Simple Simon (song)
{{short description|Single by INXS}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Simple Simon
| cover = Simple Simon cover.jpg
| alt = RCA Victor cover
| type = single
| artist = INXS
| album =
| B-side = {{hlist|"We Are the Vegetables"}}
| released = May 1980
| recorded = 1980
| studio = Trafalgar Studios (Annandale, New South Wales){{cite book |last1=Desoto |first1=Lucy |title=Australia Rocks: Remembering the music of the 1950s to 1990s |date=1 October 2016 |publisher=Exisle Publishing |isbn=978-1-77559-298-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EXOBDQAAQBAJ&dq=Simple+Simon+inxs+single&pg=PT337 |access-date=27 June 2023 |language=en}}
| genre = New wave{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Cameron |date=February 7, 2014 |title=You know the hits, but here's what you need: the lesser known INXS songs for your iPod |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/music/you-know-the-hits-but-heres-what-you-need-the-lesser-known-inxs-songs-for-your-ipod/news-story/dc85e27cbee68d03eea794f9ad51c3aa |access-date=June 20, 2025 |website=The Courier-Mail}}
| length = 2:32
| label = Deluxe
| writer = Garry Gary Beers, Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss, Tim Farriss, Michael Hutchence
| producer = Martin Hannett
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Just Keep Walking
| next_year = 1980
}}
"Simple Simon" is the debut single by Australian rock band INXS, released in May 1980 via Deluxe Records.{{Cite book | title = Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop | last = McFarlane | first = Ian | author-link = Ian McFarlane | publisher = Allen & Unwin | year = 1999 | chapter = Encyclopedia entry for 'INXS' | chapter-url = http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=950 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040930213309/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=950 | url-status = dead| isbn = 1-86448-768-2 | archive-date = 30 September 2004 | access-date = 11 August 2018 | df = dmy-all }}[http://www.discogs.com/INXS-Simple-Simon/release/1505205 Simple Simon release on Discogs.com]{{cite book |last1=Moskowitz |first1=David V. |title=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 |date=10 November 2015 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-4408-0340-6 |page=308 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8XG9CgAAQBAJ&dq=Simple+Simon+inxs+single&pg=PA308 |access-date=27 June 2023 |language=en}}{{cite book |title=INXS: Story to Story: The Official Autobiography |date=11 May 2010 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-0-7432-9002-9 |page=49 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MxTMEwwCIK8C&dq=Simple+Simon+inxs+single&pg=PT65 |access-date=27 June 2023 |language=en}}
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.{{cite web | publisher = Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | title = 'Simple Simon' at APRA search engine | url = http://apraamcos.com.au/search?searchtype=works&keywords=simple+simon | access-date = 11 August 2018 }} Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' &/or 'Performer:' 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.{{cite book | title = Molly Meldrum presents 50 years of rock in Australia | last = Jenkins | first = Jeff | author2 = Ian Meldrum | author-link2 = Molly Meldrum | year = 2007 | publisher = Wilkinson Publishing | location = Melbourne | isbn = 978-1-921332-11-1 }}
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.{{fact|date=June 2023}}
The song is heavily influenced by ska and punk styles.{{cite book |last1=Buckley |first1=Peter |title=The Rough Guide to Rock |date=2003 |publisher=Rough Guides |isbn=978-1-84353-105-0 |page=522 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7ctjc6UWCm4C&dq=Simple+Simon+inxs+single&pg=PA522 |access-date=27 June 2023 |language=en}}
Track listing
- "Simple Simon" (Garry Gary Beers, Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss, Tim Farriss, Michael Hutchence) – 2:32
- "We Are the Vegetables" (A Farriss, J Farriss, T Farriss, Hutchence, Kirk Pengilly) – 1:53
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Allmusic|song|simple-simon-mt0000597794|Simple Simon}}
{{INXS}}