Shabooh Shoobah

Shabooh Shabooh Shoobah

Shoobah is
Australian rock
group INXS's
third studio
album and was
released on 16
October 1982.
It peaked at
No. 5 on the
ARIA Albums Studio album by
Chart and INXS
remained on
the chart for Released 16 October 1982
94 weeks. It January 1982 (Paradise Studios)
Recorded
was the band's June 1982 (Rhinoceros Studios)
first album to Genre New wave, rock, post-punk
be released Length 35:23
worldwide and
Warner Music, Mercury, Atco
appeared on Label
(US)
the United
Producer Mark Opitz
States Billboard
200 and on the INXS chronology

Hot Pop
Underneath Shabooh
Albums Chart. the Colours Shoobah The Swing
(1981) (1982) (1984)
The album
spawned four
singles, "The Singles from Shabooh Shoobah
One Thing"
1. "The One Thing"
(July 1982),
Released: July 1982
"Don't Change"
2. "Don't Change"
(October), "To
Released: October 1982
Look at You"
3. "To Look at You"
(March 1983)
Released: March 1983
and "Black and
White" (June). 4. "Black and White"
Released: June 1983
It was
produced Professional ratings
by Mark
Review scores
Opitz for
WEA Source Rating
Australia
with most
tracks AllMusic
written by
[1]
band
members
Andrew
Rolling Stone
Farriss and
Michael [2]
Hutchence.
The name "Shabooh Shoobah" is an onomatopoeia of a
rhythm in the song "Spy of Love".[3][4]

At the 1982 Countdown Australian Music Awards, the album

was nominated for Best Australian Album.[5][6]

Contents
1 Background
2 Reception
3 Track listing
4 Personnel
5 Chart performance and certifications
5.1 Weekly Charts
5.2 Year-end charts
6 Notes

Background
INXS's third album, Shabooh Shoobah, developed after they
decided in early 1982 to record a new song, "The One
Thing", at their own expense, with Mark Opitz at Paradise
Studios.[7] The song turned out so well that band hired Opitz
to produce three more songs.[8] WEA Australia were
approached with copies, leading to INXS signing a recording
deal in July 1982 with WEA for releases in Australia, South
East Asia, Japan and New Zealand; with sister label Atco
Records (a subsidiary of Atlantic Records) for North America
and with PolyGram for United Kingdom and the rest of
Europe.[7][9][10][11]

Initially, INXS were not convinced that Opitz could produce

an entire album that would attract international interest. Prior
to recording the rest of Shabooh Shoobah, three band
members, Kirk Pengilly, Michael Hutchence, and Andrew
Farriss, visited the UK and United States, to select another
producer. However, they found that no one they wanted was
available and that most people advised them that Opitz's
work on their single was as good as they could wish for.[3][7]
So in mid-1982, they commenced recording at Rhinoceros
Studios, with Opitz.[11] Tim Farriss felt "Mark was the first
producer that was able to capture some glimmer of what the
band felt it was like live. Prior to us, Mark had done bands
like AC/DC, Cold Chisel, The Angels. Big guitar sounds,
mighty drum beats".[7]

In October, Shabooh Shoobah was released internationally

on Atlantic/Atco Records and Mercury Records, peaking at
No. 52 on the US Billboard 200 and No. 46 on the Hot Pop
Albums chart.[12][13] In Australia it peaked at No. 5 on the
ARIA Albums Chart and remained on the chart for 94 weeks.
[14] The lead single, "The One Thing", brought their first US

Top 30 hit on 28 May 1983,[15] it was a Top 20 hit in Canada,

[16] and peaked at No. 14 in Australia on 23 August 1982.[14]

"One Thing" was their first video to air on the fledgling MTV
and added to the chart success of the single.[8] INXS
undertook their first US performance in San Diego in March
1983, to a crowd of 24 patrons.[7] The tour was as support
for Adam and the Ants, then support for Stray Cats, The
Kinks,[9] Hall & Oates followed by The Go-Go's.[7][8] INXS
played alongside many of their contemporaries on New
Wave Day in May 1983, at the US Festival in Devore,
California.[17] It was during this time that Gary Grant, their
co-manager, relocated permanently to New York to ensure a
continual presence in the northern hemisphere.[7] The band
remained on the road in the US for most of the year,
including support for Men at Work and by mid-1983 were
headlining venues such as The Ritz in New York.[7]

Reception
Reviewed at the time of release, Rolling Stone Australia
wrote "After the funk and ska of their last two albums, this
one is sort of expensive tribal - a touch of the furry animal, a
hint of the pagan and some gilt edging. Perhaps it's too glib
to dismiss INXS as the next Duran Duran, but undeniably
Shabooh Shoobah has all the hallmarks of current British
pop."[18]

Rip It Up wrote "From the opening "The One Thing", it sways

and swaggers through two sides of sheer musical bliss. Very
ably led by vocalist Michael Hutchence, who handles all
songs with an almost arrogant ease."[19]
Track listing
No. Title Writer(s) Length
"The One Andrew Farriss, Michael
1. 3:24
Thing" Hutchence
"To Look at
2. A. Farriss 3:55
You"
"Spy of
3. Tim Farriss, Hutchence 3:58
Love"
"Soul
4. A. Farriss, Hutchence 2:57
Mistake"
"Here
5. A. Farriss, Hutchence 3:00
Comes"
"Black and
6. A. Farriss, Hutchence 3:40
White"
"Golden
7. Hutchence, Kirk Pengilly 3:03
Playpen"
"Jan's
8. A. Farriss, Hutchence 3:18
Song"
"Old World
9. New Jon Farriss, Hutchence 3:38
World"
Garry Gary Beers, A. Farriss, J.
"Don't
10. Farriss, T. Farriss, Hutchence, 4:24
Change"
Pengilly

Personnel
INXS
 Michael Hutchence – vocals
Tim Farriss – guitar
Kirk Pengilly – guitar, saxophone, vocals
Garry Gary Beers – bass guitar, vocals
Jon Farriss – drums, percussion, vocals
Andrew Farriss – keyboards, guitar

Production details

Producer – Mark Opitz

Engineer – David Walsh, Andrew Scott, David Nicholas,
Mark Opitz
Studios – Paradise Studios (track 1), Rhinoceros Studios
(tracks 2–10)

Art works

Cover art concept – Michael Hutchence, Grant

Matthews
Photography – Grant Matthews

Chart performance and certifications

Weekly Charts

Peak chart positions

Year Certifications
AUS US
1982 5 46 US: Gold[20]
Year-end charts

Peak
Chart (1983)
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[21] 22

Notes
1. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r9882
2. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian, eds. (2004). The
New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster.
p. 406. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
3. ^ a b McGee, David (June 1983). "Inxs: Angry Young
Men at Work". Record. 2 (8): 3, 30.
4. Marsland, Matthew (October 2012). "30th Anniversary
of 'Shabooh Shoobah'". Michael Hutchence. Retrieved
20 November 2015.
5. "Australian Music Awards". Ron Jeff. Retrieved 16
December 2010.
6. "Final episode of Countdown". 1970scountdown.
Retrieved 23 October 2020.
7. ^ a b c d e f g h St John, Ed (1998). Burn : The life and
times of Michael Hutchence and INXS (doc). Bantam
Books, Sydney. ISBN 0-733-80182-X.
8. ^ a b c Bozza, Anthony (2005). INXS Story to Story : The
official autobiography (doc). Bantam Books, Sydney.
ISBN 0-593-05517-9.
 9. ^ a b 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 16
November 2008.
10. Nimmervoll, Ed. "INXS". HowlSpace. Archived from the
original on 21 February 2001. Retrieved 17 November
2008.
11. ^ a b Holmgren, Magnus; Shaw, Julian; Meyer, Peer.
"INXS". Australian Rock Database. Archived from the
original on 12 December 2011. Retrieved 16 November
2008.
12. "Artist Chart History – INXS – Albums". Billboard.
Retrieved 6 March 2008.
13. "INXS > Charts & Awards > Billboard albums". Allmusic.
Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 6 March 2008.
14. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–
1992. St Ives, Sydney: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-
646-11917-6. Note: Used for Australian Singles and
Albums charting until ARIA created their own charts in
mid-1988.
15. Whitburn, Joel (1991). Billboard Hot 100 Charts : The
Eighties. Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-079-2.
16. "INXS > Charts & Awards > Billboard singles". AllMusic.
Retrieved 6 March 2008.
17. "The Clash US Festival May 28th 1983".
blackmarketcash.com. Archived from the original on 7
 March 2008. Retrieved 6 March 2008.
18. Toby Creswell (4 November 1982). "INXS exceed past
efforts". Rolling Stone Australia. No. 359.
19. Gregg Cobb (1 December 1982). "Records". Rip It Up.
No. 65.
20. "RIAA Certifications". Recording Industry Association
of America. Archived from the original on 7 September
2012. Retrieved 6 December 2009.
21. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992
(illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book.
p. 435. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

hide

v
t
e

INXS
Garry Gary Beers
Andrew Farriss
Jon Farriss
Tim Farriss
Michael Hutchence
Kirk Pengilly

Jon Stevens
J.D. Fortune
Ciaran Gribbin

INXS
Underneath the Colours
 Shabooh Shoobah
The Swing
Listen Like Thieves
Studio Kick
albums X
Welcome to Wherever You Are
Full Moon, Dirty Hearts
Elegantly Wasted
Switch
Original Sin

Dekadance
EPs Bang the Drum

INXSIVE
The Greatest Hits
Shine Like It Does: The Anthology (1979–
1997)
Definitive INXS/The Best of INXS
Compilations The Years 1979–1997
Stay Young 1979–1982
INXS²: The Remixes
Original Sin – The Collection
Taste It: The Collection
The Very Best

Live Baby Live

INXS: Live at Barker Hangar
Live albums Live at Wembley Stadium 1991
INXS: Live Baby Live Wembley Stadium

"Simple Simon"
"The Loved One"
"Stay Young"
"The One Thing"
 "Don't Change"
"Original Sin"
"I Send a Message"
"Burn for You"
"What You Need"
"This Time"
"Kiss the Dirt (Falling Down the Mountain)"
"Listen Like Thieves"
"Good Times"
"Need You Tonight"
"Mediate"
"Devil Inside"
"New Sensation"
"Never Tear Us Apart"
"Mystify"
"Suicide Blonde"
"Disappear"
"By My Side"
"Bitter Tears"
"The Stairs"
"Shining Star"
"Heaven Sent"
Singles
"Baby Don't Cry"
"Not Enough Time"
"Taste It"
"Beautiful Girl"
"The Gift"
"Please (You Got That ...)"
"Time"
"Freedom Deep"
"The Strangest Party (These Are the
Times)"
"Elegantly Wasted"
"Everything"
"Don't Lose Your Head"
"Searching"
 "Precious Heart"
"I'm So Crazy"
"Tight"
"One of My Kind"
"I Get Up"
"Pretty Vegas"
"Afterglow"
"Devil's Party"
"Perfect Strangers"
"God's Top Ten"
"Dream on Black Girl (Original Sin)"

Discography
Dogs in Space
INXS: Never Tear Us Apart
Jimmy Barnes
Make My Video
Related Max Q
articles Michael Hutchence (album)
Rock Star: INXS
The Dead Daisies
Mystify: Michael Hutchence
Mystify: A Musical Journey with
Michael Hutchence