Michael Hutchence (album)

Michael Hutchence
A black-and-white photo of Hutchence lying down with a thin grey square superimposed around his face and his name written vertically on the left-hand side in grey.
Studio album by Michael Hutchence
Released 14 December 1999
Recorded 1995–1997
Genre Alternative rock, electronic music
Length 52:43
Language English
Label V2
Producer Andy Gill, Michael Hutchence, and Danny Saber
Compiler Andy Gill
Singles from Michael Hutchence
  1. "A Straight Line"
    Released: 1999
  2. "Slide Away"
    Released: 2000 (promo)

Michael Hutchence is the only solo posthumous album by INXS frontman Michael Hutchence. It was released on 14 December 1999, just over two years after Hutchence's death.

Hutchence began work on what would become his posthumous solo album in 1995 with Tim Simenon. He then phoned Gang of Four guitarist Andy Gill and asked him to play on the album. Ten minutes later he phoned back and asked Gill to co-write the album. Gill joined Hutchence at his house and home studio in Roquefort-les-Pins and over a five-month period continued to write and record in France and London. They were fans of Black Grape and decided to enlist Black Grape producer Danny Saber as co-producer with Gill of the album. After Hutchence's death in 1997, Gill asked U2 singer, and Hutchence's friend, Bono to record additional lyrics which were added to the track "Slide Away".

This album was simply dedicated to "Tiger" in reference to Hutchence's daughter, Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily Hutchence. The last song that Hutchence worked on before his death was "Possibilities", which is track 2 on the album.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Let Me Show You"Andy Gill & Michael Hutchence3:38
2."Possibilities"Michael Hutchence & Danny Saber4:31
3."Get on the Inside"Andy Gill, Michael Hutchence4:48
4."Fear"Andy Gill & Michael Hutchence3:43
5."All I'm Saying"Michael Hutchence & Tim Simenon4:05
6."A Straight Line"Michael Hutchence & Andy Gill3:38
7."Baby It's Alright"Michael Hutchence & Danny Saber3:52
8."Don't Save Me from Myself"Michael Hutchence & Andy Gill3:21
9."She Flirts for England"Michael Hutchence & Andy Gill3:12
10."Flesh and Blood"Michael Hutchence & Andy Gill5:03
11."Put the Pieces Back Together"Michael Hutchence & Andy Gill4:38
12."Breathe"Michael Hutchence & Danny Saber3:52
13."Slide Away"Michael Hutchence & Andy Gill4:22
Total length:52:43

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Rolling Stone[2]
PopMatters[3]

The album received mixed to positive reviews upon its release and was noted by some critics for being dark and moody. Rolling Stone staff writer David Fricke gave the album three and a half out of five stars, stating "Much of the music on this record has a gray chill". He admired the singer's motivation on the record saying "Hutchence was as serious about his craft as he was intoxicated by rock-star living" and that "he set his arena-rock torch singing in a provocative landscape of melancholy-machine music."[2] In his AllMusic review, journalist Carlo Wolff rated the album three stars out of five and wrote "there is enough good material here to warrant a listen, perhaps even shed a tear." He added, "this curious, occasionally exciting collection showcases the more vulnerable side of Hutchence" and that "this autobiographical album resonates beyond its sad, faintly kinky pedigree".[1] Editor and writer Patrick Schabe scored the album 8 out of 10 stars in his review for PopMatters writing "On Michael Hutchence's eponymously titled solo album, it’s not a disappointing pastime" and that "this piece is thankfully an incredible success."[3]

Commercial performance

In the singer's native Australia the album peaked at number 3 and remained there for 1 week. It stayed in the Australian charts for 3 weeks.[4] It quickly received a gold accreditation from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) having sold 35,000 copies.[5] In the UK, the album peaked at number 90 and lasted 1 week in the charts.[6]

Personnel

Charts and certifications

Charts

Chart (1999) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[4] 3
UK Albums (OCC)[6] 90
US Billboard 200[7] 200

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[5] Gold 35,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. 1 2 Michael Hutchence at AllMusic
  2. 1 2 "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Web.archive.org. 16 May 2008. Archived from the original on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 2017-03-18.
  3. 1 2 "PopMatters – Michael Hutchence – "Michael Hutchence"". PopMatters. Retrieved 2017-03-18.
  4. 1 2 "Australiancharts.com – Michael Hutchence – Michael Hutchence". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  5. 1 2 "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  6. 1 2 "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  7. ↑ "Michael Hutchence – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Michael Hutchence. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
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