Kate’s Wuthering Heights has been shortlisted in the 1970s section for ITVs “The Nation’s Favourite Number One Single”:
“2012 sees the 60th anniversary of the first ever UK singles chart. That’s 60 years of 
songs that have defined our lives, reflecting the rich history of a nation. And we’re searching for The Nation’s Favourite Number One Single. In three primetime shows on ITV1, we’ll tell the stories of 60 unforgettable Number One singles. We’ll also talk to chart-topping artists to find out their favourite Number Ones across the generations – and find out from the hit makers what makes a great single. Plus we’ll reveal the results of an ITV viewers’ vote to determine which song can truly be called our greatest number one ever…”
Kate’s nomination for 1978 appears on the the 1970s shortlist page:
“Kate Bush’s record company didn’t want to release this take on Emily Bronte’s gothic novel as her debut single – but Kate, who had written the song when she was just eighteen, dug her heels in. In so doing, ‘Wuthering Heights’ made her the first female to get to number one with her own composition.”
You can add your vote here.
The Futureheads have released their critically acclaimed version of Kate’s Hounds Of Love in the UK on Monday and according to Homeground Magazine’s Dave Cross “the single is showing in the top ten of the midweek sales flashes…the position may drop a bit by the time the final chart is revealed on Sunday, but it’s looking good to stay in the ten.” (Trivia note: this would be the first Kate-penned top ten hit in the UK singles chart since Running Up That Hill in 1985, if you discount the sampling of Kate’s voice singing a line from Cloudbusting on the 1992 Utah Saints number 4 dance hit Something Good. It’s also the first time that music downloads will be a factor in the singles chart success of a Kate composition.)
The track has received excellent reviews. From the Top of The Pops website: “If Hayley Westenra is reading this, THIS is how you do a cover of a Kate Bush song, opera girl! The ‘Heads take a ’70s new wave power pop approach to songwriting, and then play as if they have too many good ideas and really, really short attention spans. Which can make listening to them feel like someone yelling interesting words from a dictionary, using a variety of comedy voices. Taking this ‘swots on caffeine’ approach to a genius pop song from another wayward talent ranks up there with jumbo Kit Kats as one of the great ideas of our time. Where Kate’s voice swooped and cajoled, the ‘Heads jibber and burp. Where her backing track was all drummy clatter, theirs is jagged guitars and urgent harmonies. Making this a rare example of a cover version that actually adds to your enjoyment of the original.”