Searching (INXS song)

"Searching"
File:Searching single.jpg
Single by INXS
from the album Elegantly Wasted
Released	22 September 1997
Format	CD single
Recorded	1997
Genre	Rock
Length	4:05
Label	Mercury
Writer(s)	Michael Hutchence, Andrew Farriss
Producer(s)	Bruce Fairbairn
INXS singles chronology
"Don't Lose Your Head" (1997) "Searching" (1997) "Tight" (2002)

"Searching" is the fourth single from the album Elegantly Wasted by INXS. It was never officially released although scheduled for the UK market. The song was written by Michael Hutchence and Andrew Farriss and recorded by the band in Dublin during the summer of 1996. It is also the final single to feature original front man Michael Hutchence, who died two months after the song was released.

Trivia

The song was previewed several months before the album's release in September 1996 at the Australian ARIA Music Awards.

Due to record company red tape, "Searching", the scheduled third single from Elegantly Wasted, was never commercially released.

According to a Mercury Records spokesman, a minimal quantity of around 2,000 copies of each disc were pressed for promotional purposes, but upon the single's retraction all available copies were destroyed. Inevitably, a relatively small and unknown quantity of the discs had already been circulated thus making the singles very attractive collector’s items – especially as a complete set. However, most of the actual recordings and remixes have since appeared elsewhere on other promo items.

B-sides

As well as the new mixes of "Searching", the CD Singles included further live tracks from the Aspen show and two Acoustic performances at BBC Radio 1 of "I'm Just a Man" and "Never Tear Us Apart".

Video

The video for "Searching" was directed by longtime collaborator Nick Egan and would be the last the band worked on before Hutchence's death. "Searching" was shot in San Francisco at the end of July 1997 and was unusually set to the 'Leadstation Radio Mix' of the song, not the album version.

The narrative of the video is of the band "Searching" the streets for the girl who appears on the front cover of the 'Elegantly Wasted' album, video and single.

Track listings

CD Promo – MECP319 – Mercury/US

1. Searching (Leadstation Radio Mix)
2. Searching (LP version)

CD Promo – INXCJ30 – Mercury/UK

1. Searching (Leadstation Radio Mix)
2. Searching (LP version)

CD5 – INXCD30 – Mercury/UK (withdrawn)

1. Searching (Leadstation Radio Mix)
2. Searching (LP version)
3. Searching (Alex Reece Drum and Bass Mix)
4. Searching (Linslee Campbell R&B Mix)

CD5 – INXD30 – Mercury/UK (withdrawn)

1. Searching (Leadstation Funk Workout)
2. Searching (Live in Aspen '97)
3. Elegantly Wasted (Live in Aspen '97)
4. Need You Tonight (Live in Aspen '97)

CD5 – INXDD30 – Mercury/UK (withdrawn)

1. Searching (Leadstation Main Mix)
2. Searching (Bosch Mix)
3. I'm Just a Man (acoustic live – Radio One, 20 May 1997)
4. Never Tear Us Apart (acoustic live – Radio One, 20 May 1997)