What Are the 5 Biggest U.S. Hits by INXS?

INXS made its way to elite status in the second half of the 1980s, the rare Australian band that was able to parlay local success into worldwide superstardom. It took them a while to get that global recognition, as it wasn’t really until the Listen Like Thieves album in 1985 that they were able to bust down the door in the U.S.

Once they did, there was no stopping them, as their 1987 record Kick spun off four Top-10 hits. As a result, that album is heavily represented on this list of the five biggest hits by INXS.

5. “Never Tear Us Apart” (No. 7 in 1988)

The Kick album was the gift that kept on giving for INXS. Realizing that they had reached a commercial peak, they decided to strike while the iron was hot and go deep into the album for singles. “Never Tear Us Apart” was the fourth single from the record, and it featured the band slowing down the tempo, which they hadn’t done much on previous radio songs. Andrew Farriss wrote the music as a bluesy lament, and Michael Hutchence played into that vibe with an anguished vocal, even thought it’s very much a love song. Kirk Pengilly’s sax solo is the perfect compliment to all that came before.

4. “What You Need” (No. 5 in 1985)

INXS was a local concern for a good portion of their career, as they struggled to extend their success beyond Australia and (a bit down the road) New Zealand. Listen Like Thieves is now considered a classic ’80s album, as the band found a producer in Chris Thomas that brought out the best in them. But even with the bulk of that excellent LP done, Thomas still found it lacking that surefire smash that would give them the international boost they needed. With a day to get it done, the band headed to the studio and delivered “What You Need,” a thumping dance track that got the job done.

3. “New Sensation” (No. 3 in 1987)

Micheal Hutchence was the guy out in front, so he received a lot of the accolades. But let’s not forget that Andrew Farriss wrote the bulk of the songs with Hutchence, as was the case with “New Sensation.” And the band was razor-sharp as well, a six-piece that had been together for the better part of a decade by the time Kick came around. You can hear the cohesion on “New Sensation” as the ringing guitars of Andrew and Tim Farriss set the tone, Jon Farriss delivers the thumping beat, and Kirk Pengilly brings a touch of soul to the proceedings with a quick, sweaty sax solo.

2. “Devil Inside” (No. 2 in 1988)

INXS had a leg up on the competition with the way they could deliver songs that straddled the line between dance-floor ready and radio appropriate. It’s not as easy as you think. “Devil Inside” provides a good example of this phenomenon. The exotic rhythms ensure it’s something that will fire up any club within moments. But even when you’re stuck in the car, unable to do much bopping around, the song offers multiple charms that will keep you coming back to it, such as Tim Farriss’ stinging lead guitar work and Michael Hutchence’s slick, insinuating vocal.

1. “Need You Tonight” (No. 1 in 1987)

INXS and producer Chris Thomas understood there’s something special about the open spaces in an arrangement. When the music and vocals come to the fore and fill in those spaces, they make that much more of an impact. “Need You Tonight” illustrates this point as well as any song from the ’80s. There’s some flickering electric guitar, a spare basic beat, the occasional synth splash. That puts a lot of the focus on Michael Hutchence, which was always a wise strategy. His vocal here delivers the sultry vibes without overplaying matters, making this one of the most seductive songs of the era.

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