{image1}When talking on the phone to Colin Hay, the former front man of the Australian new wave pop group Men at Work, you can tell by the tone of his accented voice that he is a man in a big hurry. The singer/songwriter is getting ready for his extensive North American tour to promote his latest release, "Man @ Work," which brings him to the Miramar Theatre on Mon., Feb. 16.

"(The upcoming tour is) a little daunting," he remarks, "I have a million things to do and I leave tomorrow."

The new album, released on the Nashville-based Compass Records, is a 13-track collection that revisits Men at Work's chart-dominating hits of over 20 years ago in newly-recorded and acoustic versions. Not only does he recall the days of "coming from a land down under" and vegemite sandwiches, he plays with the listener's familiarity of "Who Can It Be Now" and "Overkill" and gives them a dark new spin.

The disc also includes many tracks from Scottish-born Hay's critically praised solo career, which through the years has maintained the same open-ended quizzical songwriting style that made his former band so popular, while displaying his continuing growth and maturity as a songwriter.

"I never stopped playing (the Men at Work songs) live," he explains, "Compass Records asked, 'Would you consider a compilation?' It was the perfect opportunity for me to connect the past with the present. Most people aren't familiar with my present."

Beginning with his 1987 album "Looking for Jack," with the title track inspired by a chance meeting with Jack Nicholson ("It was literally two sentences long," Hay recalls, "In 1986, he seemed to symbolize what people were looking for. It's a bit of an illusion."), he has releases quite a number of solo works that are like ghosts that "appear and fade away" from the public's eye.

These albums probably fade away more quickly than the 50-year-old would like. Despite the 10 million copies Men at Work's "Business As Usual" sold, it's been hard finding distribution for Hay's one-man record label Lazy Eye Records. His 2002 disc "Company of Strangers" has never received a proper release, even though he has said in an Australian newspaper that "it's the best thing I have ever come up with." It's only been available through the Internet or at one of Hay's solo performances.

"'Company of Strangers' was quite an elaborately arranged album, but for some reason it didn't see the light of day," explains Hay, "I still have high hopes. I just play the cards that are dealt me."

But lately it seems Hay has been playing his cards well. After reuniting with saxophonist/flutist Greg Ham for the successful Men at Work 1996 sold-out Brazilian tour (immortalized in the group's 1998 album "Brazil"), Hay's solo work has been popping up in the television shows "Dawson's Creek" and "Judging Amy." He has also acted in the Australian films "Cosi," with Toni Collette, and "Heaven's Burning," alongside Oscar winner Russell Crowe. Last year, he toured with Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band. Recently, he also had the pleasure of saying his wedding vows to Latin American "SalSoul" queen Cecilia Noel.

However, his most high-profile gig occurred when the familiar sounds of "Overkill" once again filled television speakers as Hay appeared in the premiere episode of the second season of the hit NBC sitcom "Scrubs." There he played the popular and personal hit as a cadaver in a dream sequence of actor Zach Braff's character.

Wherever Hay appears, his audiences welcome him with open arms. His shows have gained a reputation of being riveting and intoxicating affairs, with humorous stories often told and converting new fans everywhere he appears. There is joy that can be heard in every song.

While many people find that Hay's back catalog is trapped forever in the '80s, whenever he performs those songs now, they display a timelessness that wasn't apparent when they made their debut over 20 years ago.

His life so far seems to be summed up in a song from his album "Going Somewhere" titled "Waiting for My Real Life to Begin." He sings that "any minute now, my ship is coming in/I'll keep checking the horizon." Having a rich life filled with both sorrow and happiness, can Hay stop waiting for his real life to begin?

"I keep checking the horizon, but I can see the ship," he says proudly, "Dare I say, I feel the best is yet to come. I take great delight in every small achievement."

His one regret: "I regret giving up piano because I wanted to play football (soccer)."

As the conversation comes to a close, I ask Hay, "Is there anything I may have missed?"

"You've probably missed a million things, but that's all right. You probably got everything that you needed."

It would seem that music fans have also missed a million things when it comes to the work of Colin Hay. However, it's never too late to become reacquainted.

Colin Hay will be performing an acoustic show at the Miramar Theatre with Milwaukee band On A Sun on Mon., Feb. 16. For more information, please visit www.colinhay.com.