Man Overboard (Do-Re-Mi song)
| "Man Overboard" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 7" single cover | ||||
| Single by Do-Ré-Mi | ||||
| from the album Domestic Harmony | ||||
| A-side | "Man Overboard" | |||
| B-side | "Fish Tank", "Black Crocodiles" | |||
| Released | May 1985 | |||
| Recorded | Sydney, 1985 | |||
| Genre | New wave | |||
| Length | 4:08 | |||
| Label | Virgin Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Deborah Conway, Dorland Bray, Helen Carter, Stephen Philip | |||
| Producer(s) | Gavin MacKillop | |||
| Do-Ré-Mi singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Man Overboard" is a song by Australian rock/pop group Do-Ré-Mi recorded in 1982 for the EP The Waiting Room. The song was re-recorded in 1985 and released in May 1985 as the lead single from the group's debut studio album, Domestic Harmony.[1][2] The 7" vinyl version has three tracks, which were written by lead vocalist Deborah Conway, drummer Dorland Bray, bass guitarist Helen Carter and guitarist Stephen Philip.[3][4]
The song is the first Australian hit to include lyrics referring to anal humour, penis envy and pubic hair;[1] it also had no chorus.[5][6][7] The single version was produced and engineered by Gavin McKillop.[1]
At the 1985 Countdown Music Awards, the song won Best Debut Single.[8]
In 2001, Carter recalled the problems Do-Ré-Mi had with their record company over "Man Overboard" for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation TV series Long Way to the Top, "There was a real hit-maker mentality ... people would say 'It can't be a hit – it doesn't have a chorus... You're talking about pubic hair, oh my God!'"[9]
Track listing[edit]
All tracks were written by Deborah Conway, Dorland Bray, Helen Carter and Stephen Philip.[3]
- "Man Overboard" – 4:08
- "Fish Tank" – 2:43
- "Black Crocodiles" – 3:12
Charts[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[10][11] | 5 |
Year-end charts[edit]
| Chart (1985) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[10] | 42 |
Personnel[edit]
Do-Ré-Mi members
- Dorland Bray – drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Helen Carter – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Deborah Conway – lead vocalist
- Stephen Philip – guitar
Cover versions[edit]
- In 2003, george covered the song as a B-side to their single "Still Real". It featured Do-Re-Mi vocalist Deborah Conway.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Do-Ré-Mi'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2. Archived from the original on 30 September 2004. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
- ^ Nimmervoll, Ed. "Do-Ré-Mi". HowlSpace – The Living History of Our Music (Ed Nimmervoll). Archived from the original on 26 July 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ a b "Australasian Performing Right Association". APRA. Archived from the original on 5 December 2007. Retrieved 14 October 2008. Note: requires user to input song title e.g. MAN OVERBOARD
- ^ Holmgren, Magnus. "Do-Ré-Mi". Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
- ^ "Long Way to the Top article on Helen Carter". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
- ^ "Deborah Conway Official website". Deborah Conway. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
- ^ Harris, Anna (30 January 2004). "Deborah Conway – still alive and brilliant". Archived from the original on 14 May 2006. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
- ^ "Australian Music Awards". Ron Jeff. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
- ^ "Helen Carter video interview for Long Way to the Top". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
- ^ a b "Kent Music Report No 599 – 30 December 1985 > National Top 100 Singles for 1985". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 23 January 2023 – via Imgur.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 91. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
