Ten Of The Best: INXS
In my teens there was a handful of bands I listened to constantly. If it wasn’t U2 it would be Big Country, Simple Minds or INXS.
The Aussie six piece were brought to my attention for no other reason than a girl – what else? As it turned out my schoolboy crush had decent taste in music and I was hooked after one play of bands 1984 album The Swing.
That was swiftly recorded and exchanged for Listen Like Thieves and so began my obsession for all things INXS. I wasn’t just a record buyer, more of a collector.
If a band I was into released a single or album I bought every edition I could get my hands on. Back in the eighties you’d get endless limited editions that included picture discs, double pack 7 inch singles, and various other formats. I would buy them all including the German, US and Australian 12″ imports. All of which I still own to this day.
As I write this now I’m playing the Listen Like Thieves album and some 25 years on and hearing it for the God knows how many thousandth time I’m still enjoying what I hear. I bet everyone over 25 reading this could pull out an album from their teens and feel the exact same way as I do now.
After Michael Hutchence passed away in 1997 INXS were no more for me. INXS weren’t INXS without Michael. It’s just a pity the remaining members of the band didn’t feel the same way as me.
So here in no particular order are my ten favourite INXS singles.
Never Tear Us Apart – 1988 – Kick
I was never a ballad track type of guy so Never Tear Us Apart wasn’t instantly appealing but it happened to be sandwiched between two tracks I loved. I was to lazy to move the needle on the record so it grew on me quickly.
Suicide Blonde – 1990 – X
To be honest Suicide Blonde wasn’t one of the bands best efforts and only made the list because at the time of it’s release there had been no new material in three years following their world wide explosion that came with the Kick album.
After three years INXS fans sucked up whatever the band released and Suicide Blonde it was.
Kiss the Dirt (Falling Down the Mountain) – 1986 – Listen Like Thieves
Kiss the Dirt comes close to being my top choice – some days it would be my #1 pick, others it wouldn’t. Top five for sure!!
Listen Like Thieves – 1986 – Listen Like Thieves
The video below of the band performing Listen Like Thieves is taken from The Best Of The Tube – the show where Michael met and fell in lust with Paula Yates.
Would he have died if he’d never met her? A million dollar question no one has the answer too.
Need You Tonight – 1987 – Kick
Need You Tonight was the only single of the band’s to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also achieved their highest peak at number two on the UK Singles Chart when it was re-released in 1988 following the success of the singles Devil Inside and New Sensation.
It’s probably the track most people would answer if you asked them to name an INXS song.
New Sensation – 1988 – Kick
The UK record company went nuts with New Sensation releasing all sorts of limited editions including a 12″ Poster sleeve which I was lucky enough to get signed by all six members when I met them on a cold rainy February afternoon in 1988 at the Glasgow Barrowlands as they left the soundcheck.
All the guys were cool and were more than happy to sign all the goodies I’d taken along. There was only me and my mate there and I think they took pity on us cos we were soaked to the skin.
That gig was rocking and probably one of the best I’ve been to.
Disappear – 1990 – X
Disappear was a little different but it was catchy as hell.
Beautiful Girl – 1993 – Full Moon, Dirty Hearts
Beautiful Girl was last single that INXS released that I really liked. Everything after this didn’t do it for me. Maybe I’d grown up, grwon out of it or the band had just changed too much.
Beautiful Girl was the only track on the entire Full Moon, Dirty Hearts I liked.
Original Sin – 1984 – The Swing
Original Sin is raw INXS and it’s another top five tune for me. Unfortunately the quality of the video below is poor and doesn’t show the song for what it is when played on a decent sound system.
What You Need – 1986 – Listen Like Thieves
What You Need became the band’s first American Top Ten hit, peaking at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
Even listening to it now, I’m loving it.
Did I miss one of your favourites? If so why not share it with everyone in the comments below.
Posted on January 26, 2010 | Filed Under Music
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