INXS’ ‘The Very Best’ Clocks Chart Milestone
It’s a new sensation for INXS, as the alternative rock legends notch 500 weeks on the ARIA Albums Chart with The Very Best.
On publication of the latest chart, dated April 4, INXS – The Very Best (via Petrol/Universal) lifts 60-49 for its 500th non-consecutive week on the survey, more than any LP currently impacting the Top 100.
In a statement confirming the chart feat, ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd lauds this “absolutely phenomenal achievement” from “one of the greatest and most iconic bands Australia has ever seen.”
She continues, “On behalf of us all at ARIA I am thrilled to congratulate INXS and again thank them for their enormous contribution to the Australian recording industry.”
The hits collection was released in 2011 and features such classics as “Never Tear Us Apart,” “Original Sin” and the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 No. 1, “Need You Tonight.”
During its domestic journey, the album logged seven weeks at No. 1, 375 weeks inside the Top 50, came in at No. 1 on ARIA’s End Of Decade Australian Albums Chart, and, in November 2020, was awarded “Diamond” status, for combined sales in-excess of 500,000.
500 weeks is “an incredible honour and just shows the appreciation of such an incredible album,” comments Andrew Daw, executive VP, international marketing at UMe, Universal Music Group’s global catalogue business.
The late Chris Murphy’s presence, he continues, “is always felt on all INXS projects, and we are proud to passionately continue his work.”
Formed in Perth, Western Australia back in 1977, INXS would create a bank of hits that crashed borders and placed them on the world’s biggest stages.
Led by the charismatic Michael Hutchence, the new wave outfit scored six U.K. top 10 albums (including a No. 1 with Welcome To Wherever You Are from 1992) and five U.S. top 20 albums.
Career album sales top 60 million units worldwide.
Induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame was formalised in 2001, four years after Hutchence’s untimely death, aged 37.
To celebrate the special milestone for The Very Best, INXS’ launches an exclusive “500 Weeks” t-shirt, and their classic 1987 album Kick has undergone an exclusive remix, at the hands of two-time Grammy Award winning music producer Giles Martin, son of the late, great Beatles producer George Martin.
“When the record was first recorded 35 years ago in the ’80s, there was a lot more external equipment required that was specific to that era – outboard gear,” says founding band member Kirk Pengilly.
“That equipment is no longer available, so I take my hat off to Giles, who has been able to recreate the record and process the sounds accurately with today’s technology. It sounds like the original album but now, spread out over a 3D space,” he continues. “It sounds incredible.”
Apple Music now hosts the Spatial Audio version of Kick, which came in at No. 2 on the Rolling Stone Australia’s 200 Greatest Australian Albums of All Time.
Check out the “500 Weeks” shirt at INXS.com or aushop.inxs.com.