Listen Like Thieves is the fifth studio album by Australian rock band INXS. It was released on 14 October 1985. It spent two weeks at number one on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart. Considered an international breakthrough album for the band, it peaked at No. 11 on the United States Billboard 200, No. 24 on the Canadian RPM 100 Albums and in the top 50 in the United Kingdom.
The album features the band's first top 5 single in the U.S., "What You Need", and it also won the group the Countdown Music and Video Award for 'Best Video'. Listen Like Thieves also marks the beginning of the group's off-and-on alliance with producer Chris Thomas.
In May 2025, Petrol Records and Universal Music Group issued a 40th Anniversary re-release. Available in multiple formats, including many bonus tracks and live concert recordings from the 1985–86 period. The album has been remixed in Dolby Atmos and remastered by Giles Martin.
Background
Listen Like Thieves is the fifth studio album by INXS. The Sydney-based group had formed in 1977 by the three Fariss brothers: Andrew on guitar and keyboards, Jon on percussion and drums, and Tim on guitar, along with Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Michael Hutchence as lead vocalist, and Kirk Pengilly on guitar, saxophone, and vocals. Their previous album, The Swing (April 1984), had local chart success peaking at number one on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart and No. 6 in New Zealand. Although appearing on international charts – No. 52 on United States Billboard 200, and No. 27 on the Canadian RPM 100 Albums – INXS wanted to improve their worldwide impact.
After recording their last album in New York and Oxfordshire, they returned to Sydney where they worked with Chris Thomas (Sex Pistols, Pretenders, Roxy Music, Elton John) producing at Rhinoceros Studios. Many of the album's songs were written by the song writing duo of Hutchence and Andrew Farriss.
As production came close to completion, Thomas told the band that the album was lacking a crucial hit single, so the band members left the studio having just a few days to come up with one last song.
Critical reception
AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted that with Listen Like Thieves the band "completes its transition into an excellent rock & roll singles band". However "the new configuration only works for three songs", which were its first three singles, "What You Need", "Listen Like Thieves" and "Kiss the Dirt (Falling Down the Mountain)". Despite this commentary, the music critic stated as well that "the album cannot be dismissed" and gave it four out of five stars in his ranking. Paul Bennett writing for The Times Colonist, said This Aussie group deserves to make the big- time with their latest offering of fast paced, intelligently- written rock. He awarded the album four out of five stars."
In 2024, Uncut placed the album at no. 387 on their list of the 500 greatest albums of the 1980s.
Track listing
2025 re-releases
In 2025, Atlantic & Rhino Records released a 2 CD version or Listen Like Thieves with a second disc of B-Sides, remixes & live recordings. Atlantic Catalog Group also release a 3 CD, one LP Super Deluxe Edition of Listen Like Thieves as part of the 40th anniversary reissue campaign.
2 CD
Super Deluxe Edition
Personnel
Personnel as listed in the album's liner notes are:
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!scope="row"|Canadian Albums (RPM)
| align="center"| 24
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Year-end charts
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+1985 year-end chart performance for Listen Like Thieves
! Chart (1985)
! Peak<br />position
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! scope="row"| Australia (Kent Music Report)
| 22
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! scope="row" | New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
| 45
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+1986 year-end chart performance for Listen Like Thieves
! Chart (1986)
! Peak<br />position
|-
! scope="row"| Australia (Kent Music Report)
| 14
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! scope="row" | New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
| 18
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