Man Overboard (Do-Re-Mi song)

"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]

"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" (1985) "Idiot Grin" (1986)

The song is the first Australian hit to include lyrics mentioning 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]

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 33+1⁄3 rpm. Conway said, "We would hear radio DJs playing the song at the wrong speed and I would sound like Nick Cave incanting. We'd heard this over and over and started thinking, 'Well, why don't we just slow it down?'"^[9]

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!'"^[10] 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."^[9]

Track listing

All tracks were written by Deborah Conway, Dorland Bray, Helen Carter and Stephen Philip.^[3]

1. "Man Overboard" – 4:08
2. "Fish Tank" – 2:43
3. "Black Crocodiles" – 3:12

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Man Overboard"

Chart (1985)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[11][12]	5

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Man Overboard"

Chart (1985)	Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[11]	42

Personnel

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

• In 2003, george covered the song as a B-side to their single "Still Real". It featured Do-Re-Mi vocalist Deborah Conway.