"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''. The 7" vinyl version has three tracks, which were written by

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Deborah Conway Deborah Ann Conway (born 8 August 1959) is an Australian rock singer-songwriter and guitarist, and had a career as a model and actress. She was a founding member of the 1980s rock band Do-Ré-Mi with their top-5 hit "Man Overboard". Conway pe ...

, drummer Dorland Bray, bass guitarist Helen Carter and guitarist Stephen Philip. Note: requires user to input song title e.g. MAN OVERBOARD The song is the first Australian hit to include lyrics mentioning

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and

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; it also had no chorus. The single version was produced and engineered by Gavin McKillop. At the 1985 Countdown Music Awards, the song won Best Debut Single.

Details

The version on ''The Waiting Room'' is much faster than the recording released as a single. Some DJs would unwittingly play the EP at

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. Conway said, "We would hear radio DJs playing the song at the wrong speed and I would sound like

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incanting. We'd heard this over and over and started thinking, 'Well, why don't we just slow it down?'" In 2001, Carter recalled the problems Do-Ré-Mi had with their record company over "Man Overboard" for the

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'', "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!'" Conway's memory differed. She said, "I remember it was us not wanting to release it as a single. It was us thinking radio would never play it."

Track listing

All tracks were written by Deborah Conway, Dorland Bray, Helen Carter and Stephen Philip. #"Man Overboard" – 4:08 #"Fish Tank" – 2:43 #"Black Crocodiles" – 3:12

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Personnel

Do-Ré-Mi members *Dorland Bray – drums, percussion, backing vocals *Helen Carter – bass guitar, backing vocals *

–

*Stephen Philip – guitar

Cover versions

* In 2003,

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covered the song as a B-side to their single " Still Real". It featured Do-Re-Mi vocalist

References

{{authority control 1982 songs 1985 debut singles Do-Re-Mi (band) songs Virgin Records singles