Album of the Day

Their fifth album, LISTEN LIKE THIEVES, had given INXS an international hit in "What You Need," but that wasn't enough for the Australian sextet. As guitarist Kirk Pengilly put it, "we wanted an album where all the songs were possible singles," and in KICK, they got what they needed. Produced by Chris Thomas, the Atlantic album included no less than four U.S. Top 10 singles: "New Sensation," "Never Tear Us Apart," "Devil Inside" and "Need You Tonight," which became the band's first U.S. No.1 hit on this day in 1988. INXS' potent mix of new wave, danceable funk and Stones-styled rock reached its peak here, and KICK went on to sell more than 6 million copies in America alone. A key '80s album.