"The One Thing" by INXS

Song#:  1388
Date:  03/26/1983
Debut:  90
Peak:  30
Weeks:  14
Genre:  Rock, New Wave



Pop Bits:  The roots of this Australian group go back to a band of high school classmates that eventually developed into The Farriss Brothers. A couple of years later, they changed their name to INXS and found themselves supporting artists like Midnight Oil. It wasn't long before they signed their first record deal and issued a self-titled debut album in 1980. It had some limited success as did a second album. But the band was itching to break worldwide and went into the studio to record this song in order to get a deal. It worked and soon the band was recording their third album "Shabooh Shoobah." This song served as the LP's first single and it did well in Australia reaching #14. It also did good business in the US, thanks in part to a video played on MTV, and hit the Top 30 while reaching #2 at Mainstream Radio. The album would eventually go gold.

ReduxReview:  I remember hearing this on the radio and it was announced as by "in excess." Then, I was in a record store and saw a poster or album that showed INXS as the artist. I though "I.N.X.S.? What is that? "In X's?" Not sure how long it took me to put 2 and 2 together, but I finally realized - "oooh - in-excess! They do that 'one thing' song! Got it." ID-ing the band helped, but I didn't buy the single or album. I probably should have bought the single. I always liked how the verse really rocked along and then the chorus became dreamy and slightly psychedelic. It's pretty terrific and the song deserved to go much higher on the chart.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  Apparently, the band's manager, Gary Morris, came up with their name. He thought they needed a new one because The Farriss Brothers seemed like some country act. They needed something with a bit more edge. Morris had a concept in mind for the band about being inaccessible - a mystery band. While that was on his mind he was also thinking how he loved the band XTC's name. Then he spotted a commercial for IXL jam ("I excel"). He brought the three things together into letters that created a phrase, INXS (in excess). The band hated Morris' "inaccessible" concept, but loved the name and kept it.

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