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Sodajerker On Songwriting

Episode 103 - Colin Hay

Sodajerker On Songwriting

Sodajerker

Sodajerker, Barber, Simon, Music Interviews, Liverpool, Songwriters, Musicians, Oconnor, Songwriting, Interviews, Music, Podcast, Brian

4.9885 Ratings

🗓️ 31 August 2017

⏱️ 48 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Multi-talented singer-songwriter and former Men At Work frontman Colin Hay talks with Simon and Brian about the writing of his excellent recent album Fierce Mercy. During the episode, Colin reflects on his writing partnership with Michael Giorgiades and tells the stories behind a cornucopia of stunning songs from his back catalogue like 'Down Under', 'Who Can It Be Now?', 'Overkill', 'Waiting For My Real Life To Begin', 'Oh California', 'Send Somebody' and 'If I Had Been A Better Man'.

Transcript

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0:00.0

And the Hi everybody and welcome to SodaJaker on songwriting.

0:22.8

Joining us today is a Grammy winning, Scottish-born,

0:25.2

Australian singer-songwriter who first found famous frontman, lead vocalist and

0:29.6

principal songwriter for men at work

0:31.5

before embarking on a prolific solo career.

0:33.6

In March of this year he released his 13 solo album, Fias Mercy,

0:37.4

and a very fine piece of work it is too,

0:39.6

showcasing not only his finely honed songwriting chops but also his superb singing and deft guitar playing,

0:46.0

we are delighted to welcome the fantastic Colin Hay to the show.

0:50.0

Yep, Colin was in the UK back in April to do a few shows, so we caught up with him backstage at the dance house,

0:55.3

just down the motorway in Manchester City Centre for a little pre-gig chat, which is coming up in just a couple of minutes.

1:01.2

Colin was born in North Ayrshire on the southwest

1:03.9

coast of Scotland in 1953. He grew up in a family-run music shop in the town of Salt Coates

1:09.2

surrounded by instruments and records and picked up the guitar around the age of 12. He and his family

1:14.5

emigrated to Australia when he was 14 but he stuck at the music playing in various

1:18.7

bands during his high school years and around 1968-69 began performing regularly at a local folk club.

1:24.6

While at university, our guests began to entertain ideas of a career in music.

1:28.4

He met guitarists on strike heads in 1978 and they played as a duo before forming men at work with Jerry Spizer on drums,

1:35.7

Greg Ham on Saxon flute and John Reese on bass.

1:39.2

The band signs of CBS in 1981 and enjoyed staggering success in the early 80s with indelible songs like Down Under,

1:46.0

Who Could Have Be Good Johnny and Overkill?

1:49.2

To date they've sold 60 million albums worldwide.

...

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