The Swing is the fourth studio album by Australian rock band INXS, released on 21 March 1984. It peaked at number one on the Kent Music Report Albums Chart for five non-consecutive weeks from early April to mid-May 1984. The lead single "Original Sin" was recorded in New York City with Nile Rodgers and featured Daryl Hall on backing vocals. Overall, the album featured a slightly harder-edged sound than their previous releases.
Background
By 1983 Australian rock band INXS attempted to expand their international profile with their fourth studio album, The Swing. The Sydney-based group had formed in 1977 by three brothers Andrew on guitar and keyboards; Jon on percussion and drums; and Tim Farriss on guitar; together with Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar; Michael Hutchence on lead vocals; and Kirk Pengilly on guitar, saxophone, and vocals.
In September 1983 the band travelled to New York City to work with Nile Rodgers as producer at the Power Station.
All four singles were co-written by Andrew with Hutchence, while other album tracks were generally written with one or more additional band members. A cassette extended play of remixes, Dekadance, was also released in Australia.
Release
The Swing peaked at number one on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart for five non-consecutive weeks from early April to mid-May 1984. It remained in the top 100 for over 100;weeks. On the New Zealand Albums Chart it reached No. 6.
Beyond its local success, this album, as its predecessor, entered the US Top 75, reaching No. 52 on the Billboard 200; it also entered the Canadian Top 40, where it reached No. 27 on the RPM 100 Albums. with the local airing of a mini-series, INXS: Never Tear Us Apart, on the Seven Network.
Critical reception
AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted that The Swing "retains the new wave pop sense and rock attack of their earlier albums, while adding a stronger emphasis on dance rhythms". He liked the improved songwriting "with more than half of the album featuring memorable hooks".
Australian musicologist Ian McFarlane opined that "[it] boasted all the confident swagger and accomplished rock hooks of a band on the cusp of international acceptance". while Slicing Up Eyeballs<nowiki/>' ranked it number 11 on their list of the 100 greatest albums of 1984."