What You Need is INXS
The last song referenced in Mix Tapes and Stuff is “What You Need” by INXS. Today INXS is considered a relics band, but they had a hit streak in the 1980s that made them internationally huge.
The band started in Australia in 1977 by the Farris brothers, John, Tim and and Andrew. They were musical prodigy that has played since their childhood. Michael Hutchense and Kirk Pengilly joined the band and it took off. They would go worldwide in 1980 with the album called “Shabooh Shabaah.” It featured the song, “The One Thing,” which made it to American Top 40.
The next album was called “The Swing.” It featured a song called “Original Sin.” It didn’t make a dent in America at the time, but when INXS got bigger later and radio went to their back catalogue, it became one of the popular songs.
INXS go from small cult band with one barely Top 40 song to a big band with “Listen Like Thieves.” This album released in 1985 had the song “What You Need.” The song went to #5 on the American Top 40. Back then single songs were released with the popular song on the A side of a record and the B-side had a song called “Sweet As Sin.”
(author note: I bought the 45 single at Mickey Music when it came out, that's why I know the B-side.)
They would follow that song with “This Time.” Another song that was popular, but didn’t really hit big until later when radio wanted more material.
INXS would close out the 1980s with “Kick.” This album stayed on the album charts all year and yielded some of INXS’ biggest songs. This is when the back catalogue really got attention and the band played their biggest shows.
(author note: since this collection would come out after the story of Mix Tapes two stories, I'm not going into detail about this album. Do your ears a favor and check it out on any music service. No bad songs on it.)
The names of the band came from Wikipedia and the INXS website:
The video for What You Need: