INXS Album: “Greatest Hits”

Description :

INXS: Michael Hutchence (vocals); Kirk Pengilly (guitar, saxophone); Andrew Farriss (guitar, keyboards); Tim Farriss (guitar); Garry Gary Beers (bass); Jon Farriss (drums). Producers: Mark Opitz, Nile Rodgers, Chris Thomas, INXS. Compilation producer: Marilu Windvand-Amoroso. Engineers include: Mark Opitz, D. Walsh, Jason Pocaro. Principally recorded at Paradise Studios and Rhinoceros Studios, Sydney, Australia; The Power Station, New York; Studio De La Grand Armee, Paris, France between 1980 and 1994. All tracks have been digitally remastered. A straight-up singles collection, plus two acceptable new tracks, GREATEST HITS may be all the INXS the casual fan requires. Only on certain albums, like 1982's SHABOOH SHOOBAH and 1984's THE SWING, did the Australian sextet have many terribly interesting songs that weren't released as singles. The late singer Michael Hutchence was a born rock star, and all born rock stars know that singles are what really matter. Starting with their first (and best) US/UK single, "The One Thing," and continuing through to 1993's "Beautiful Girl," GREATEST HITS skips through most of the band's highest points, including the Nile Rodgers collaboration "The Original Sin," the commercial breakthrough "What You Need," and of course four of the five hit singles from 1987's multi-platinum KICK. Only "Mediate" doesn't make the cut of those; the disappearance of 1982's "Don't Change" and 1980's "Just Keep Walking" are the only other disappointments.

When I see a review here saying that they were overrated, that's what happens when people just buy a 'greatest hits' package and judge them on that, and in this case it works against the band, this greatest hits doesn't do INXS justice. Sure most of the hits are here, but the true classic INXS songs are not. Songs that are missing from this are I send a message/Don't change/Burn for you/This time/Not enough time. If these songs were here instead of some of the weaker tracks, this would be a 5 star compilation.

Other songs that an INXS fan should check out are Good times (from the lost boys soundtrack - this song is a cover version, it's an awesome track) and Stay Young - one of my fav INXS songs. Some of the solo work from Hutchence that stands out is the effort from 'dogs in space' where he does a song called "rooms for the memory" - this is a haunting song, and one of my favs, also from batman forever he did a version of 'passenger'.

This is a CD for a casual fan, (has all their US hits from Kick, X etc) but there is so much more INXS out there, so don't think the best songs are all here and do them justice. I've heard the release of the compilation 'shine like it does' will be released later this year which will most likely be a good follow up to this package.

Anyone who's followed INXS through the years should see right away that there are some huge holes in the song selection here. From the woefully represented "Welcome to Wherever You Are" album, the tracks Not Enough Time and Taste It are missing. And from the old days, the retro classic Don't Change isn't here either ! Is this a joke ? There are way too many easily forgettable tracks here in their place. Songs like Heaven Sent and The Stairs are hardly greatest hits worthy.Also the two "extra" songs on here are horrible and were probably collecting dust in someone's closet before being pulled out to fill up some cd space. This subpar collection was either put together with a blindfold, darts and a list of past songs, or the Atlantic records intern who got the job suffered a head injury shortly before.

The band INXS as we know it pretty much ended with Michael Hutchence's death. This band was a powerhouse in the 80's with the stellar albums What You Need and Kick. Thier style was a unique mixture of rock, new wave and even a little bit of punk. I Need You Tonight, New Sensation, Suicide Blond..there are all here in thier original splendid form.

There are two great things about this album. It's mostly in chronological order from when it was relesed and the music stil sounds great today. Two, unless you are a hardcore INXS fan this will really be enough for you. I have this CD is my regular rotation of about 200 CD's and its always welcome when its number is called. The CD concludes with Beutiful Girl and then looses some steam with the last two songs but the hour preceding that is evenly strong.

Bottom Line: This is great album that most of the pre 20's crowd will find completely foreign. Trivia question: which band won best music video (MTV) of 1987....INXS - Need You Tonight.

Nostalgia filled me as I listened to some of the most eloquent and poignant songs ever written and sung by the infamous Michael Hutchence, taking me back to the age of sixteen and absolutely loving the passion that surrounded this band. It was great to be re-aquinted with songs that opened up wonderful memories and experiences. Definitely a must have for any CD collection.

I rate this a four only because it is a great cd, but ... Shine Like It Does, The Anthology is a much better alternative. It contains songs the greatest hits neglected and then some. I think most notable is that the Greatest hits misses Not Enough Time and all the songs on Full Moon Dirty Hearts. Both albums miss an important song which is Mediate. However, the album is complete in including the big radio hits and the casual listener will enjoy it.