song of the day – “Move On” | INXS | 1987.

Michael Hutchence, the charismatic and brilliant singer / songwriter / musician and co-founder of my favorite band, INXS, would have been 59 today (1.22.2019).

Michael Hutchence, 1987.

Michael’s tragic death on 11.22.1997 at the age of 37 was the first celebrity / music-related death that really hit home for me.  I remember getting pissed off at the TV that day because there wasn’t a whole lot of coverage about it here in America, as opposed to other parts of the globe.  But, mostly, I was upset because he was gone way too soon. 

As I’m sure I’ve mentioned here on the blog, but 10 years and two weeks before Michael died, I saw INXS at Colby College in Waterville, Maine on November 7, 1987.  It was at the beginning of their massive KICK tour, and I was right there in the front row, at least until I saw a friend get picked up and carried off the stage because everyone was crowding the stage.  Michael had to tell everyone to move back.  And once I moved to the bleachers, I was fine. 

Michael Hutchence was phenomenal and amazing to watch.  So much energy and charisma.  His stage presence was oft-compared to The Doors’ Jim Morrison, and I could totally see why.  There was no one out there like him, and no one since.  By the end of the KICK tour, INXS had gone from playing colleges like Colby to playing stadiums around the world.  Absolutely incredible.

One of the best things I loved about INXS was their penchant for B-sides that weren’t on the albums.  I sometimes wonder why some songs made it on to the albums and these incredible B-sides did not.  One of those amazing B-sides was the flip side of their huge hit (and worldwide No. 1), “Need You Tonight”: “Move On.”  Actually, it was the flip side only in certain parts of the globe, including Australia, the U.K. and Japan.  The American B-side of “Need You Tonight” (on both the 7” and 12” singles) was the (also excellent) “I’m Coming (Home).”

From the import 12″ single of “Need You Tonight.”

“Move On,” written by the primary songwriting team for INXS, Michael Hutchence and keyboardist / guitarist Andrew Farriss (though definitely a strong group effort), tackles the beginning of the end of a relationship, and consistently saying, “you gotta move on.”  Many times, a B-side for an artist will be just another cut off the album, sometimes a throwaway track, but with the majority of INXS B-sides, you get something new altogether, and something that sounds like it could have been on an album.

The full album cover for KICK, 1987.

The original 1987 12-song KICK album clocked in at just over 39 minutes.  Surely, plenty of room to add some of those awesome album-worthy B-sides, but sometimes the best B-sides aren’t meant to be on albums.  Bruce Springsteen’s “Pink Cadillac” is one of THE BEST B-sides ever, and a perfect example of why albums are flowed and organized a certain way, and as a result, why excellent non-album B-sides like “Pink Cadillac” and “Move On” exist.

A fun picture disc of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing In The Dark” and a very distinct “Pink Cadillac” presence.

R.E.M. and The Cure were among those who were also fans of the non-album B-sides, and The Cure even devoted an entire 2004 Rhino 4-CD box set to their B-sides, called JOIN THE DOTS: THE COMPLETE B-SIDES.  Pretty impressive.

Some of the most-memorable INXS B-sides are “Guns In The Sky” (the Kookaburra Mix for the 7” and Nick’s Twelve Inch Mix (naturally, for the 12” single), “Laying Down The Law” (with Jimmy Barnes, from THE LOST BOYS soundtrack) and “Do Wot You Do” (originally featured on the PRETTY IN PINK soundtrack).

From the 7″ single of “New Sensation.”

Most folks prolly won’t remember “Move On,” but I hope you give it a listen, and even more so, I hope you remember loving all those years ago, and have rediscovered again.  Musically, I think “Move On” is one of INXS’ finest, even if it didn’t make the album.  But, it sure sounds like it could have been there.

Happy Birthday Michael, wherever you are…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNF46kS0NE8

INXS, 1987, from L to R: Tim Farriss, Kirk Pengilly, Garry Gary Beers, Michael Hutchence, Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss.

song of the day – “Laying Down The Law” | INXS AND JIMMY BARNES | 1987.

After posting my last “song of the day” (“Live It Up” by Mental As Anything”), one of my regular blog followers (and a fellow blogger), William, liked my post and was kind enough to make a suggestion, and said, “Can I say?  More Aussie songs plz!”  William hails from Australia and honestly, I could do an “Aussie song of the day” for years!  So much great 80s music from Down Under (including New Zealand too).  Maybe sometime I’ll highlight a different Aussie song for a month.  For now, here’s an Aussie twofer – INXS and Jimmy Barnes, teaming up on one of my all-time favorite B-sides, “Laying Down The Law.” 

For the soundtrack to the 1987 Kiefer Sutherland vampire flick, THE LOST BOYS (which included Echo & The Bunnymen, The Who’s Roger Daltrey, Foriegner’s Lou Gramm and more), INXS and Jimmy Barnes contributed two songs, the hit single “Good Times” and its B-side, “Laying Down The Law.” 

Michael Hutchence and Jimmy Barnes.

Michael Hutchence and Jimmy Barnes.

In 1987, INXS, originally from Sydney, Australia, had been together for 10 years and were inbetween albums (1985’s LISTEN LIKE THIEVES and 1987’s KICK) when THE LOST BOYS soundtrack was released the end of July 1987.  Jimmy Barnes, much like Colin Hay of Men At Work, was born in Scotland and moved Australia with his family while still in his youth. 

Well before THE LOST BOYS film and soundtrack were released, “Good Times” (originally a 1968 single by fellow Sydney Rock band, The Easybeats), was the theme song for a series of Australian Made shows in the Summers of 1986 and 1987.  “Good Times” reached No. 2 on the Australian singles chart months ahead of THE LOST BOYS soundtrack.  The successful series of Australian Made shows featured Australian artists like INXS, Jimmy Barnes, Models, Mental As Anything, Divinyls, Models and more.  Australian Made was the largest organized touring festival featuring Aussie-only artists at that time.

The B-side for “Good Times,” “Laying Down The Law,” was co-written by Jimmy Barnes (the lead vocalist for the Australian Rock band, Cold Chisel) and INXS members Michael Hutchence, keyboardist and main composer Andrew Farriss, drummer Jon Farriss, guitarist and saxophonist Kirk Pengilly and bassist Garry Gary Beers (main INXS guitarist Tim Farriss was the lone member who did not contribute to this song; the liner notes of the single say he was “fishing”).

Featuring strong vocals from both Jimmy Barnes and Michael Hutchence (and a kick-ass sax solo from Kirk Pengilly), I loved “Laying Down The Law” the moment I heard it, but my appreciation for the song has only grown in the 30 years since its release, so much that I almost forget it’s a B-side and have thought it could have done well as its own A-side…

“I’m searching for a light / To kill my sense of fear / To break through darkened nights / And take me through the years…”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKkz8xo_o-M

Michael Hutchence and Jimmy Barnes.