This time - INXS

Only in the UK you would have double single packages, sometimes at the price of a single 7", featuring extra tracks that made the purchase of a certain future hit that much more attractive. This 'two record set' of INXS's 'This time' is a great attractive, as it features two extended versions of previous singles plus a glossy gatefold sleeve. What's not to like?

'This time' was taken from INXS's fifth studio album 'Listen like thieves' (1985). The album was a charttopper in Australia and did fairly well in Canada and the USA, as well as peaking at number 46 in the UK albums chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5452
Found: unknown
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'This time' / 'Original sin (extended version)' //  'Burn for you (extended remix)' / 'Dancing on the jetty'

Devil inside - INXS

The Australian band INXS had their biggest success with the 1987 album 'Kick'. The immortal 'Need you tonight' was taken from that album, but also 'Never tear us apart', 'New sensation' and this one: 'Devil inside'. In the UK, the sales were stimulated with a limited edition pack containing six colour postcard, each featuring a member of the band.

I was always aware of this limited edition so I never bought the single until I saw it last weekend. I could have bought it back in 1988, but at the time, there were so many good records and not so much money to go around. These days it's almost the other way around...

My collection: 7" single no. 5311
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 14, 2012
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Devil inside' / 'On the rocks'

Baby don't cry - INXS

The Australian band INXS released many albums, but 'Welcome to wherever you are' is their best, in my opinion. I bought all of the single releases at the time - although in the age of cd-singles the 7" single sometimes slipped through. I was very surprised to find that I didn't have 'Baby don't cry' on 7" vinyl, an omission I finally managed to rectify today.

Besides the storming A-side track, there's also an instrumental version of the album track 'Questions' on the B-side. Instrumental versions usually aren't much cop, but with the varied instrumentation on this one, it's worth a spin or two.

My collection: 7" single no. 5001
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 29, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Baby don't cry' / 'Questions (instrumental)'

Need you tonight - INXS

'Need you tonight' is one of those singles I never bought because by the time it was into the charts I was already sick of it. It must have been one of the most played tracks of 1987 and even now when INXS is remembered, it's usually for this song - although they have recorded much more interesting tracks before and after this.

This 'special magic pack' is an attractive collectors item, however. It consists of a set of square 7" postcards, wrapped inside a sleeve you can open up in various different ways.

My collection: 7" single no. 4962
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 31, 2010
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Need you tonight' / 'Move on'

On the chart tip EP - Various artists

The British music magazine Record Mirror released an EP with four tracks from various artists from time to time. This, apparently, was the first, released in 1989. It brings together two album tracks from INXS and Black plus an exclusive track from Transvision Vamp and an exclusive remix from Neneh Cherry.

I bought the EP mainly for 'You don't always do what's best for you', a track from Black's then-current album 'Comedy'. Although this is the album version, it fades away 30 seconds earlier and so this is an exclusive edit of the track.

My collection: 7" single no. 2032
Found: Sounds Familiar, London, October 19, 1993
Cost: 60p
Tracks: 'Johnson's Aeroplane' (INXS), 'Child of the age' (Transvision Vamp) / 'Buffalo stance (The There's Nothing Wrong Mix (Sukka Mix II))', 'You don't always do what's best for you' (Black)

Disappear - INXS

'Disappear' was released as the second single from INXS's album 'X'. The song was written by Jon Farriss and Michael Hutchence while they were living together in Hong Kong in 1989.

The single peaked at number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming the band's seventh and last top 10 single there. It was a lesser hit in the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 21. In the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 9.

My collection: 7" single no. 1808
Found: Record fair, January 9, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Disappear' / 'Middle beast'

By my side - INXS

'By my side' was written by Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence as part of the 1990 sessions for the X album. Record Producer Chris Thomas, who produced the album is also awarded songwriting credits, specifically contributing to the chorus and arrangement. Along with 'Never tear us apart', it was one of two INXS songs played at the funeral of frontman Michael Hutchence following his suicide on the 22nd of November 1997.

The song was released as the third single from INXS's 1990 album 'X'. It reached number 42 in the UK singles chart and number 27 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1398
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, March 9, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'By my side' / 'The other side'

Suicide blonde - INXS

'Suicide blonde' was written by Michael Hutchence and Andrew Farriss of the group INXS, after the band had gotten back together after a year-long sabbatical during 1989. The track was named after a woman who had bleached her own hair because she had 'dyed' by her own hand and who was 'love devastation'.

The music showed some new influences: Jon Farriss' drums sounded similar to the dance music rhythms at the time, especially the acid house sounds popular in the UK. Similarly, the blues harp intro on the track, performed by Charlie Musselwhite, was sampled rather than recorded live.

My collection: 7" single no. 1846
Found: January 23, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Suicide blonde' / 'Everybody wants u tonight'

Beautiful girl - INXS

'Beautiful girl' was recorded as a track on INXS's 1992 album 'Welcome to wherever you are'. The song was written by Andrew Farriss, inspired by the birth of his newly born baby daughter. In an interview he explained: 'I was writing lyrics like 'Baby don't cry' and 'Beautiful girl' and lyrics just about how wonderful it is to have something else in your life besides yourself to worry about and think about.'

'Beautiful girl' was released as the fourth single from the album. In the UK, the single was released in a limited edition gatefold sleeve. It reached number 23 in the UK singles chart and number 46 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1920
Found: Record fair, June 5, 1993
Cost: 8 guilders
Tracks: 'Beautiful girl' / 'Strange desire (original recording)'

Mystify - INXS

Although 'Mystify' was released as the fifth and final single from INXS' 1987 album 'Kick', that version of the single had a different sleeve than this one. I have the impression that this single was released earlier as well.

The song was written by Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence as part of the first sessions for 'Kick'. The single ultimately reached number 5 in Canada, number 14 in the UK singles chart and number 46 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 836
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 20, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Mystify' / 'Kick'

Never tear us apart - INXS

'Never tear us apart' was the third single taken from INXS's sixth studio album 'Kick'. It was composed by Andrew Farriss, with lyrics by Michael Hutchence. The song was originally composed on piano as a blues number in the style of Fats Domino. Kirk Pengilly played a striking saxophone solo near the end of the song.

When the single was released, it reached number 24 in the UK, number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 745
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1988
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Never tear us apart' / 'Guns in the sky (Kick ass remix)'

Original sin - INXS

The Australian rock band INXS recorded 'Original sin' on their fourth album 'The swing' in 1984. The song was written by Michael Hutchence and Andrew Farriss, and produced by Nile Rodgers. Singer Daryl Hall sings the chorus along with Hutchence. Nile Rodgers called him up and asked him to sing on the song. Rodgers had produced 'Adult education' by Hall & Oates the previous year.

When the song was released as a single, it reached number 58 in the US Billboard Hot 100, number 29 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 1 in Australia.

My collection: 7" single no. 2322
Found: June 3, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Original sin' / 'Jan's song (live)', 'To look at you (live)'

New sensation - INXS

'New sensation' was released in early 1988 as the second single from INXS's 1987 album 'Kick'. The song features a sax solo by Kirk Pengilly and lyrics about a partying lifestyle. The first line 'Live, baby, live' was later referenced in the title of the bands's 1991 release 'Live baby live'.

The single reached number 25 in the UK singles chart, number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 18 in the Dutch Top 40. I never bought the single in 1988 because I bought the cd-single. It's strange how I never think I really have a single until I have the 7" single.

My collection: 7" single no. 3962
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'New sensation' / 'Do wot you do'

Heaven sent - INXS

INXS's 1992 album 'Welcome to wherever you are' was a conscious change in direction for the band. Creating a rawer sound and including sitars and an orchestra they wanted to set themselves apart from the straight rock sounds of grunge bands that became popular at the time. The first single was 'Heaven sent', which became only a minor hit for the band.

At the time I'd fallen in love with a girl who was really into this band and I also spent a lot of time in libraries with her. Although we never really spoke, I found out that she was actually into INXS. So much coincidence... It was meant to be that I would buy this single and then the album. The music became some sort of consolation for the fact that nothing ever really happened.

My collection: 7" single no. 1697
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, August 15, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Heaven sent' / 'It ain't easy'
Download: here