INXS – What You Need (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985

A. Front

“What You Need” is a song recorded by the Australian band INXS. It is the leadoff track from their 1985 album, Listen Like Thieves. “What You Need” was the first single off the album in Australia and New Zealand, while it was in USA and Europe the second single after “This Time” and was the band’s first American Top Ten hit, peaking at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

After the album Listen Like Thieves was recorded and ready to be given to the record label for inspection, producer Chris Thomas was worried that the album didn’t have a “hit”. As Andrew Farriss recalled in a 2005 interview; “What You Need is another example of a huge hit that essentially took no time at all. We’d already finished the Listen Like Thieves album but Chris Thomas (the producer) told us there was still no “hit”. We left the studio that night knowing we had one day left and we had to deliver “a hit”. Talk about pressure. The band’s performance on that track is amazing. We absolutely nailed it.”

The song was covered by “Weird Al” Yankovic in his 1986 album Polka Party!.

SIDE A:
What You Need (Vocal / LP Version) 3:35
Engineer –Steve Churchyard
Producer – Chris Thomas

What You Need (Vocal / Extended Remix) 5:35
Engineer – Steve Churchyard
Producer – Chris Thomas
Remix – Nick Launay

SIDE B:
Melting In The Sun (Vocal / 12″ Version) 4:44
Producer, Engineer, Mixed By – Nick Launay

Burn For You (Vocal / 12″ Version) 6:07
Producer, Engineer, Mixed By – Nick Launay

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1985 What You Need U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #5
1985 What You Need U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #3

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Atlantic ‎– 0-86832
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Pop, Rock
Style: New Wave, Pop Rock

CREDITS:
Artwork By [Cover Graphics] – Lynn-Maree Milburn
Written-By – A. Farriss*, M. Hutchence*

Find The 12″ On DISCOGS

B. Back

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Speed Control: Pro-Ject Speed Box S
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removeal: ClickRepair (DeClick Level 3)
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

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qat
qat
April 19, 2019 3:25 am

TY

Jason
Jason
July 13, 2014 12:39 am

Thanks for this Paul. Packed full of great mixes. I can now retire a few 12″‘s. Keep the Oz Rock comin’.

Bellenger1981
Bellenger1981
May 28, 2014 10:31 pm

Paul,

Thank you for your transfer! It sounds fantastic! I’ve been waiting to hear a great-sounding transfer of this mix for a long time now since it is one of my favorite 12″ mixes. Thanks to your blog the mix lives on since INXS and their labels seem to keep this mix, among many other gems, locked away in the vaults.

ric
ric
May 28, 2014 8:09 pm

An awesome 12″ single released in late ’85.
I remember a lot of this singles released during that period and crossing over to become major hits in early ’86 in the US.
Charting together with Sly Fox (Let’s Go All The Way), Sade (Sweetest Taboo) and Sheila E (A Love Bizarre)…it was such a fabulous time in the mid-80s!
Thanks Paul for your precious rip. It is What I Need!

Mr Ed
Mr Ed
May 28, 2014 8:59 am

A Big Thank You Paul, for uploading this, I have been looking for a quality version of this for years, this and the 2 Dekadance vinyls are extremely hard to find, Again Thank You, this is one excellent site1

Stefano
Stefano
May 28, 2014 3:24 am

Too bad Atlantic decided to place the extended mix second on side A, regarding the vinyl limitations toward the end of the record. But you can’t have it all.
Great post Paul, thanks for this one.

woz
woz
May 27, 2014 11:43 pm

Burn For You is a great tune as well. Thanks!

Paul in SLC
Paul in SLC
May 27, 2014 9:12 pm

Hey Paul! One of my all-time favorite 12″ remixes of all time. I’ve transferred this one from my own collection on several occasions, but your rips always sound so great. Thanks so much for giving this one a spin!

J
J
May 27, 2014 6:19 pm

It’s too bad the video version never got released…it’s my favorite version of this song. This 12″ has got three mixes for three different songs so this is a good deal. Thanks!!

Bellenger1981
Bellenger1981
Reply to  J
May 28, 2014 10:29 pm

J,

The “I’m Only Looking – The Best of INXS” 2-DVD set from 2004 features “What You Need [Video Version]” in remastered sound. I love that version, too, with its unique intro. Let me know if you would like a copy.

Ezequiel
Ezequiel
May 27, 2014 4:53 pm

You’re right. This is what I need.
Hugs

Sebastian
Sebastian
May 27, 2014 4:21 pm

I’ve got a 12″ version, but different B side. Mine´s “Original Sin” live in Melbourne, recorded in 1985. Perhaps is a special edition made for my country (Argentina)

AntBee
AntBee
May 27, 2014 3:33 pm

Thank you, Paul!

Jeff
Jeff
May 27, 2014 1:32 pm

Hot Damn Paul!!! One of my favorite INXS tracks!! I love the craziness to this remix; balls-to-the-wall dance rock. Slammin’ and FIERCE!!! A HUGE HUG OF THANKS Paul!!! You are tremendous for this!!!

Jeff

Don
Don
May 27, 2014 1:20 pm

Yes! I’ve been waiting for this one. The more 80s INXS, the better. Thank you!

Guss
Guss
May 27, 2014 1:14 pm

Thank You Paul!!! More INXS Please.

Omar
Omar
May 27, 2014 1:13 pm

Thanks Paul. Keep the new wave coming.

Murdock
Murdock
May 27, 2014 1:03 pm

Thank you very much Paul.
Hope you post more INXS items like this.
Cheers!