Come over here: INXS' landmark album Kick is getting another deluxe reissue for its 30th anniversary.
The Australian rockers' sixth album was the one that propelled the group to their greatest international success, particularly in America, where some six million copies were sold and four singles ("Need You Tonight," "Devil Inside," "New Sensation" and "Never Tear Us Apart") all reached the Top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100. And that success has parlayed itself into not one, not two, but three previous reissues: a 2002 expanded disc from Rhino Records (manager of the band's catalogue in America) with four unreleased demos and outtakes; a 2004 Europe-only double disc set from Mercury (the band's U.K. label) that featured a good deal of the Kick-era B-sides and remixes; and a 2012 25th anniversary deluxe edition that combined all that material with a some extra tunes (including two unreleased mixes) as well as a DVD.
So what makes this different? On the audio side, the set's three CDs include everything from the last box set edition in virtually the same order--and the third disc adds another seven tracks: three mixes or edits of "Need You Tonight" (including a remix by Ben Liebrand that was released as a U.K. 12" single and a mix from 1994--one of the only non-contemporaneous tracks on the set), a rare promo-only U.K. edit of "Devil Inside," the longer 12" version of B-side "Different World," a U.S.-only B-side mix of opening track "Guns In the Sky" and a live cut of "Shine Like It Does" from the band's American tour.
For collectors and hardcore fans, though, the accompanying Blu-ray is the real prize: it includes a new Dolby Atmos mix of the album, done at Abbey Road by Giles Martin and Sam Okell, as well as all seven original music videos from the album (plus a new promo for the title track). So in the audiovisual department, it's only missing the material from the Kick 25 DVD.
Available November 3 (and November 24 in North America from Rhino Records), the set is packed in a DVD-size "fan deluxe" package including 48 pages of liner notes and photos. It's a perfectly timed set for the group--not only 30 years since the album's release, but 40 years since the band started and 20 since the unfortunate end of a significant chapter following the death of frontman Michael Hutchence.
Amazon links are live below!
Kick 30 (Petrol Electric/UMC (U.K.)/Atlantic/Rhino (U.S.), 2017) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Link TBD)
* denotes bonus track not on previous 2002/2004/2012 reissues
Disc 1: Original remastered album (released as WEA 255080 (AUS)/Atlantic 81796 (U.S.), 1987)
- Guns In The Sky
- New Sensation
- Devil Inside
- Need You Tonight
- Mediate
- The Loved One
- Wild Life
- Never Tear Us Apart
- Mystify
- Kick
- Calling All Nations
- Tiny Daggers
Disc 2: Demos, mixes & more
- Move On (Guitar Version) (from expanded edition - Rhino R2 78204 (U.S.), 2002)
- I'm Coming (Home) (B-side to "Need You Tonight" - Atlantic 7-89188 (U.S.), 1987)
- Mediate (Live @ San Diego Sports Arena - 3/31/1988) (from deluxe edition - Mercury 982 355-0 (U.K.), 2004)
- Never Tear Us Apart (Live @ San Diego Sports Arena - 3/31/1988) (B-side to "Mystify" - Mercury INXS 13 (U.K.), 1988)
- Kick (Live @ San Diego Sports Arena - 3/31/1988) (from deluxe edition - Mercury 982 355-0 (U.K.), 2004)
- On the Rocks (B-side to "Devil Inside" - Atlantic 7-89144 (U.S.), 1988)
- Do Wot You Do (from Pretty in Pink soundtrack - A&M SP-5113, 1986/B-side to "New Sensation" - Mercury INXS 9 (U.K.), 1988)
- Mystify (Chicago Demo) (from expanded edition - Rhino R2 78204 (U.S.), 2002)
- Jesus Was a Man (Demo) (from expanded edition - Rhino R2 78204 (U.S.), 2002)
- The Trap (Demo) (from expanded edition - Rhino R2 78204 (U.S.), 2002)
- Guns in the Sky (Kick Ass Mix) (12″ B-side to "New Sensation" - Atlantic 0-86572 (U.S.), 1988)
- Need You Tonight (Mendelsohn Extended Mix) (12″ A-side - Mercury INXS 1212 (U.K.), 1987)
- Move On (B-side to "Need You Tonight" - Mercury INXS 12 (U.K.), 1987)
Disc 3: Additional mixes and B-sides
- Never Tear Us Apart (Soul Version) (from Kick 25 - Petrol Electric/Universal 6007533845282 (U.K.), 2012)
- New Sensation (Nick 12″ Remix) (12″ A-side - Atlantic 0-86572, 1988)
- New Sensation (Nick 7″ Mix) (12″ B-side - WEA 0-258016 (AUS), 1988)
- Devil Inside (Extended Mix) (12″ A-side - Atlantic 0-86622 (U.S.), 1987)
- Devil Inside (7″ Version) (single A-side - Atlantic 7-89144 (U.S.), 1987)
- Devil Inside (Radio Edit) (promo single A-side - Mercury INXSR 10 (U.K.), 1988) *
- Different World (12" Version) (12" B-side to "Never Tear Us Apart" - Atlantic 0-86538 (U.S.), 1988) *
- Different World (7″ Version) (B-side to "Never Tear Us Apart" - Atlantic 7-89038 (U.S.), 1988)
- Need You Tonight (Big Bump Mix) (from "The Strangest Party (These Are The Times)" CD single - Atlantic 85609-2 (U.S.), 1994) *
- Need You Tonight (Ben Liebrand Mix) (12" A-side - Mercury INXSR 1222 (U.K.), 1988) *
- Need You Tonight (Mendelssohn 7" Edit) (promo single A-side - Mercury INXRA 12 (U.K.), 1988) *
- Guns In the Sky (Kookaburra Mix) (B-side to "New Sensation" - Atlantic 7-89080 (U.S.), 1988) *
- Calling All Nations (Kids On Bridges Remix) (from Kick 25 - Petrol Electric/Universal 6007533845282 (U.K.), 2012)
- Shine Like It Does (Live) (12" B-side to "Mystify" - Mercury INXS 1322 (U.K.), 1988) *
Blu-ray
- Dolby Atmos and High Definition mix of original album by Giles Martin and Sam Okell
- Guns In the Sky (promo video)
- New Sensation (promo video)
- Devil Inside (promo video)
- Need You Tonight (promo video)
- Mediate (promo video)
- Never Tear Us Apart (promo video)
- Mystify (promo video)
- Kick (new 2017 promo video)
regan judson says
Am I correct in thinking that the 5.1 mix is still able to be played if you do not have a receiver with Dolby Atmos? Good looking set!
Billy D says
Yes. The Kraftwerk blurays sound incredible on my 5.1 . They are Dolby Atmos as well.
Too bad I recently acquired a new reciever or I might have sprung for the Atmos. Although I'm a true DTS fan.
Eric M. says
Hi Mike-
Do you know if previously remastered tracks are being mastered anew for this set? The single mix of “New Sensation”, especially, was a brickwalled mess of a letdown. (I did find a better copy later on a various artists comp, but should not have had to.
Mike Duquette says
Hey Eric--haven't gotten any details on the mastering yet, but I echo your hope that this version is mastered better.
Billy D says
Think I'll hold out for the 35th anniversary with the optional neural implant version. 'Sights and Sounds! No player required!'