INSX

On this day in 1983, the INXS single “To Look At You” debuted on the Australian charts (March 14)

The Andrew Farriss-penned track is in my opinion one of the most under-rated INXS singles from one of the most under-rated INXS albums.

The production from Mark Opitz is excellent and lush, as Farriss’s keyboards weave an ethereal web through the song’s groove, and Michael Hutchence’s emotive vocals are delivered on point as always.

There was no release of “To Look at You” in Europe—only the editions in Australia and in the United States. Therefore, the song could only enter the Australian and US charts, peaking at #36 in ARIA charts and at #80 in the Billboard 100.

The album “Shabooh Shoobah” peaked at #5 on the ARIA Albums Chart and remained on the chart for a massive 94 weeks…

Click on the link to watch the clip:

https://youtu.be/71YvHBkNWco

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This week in in 1983, the INXS LP “Shabooh Shoobah” debuted on the US Billboard 200 Albums Chart at #190 (March 19)

It’s not as high profile as “Listen Like Thieves” or “Kick”, but INXS's third studio album full of excellent material like “Don’t Change”, “Black and White”, “The One Thing” and “To Look at You”.

In fact, many consider it their best…

The production by Mark Opitz is lush, but also vibrant.
Tim Farriss said "Mark was the first producer that was able to capture some glimmer of what the band felt it was like live.
Prior to us, Mark had done bands like AC/DC, Cold Chisel, The Angels. Big guitar sounds, mighty drum beats".

The album peaked at #5 on the Australian charts and remained on the chart for 94 weeks, topping out at #46 in the US.

Click on the link below to watch “To Look at You”:

https://youtu.be/71YvHBkNWco

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18 March 1991

"Rooms full of strangers, some call me friend, but I wish you were so close to me"

By My Side, the third UK single taken from the album, X after Su***de Blonde and Disappear, was released in the UK on this day 35 years ago.

In the liner notes for the X album special edition in 2002, Andrew Farriss states that By My Side was written about missing family and friends while touring.

By My Side peaked at number 42 on the UK Singles Chart, which was the band's poorest chart performance since first breaking into the UK top 40 with New Sensation in 1988.

The single would peak on the Australian charts at number 23 following a May 1991 release. By My Side would not be released in the US or Canada.

Stats from Setlist FM would indicate that following completion of the X-Factor tour in July 1991, By My Side would be mostly dropped from subsequent tour setlists only making regular reappearances once Jon Stevens had taken over on vocal duties.

Along with Never Tear Us Apart, By My Side was one of two INXS songs played at Michael’s funeral following his passing on 22 November 1997.

In February 2014, after the Channel 7 screening of INXS: Never Tear Us Apart mini-series, the song charted again in Australia through download sales, peaking at number 67 on the ARIA Singles Chart.

There are links to both the official music video and a live performance of By My Side in the comments. Let us know if By My Side is one of your INXS go-to tracks.

21 March 1984

42 years ago today INXS released their seminal fourth studio album The Swing.

It peaked at number one on the Australian Albums Chart for five non-consecutive weeks from early April to mid-May 1984 and would remain in the charts for over 100 weeks.

Keen to build on the success of Shabooh Shoobah, the band travelled to New York City to work with Nile Rodgers as producer at the Power Station in September 1983.

It was the first time the group had recorded outside Australia and provided the album's lead single, 'Original Sin' (December 1983).

Rodgers asked Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates to guest on backing vocals for the chorus, Hall later recalled "I don't know why because they're good singers, they didn't need me but I did it anyway".

The Swing would spawn four singles in total - Original Sin, I Send a Message, Burn For You and Dancing On the Jetty and there would be a further three tracks that would get the full promo video treatment: Melting in the Sun, (Love is) What I Say and All the Voices all of which would feature on the 'Greatest Video Hits 1980 to 1990' compilation.

Beyond its local success, The Swing would enter the US Top 75, reaching No. 52. It also entered the Canadian Top 40, where it reached No. 27 on the RPM 100 Albums.

In Europe, The Swing entered the Top 20 in France due to the big success of Original Sin which reached the French Top 5 during the summer of 1984.

In February 2014 The Swing returned to the top 50 on the ARIA Albums Chart, with the airing of the mini-series, INXS: Never Tear Us Apart, on the Seven Network.

In October 2010, The Swing, was listed in the '100 Best Australian Albums' at No. 56 (with their 1987 album, Kick at No. 11)

What do you guys think? Where does The Swing rank in your INXS album list?

Rock Hall Nominations 2026: Why INXS matters The Aussie band were radio and MTV superstars in the 90s but are only just now being nominated for Rock Hall enshrinement.

Ok worldwide INXS Army… we are going to do something different this coming Saturday March 21st. Australia we’re aiming at you! We are asking all INXS fans to vote for only INXS on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s fan vote board. We want to show our band appreciation for all their hard work and for all the beautiful gifts they’ve given over the years. So again on Saturday March 21st go in to vote for INXS and be sure to use each and every one of your emails to vote and get your friends and family to do the same! Go to the direct link below and vote vote vote! Here’s to the big push for our band INXS!🙌🏼♥️❤️

https://vote.rockhall.com/

🇦🇺🇺🇸🇬🇧🇫🇷🇧🇷🇦🇷🇬🇷🇳🇱🇨🇭🇩🇪🇨🇦🇳🇴🇨🇱
Ok worldwide INXS Army
… we are going to do something different this coming Saturday March 21st. We are asking all INXS fans to vote for INXS on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s fan vote board. We are wanting to reach INXS fans who haven’t had the chance to vote yet, and encourage fans that have been voting to continue for this big push. We want to show our band appreciation for all their hard work and for all the beautiful gifts they’ve given over the years. So again on Saturday March 21st go in to vote for INXS, use each of your emails, and get your friends and family to do the same! Go to the direct link below and vote vote vote! Here’s to the BIG PUSH for our Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees INXS! Let’s help them become inducted into the Rock Hall by voting! 🙌🏼♥️❤️
https://vote.rockhall.com/