Welcome to Wherever You Are
Encyclopedia
Welcome to Wherever You Are is the eighth album by the Australia
n rock music
group INXS
, released in 1992. With grunge
music and alternative music breaking into the mainstream, INXS tried to establish a new direction for itself, à la U2
and Achtung Baby
, incorporating sitar
s, a 60-piece orchestra, and a much more "raw" sound to their music. In its four star review of the album, Q
called it "...a far more engaging and heartfelt collection than anything the group has put out in recent memory... It rocks," and listed it as one of the 50 Best Albums of 1992.
Ultimately, however, with lack of promotion by their label and the band not touring for the album (wanting a break), the record failed to match the success of INXS's two previous albums, Kick and X
. However, it still reached #1 in the UK, but the band's popularity soon waned. While the single "Baby Don't Cry" was a Top 20 hit in the UK, the album's biggest American hit was "Not Enough Time", which reached #2 on the Billboard
Modern Rock Tracks chart, and stayed there for five consecutive weeks.
In 2002, a remastered version of the album was released that included five previously unreleased tracks.
, which was also considered to be a change of direction for the band at the time. Opitz went on to produce the follow-up, Full Moon, Dirty Hearts
a year later continuing the band's experimentation with their musical style.
and Q Magazine also included the album in their top 10 albums of the year of 1992.
and Michael Hutchence
, except where noted.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group INXS
INXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
, released in 1992. With grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
music and alternative music breaking into the mainstream, INXS tried to establish a new direction for itself, à la U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
and Achtung Baby
Achtung Baby
Achtung Baby is the seventh studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, and was released on 19 November 1991 on Island Records. Stung by the criticism of their 1988 release Rattle and Hum, U2 shifted their musical direction to incorporate alternative...
, incorporating sitar
Sitar
The 'Tablaman' is a plucked stringed instrument predominantly used in Hindustani classical music, where it has been ubiquitous since the Middle Ages...
s, a 60-piece orchestra, and a much more "raw" sound to their music. In its four star review of the album, Q
Q (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
called it "...a far more engaging and heartfelt collection than anything the group has put out in recent memory... It rocks," and listed it as one of the 50 Best Albums of 1992.
Ultimately, however, with lack of promotion by their label and the band not touring for the album (wanting a break), the record failed to match the success of INXS's two previous albums, Kick and X
X (INXS album)
X is Australian rock band INXS's seventh studio album, released in 1990. It peaked at No. 1 in Australia, No. 5 in the United States, No. 2 in the United Kingdom, No. 5 in Switzerland and No. 10 in Sweden. The album contains four hit singles, "Suicide Blonde", "Disappear",...
. However, it still reached #1 in the UK, but the band's popularity soon waned. While the single "Baby Don't Cry" was a Top 20 hit in the UK, the album's biggest American hit was "Not Enough Time", which reached #2 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Modern Rock Tracks chart, and stayed there for five consecutive weeks.
In 2002, a remastered version of the album was released that included five previously unreleased tracks.
Further background
The album was produced by Mark Opitz who was also behind the production of the band's third studio album, Shabooh ShoobahShabooh Shoobah
Shabooh Shoobah is Australian rock group INXS's third album. It was the band's first album to be released worldwide.The song "Don't Change" has been covered by The Audreys, The Bravery, Everclear, Face to Face, Goo Goo Dolls, Grinspoon, Zero , and as a bonus track on American rock group A Fire...
, which was also considered to be a change of direction for the band at the time. Opitz went on to produce the follow-up, Full Moon, Dirty Hearts
Full Moon, Dirty Hearts
Following the positive response to the sold-out UK Get Out Of The House Tour in 1993, Full Moon Dirty Hearts received mixed reviews on its release. At the time, the band had been hyping up their new-found raw and "grungy" sound. The album's release marked a steep downturn in terms of sales, with...
a year later continuing the band's experimentation with their musical style.
Critical reception
The album was extremely well received by the critics and fans, particularly in Europe and the UK, where it went to the top of Album charts in the UK. The IndependentThe Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
and Q Magazine also included the album in their top 10 albums of the year of 1992.
Track listing
All songs written by Andrew FarrissAndrew Farriss
Andrew Charles Farriss is a rock musician , best known as the keyboardist and main composer for the Australian band INXS.-Career:...
and Michael Hutchence
Michael Hutchence
Michael Kelland John Hutchence was an Australian musician and actor. He was the founding lead singer-songwriter of rock band :INXS from 1977 to his death in 1997, a period of twenty years. Hutchence was a member of short-lived pop rock group Max Q and recorded solo material which was released...
, except where noted.
- "Questions" (Andrew FarrissAndrew FarrissAndrew Charles Farriss is a rock musician , best known as the keyboardist and main composer for the Australian band INXS.-Career:...
) – 2:19 - "Heaven SentHeaven Sent (INXS song)"Heaven Sent" is the first single by INXS taken from their eighth studio album Welcome to Wherever You Are. It was released only in Europe, Japan and Australia. The song was written by Andrew Farriss who explained on the liner notes of the 1992 remaster: ”Originally I wrote the song as a 3/4...
" (Andrew FarrissAndrew FarrissAndrew Charles Farriss is a rock musician , best known as the keyboardist and main composer for the Australian band INXS.-Career:...
) – 3:18 - "Communication" – 5:29
- "Taste ItTaste It"Taste It" is the fourth single from the 1992 album Welcome to Wherever You Are, by Australian rock band INXS. The song was written by Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence....
" – 3:27 - "Not Enough TimeNot Enough Time"Not Enough Time" is the third single from the 1992 album Welcome to Wherever You Are, it was released simultaneously with "Baby Don't Cry" but only in the US and Japan, by Australian rock band INXS. The song was written by Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence, the music in Sydney and the lyrics...
" – 4:26 - "All Around" – 3:30
- "Baby Don't Cry" – 4:57
- "Beautiful GirlBeautiful Girl (INXS song)"Beautiful Girl" was the fifth, internationally released single from the 1992 album Welcome to Wherever You Are, by Australian rock band INXS. The song was written by Andrew Farriss who was inspired to write this by the birth of his baby daughter...
" – 3:33 - "Wishing Well" – 3:40
- "Back on Line" (Jon FarrissJon FarrissJon Farriss is the drummer for the Australian rock band INXS.-Biography:...
, Michael HutchenceMichael HutchenceMichael Kelland John Hutchence was an Australian musician and actor. He was the founding lead singer-songwriter of rock band :INXS from 1977 to his death in 1997, a period of twenty years. Hutchence was a member of short-lived pop rock group Max Q and recorded solo material which was released...
) – 3:24 - "Strange Desire" – 4:39
- "Men and Women" (Michael HutchenceMichael HutchenceMichael Kelland John Hutchence was an Australian musician and actor. He was the founding lead singer-songwriter of rock band :INXS from 1977 to his death in 1997, a period of twenty years. Hutchence was a member of short-lived pop rock group Max Q and recorded solo material which was released...
) – 4:38
Personnel
- Garry Gary Beers – bass guitar
- Andrew FarrissAndrew FarrissAndrew Charles Farriss is a rock musician , best known as the keyboardist and main composer for the Australian band INXS.-Career:...
– guitar, keyboards - Jon FarrissJon FarrissJon Farriss is the drummer for the Australian rock band INXS.-Biography:...
– percussion, drums - Tim FarrissTim FarrissTimothy William Farriss is a member of the rock band :INXS.-Early life and the formation of INXS:...
– guitar - Michael HutchenceMichael HutchenceMichael Kelland John Hutchence was an Australian musician and actor. He was the founding lead singer-songwriter of rock band :INXS from 1977 to his death in 1997, a period of twenty years. Hutchence was a member of short-lived pop rock group Max Q and recorded solo material which was released...
– vocals - Kirk PengillyKirk PengillyKirk Pengilly is an Australian musician, best known as a member of the rock group :INXS.-Early career:...
– guitar, saxophone, vocals
Bonus tracks on 2002 Remaster
- "The Answer" – 4:53
- "Wishing Well" (Alternate version) – 3:30
- "All Around" (Alternate version) – 3:25
- "The Indian Song" – 4:50
- "Heaven Sent" (Waltz version) – 3:01
Singles
- "Heaven Sent"/"It Ain't Easy" (June 1992)
- "Not Enough Time"/"Light the Planet" (August 1992)
- "Baby Don't Cry"/"Questions" (September 1992)
- "Taste It"/"Light the Planet" (November 1992)
- "Beautiful Girl"/"Strange Desire" (remix) (February 1993)