"Heaven Sent" by INXS

Hailing from Sydney, Australia, INXS slowly but surely crept their way into the US charts in the early 80s with now-classics like "The One Thing" (#30), "Don't Change" (#80), "Original Sin" (#58 - little known fact: Daryl Hall sang backup vocals on this track), and "This Time" (#81).

Everything changed in 1986 when the band broke through in a big way with the smash hit, "What You Need," which sailed to #5. The track comes from arguably one of the best records INXS ever made: "Listen Like Thieves." This record, along with their follow-up, "Kick," are two that I can listen the whole way through without wanting to skip any tracks.

While "Listen Like Thieves" should have produced more hit singles for the band, that moment had to wait until "Kick" came out in 1987. "Kick" produced a remarkable occurrence: the first single, "Need You Tonight" went to #1, the second single, "Devil Inside," went to #2, and the third single, "New Sensation," went to #3. The pattern ended there when the great "Never Tear Us Apart" went to #7. 

Despite yielding two more top 10 hits, the band's next record, "X," was a big disappointment. Admittedly, "Kick" was going to be nearly impossible to follow, but I think the paucity of radio-friendly hits alienated many fans.

I had high hopes that would change in 1992 with the release of "Heaven Sent." What a terrific rocking song! But it did not make an appearance on the Top 100. The band fizzled with a handful of other modest singles before the tragic suicide of sultry vocalist Michael Hutchence in 1997.