INXS • The Swing

My love for Aussie music is nothing new. In 1982, I discovered a really cool Australian band when I heard the song, Don't Change. I was reminded of them when I saw the news they had a new lead singer, Ciaran Gribbon. I will admit I was not the slightest bit interested in the collaboration with Rock Star: INXS winner J.D. Fortune, but will be interested in checking out the sound with Gribbon. But what I remember is the bold statement the music of INXS made almost 30 years ago, and how I just immediately responded to it. So I was quite excited in 1984 when they released The Swing. I immediately had to go out and buy it!



Of course, INXS were Garry Gary Beers, Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss, Tim Farriss, Kirk Pengilly, and Michael Hutchence. In fact, save for the late Hutchence, they are still together. Sexy, smart and bold, INXS had it all going on. All the boys were easy on the eyes, and had a smooth and easy personae that was quite sexy. Take a look at the first single off The Swing, Original Sin.



Somehow, they managed to take on religion and racial politics all the while remaining sultry. They maintained a Rock edge with the strong guitars, and the growl of Michael Hutchence's vocals. And for the second single, I Send A Message, the boys brought out a Pop sound that had a raw edge, with the driving guitar and sexy sax pushing the sound.



The next single, Burn For You, was a hot and sultry love song. Of course, there was a certain point when you had to admit everything Hutchence sang was given a sexy sheen by his involvement.



There is a sweet beginning to the final single off The Swing, Dancing On The Jetty. As the song builds in the first minute or so, you get a bit more, as the layered production comes together. The song moved from sweet tune to a motion for the youth to come together for world peace. And some great musical licks along the way.



For more about the band, check out their official website here. You can also find them on Facebook here, and on Twitter here. You can find their music on all the music sites. To purchase The Swing, go to iTunes here or Amazon here.

New Followers - #100 & 101

I have to say, hitting the century mark with followers is quite amazing to me. And knowing who is #100 made it all the more special. If that wasn't great enough, there was #101, whom I hadn't known at all until she had recently commented on a post, and opted to stick around. I am liking this!

First, the 100th follower for Soundtrack to my Day is Paul Bright, the handsome and talented writer/director/actor/producer/whatever-the-hell-else-he-wants-to-do. Paul heads up Silly Bunny Pictures, whose movies have been featured here on this blog, including Angora Ranch, Theft, and Aaron...Albeit A Sex Hero. I get all warm and fuzzy at the thought Paul is following me here on the blog, it is such a compliment! You can catch Paul at the website for Silly Bunny Pictures here, his Facebook page here, or the his blog here. You can visit my latest post here and see trailers for all his films.

The addition of the 101st follower is also heartwarming. S'A stopped by, left a comment, and has continued to return. She is a 40-something blogger with two interesting blogs, Bratwurst Times and Life in Altamont. She makes her home in Illinois with her family. Stop by her blogs and tell her 'hello!'

As is the tradition, I have picked out a video to welcome the new members. I decided to go with INXS from Live Aid. They beamed in from Sidney, Australia, playing at the Oz Arena. In this clip, they sing What You Need and Don't Change, two fantastic songs! And one can never watch enough of the late Michael Hutchence performing, you know?

Worth Another Listen INXS Part 5

As I said in the earlier post, Kick was released in 1987, following up on the success of Listen Like Thieves. Michael Hutchence, Garry Gary Beers, Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss, Tim Farriss and Kirk Pengilly were on top of their game, playing hard and sweet, while certainly registering their own sexuality in the mix. They already had chart toppers with Need You Tonight/Mediate, Devil Inside and New Sensation, but this album was far from quiet.

The fourth single off Kick was Never Tear Us Apart, which topped out at #7 the Billboard Single chart, but went to #5 on the Rock Single Chart.



All along, INXS had a reputation for being an amazing live act, putting on great shows in their native Australia that were legendary, and soon bringing that same excitement to stages across the world as their popularity grew. The next single was Kick, another rocker that reminded me the term rock and roll was originally a euphemism for sex, cause the rock songs were bold and sexy songs, especially with Michael Hutchence taking the lead.



Mystify was the sixth single released, and it went top 20 on the Billboard Rock charts, completing the sweep of 6 of the 12 songs on Kick making the Billboard charts in the US. Mystify mixed a bit of the blues in with the rock to make the single a strong one.



At this point, INXS was ruling the airwaves, putting out great music that was being played in the clubs and on Rock radio. You can find out more about INXS at the official website here.

Worth Another Listen INXS Part 4

The album Kick was released in 1987, following up on the success of Listen Like Thieves. It was every bit as bold, and lead singer Michael Hutchence flexed his sexuality even more, if that was possible. His swagger and confidence was just so great, both while singing and dancing. Make no mistake, Hutchence was not there on his own, as bandmates Garry Gary Beers, Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss, Tim Farriss and Kirk Pengilly were on top of their game, playing hard and sweet, while certainly registering their own sexuality in the mix.

The first single off Kick was Need You Tonight/Mediate. The song brilliantly ranged form sexy whisper to a shouting chorus defining the need for sex tonight, all played over a driving guitar and bass line. Need You Tonight segues into Mediate, a hypnotic near-chant with a driving beat and the jazz-horns pointing out the need for 'sex ornate' and to 'liberate.' The song topped the US Billboard charts, and the video played non-stop on MTV[back when it played music].



Next out was Devil Inside, and both the song and video explores the predatory nature of looking for sex, and how those on the prowl handle the devil inside, and how the world looks on it all. This one fell a little short, topping out #2 on the Billboard charts, keeping INXS in the forefront of the music scene.



Next out was New Sensation, a more ball-out rocker that let the boys cut loose. The video reminded us they were a good-looking bunch of Aussie lads, all having a great time playing fantastic music. New Sensation made it to #3 on the US charts, still making INXS a strong force in music.



Kick had enough great songs and hits to warrant another installment for the Kick album, coming soon. You can find out more about INXS at the official website here.

Worth Another Listen - INXS - Part 3

The year was 1985, and things were going nowhere up up for INXS. On the heels of the platinum sales of The Swing, they released Listen Like Thieves, a rock/pop masterpiece of sexy, driving beats that were danceable and alluring. I swear after seeing the videos I would have a cold shower or a cigarette. Singer Michael Hutchence had such a swagger going on, and his was on top of the vocals. Bandmates bassist Garry Gary Beers, keyboardist Andrew Farriss, drummer Jon Farriss, lead guitarist Tim Farriss and guitarist/saxophonist Kirk Pengilly were also looking damn good, all seeming to take the the rock star thing seriously, dressing and styling to look the part.



The first single off the album was This Time, which barely made it into the US Top 100, at #81. The second single, however, was an entirely other case. What You Need, with the brace of Michael's voice and the electric guitar to open to the drum driven kick of into the song, to the video with Hutchence sporting a leather jacket and spandex tights, and the innovated editing and used of animation, it all just came together. The song soared up to #5 on the charts in the US, to #2 in Australia.



The fourth single was the title track, a post-apocalyptic world with a less than cleansed band speaking to a new world order. Hutchence slithered around the stage like Mick Jagger for the new world, with a heightened and more ambiguous sexuality and stronger dance groove. The video was in heavy rotation on MTV, and seemed like it was a bigger hit than the #54 on the charts would represent.



The album went double platinum, and solidified INXS as a band everyone needed to keep an eye on. You can find out more about INXS at the official website here.

Worth Another Listen - INXS - Part 2

OK, in Part 2, I thought I would move on to The Swing, released in 1984, the fourth studio album for the band. It was a huge success in their native Australia, but met with only minor success in the US. However, it did get some airplay, and I certainly remember hearing several of the songs and rushing out to buy it. I was, however, already a fan after Shabooh Shoobah. The first single was Original Sin, a strong song that rode the line between rock and dance, and tackled civil rights and prejudice.



The second single was I Send A Message, with as much soul and swing as any tune could. It is a basic funk line played by a rock band. The following is the studio video, introduced by some boys on there video showcase.

INXS - I Send a Message - The best video clips are here

All in all, the band put out 10 studio albums thru 1997, when Michael Hutchence was found dead. This was the fourth. It hinted at the success to come. You can find out more about INXS at the official website here.

Worth Another Listen - INXS Part 1

There is just no way I could cover my love for INXS in one post, so I thought I would do a multiple posts over time to move through some of my favorite songs. I remember first hearing the song Don't Change, and thinking they had a great sound, and lead singer Michael Hutchence was electrifying and sexy. That was back in 1982, 27 years ago. And I still feel the same way. I have most of the albums released by the Australian band. At least all of them with Michael Hutchence on lead vocal.

INXS-Don't Change


Their sound was unbridled and unabashed. They never shied away from the sensuality of their music, nor their rock 'n roll root. Besides Hutchence, the band included three brothers, Andrew, Jon and Tim Farriss, and Garry Gary Beers and Kirk Pengilly. The album was Shabooh Shoobah, and the other single was The One Thing.

INXS - The One Thing (Remastered Audio) - The best home videos are here

The band stayed together as a tight unit until 1997, when Michael Hutchence was found dead. But more on that at a later date. You can find out more about INXS at the official website here.