During 1984 the band took a break as members pursued other interests. Upon reconvening later that year, tensions during rehearsals between Hay and Speiser over songwriting and the band's management led to a split in the band. Both Rees and Speiser were told they were "not required", as Hay, Ham and Strykert used session musicians in their stead: primarily Jeremy Alsop on bass guitar and Mark Kennedy on drums. Strykert, though credited as a full band member on the finished album, left the group shortly before the album sessions ended, appearing on eight of the ten tracks. Two Hearts was produced by Hay and Ham. It was a critical and commercial failure compared to their previous albums. It peaked at No. 16 in Australia, and No. 50 on the US chart. Four tracks were released as singles, "Everything I Need", "Man with Two Hearts", "Maria", and "Hard Luck Story" ; only the lead single charted in Australia and the US. The album relied heavily on drum machines and synthesisers, and reduced the presence of Ham's saxophone, giving it a different feel compared to its predecessors.
Reception
Two Hearts received poor reviews upon its release. In a brief retrospective review, Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine called it "a bland, synthesized variation on mainstream pop, featuring none of the melodic sensibilities or subtle humor of their first two albums."
Tour
Hay and Ham hired new band mates to tour in support of Two Hearts, with Alsop and Kennedy joined by James Black on guitar and keyboards. Soon after a third guitarist, Colin Bayley, was added and Kennedy was replaced on drums by Chad Wackerman. Australian singers Kate Ceberano and Renée Geyer had also worked on the album and performed live as guest vocalists. On 13 July 1985 Men at Work performed three tracks for the Oz for Africa concert —"Maria", "Overkill", and an unreleased one, "The Longest Night". They were broadcast in Australia and on MTV in the US. "Maria" and "Overkill" were also broadcast by American Broadcasting Company during their Live Aid telecast. Ham left during the band's time touring behind the album. The final Men at Work performances during 1985 had jazz saxophonistPaul Williamson, replacing Ham. By early 1986 the band was defunct and Hay started recording his first solo album, Looking for Jack, which had Alsop and Wackerman as session musicians.
Track listing
Personnel
;Men at Work
Greg Ham - keyboards; saxophone; drum programming on "Giving Up", "Snakes and Ladders", and "Still Life"; lead vocals on "Giving Up", "Stay at Home", and "Still Life"; backing vocals on "Everything I Need"
Colin Hay - acoustic guitar; electric guitar ; drum programming ; lead vocals ; backing vocals; additional keyboards and marimba on "Man With Two Hearts"; electric sitar on "Maria"; bass and piano on "Hard Luck Story"; drums on "Everything I Need" and "Hard Luck Story"
Ron Strykert - electric and steel guitars ; acoustic guitar on "Maria"; bass on "Man With Two Hearts"
