During the 1980s, I was watching/listening to MTV, and INXS was one of the top bands they played. They always had an energy about them and some good, solid rock songs, which I appreciated at the time and still do!
They formed in 1977 in Australia and first called themselves The Farriss Brothers (because of the brothers in the band…Andrew and Jon Farriss). They picked the name INXS in 1979, a name that looked like a logo and sounded like a radio station. They were young and already aiming past the local scene. They went on until 1997 when lead singer Michael Hutchence passed away. After that, they had some guest singers, but it just didn’t work.
In 1985, this single was released from the album Listen Like Thieves.
By the time they recorded this album, Listen Like Thieves , they’d already proven they could write catchy singles. They were looking for the perfect balance between rock and dance-floor music. This song lands right in that lane. It’s built on a tight riff and a rhythm you can’t miss. They made it lean, and they made it hit.
A big part of the story is producer Chris Thomas, the guy who’d worked with everyone from the Sex Pistols to Roxy Music to Pretenders. Thomas helped INXS refine the sound, ensuring the songs had space and punch without sacrificing their edge. It’s not too glossy; you can still hear the band playing like a band. The mix keeps the groove upfront where it belongs.
The song peaked at #5 on the Billboard 100, #21 in Canada, #14 in New Zealand, and #51 in the UK in 1985. Listen Like Thieves peaked at #11 on the Billboard Album Charts, #24 in Canada, #4 in New Zealand, and #48 in the UK.
Altogether, they had 12 studio albums, 4 live, and 71 singles!
What You Need
Hey,
here is the story
Forget about the trouble in life
Don’t you know,
it’s not easy
When you gotta walk upon that line
That’s why –
You need
That’s why –
This is what you need
I’ll give you what you need
Don’t you
get sad and lonely
You need a change from
What you do all day
Ain’t no sense in
all your crying
Just pick it up
and throw it into shape
Ugh Yeah.
That’s why – That’s why
This is what you need
I’ll give you what you need
OH, oh,
YEAH, yeah
No, no, no
HEY
Hey you,
won’t you listen
This is not the end of it all
Don’t you see there
is a rhythm
I’ll take you where you
Really need to be
Ugh Yeah.
Give you what you need
Saxo
Rick X
….
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Loved ’em!
I loved INXS too, one of the most exciting live acts I’ve seen, Michael Hutchence was an amazing front man and the pounding sound wonderful. They did this one of course.
I hope the blizzard ebbs and electricity returns soon! That’s not a good combination!
I bet they were something to see live… yea he have no electricity right now…I’m using my phone as a hot spot.
Total respect for the talent and some pretty great songs. That said they were never a band I got into. But I remember this tune very well.
71 singles!? That’s wild. They remind me a wee bit of the Pretenders you mentioned in there, but with a male lead obviously. Lately I’ve grown to appreciate their ’90s material more than I did back then, I’d kind of lost interest after the big ‘Kick’ album.
My appreciation grew as well…I like that they stood out from other bands…and he was a great frontman for sure.
The gals sure did like Hutchence! Oddly I like early stuff like ‘The Original Sin’ and later stuff like ‘Not enough time’ more than their ten-million selling Kick and ‘Need you tonight’ etc
We are cold and bored LOL…but anyway….what is the song Dave that they had where the video is at a table and they are eating?
unlike a lot of my friends I had always been a fan …. I entered the INXS sphere with the Swing and the song Original Sin…..Suicide Blonde…sooo gooood
They did have some great ones…and he was a great front man.
Great tune! 😎✨
That live cut sounds good. Again always liked this tune among others. Good write up.
Thanks CB…I’ve listened to more and more recently…they have a lot of good rockers.
They work the sax in which works. he has a great sound.
The sax had a comeback in the 80s with Springsteen and others…I was happy to see that.
Yeah I have some stuff for you that fits that perfectly. The sax on this has an edge/bite and it works.
Very good group. They were one of the bright spots in 80s music. A shame about Hutchence.
Yes it is a shame about him.
Never heard this one, its a bit tougher than the INXS songs I’m familiar with.
This one I knew so well because of MTV….they played them constantly.
I have heard about INXS, but I didn’t know much about them. The fans sure get into their music on that first video.
They are good…they had some loud guitar in the 80s when it wasn’t as fashionable.
INXS had some cool and funky songs and a compelling frontman with Michael Hutchence. I got to see them once during a large open air concert in Germany in the early ’90s (“Rock am Ring”). They gave a pretty good show and were one of the headliners. The other biggie was Sting.
They really did…I liked the loud guitar as well…they had it all and yes…Hutchence was a great frontman for sure…
Hutchence definitely projected charisma during that live gig where I got the see INXS.
Thats cool that you got to see them
Of course they were big here. Hutchence and Jimmy Barnes (a sort of Australian Joe Cocker) type shouter had a huge hit with ‘Good Times,’ if you haven’t heard it you might like it- they both tear their larynxes out!
I’ll check out Jimmy Barnes…that name is familiar!
Great song
Thank you Sheree