INXS defined an era with their infectious blend of new wave energy, rock intensity, and funk-driven grooves that made them one of the most successful Australian bands in history. Led by the charismatic and tragically departed Michael Hutchence, INXS crafted a sound that was simultaneously radio-friendly and artistically ambitious, bridging the gap between underground credibility and mainstream dominance. Their catalog spans electrifying dance-rock anthems, sultry ballads, and experimental sonic adventures that showcased a band unafraid to evolve. These twenty tracks represent the pinnacle of INXS’s artistic achievements, capturing their ability to make people move while delivering genuine emotional depth and musical sophistication.
“Need You Tonight” – The Minimalist Masterpiece
This 1987 smash from Kick remains INXS’s signature achievement, built on one of the most hypnotic guitar riffs in rock history. Andrew Farriss crafted the lean, funky groove in just five minutes during a studio session, proving that simplicity often trumps complexity when the hook is undeniable. Michael Hutchence’s vocal delivery exudes confident sensuality, each word dripping with swagger as the minimalist production allows his charisma to dominate completely. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for a week in January 1988, becoming INXS’s only number-one hit in America while establishing them as global superstars. The track’s structure is deceptively sophisticated—what sounds effortless required masterful restraint, with each element serving the groove without cluttering the sonic space.
“Never Tear Us Apart” – Orchestral Rock Perfection
From the same Kick album that defined 1987, this sweeping ballad showcases INXS’s range beyond dance-rock anthems with lush orchestration and emotional vulnerability. The string arrangements elevate the song into cinematic territory, while Kirk Pengilly’s saxophone solo adds smoky, late-night atmosphere that complements Hutchence’s impassioned vocal performance perfectly. The production by Chris Thomas captures incredible dynamic range—the quiet verses create tension that explodes during the soaring chorus, making this essential listening when evaluating quality audio equipment through our comprehensive compare headphones guide. This track has been covered countless times and featured in numerous films, testament to its enduring emotional power and universal appeal across generations and musical preferences.
“New Sensation” – Pure Adrenaline Rush
Opening with one of rock’s most immediately recognizable drum patterns courtesy of Jon Farriss, this 1987 single radiates infectious energy from first note to final fade. The production layers guitars, keyboards, and brass into a dense but perfectly balanced mix that sounds enormous on quality sound systems while remaining clear and articulate. Hutchence’s vocal melody navigates the complex arrangement with ease, his phrasing creating rhythmic interplay with the instrumental sections that rewards close listening. The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, proving that INXS could craft pop perfection without sacrificing edge or authenticity. Live performances of this track were legendary, with the band stretching sections into extended jams that showcased their instrumental prowess.
“Original Sin” – Nile Rodgers’ Funky Transformation
This 1984 collaboration with legendary producer Nile Rodgers marked INXS’s artistic evolution from new wave hopefuls to sophisticated funk-rock innovators. Rodgers brought his signature Chic-style guitar work and bass grooves, transforming the band’s sound while maintaining their core identity and rock credibility. Daryl Hall’s backing vocals add unexpected soul authenticity, while the lyrical content tackles racial prejudice with directness unusual for mainstream rock of the era. The song became INXS’s first major international hit outside Australia, reaching top ten positions across Europe and establishing them as serious contenders in the global music marketplace. The extended mix reveals even more intricate production details, with layered percussion and horn arrangements that demonstrate Rodgers’ meticulous approach.
“What You Need” – Breakthrough American Success
Released in 1985 from Listen Like Thieves, this track opened American doors for INXS after years of international touring and gradual momentum building. The production by Chris Thomas balances rock guitars with new wave keyboards, creating a sound that fit perfectly into MTV’s mid-80s programming while standing apart from hair metal and synth-pop peers. Hutchence’s vocals convey urgency and desire, his performance making seemingly simple lyrics resonate with genuine emotion and contemporary relevance. The song’s success on both rock and pop radio demonstrated INXS’s crossover appeal—they weren’t easily categorized, which became their greatest commercial asset. The guitar work throughout features clever interplay between rhythm and lead, creating texture without overwhelming the song’s driving momentum.
“Devil Inside” – Dark Commercial Brilliance
From Kick, this 1988 single proved INXS could explore darker thematic territory while maintaining commercial accessibility and chart dominance. The verses build tension through restraint before exploding into a massive chorus that became a stadium-rock staple, with audiences worldwide singing along to Hutchence’s examination of human duality. The production features layered guitars creating wall-of-sound density during choruses while pulling back to sparse, funky verses that highlight the rhythm section’s groove. The song reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100, denied the top spot only by George Michael’s “Faith,” yet its longevity has arguably surpassed that of its chart competition. The music video’s stylized black-and-white cinematography perfectly captured the song’s moody atmosphere and Hutchence’s magnetic screen presence.
“Mystify” – Understated Elegance
Often overlooked in favor of bigger hits, this Kick album track demonstrates INXS’s ability to craft sophisticated pop-rock without relying on obvious hooks or bombastic production. The arrangement breathes beautifully, with space between instruments allowing each element to resonate fully—the clean guitar tones sparkle, the keyboards add atmospheric color without dominating, and the rhythm section propels without pushing. Hutchence’s vocal performance ranks among his finest, conveying romantic obsession with subtlety and genuine vulnerability rather than theatrical excess. The song showcases the band’s maturity and confidence—they didn’t need to oversell every moment, trusting the strength of the composition and performance to carry emotional weight. For those exploring INXS beyond the obvious singles, this track rewards discovery and repeated listening.
“Suicide Blonde” – Post-Kick Triumph
Released in 1990 from X, this funky rocker proved INXS could maintain momentum after their commercial peak with fresh sounds and renewed creative energy. The title came from a comment by Hutchence’s then-girlfriend about wanting to bleach her hair, transforming a casual conversation into rock immortality through clever wordplay. The production by Chris Thomas continues the band’s signature blend of rock guitars and dance rhythms, with prominent bass lines and punchy drums creating irresistible groove. The song topped rock charts worldwide and reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, demonstrating that INXS’s audience remained loyal and engaged. The guitar solo section features some of Tim Farriss’s most expressive work, blending blues-rock phrasing with modern production techniques.
“Disappear” – Atmospheric Perfection
From X, this 1990 single showcases INXS exploring more atmospheric production while maintaining their essential pop sensibilities and commercial appeal. The verses feature haunting keyboard textures and restrained instrumentation that create space for Hutchence’s contemplative vocal delivery about loss and memory. The chorus explodes with emotional release, layered vocals and surging instrumentation providing cathartic power that contrasts beautifully with the verses’ introspection. The song’s production demonstrates masterful dynamic range—it whispers and roars within the same four-minute framework, taking listeners on genuine emotional journeys. This track highlighted the band’s artistic growth beyond straightforward rock anthems into more nuanced songwriting territory.
“By My Side” – Hidden Gem Brilliance
This earlier track from Listen Like Thieves (1985) deserves far more recognition than it receives, featuring some of Hutchence’s most passionate vocal work. The production captures raw energy reminiscent of their live shows, with guitars that crunch and drive while maintaining melodic clarity throughout. The song’s bridge section builds tension masterfully before releasing into a final chorus that feels genuinely triumphant and emotionally satisfying. For fans seeking deeper album cuts that reveal INXS’s complete range, this track exemplifies their ability to balance commercial appeal with artistic integrity. The saxophone work by Kirk Pengilly adds textural interest without feeling dated or overused.
“Don’t Change” – Early Classic Endurance
From 1982’s Shabooh Shoobah, this track became an anthem across Australia and remains one of INXS’s most beloved songs domestically despite limited international chart success initially. The production captures the band’s early new wave influences while hinting at the more sophisticated sound they’d develop throughout the decade. Hutchence’s lyrics address artistic authenticity and resistance to commercial pressure—ironically, the song’s earnest message helped it become a commercial success through genuine connection with audiences. The guitar work features jangly, U2-influenced textures that were contemporary to early-80s alternative rock but remained distinctly INXS through the rhythm section’s funky foundation. Live versions often extended the song into lengthy jam sections showcasing the band’s instrumental chemistry.
“Bitter Tears” – Underappreciated Depth
From 1991’s Live Baby Live album, though originally a studio track from X, this song demonstrates INXS’s ability to craft melancholic ballads without descending into sappiness or manipulation. The production features subtle string arrangements and restrained guitar work that supports rather than overwhelms Hutchence’s vulnerable vocal performance about heartbreak and regret. The chorus melody is immediately memorable yet sophisticated enough to avoid feeling simplistic or overly commercial. This track showcases the band’s maturity—they could deliver emotional content with genuine feeling rather than calculated sentimentality. For listeners wanting to explore INXS’s more introspective material, this song provides perfect entry point into their deeper album tracks.
“Beautiful Girl” – Late-Career Triumph
Released in 1992 from Welcome to Wherever You Are, this track found INXS experimenting with new sounds while maintaining their core strengths and melodic sensibilities. The production incorporates world music influences and unusual instrumentation for the band, including strings and brass arranged in unconventional ways. Hutchence’s vocal delivery conveys warmth and affection, the lyrics celebrating beauty without objectification or shallow focus on physical appearance alone. The song performed well internationally despite INXS facing increased competition from grunge and alternative rock movements that were reshaping mainstream rock. This track proved the band could evolve and experiment without alienating their established fanbase or compromising their essential musical identity.
“Taste It” – Grunge-Era Adaptation
From 1992’s Welcome to Wherever You Are, this harder-edged track demonstrated INXS’s awareness of changing musical landscapes and their willingness to incorporate contemporary influences. The production features heavier guitars and more aggressive drumming than typical INXS fare, acknowledging grunge’s dominance while maintaining the band’s fundamental pop sensibilities. Hutchence’s vocal performance matches the intensity, his delivery more raw and urgent than the smooth confidence of earlier hits. The song succeeded in keeping INXS relevant during an era when many 80s rock acts struggled commercially and critically. The guitar solo section features Tim Farriss pushing into more distorted territory while maintaining melodic focus and compositional logic.
“Listen Like Thieves” – Title Track Excellence
The title track from their 1985 breakthrough album captures INXS at a pivotal moment, transitioning from new wave hopefuls to arena-rock contenders. The production by Chris Thomas established the sonic template the band would perfect on Kick—big drums, layered guitars, prominent keyboards, and Hutchence’s commanding vocals mixed front and center. The song’s arrangement demonstrates sophisticated understanding of dynamics, building from restrained verses into explosive choruses that invite audience participation and create communal experiences. The lyrical content addresses surveillance and paranoia with enough ambiguity to remain relevant across decades. This track often opened their concerts, immediately establishing energy and demonstrating their evolution from club band to stadium act.
“The One Thing” – Funk-Rock Foundation
From 1982’s Shabooh Shoobah, this early hit established INXS’s ability to blend rock guitars with funk rhythms in ways that felt natural rather than forced or calculated. The production by Mark Opitz captures the band’s live energy while adding polish that helped the song succeed on radio formats typically resistant to rock music. The horn section adds authentic funk credentials without overwhelming the rock foundation, striking balance that would become INXS’s signature across multiple albums. The song became the band’s first Australian top ten hit and modest international success, providing momentum that sustained them through years of constant touring. The bassline by Garry Gary Beers ranks among the band’s funkiest, driving the entire track forward with infectious groove.
“Mediate” – Experimental Interlude Genius
This brief interlude from Kick connects “Need You Tonight” and “Mediate” into a seven-minute suite that showcases INXS’s experimental inclinations within commercial framework. The track samples Bo Diddley’s iconic beat while Hutchence delivers rapid-fire stream-of-consciousness lyrics that feel spontaneous and slightly dangerous. The production strips everything to essentials—drums, bass, and vocals—proving that INXS could create compelling music through subtraction rather than addition. This track demonstrated the band’s awareness of hip-hop’s growing influence, incorporating sampling techniques into rock context years before such cross-pollination became standard. The medley format allowed MTV to program both songs together, maximizing exposure and demonstrating creative thinking about music video possibilities.
“Heaven Sent” – Mature Songwriting Peak
From 1992’s Welcome to Wherever You Are, this ballad finds INXS exploring more complex emotional territory with sophisticated production and Hutchence’s most nuanced vocal performance. The arrangement builds gradually, adding layers of instrumentation that accumulate without cluttering, creating sonic crescendo that matches the emotional trajectory. The string arrangements feel organic rather than overdubbed afterthoughts, suggesting careful composition rather than production fixes applied to weak material. This track showcases the band’s growth—they’d moved beyond simple verse-chorus-verse structures into more adventurous compositional territory. For listeners who appreciate when bands explore beyond their established formulas, this song rewards attention and reveals depths missed during casual listening.
“Elegantly Wasted” – Final Album Highlights
The title track from their 1997 final album with Hutchence proves INXS retained creative fire despite lineup changes and industry shifts working against them. The production incorporates electronic elements and modern production techniques without abandoning the band’s rock foundation or attempting desperate trend-chasing. Hutchence’s vocal performance conveys world-weariness and hard-won wisdom, his delivery suggesting experiences that inform rather than merely embellish the lyrics. The song performed respectably on rock radio despite alternative and pop-punk movements dominating mainstream attention. This track serves as fitting testament to INXS’s enduring relevance—they continued creating compelling music regardless of commercial fortunes or critical fashion.
“Kick” – Album Track Excellence
The title track from their commercial breakthrough showcases INXS’s ability to create album-quality material that matched their singles’ excellence and artistic ambition. The production features dynamic shifts from quiet verses to explosive choruses, demonstrating the band’s understanding of tension and release in songwriting. The guitar work throughout ranks among Tim Farriss’s finest, with interlocking rhythm and lead parts creating textural complexity beneath Hutchence’s commanding vocal presence. This track often gets overlooked in favor of obvious singles, yet it exemplifies everything that made Kick one of the decade’s defining albums. For audiophiles testing equipment through our detailed compare earbuds feature, this song’s production quality and dynamic range reveal system capabilities effectively.
“The Stairs” – Deep Album Cut Treasure
From 1987’s Kick, this atmospheric track demonstrates INXS’s willingness to experiment with song structure and production techniques beyond standard rock formulas. The arrangement features unusual instrumentation choices and production effects that create dreamy, almost psychedelic soundscapes while maintaining the band’s essential identity. Hutchence’s vocal delivery is more restrained and contemplative than his typical commanding presence, showing his range as performer and interpretive abilities. The song rewards headphone listening, with subtle production details and spatial effects that disappear when played casually through computer speakers. For those exploring INXS’s complete catalog beyond greatest hits compilations, this track provides satisfying discovery and demonstrates the depth found throughout their albums.
For fans wanting to explore these songs and discover more essential tracks from Australia’s greatest rock export, check out our comprehensive songs category for curated playlists and in-depth artist analyses. INXS’s influence extends far beyond these twenty tracks, but they represent the core of their artistic achievements and cultural impact across three decades of creating music that moved bodies and stirred emotions simultaneously.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is INXS’s most popular song?
“Need You Tonight” stands as INXS’s most commercially successful and culturally significant single, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1988 and remaining their only chart-topper in America. The song’s minimalist funk-rock groove, built around Andrew Farriss’s hypnotic guitar riff and Michael Hutchence’s seductive vocals, captured the late-80s zeitgeist perfectly while transcending its era through timeless appeal. Beyond chart performance, the track achieved cultural permanence through constant radio play, inclusion in films and television shows, and recognition across demographics who might never explore INXS’s deeper catalog. The accompanying music video, with its stylized black-and-white cinematography and visual references to Bob Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” became an MTV staple that amplified the song’s impact. This track demonstrated that INXS could create mainstream pop perfection without compromising their rock credibility or artistic vision.
Which INXS album should I listen to first?
Kick (1987) remains the essential starting point for anyone discovering INXS, containing their biggest hits and representing their artistic and commercial peak simultaneously. The album spent four weeks at number three on the Billboard 200 and eventually sold over ten million copies worldwide, producing four top ten singles including “Need You Tonight,” “Devil Inside,” “New Sensation,” and “Never Tear Us Apart.” Producer Chris Thomas captured the band at their creative zenith, balancing rock energy with pop accessibility, funk grooves with new wave sensibilities, creating a cohesive album that works as both singles collection and complete listening experience. The production quality remains exceptional decades later, making this ideal for audiophiles wanting to appreciate INXS’s sonic sophistication. After Kick, listeners should explore Listen Like Thieves (1985) to hear the band developing their signature sound, then X (1990) to experience their post-peak evolution and continued creative vitality.
Why was Michael Hutchence such an iconic frontman?
Michael Hutchence possessed rare combination of vocal talent, physical charisma, and genuine artistic vision that separated him from typical rock frontmen of his era. His vocal range allowed him to whisper intimate verses then explode into powerful choruses within single songs, demonstrating technical control married to emotional authenticity. His stage presence was magnetic yet never felt calculated or manufactured—he genuinely connected with audiences while maintaining the mystery and danger that defined great rock stars. His songwriting contributions extended beyond vocals into lyrical content that addressed mature themes with poetic sensibility rather than cliché rock posturing. Hutchence’s tragic death in 1997 at age 37 robbed music of one of its most compelling performers during what should have been his mature artistic period. His influence on subsequent generations of rock frontmen remains evident in performers who prioritize authenticity, sexuality, and genuine emotional connection over mere technical proficiency.
How did INXS’s sound evolve throughout their career?
INXS began as new wave-influenced rock band in the late 1970s, featuring jangly guitars and prominent keyboards typical of post-punk Australian bands. Their early albums like The Swing (1984) showed experimentation with funk elements, particularly after collaborating with Nile Rodgers on “Original Sin,” which transformed their approach to rhythm and groove. Listen Like Thieves (1985) established the template they’d perfect on Kick—rock guitars, dance rhythms, pop hooks, and Hutchence’s commanding vocals mixed into arena-ready productions. After Kick‘s massive success, X (1990) continued this approach while incorporating more atmospheric production and sophisticated arrangements. Their 1990s albums Welcome to Wherever You Are and Full Moon, Dirty Hearts saw experimentation with world music influences, orchestral arrangements, and alternative rock textures, demonstrating artistic restlessness despite commercial pressures to repeat earlier formulas. Their final album with Hutchence, Elegantly Wasted (1997), incorporated electronic elements and modern production techniques while maintaining rock foundation.
What made INXS different from other 80s rock bands?
INXS distinguished themselves through their unique fusion of rock energy, funk grooves, and pop accessibility that never felt forced or calculated like many contemporaries’ attempts at crossover success. While hair metal bands prioritized guitar solos and power ballads, and synth-pop acts emphasized keyboards and programmed drums, INXS balanced all elements into cohesive sound that transcended genre limitations. Their Australian origins gave them outsider perspective on American and British music scenes, allowing them to synthesize influences without being bound by regional expectations or industry conventions. The rhythm section of Garry Gary Beers, Jon Farriss, and Andrew Farriss created grooves that were genuinely funky rather than rock-by-numbers, giving their music rhythmic sophistication that separated them from straightforward rock peers. Michael Hutchence’s vocals conveyed sexuality and vulnerability simultaneously, avoiding the cartoonish machismo dominating much 80s rock. Their willingness to experiment with producers from different musical backgrounds—from Nile Rodgers to Chris Thomas to Mark Opitz—demonstrated openness to evolution rather than protective attachment to established formulas.