The story behind 1982’s “Who Can It Be Now” by Australia’s Men at Work is one for the books…or maybe TWO for the books..or maybe three!

Book #1: The music was written by lead singer Colin Hay in a treehouse he and his girlfriend built in the wilderness of New South Wales.

Book #2: In 1981, they were living in a Melbourne neighborhood that had everything from a large Jewish population…to punks and drug pushers. They never knew who might be knocking at their door…and that’s how Colin came up with the title and lyrics.

.”Who Can It Be Now” was included on the group’s debut album, and in 1981, the single was released…but only in Australia, where it reached #2 on the Charts. In 1982, the song was released worldwide, and caught fire in 11 other countries…reaching #1in Israel (of all places). and here in the U.S. on Billboard’s Hot 100.

And Book #3: Arguably, the most unique part of “Who Can It Be Now” is the saxophone riff: something that was originally earmarked only for the chorus–until producer Peter McIan decided it would work throughout the song. Could it BE any catchier?

“Who Can it Be Now” by Men At Work: a Great Song of 1981 down under, and 1982 elsewhere!

For the stories behind nearly 1,300 Great Songs of the ’70s and ‘780s. visit my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MichaelCuuuk/