his 2005 album ''[[I Remember When I Was Young]]'', which consist entirely of cover versions of songs by chart-topping Australian artists.
* In 2007 [[Dashboard Confessional]] released a version of the song on the [[cover version#Tributes, tribute albums and cover albums|cover album]] of ''[[The Wire Tapes Vol. 1]]''.
* In 2007, [[Dashboard Confessional]] released a version of the song on the cover album ''[[The Wire Tapes Vol. 1]]''.
* [[Choir! Choir! Choir!]] collaborated with Hay on a January, 1997 live version of the song with a choir accompaniment.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCZKAxDoUwE "Overkill"]</ref>
* In 2024, [[The Blanks]] released an acapella cover of the song featuring the late [[Sam Lloyd]].


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Men at Work|state=collapsed}}
{{Men at Work}}
{{Colin Hay}}
{{Lazlo Bane|state=collapsed}}
{{Lazlo Bane}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:1983 songs]]
[[Category:1982 songs]]
[[Category:1983 singles]]
[[Category:1983 singles]]
[[Category:1997 singles]]
[[Category:1997 singles]]
Line 190: Line 206:
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Chad Fischer]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Chad Fischer]]
[[Category:Lazlo Bane songs]]
[[Category:Lazlo Bane songs]]
[[Category:Songs about anxiety]]

Latest revision as of 23:26, 2 January 2025

"Overkill"
Single by Men at Work
from the album Cargo
B-side"Till the Money Runs Out"
ReleasedMarch 1983
Recorded1982
StudioAAV Studios, Melbourne, Paradise Studios, Sydney and Westlake Audio, Los Angeles
Genre
Length3:44
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Colin Hay
Producer(s)Peter McIan
Men at Work singles chronology
"Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive"
(1982) 		"Overkill"
(1983) 		"It's a Mistake"
(1983)
Music video
"Overkill" on YouTube

"Overkill" is a song by Australian pop rock band Men at Work. It was released in March 1983 as the second single from their second studio album Cargo. Written by lead singer Colin Hay, it peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100; No. 5 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart; and top 10 in Canada, Ireland, and Norway. The song was a departure from the group's style of reggae-influenced pop rock, featuring a melancholic feel musically and lyrically.

Background

[edit]

"Overkill" was written by Men at Work frontman Colin Hay, who described the song as being about "stepping into the unknown." He elaborated,

"I was in St. Kilda and I felt that my time there was coming to a close and that I was going to probably leave there quite soon. Just about to leave somewhere, knowing that you're about to step into something that's like leaving your comfort zone, you know? Because you spend a lot of years trying to get something - for example, fame or recognition - or getting to a certain point, and then when you actually achieve it, there's always a certain amount of fear that comes with that. Not necessarily fear, but a sense of loss of control. Because all of a sudden, you're not in control of a situation anymore. There are other people involved so it's much, much less controllable."[1]

Hay was proud of the song after composing it; he recalled, "That was the first song that I wrote where I thought that maybe I could actually make a living as a songwriter, perhaps. I thought that was a good song that I'd written, one that will stand the test of time. I felt at the time it had something to it. I was very happy with that song."[1]

Release

[edit]

Men at Work's second studio album, Cargo, was released in Australia in April 1983, reaching No. 1 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart.[2] The album's lead single, "Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive", was issued in Australia ahead of the album in October 1982 and reached No. 6 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart.[2] Despite recording having been completed in mid-1982, Cargo's release was held back due to the international commercial success of the band's 1981 debut album, Business as Usual.[3][4][5]

"Overkill" was released in March 1983 and debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at No. 28 on 9 April. It peaked at No. 3 in early June.[6][7] The album's third single, "High Wire", followed in late 1983, peaking at only No. 89 in Australia,[2] and No. 23 on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks.[7] The band toured the world extensively in 1983 to promote the album and related singles.[3] The song was No. 55 in the year-end Top 100 chart in Canada.[8]

Cash Box praised the "supple sax line."[9]

Music video

[edit]

The video was mostly shot in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda and featured landmarks such as the Esplanade Hotel and the St Kilda Pier.

Track listing

[edit]
  1. "Overkill" (Colin Hay) – 3:44
  2. "Till the Money Runs Out" (Colin Hay, Ron Strykert, Greg Ham, John Rees, Jerry Speiser) – 3:05

Personnel

[edit]
  • Colin Hay – lead vocals, guitar
  • Greg Ham – saxophone, synthesizers, background vocals
  • Ron Strykert – guitar, background vocals
  • John Rees – bass, background vocals
  • Jerry Speiser – drums, background vocals

Chart history

[edit]

Weekly charts

[edit]

Lazlo Bane version

[edit]
"Overkill"
Single by Lazlo Bane
from the album 11 Transistor
Released1997
GenreAlternative rock
Length4:13
LabelAlmo Sounds, BANG!
Songwriter(s)Colin Hay
Producer(s)Chad Fischer
Lazlo Bane singles chronology
"Buttercup"
(1996) 		"Overkill"
(1997)
Alternate cover
Music video
"Overkill" on YouTube

American alternative rock band Lazlo Bane covered the song and originally released it as a b-side of their debut single "Buttercup" on Fish of Death Records.

After signing with Almo Sounds the song was released as promo single and included on the EP Short Style,[22] and it was later released on the band's debut album 11 Transistor, which came out in January 1997. [23] As a commercial single "Overkill" was released in some territories in 1997 and 1998.

The song was recorded with participation of Colin Hay, who plays guitar on the track and sings the last verse solely and last chorus together with Chad Fischer.

Lazlo Bane's music video

[edit]

Lazlo Bane's music video, directed by Mark Miremont[24] and also featuring Hay, was released 28 May 1997 and eventually entered MTV2's Top 10 of the 1997.[25][26]

The video shows Lazlo Bane playing the song in a large hall of the hotel during the night while disturbing other residents, who were played by the members of the band with Colin Hay playing the front desk clerk. During the first half of the song Hay receives several angry calls about the noise but does nothing about it. During the guitar solo the hotel starts to shake, finally forcing Hay to enter the hall where the band is playing, but only to sing the rest of the song together with the band.

Track listing

[edit]
1996 Promo CD (Almo Sounds PRO-CD-8027)
  1. "Overkill" (Colin Hay) – 4:14
1997 CD (Festival Records D1648)
  1. "Overkill" (Colin Hay) – 4:14
  2. "Flea Market Girl" (Chad Fischer, Kevin Hunter) – 3:56
  3. "Buttercup" (Fischer, Lyle Workman) – 3:44
  4. "Mean Mr. Mustard" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 2:24
1998 CD (BANG! 20545)
  1. "Overkill" (Colin Hay) – 4:14
  2. "Novakane" (Chad Fischer) – 2:37
  3. "Prada Wallet" (Fischer / Josh Clayton-Felt / Kevin Hunter) – 1:11

Other cover versions

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Wiser, Carl. "Colin Hay of Men at Work". Songfacts. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  3. ^ a b McFarlane, 'Men at Work' entry. Archived from the original on 13 May 2003. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  4. ^ Nimmervoll, Ed. "Men at Work". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music (Ed Nimmervoll). White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 26 July 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  5. ^ Holmgren, Magnus; Warnqvist, Stefan. "Men at Work". Australian Rock Database. Passagen (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  6. ^ The Billboard Hot 100, at Billboard.com
  7. ^ a b c d e "Men at Work – Charts & Awards – Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  8. ^ "Image : RPM Weekly". Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013.
  9. ^ "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 2 April 1983. p. 8. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  10. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  11. ^ "Top Singles - Volume 38, No. 11". RPM. 14 May 1983. Archived from the original (PHP) on 27 November 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  12. ^ a b c d Hung, Steffen. "Men at Work – 'Overkill'". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  13. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Men at Work – 'Overkill'" (ASP) (in German). Media Control Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 September 2014.[dead link‍]
  14. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Men At Work".
  15. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Men at Work – 'Overkill'" (ASP) (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  16. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Men at Work – 'Overkill'" (ASP). New Zealand Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  17. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Men at Work – 'Overkill'" (ASP) (in Norwegian). VG-lista. Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  18. ^ "Men at Work > Artists > Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  19. ^ "Kent Music Report – National Top 100 Singles for 1983". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via Imgur.com.
  20. ^ "Top 100 Singles of 1983 – Volume 39, No. 17, December 24 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  21. ^ "Talent Almanac 1984: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 95, no. 52. 24 December 1983. p. TA-18.
  22. ^ "Man (Back) At Work". mtv.com. 22 September 1996. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  23. ^ "Debut album due soon". mtv.com. 20 January 1997. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  24. ^ Mark Miremont Archived 30 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine official site
  25. ^ The History of Lazlo Bane on Myspace
  26. ^ "Colin Hay Biography". colinhay.com. 7 August 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  27. ^ "Overkill" - Scrubs
  28. ^ "Overkill"
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