Song of the Day, August 21: Spy of Love by INXS

Today’s song is Spy of Love by INXS. It appears on their breakthrough album Shabooh Shoobah. Although not one of the successful singles taken from the disc, the track is in many ways the heart of the album.

Guitarist Tim Farriss had a set of nonsense lyrics he sang in the studio while the band were assembling the album. Those lyrics became the disc’s distinctive title. The rhythm fit in with something the rhythm section was fiddling with. During the course of the sessions, that rhythm and aspects of Farriss’ gibberish transformed into a song. With lyrics by singer Michael Hutchence, the track that was part of the first day of recording became the last one recorded in full.

It’s a fun, sultry song, with Hutchence delivering a great low-key vibe. The band, inspired by the extended jamming tha built the song, are flawless, making the complex rhythms come off effortlessly. Sexy, smart, and danceable, Spy of Love captures the best of INXS and stands out as a highlight of their most consistent album.

Enjoy this fun song today.