INXS Greatest Hits CD

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.
While INXS made a few consistent albums, singles are the best format for the group's stylish dance-rock. Throughout the '80s and early '90s, the group racked up nine Top 40 hits and seven of those singles hit the Top Ten. Greatest Hits collects all of those hits -- including "Need You Tonight," "What You Need," "Devil Inside," "New Sensation," "Disappear," "Suicide Blonde," and "Never Tears Us Apart" -- adding minor hits like "Original Sin" and "Listen Like Thieves," but curiously bypassing the pivotal "Don't Change" and excellent "Bitter Tears," which was a bigger hit than several songs on the record. Nevertheless, Greatest Hits lives up to its title and provides a fine introduction to the band. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
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.Q (12/94, p.169) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...Underlines...the simple, consistent strength of the music that millions have bought since 1984....Ignores chronology to string together an effortlessly cohesive selection of top notch rock-pop songs..."