'Hounds of love' is the title track of Kate Bush's 1985 album. The track starts with a sample from the British 1957 horror film 'Night of the demon'. The words 'It's in the trees! It's coming!' are spoken by an actor from the film, Maurice Denham. The song is about being afraid to fall in love; in the song this feeling is compared to being chased by a pack of hounds.
Released as the third single from the album in February 1986, 'Hounds of love' reached number 18 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 392 Found: Den Haag, 1986 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Hounds of love' / 'The handsome cabin boy'
Kate Bush wrote the song 'Cloudbusting' after she read the book 'A book of dreams', published in 1973. The book was written by Peter Reich, son of psychologist Wilhelm Reich, about his father's arrest and imprisonment through the eyes of himself as a young boy. Wilhelm Reich is the inventor of the 'cloudbuster', a rain machine that looks very much like the machine that is pictured on the cover of this single. It's an extraordinary book, which was re-released as a result of the success of this song. I bought it, and I still recommend it to everyone who loves this song.
The music video, in which Kate plays Peter and Donald Sutherland plays Wilhelm, retells the story in short and made quite an impression at the time. The single fared pretty well as a result: it reached number 20 in the UK singles chart and number 11 in the Dutch Top 40. The American single, released in 1986 in conjunction with the greatest hits compilation 'The whole story', has a different B-side. I bought it four years after its release.
My collection: 7" single no. 370 / no. 1344 Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1985 / London, October 18, 1990 Cost: 6 guilders / 2 pounds Tracks (no. 370): 'Cloudbusting' / 'Burning bridge' Tracks (no. 1344): 'Cloudbusting' / 'The man with the child in his eyes'
During many televised interviews and in dozens of magazine articles, Kate Bush has had to explain the meaning behind her 1985 single 'Running up that hill' while she was promoting her album 'Hounds of love'. I'm sure this is one of the reasons why she did so little promotion ever since. She commented: 'I was trying to say that, really, a man and a woman, can't understand each other because we are a man and a woman. And if we could actually swap each other's roles, if we could actually be in each other's place for a while, I think we'd both be very surprised!'
The single was released in August 1985 and was basically Kate's comeback single after an absence of over two years from the pop scene. Many people thought this was an extremely long time. (Little did they know about what Kate would do later on in her career...). She was welcomed back in many countries with one of the biggest hits of her career. 'Running up that hill' reached number 3 in the UK, number 6 in the Netherlands and number 30 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 316 Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, August 1985 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Running up that hill' / 'Under the ivy'
'The dreaming' was released in July 1982 as the second single from Kate Bush's fourth album of the same name. The first single, 'Sat in your lap', had been released thirteen months earlier, but was still included on the album as well. The song is about the destruction of Aboriginal homelands by white Australians in their quest for weapons-grade uranium. Musical guest Rolf Harris plays the didgeridoo on the recording. Bird impersonator Percy Edwards provided sheep noises.
The single reached number 48 in the UK singles chart, which was quite disappointing in a way, as all of Kate's single up to that point had reached the UK top 40 (with the exception of 'Hammer horror', which peaked at number 44). The single was not released in Europe, where the track 'Suspended in gaffa' was preferred.
My collection: 7" single no. 548 Found: HMV, London, October 1987 Cost: 2 pounds Tracks: 'The dreaming' / 'Dreamtime'
I ordered Kate Bush's 1983 single 'Ne t'enfuis pas' some 10 years after its release, as described in this post. However, the disc never arrived in one piece and for years I only had the sleeve. When I wrote about this unlucky adventure a few days ago, I realised suddenly that the age of internet would have made this single readily available. I don't know why I didn't think of this before!
And so, I ordered another copy of this single, again from France, but this time at a much lower price. It's incredible: within days it was delivered - and in one piece, too. Long live the internet.
My collection: 7" single no. 4625 Found: Priceminister.com, received March 6, 2010 Cost: 4 euro Tracks: 'Ne t'enfuis pas' / 'Un baiser d'enfant'
The fact that collecting records is not always fun, is proved with this particular item. I ordered 'Ne t'enfuis pas' by Kate Bush from France, as it was possible to get a copy from there some 20 years ago. I sent my money, waited for a few weeks, and then received the package. The problem was: it was delivered by a particularly stupid and lazy postman, who decided to shove it through the letterbox. As a result, the single snapped and I found two halves in the sleeve.
I brought the single to the postoffice for a complaint, and had to leave the item with them, so they could decide what to do. One week later, I got my money back, and the record as well: they broke it up into twenty pieces, presumably to try out what it would take to break a record. Needless to say, I was fuming. And I never found another copy - at least, not for a reasonable price. Until today, that is... (to be continued!)
My collection: sleeve Found: France, ca. 1990 Cost: 20 guilders Tracks: 'Ne t'enfuis pas' / 'Un baiser d'enfant'
'I'm scared of the changes' says a little voice in this track, 'Suspended in gaffa' by Kate Bush. It's a minor detail in the enormous soundscape created by Kate Bush in this track, but one that caused me to listen to this track over and over again from 1982 until today. The song lyric is about seeing something one really wants, then not being able to see or experience it ever again. The 'gaffa' of the title and chorus refers to gaffer tape, the tough black tape used by technicians in film and concert industries.
Released as the third single from her fourth album 'The dreaming' - with the exception of the UK where 'There goes a tenner' was released instead - it was not a commercial success for Kate Bush. I actually own two versions of this single: I bought the first one, a German pressing, as soon as it came out. Just four months ago, I found the Dutch edition with a slightly different sleeve.
My collection: 7" single no. 172 / no. 4116 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1982 Cost: 3,5 guilders Tracks: 'Suspended in gaffa' / 'Ne t'en fuis pas'
'Sat in your lap' was a track on Kate Bush's 1982 album 'The dreaming', but released as a single 15 months before the release of that album. The track was later remixed and slightly altered to fit it better with the overall feel of the album. About the lyric, Kate commented: ''Sat inyour lap' is very much a search for knowledge. And about the kind of people who really want to have knowledge but can't be bothered to do the things that they should in order to get it. So they're sitting there saying how nice it would be to have this or to do that without really desiring to do the things it takes you to get it. And also the more you learn the more ignorant you realize you are and that you get over one wall to find an even bigger one.'
The single reached number 11 in the UK singles chart and number 18 in Ireland. In other territories, 'Sat in your lap' failed to become a hit.
My collection: 7" single no. 427 Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 29, 1986 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Sat in your lap' / 'The lord of the reedy river'
Released in September 1980, Kate Bush's 'Army dreamers' can actually be described as an EP, as it contained not one, but two B-side tracks: an old demo recording from 1973 called 'Passing through air' and the album version of 'Delius', though without the outro of Babooshka through the first few seconds of the tracks as on the album 'Never for ever'.
The lyric of 'Army dreamers' was about the effects of war and about a mother who grieves for her young son, who was killed on military maneuvers. Saddened by his unnecessary death, she wrestles with her guilt over what she could have done to prevent it. The single reached number 16 in the UK singles chart and number 36 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 76 Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Army dreamers' / 'Delius', 'Passing through air'
Kate Bush released 'Babooshka' in June 1980 as a single from her third album 'Never for ever'. The lyric of the song describes a wife's desire to test her husband's loyalty. She takes on the nom de plume of Babooshka and sends notes to her husband in the guise of a younger woman. The trap is set when, in her bitterness and paranoia, she arranges to meet her husband, who is attracted to the character that reminds him of his wife in earlier times.
When Bush wrote the song, she didn't know that 'Babooshka' actually means 'grandmother' in Russian. The single reached number 15 in the Dutch Top 40, number 5 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in Australia.
My collection: 7" single no. 63 Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Babooshka' / 'Ran tan waltz'
'December will be magic again' was written and recorded in 1979 by Kate Bush. It was not released as a single until November 1980. The song first appeared on television during a Kate Bush television special in the UK, in December 1979. The single release in 1980 was not accompanied by a music video.
Upon its release, the single reached number 29 in the UK singles chart, number 13 in Ireland and number 55 in Germany. Since then, the song has been played on the radio in December every year. It also appears regularly on Christmas compilation albums. It is one of my all time favourite Christmas tracks.
My collection: 7" single no. 75 Found: Wouters, Den Haag, December 1980 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'December will be magic again' / 'Warm and soothing'
'Wow' was released as the second single from Kate Bush's second album 'Lionheart'. The single featured an edited version of the song, although it is not actually labelled as such: the first 12 seconds of synthesizer chords were removed from the track.
Released in March 1979, the single peaked at number 14 in the UK singles chart and number 17 in Ireland .
My collection: 7" single no. 675 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1988 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'Wow' / 'Fullhouse'
Back in 1979, Kate Bush went on tour. I was only eight years old when she came to Amsterdam, otherwise I would certainly have gone. In hindsight, I probably should have gone anyway, since the woman has never toured since. What a shame!
Although a full video was released in 1979 as well, featuring most of the show as recorded live on May 13, 1979, this single was the only official release on record of that tour. It features four live songs, which were tweaked and redubbed in the studio and, in the case of 'James and the cold gun', edited as well. The single reached number 10 in the UK singles chart, number 15 in Ireland and number 21 in the Dutch Top 40. There are rumours that the video will be released on dvd soon as well. Here's hoping...
My collection: 7" single no. 34 Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1979 Cost: 6 guilders Tracks: 'Them heavy people', 'Don't push your foot on the heartbrake' / 'James and the cold gun', 'L'amour looks something like you'
I think it's fair to say that 'Breathing' is an early masterpiece by Kate Bush. The lyric is about a foetus, very much aware of what is going on outside the womb and frightened to be born into a world poisoned by nuclear fallout. The lyrics also refer to the foetus absorbing nicotine from the mother's smoking.
The single version is different from the album version, although only the most avid Kate Bush fans can tell the difference: it's a sound missing in the first verse, and an extra drumroll in the musical intermezzo later on in the song. (This single version was released on cd only once, on a compilation to benefit Greenpeace.)
Thanks to these avid fans we also know what is said by the scientist in this song: 'In point of fact it is possible to tell the difference between a small nuclear explosion and a large one by a very simple method. The calling card of a nuclear bomb is the blinding flash that is far more dazzling than any light on earth--brighter even than the sun itself--and it is by the duration of this flash that we are able to determine the size of the weapon. After the flash a fireball can be seen to rise, sucking up under it the debris, dust and living things around the area of the explosion, and as this ascends, it soon becomes recognisable as the familiar "mushroom cloud". As a demonstration of the flash duration test let's try and count the number of seconds for the flash emitted by a very small bomb; then a more substantial, medium-sized bomb; and finally, one of our very powerful,"high-yield" bombs.' It's rather scary.
The sleeve of the single was originally designed to be mostly black, but a white version was made as well, released in France and Germany.
My collection: 7" single no. 273 (black) / no. 2050 (white) Found: Den Haag, 1983 / November 13, 1993 Cost: 1 guilder / 10 guilders Tracks: 'Breathing' / 'The empty bullring'
After their debut album was very successful, with four hit singles lifted off it, Go West's second album 'Dancing on the couch' paled in comparison. The first two singles 'True colours' and 'I want to hear it from you' landed just outside the UK top 40, and the singles 'Don't look down - The sequel' and 'From Baltimore to Paris' didn't chart at all.
In an attempt to reverse the band's fortunes, a fifth and final single was taken from the album. It was 'The king is dead', a track notable for the backing vocals by Kate Bush. The single did reach the UK singles chart, but stalled at number 67. Go West would return to the UK top 40 with their next singles. Perhaps their second album just wasn't very appealing to most...
My collection: 7" single no. 1926 Found: June 5, 1993 Cost: 5 guilders Tracks: 'The king is dead' / 'Little Caesar (live)'
The Italian promo single is a strange phenomenon. There are several in my collection, and without exception they are white label promos, released in a custom white sleeve, with two A-side tracks from different artists on them. In this case: 'Don't give up' by Peter Gabriel and 'In too deep' by Genesis.
I'm not up on Italian chart placings, but it's safe to assume that both singles were a hit in Italy. What's interesting about this single is that in a way it reunites the old line-up of Genesis. But that's a rather pointless observation. It's a nice collector's item for fans of Genesis, Peter Gabriel... and Kate Bush of course.
My collection: 7" single no. 1718 Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 19, 1992 Cost: 10 guilders Tracks: 'Don't give up' (Peter Gabriel with Kate Bush) / 'In too deep' (Genesis)
'Suspended in gaffa' was the third single release from Kate Bush's fourth studio album 'The dreaming', at least in Europe. In the UK, 'There was a tenner' was released instead. The song lyrics are about seeing something one really wants (God in this case), then not being able to see or experience it ever again. The 'gaffa' of the title and chorus refers to gaffer tape, the tough black tape used by technicians in the film and concert industries.
The B-side is the original mix of 'Ne t'enfuis pas'. 'Ne t'enfuis pas', which is misspelled on the original sleeve as 'Ne t'en fui pas', means 'don't go' in French.
My collection: 7" single no. 4116 Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, October 17, 2009 Cost: 2 euro Tracks: 'Suspended in gaffa' / 'Ne t'en fui pas'
Kate Bush released her second single 'The man with the child in his eyes' in the summer of 1978. This 7" single is a bit of a rarity, since the single version of this track has only ever been released on one obscure cd compilation. It remains unreleased on any Kate Bush cd.
Kate wrote the song when she was only 13 years old. It was recorded at Air Studios in 1975. The single reached number 6 in the UK and number 27 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 676 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986 Cost: 2 guilders Tracks: 'The man with the child in his eyes' / 'Moving'
'Wuthering heights' was Kate Bush's debut single, released in January 1978. She'd written the song in 1976, aged just 18. The song came to her after watching the last ten minutes of the 1970 film version based on the book by Emily Brontë on television. Lyrically, 'Wuthering heights' uses several quotations from Catherine Earnshaw, most notably in the chorus - 'Let me in! I'm so cold!' - as well as in the verses, with Catherine's confession to her servant of 'bad dreams in the night.; It is sung from Catherine's point of view, as she pleads at Heathcliff's window to be allowed in. This romantic scene takes a sinister turn if one considers the events of the book, as Catherine may well be a ghost, calling Heathcliff to join her in death.
The guitar solo at the end of the song is played by Ian Bairnson, best known for his work with Alan Parsons. It is often mistakenly said that David Gilmour played the solo. It is placed rather unobtrusively in the mix, something engineer Jon Kelly now regrets.
When presented with the material for Kate Bush's debut album 'The kick inside', record company EMI originally wanted to release 'James and the cold gun' as its first single. Kate was determined that 'Wuthering heights' would be the better choice, and she didn't relent until the record company finally gave in. Originally, the single would have been released in November 1977, but when Kate Bush didn't approve of the single's artwork, the single was withdrawn and the release was put back until January 1978.
The single became a huge success, peaking at number 1 in the charts in the UK, Australia, Belgium, Italy, France, Ireland and New Zealand. It reached number 4 in the Dutch Top 40. It was a phenomenal start of a career that fortunately continues to this day - although the gaps between albums have been increasingly hard to bear.
As an avid fan of Kate Bush, I ended up owning several copies of 'Wuthering heights'.The first copy I bought was a sleeveless one for 2 guilders, which is not the most beautiful item of my collection, so it is not shown here. A few years later, I bought a Belgian copy in Brussels. Then a few years after that I found a flawless copy from the UK in a standard EMI sleeve. Since it was made in 1977, it must have been one of the earliest copies of this single. Then I found a Dutch copy, with a sleeve printed in only a few colours. And finally, in 1992, I found a Spanish copy with a totally different sleeve. The classic Gered Mankowitz photograph was a good reason to buy that copy.
My collection: 7" single no. 210 (2) / no 210 (3) / no. 210 (4) / no. 1710 Found: Brussels, 1990 / Record fair, 1994 / Record fair, 1994 / Bea Records, September 19, 1992 Cost: 30 Francs / 5 guilders / 5 guilders / 12,5 guilders Tracks: 'Wuthering heights' / 'Kite'
'Don't give up' was not Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush's first collaboration, but it is arguably their best. The song was recorded for Gabriel's 1986 album 'So'. The lyric describes the despair of a man who feels that the economic system has no place for him, seeking council and support from the words sung by Kate Bush. Godley & Creme directed two videos for the song: the first consisted of a single take of the singers in an embrace, as the sun enters total eclipse and re-emerges. The second featured Gabriel and Bush's faces superimposed over film of a town and its people in disrepair.
The single peaked at number 9 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 500 Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1987 Cost: 3,5 guilders Tracks: 'Don't give up' / 'In your eyes (special mix)'
'Hounds of love' is the title track of Kate Bush's 1985 album. The track starts with a sample from the British 1957 horror film 'Night of the demon'. The words 'It's in the trees! It's coming!' are spoken by an actor from the film, Maurice Denham. The song is about being afraid to fall in love; in the song this feeling is compared to being chased by a pack of hounds.
