Just recently purchased this two disc set and I have found it to be a simply unsurpassed culmination of INXS' first recordings from Australia. It's a very insightful look into how the band grew and developed into the band they are today. This is a must have for true INXS fans, to get to know their roots.
This collection along with "Shine Like It Does: The Anthology" are the only two INXS collections I have. Also "Listen Like Theives" I still have from way back, those are the only INXS music I have and am most interesting in their early work and into their early prime for the most part.
To get their first 2 albums plus all the extra tracks is just wonderful I think, and I found a bunch of songs I like just as well as songs On the Anthology like "On A Bus", "Learn To Smile" (big fav), "In Vain", "Horizons", "Fair Weather Ahead", "Barbarian", "Scratch" (another big fav), "Telefone" (Demo 1979), "Silent Night" (Demo 1979), "Break Away" (Demo 1979). And it's great to hear Hutchence introduce "The One Thing" as a new song on the Live recording, even though it lacks the studio feel of course you can still tell it was gonna be a big hit.
Some of their Ska influenced/bouncy stuff I heard on the anthology, and to me it's okay to a degree but I prefer numbers mentioned above that show a more structured maturing band. Of course at the same time I do enjoy songs like "Jumping", and "Just Keep Walking".
I had forgotten I had purchased this one at amazon about 6 years ago not long after I got the Anthology, wasn't sure where I got it, but it said up top there that I purchased it in January of 2003 so I decided to finally review it after listening to it the last few days again. Sometimes it's difficult to put a INXS disc away...one of my all time fav bands for sure.
If you're a true INXS fan, this is a must have! I have INXS' self titled debut as well as Underneath The Colours on vinyl, but they don't include a lot of these rarities which are included on this double disc.
This is a supurb compilation that really illustrates how the band got its start and how the band evolved. I know that it's expensive, but it's worth every penny. If you're tight on cash, save your money by not buying Switch with JD Misfortunate and buy this instead! You won't regret it!
