Simple Simon (song)

"Simple Simon"
RCA Victor cover
Single by INXS
B-side
  • "We Are the Vegetables"
ReleasedMay 1980
Recorded1980
StudioTrafalgar Studios (Annandale, New South Wales)[1]
Genre
Length2:32
LabelDeluxe
Songwriter(s)Garry Gary Beers, Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss, Tim Farriss, Michael Hutchence
Producer(s)Martin Hannett
INXS singles chronology
"Simple Simon"
(1980) 		"Just Keep Walking"
(1980)

"Simple Simon" is the debut single by Australian rock band INXS, released in May 1980 via Deluxe Records.[2][3][4][5]

Background

The title track was co-written by five of the group's members, Garry Gary Beers, Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss, Tim Farriss and Michael Hutchence.[6] The B-side, "We Are the Vegetables", was co-written by A Farriss, J Farriss, T Farriss, Hutchence and Kirk Pengilly. This title refers to an early band name, the Vegetables, which they used when performing in Perth in 1978.[7]

Besides Australia the single was released in France (via RCA Victor). It was not included on the band's first album, INXS, which was issued in October 1980 but appeared on a compilation album, INXSIVE, in 1982.[citation needed]

The song is heavily influenced by ska and punk styles.[8]

Track listing

  1. "Simple Simon" (Garry Gary Beers, Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss, Tim Farriss, Michael Hutchence)[6] – 2:32
  2. "We Are the Vegetables" (A Farriss, J Farriss, T Farriss, Hutchence, Kirk Pengilly)[6] – 1:53

References

  1. ^ Desoto, Lucy (1 October 2016). Australia Rocks: Remembering the music of the 1950s to 1990s. Exisle Publishing. ISBN 978-1-77559-298-3. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  2. ^ McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'INXS'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2. Archived from the original on 30 September 2004. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  3. ^ Simple Simon release on Discogs.com
  4. ^ Moskowitz, David V. (10 November 2015). The 100 Greatest Bands of All Time: A Guide to the Legends Who Rocked the World [2 volumes]: A Guide to the Legends Who Rocked the World. ABC-CLIO. p. 308. ISBN 978-1-4408-0340-6. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  5. ^ INXS: Story to Story: The Official Autobiography. Simon and Schuster. 11 May 2010. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-7432-9002-9. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "'Simple Simon' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 11 August 2018. Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' &/or 'Performer:'
  7. ^ Jenkins, Jeff; Ian Meldrum (2007). Molly Meldrum presents 50 years of rock in Australia. Melbourne: Wilkinson Publishing. ISBN 978-1-921332-11-1.
  8. ^ Buckley, Peter (2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. p. 522. ISBN 978-1-84353-105-0. Retrieved 27 June 2023.