"Touching the Untouchables" from Men At Work's 1981 debut album Business As Usual opens with an electric guitar solo from Ron Strykert, setting a darker, more intense tone than many of the album's other tracks. Written by Colin Hay and Strykert, the song is performed in D-flat minor at 146 BPM with a rock feel. Strykert's guitar work is characterized by a more aggressive approach than his typically clean, jangly style, reflecting the song's heavier thematic content. The track demonstrates the depth of the album beyond its well-known singles, revealing a band capable of musical darkness alongside their trademark wit and catchiness. Business As Usual remains one of the best-selling debut albums in rock history, and deep cuts like this one reward listeners who explore beyond the hits. Strykert was an essential but sometimes underappreciated member of Men At Work, his guitar providing the harmonic and rhythmic backbone over which Hay's vocals and Ham's saxophone could operate. The Melbourne-based band had developed their sound through years of live performance, and the tightness of the ensemble on tracks like this reflects that experience. The album's producer, Peter McIan, helped translate the band's live energy into a studio recording that captured their dynamic range.
