"Simple Simon" is the debut single by Australian rock band
INXS
INXS (a phonetic play on "in excess") were an Australian rock band, formed as the Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney. The founding members were bassist Garry Gary Beers, main composer and keyboardist Andrew Farriss, drummer Jon Farriss, gu ...
, released in May 1980 via
Deluxe Records
De Luxe Records (later DeLuxe Records) was a record company and label formed in 1944 by brothers David Braun (1908–1985) and Julius "Jules" Braun (1911–2002), the sons of Hungarian Jewish immigrants, in Linden, New Jersey. The label ...
.
Background
The title track was co-written by five of the group's members,
Garry Gary Beers
Garry William Beers (born 22 June 1957), known as Garry Gary Beers, is an Australian musician and was the bass guitarist for the Rock music, rock group INXS.
Career
Garry William Beers was born to Lola (died 2011) and William Beers. William Be ...
,
Andrew Farriss
Andrew Charles Farriss (born 27 March 1959) is an Australian rock musician and multi-instrumentalist best known as the keyboardist, backing vocalist, and main composer for rock band INXS. He released his debut solo album in 2021.
Career
Andre ...
,
Jon Farriss
Jonathan James Farriss (born 10 August 1961) is an Australian drummer and founding member of rock band INXS.
Biography
Jon Farriss was born to Dennis and Jill Farriss, and is the second youngest of four children: brothers and fellow band memb ...
,
Tim Farriss
Timothy William Farriss (born 16 August 1957) is an Australian musician, founding member and the lead guitarist of the rock band :INXS.
Early life and the formation of INXS
Farriss was born in Perth, Western Australia, to Dennis and Jill F ...
and
Michael Hutchence
Michael Kelland John Hutchence (22 January 1960 – 22 November 1997) was an Australian singer and songwriter. He was the co-founder, lead singer and lyricist of the rock band INXS from 1977 until his death in 1997. The band sold over 50 ...
.
[ Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' &/or 'Performer:'] The B-side, "We Are the Vegetables", was co-written by A Farriss, J Farriss, T Farriss, Hutchence and
Kirk Pengilly
Kirk Pengilly ( ; born 4 July 1958) is an Australian musician and member of the Australian rock group INXS. Kirk plays saxophone and guitar, and also performs as a backing vocalist.
Early career
Pengilly moved to Sydney in 1966, and became best ...
. This title refers to an early band name, the Vegetables, which they used when performing in
Perth
Perth () is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of Western Australia. It is the list of cities in Australia by population, fourth-most-populous city in Australia, with a population of over 2.3 million within Greater Perth . The ...
in 1978.
Besides Australia the single was released in France (via RCA Victor). It was not included on the band's first album, ''
INXS
INXS (a phonetic play on "in excess") were an Australian rock band, formed as the Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney. The founding members were bassist Garry Gary Beers, main composer and keyboardist Andrew Farriss, drummer Jon Farriss, gu ...
'', which was issued in October 1980 but appeared on a compilation album, ''
INXSIVE
''INXSIVE'' is the first compilation album by Australian rock band INXS, which was released in 1982 on Deluxe Records for the Australian market only. It appeared in the top 100 of the Kent Music Report Albums Chart. Note: Used for Australia ...
'', in 1982.
The song is heavily influenced by
ska
Ska (; , ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. It combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. Ska is characterized by a w ...
and punk styles.
Track listing
# "Simple Simon" (
Garry Gary Beers
Garry William Beers (born 22 June 1957), known as Garry Gary Beers, is an Australian musician and was the bass guitarist for the Rock music, rock group INXS.
Career
Garry William Beers was born to Lola (died 2011) and William Beers. William Be ...
,
Andrew Farriss
Andrew Charles Farriss (born 27 March 1959) is an Australian rock musician and multi-instrumentalist best known as the keyboardist, backing vocalist, and main composer for rock band INXS. He released his debut solo album in 2021.
Career
Andre ...
,
Jon Farriss
Jonathan James Farriss (born 10 August 1961) is an Australian drummer and founding member of rock band INXS.
Biography
Jon Farriss was born to Dennis and Jill Farriss, and is the second youngest of four children: brothers and fellow band memb ...
,
Tim Farriss
Timothy William Farriss (born 16 August 1957) is an Australian musician, founding member and the lead guitarist of the rock band :INXS.
Early life and the formation of INXS
Farriss was born in Perth, Western Australia, to Dennis and Jill F ...
,
Michael Hutchence
Michael Kelland John Hutchence (22 January 1960 – 22 November 1997) was an Australian singer and songwriter. He was the co-founder, lead singer and lyricist of the rock band INXS from 1977 until his death in 1997. The band sold over 50 ...
)
– 2:32
# "We Are the Vegetables" (A Farriss, J Farriss, T Farriss, Hutchence,
Kirk Pengilly
Kirk Pengilly ( ; born 4 July 1958) is an Australian musician and member of the Australian rock group INXS. Kirk plays saxophone and guitar, and also performs as a backing vocalist.
Early career
Pengilly moved to Sydney in 1966, and became best ...
)
– 1:53
References
External links
*
{{INXS
1980 songs
1980 debut singles
INXS songs