The Instagram account of Abbey Road Studios has shared a snowy animation of the December Will Be Magic Again single cover along with one of the original recording sheets from the session! The song was recorded in 1979 but released for Christmas 1980. Fascinating to see the booked recording times for the track that day (from 2.30 in the afternoon to 10pm) and that the final mixing of this iconic Christmas tune carried on well into the early hours of the morning. (With thanks to Brian Cloughley for letting us know)
One of the joys of working on this unique Kate Bush special edition magazine from Record Collector magazine was the fact that they agreed to donate the fee from the work done on selected collectable articles to a charity of our choice. The work on those beautiful illustrated features, involved the collected efforts of many fans around the world, and was a joy for me to manage and facilitate. I am so happy that we can instantly send £650 (much-needed funding) to the same charity that Kate Bush selected to be the pre-Christmas beneficiaries of her amazing Remastered Pop-Up Shop initiative in December 2018. Please consider also making a donation this Christmas to Crisis UK here if you’ve enjoyed reading this wonderful, fantastic fan-focused Kate Bush magazine! – Seán Twomey, with special thanks to the Record Collector Special editor Jamie Atkins from all us fans
Kate has worked with famed British photographer, Trevor Leighton, on a couple of occasions, most recently in 2014 to announce her Before the Dawn concerts with a memorable shot. Today on his instagram account he has posted a gorgeous backlight studio photo that looks to us like one from the 2005 Aerial sessions, based on Kate’s outfit. UPDATE: Trevor has confirmed to a fan that the photo was taken in 2005 as part of the Aerial sessions (thanks James). Suitably wintry for this time of year, thanks Trevor!
Well, we told you it was going to be a feast! Here’s just the barest sneak glimpse at some of the pages from the Record Collector full colour special devoted to Kate Bush. It hits the shops next week on December 3rd. Personally I’ve really enjoyed helping the editor to put this magazine together over the last few months – a LOT of hard work from a bigger team of genuine fans than you might have expected. Once again, this one is for us fans. This really is just a tiny fraction of the pages and pages of fully illustrated collector features as well as a comprehensive UK discography, in-depth guides to collectables and memorabilia, all of her studio albums revisited by some of RC’s finest writers, fans and musicians on what Kate means to them, unpublished photographs, the story of HomeGround the Kate Bush fan magazine, an evocative piece on her remarkable live comeback, and so much more. I even wrote an article in it! PRE-ORDER YOUR ISSUE HERE!
Something we’ve never seen before – an ENTIRE full colour issue of the legendary Record Collector magazine devoted to Kate Bush. It hits the shops December 3rd 2020. This magazine has always taken Kate very seriously over the years as an artist who also happens to have a highly collectible body of work. As such they always put Kate’s fans front and centre. This “bookazine” is no exception, pages upon pages of content here illuminate just what Kate means to fans AND for the very first time is rich with illustrated features about collecting the music that we love – and there has been significant input from Kate’s fans to make this very special indeed. We’re excited. Do not miss! ORDER YOUR ISSUE HERE!
Here’s what Record Collector says: “This latest RC special gives fans the definitive guide to collecting one of the most extraordinary musicians of our times with a comprehensive UK discography, in-depth guides to collectables and memorabilia, all of her studio albums revisited by some of RC’s finest writers, fans and musicians on what Kate means to them, unpublished photographs, an evocative piece on her remarkable live comeback, and so much more. Available for pre-order: 5 November. Release date: 3 December – Note: Due to lockdown, there may be a slight delay with dispatch of your order.”
First image has surfaced of an amazing new Prog Magazine cover – a feature on Never For Ever – nice work, guys, that’s a framer…thanks to Prog Magazine for the cover image. The new issue is on sale on Wednesday 28th October. Celebrating 40 years of Never For Ever with an in-depth making of the album cover feature.
The issue also features: Hawkwind, Kevin Goldey, Eddie Jobson, Jacqui McShee of Pentangle, Dyble Longdon, Tears For Fears, Jakko Jakszyk, John Petrucci, Gazpacho, Enslaved, Aphrodite’s Child, Motorpsycho, Galahad. Ordering details will be available at the Prog site here: https://www.loudersound.com/prog
It’s surreal to think that this box set is actually 30 years old. Released a year after The Sensual World while Kate was in the thick of recording what would become The Red Shoes, it was the first time she had officially gathered together a lot of the “odds and sods”, B-sides and 12″ mixes from her then 12-year career. The box sets contained all 6 of Kate’s studio albums released up to that point. Expensive sets at the time for fans, especially those just wanting those extra tracks, they are just as sought after today on the collector market. In fact the huge 9 vinyl disc LP version of the set (8 CD and 8 cassette versions were also released) can sometimes fetch eye-watering prices now, depending on condition and the inclusion of those all important KT stickers! The box set even contains some tracks that didn’t make it to The Other Sides remastered rarities collection from 2018, including The Empty Bullring, Not This Time, Ken (from the Comic Strip film “GLC”) and the four Live on Stage EP tracks. At the time it almost felt like Kate was looking back on a long career in music and that this was gathering up her life’s work…here’s the note she included in the accompanying booklet of photographs:
Has it really been twelve years already?… Is this how it was Rip Van Winkle? Looking through these photos I haven’t seen for years, and listening to B-sides of singles I’d forgotten about, has been an interesting exercise for me. I think my music and I have changed a lot, and when I was making the first album, which at that time was my greatest goal. I never imagined that a box-set of my work would be out in 1990 and I would still be making albums. That’s a nice feeling.
Whoever you are – thank you for listening and please be kind to my mistakes…. because I’m not.
Many, many thanks to EVERYONE involved in making these albums, and to the photographers whose work appears here: – Gered Mankowitz, Terry Walker, Brian Griffin, Guido Harari and especially John Carder Bush
I would like to dedicate this special edition to the special memoryof Alan Murphy and Gary Hurst.
Beautiful photo by John Carder Bush on the cover there from the sessions for The Ninth Wave! The editor has sent us a press release: MOJO The Collectors’ Series: KATE BUSH DIRECTOR’S CUT 1958-2020. MOJO is delighted to present its finest writing on Kate Bush in a collectable single deluxe volume.
As one of the most original and extraordinary figures in music, Kate Bush deserves to be saluted in style – and that’s exactly what this sumptuous 132-page magazine does. Drawing on MOJO’s many exclusive interviews with the singer down the years, plus a wealth of archive features and rare and iconic images, DIRECTOR’S CUT 1958-2020 traces Kate’s remarkable story from her pre-fame days recording demos with Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour and breakthrough success with Wuthering Heights and The Kick Inside album, right through to the creation of the mid-’80s masterpiece Hounds Of Love and on to her millennial return to live performance with 2014’s breathtaking Before The Dawn shows.
Among the other wow-some treasures you’ll find within its covers are an unguarded 1980 Sounds interview conducted by writer Phil Sutcliffe, Tom Doyle’s epic four-hour encounter with the singer after she returned from a decade’s hiatus with 2005’s Aerial album, a run-down of Kate’s 50 greatest songs and guide to all her key albums. Plus much more besides. Unbelievable indeed!
In this episode of the Kate Bush Fan Podcast, Seán introduces Darrell and Paul covering all things Never For Ever, celebrating 40 years of the first album to reach number one by a British female solo artist. Darrell and Paul remember being 14 years old, rushing home from school on Friday, the 5th September in 1980, phoning the local record shop and begging Darrell’s family’s foreign exchange student to drive them there! Six of the ten songs had been seen as videos or costumed performances in the previous 9 months on TV. These and other performances are discussed, including Darrell seeing Kate sing ‘Wedding List’ live in 1982. We hear Kate being interviewed on Radio 1 about the album, as well as reading Kate, John and Paddy’s takes on the recording process from the KBC Newsletter, and reviews of the album from the music mags of the day. What new information does Andrew Powell have to say about the unreleased song ‘Never For Ever’ and its beautiful orchestration? This and much, much more…
You can subscribe to the Kate Bush Fan Podcast on iTunes or on any podcast app you happen to use, such as Stitcher or Tunein or listen below on Soundcloud.
BBC Radio 6 Music DJ Mark Radcliffe has posted several tweets recently of a trip he made to Haworth in Yorkshire, to make a film about Kate and the song that started it all, Wuthering Heights. The documentary should be aired sometime around Christmas. Mark has been a vocal supporter of Kate ever since creating the “Bushometer” on his radio show in the early 2000s before Aerial was released, counting down to his dream of interviewing Kate, which he has now since done more than once!
Closely following his recent “From the Vaults” programme on Sky Arts which featured never-before-aired footage from Kate’s 1979 tour shot in Manchester, the Elbow singer now hosts a special 2-hour programme on BBC Radio 6 Music celebrating 35 years of Kate’s Hounds of Love on Sunday 27th September at 2pm UK time.
Entitled Hounds of Love at 35 – A Kate Bush Special, Guy “celebrates the wonder that is Kate Bush with some of his pals. Beth Orton, Anna Calvi, Georgia, Nigel Godrich, Rufus Wainwright and Ex Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett all sharing what Kate means to them and how she’s influenced and shaped their musical careers. Interwoven with archive from Kate herself and of course we play the tunes off the Hounds of Love album. A show full of love for an amazing musician.” – from the BBC Radio 6 Music site here.
Fantastic news! We are so delighted for Kate to receive this honour today and to hear so many of her peers in the music industry singing her praises. Congratulations, Kate!
British songwriter Kate Bush has been made a Fellow of The Ivors Academy, in recognition of her peerless and enduring achievements in music. The announcement was made today, 23 September, and is the highest honour that The Ivors Academy bestows. The Academy exists to represent and champion music creators in the UK and Ireland.
Fellowship of the Academy recognises excellence and impact in the art and craft of music creation. This is only the twentieth Fellowship that the Academy has awarded in its 76-year history. Kate Bush joins a roster of songwriter greats including Annie Lennox OBE, Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Elton John. The most recent music creator to receive Fellowship before Kate Bush was Joan Armatrading MBE.
As well as life-time membership of the Academy, Kate Bush receives a dedicated Ivor Novello Award, depicting Euterpe, the ancient Greek Muse of lyric poetry.
“I feel really honoured to be given this fellowship by The Ivors Academy. It means so very much to me. Thank you to all my family and friends and to everyone who has been there for me over the years. I’ll treasure this statue of Euterpe always and ask her to sit on my shoulder while I work.”
Kate Bush
Commenting on Kate’s honour, Annie Lennox, who was made a Fellow of the Academy in 2015, said, “I’m delighted beyond words that Kate Bush is being recognised and honoured with an Ivors Academy Fellowship. I cannot think of anyone more deserving than the uniquely innovative singer songwriter, performer, producer and remarkable artist that she is. She is visionary and iconic and has made her own magical stamp upon the zeitgeist of the British cultural landscape.”
Long-term Kate Bush fan Big Boi said, “Creative wise, she has been an influence on my life and my music. The depths of the production and lyricism of her music are unmatched, and I am very proud to be able to consider her to be my buddy. Love her!”
Joan Armatrading said, “Kate Bush is undoubtedly one of Britain’s best loved legendary singer/songwriters, an inspiration to many and deserving of the Fellowship. This is the highest award The Ivors Academy can bestow on any artist. I’m delighted that she takes her place of recognition and I send my hearty congratulations.”
Elton John, who became a Fellow of The Ivors Academy in 2004, described Kate Bush as “A truly inspirational, innovative British songwriter and artist. A legacy full of classic works.”
Fellow of the Academy David Arnold said, “I’ve not met an artist in the 30 years of working in music who doesn’t love Kate Bush. Since she emerged, seemingly fully formed as an artist in the 1970s, she immediately claimed a place in the arts as a true original with a raw, pure, visionary talent. A writer who pushed the boundaries of what songwriting could be, a producer showing us how exciting and challenging the sound of a record could be and a performer who mesmerised, enchanted and drew her audience in to the worlds she had so beautifully and fully created. The fact she is still such an influence on so many established and emerging artists tells you all you need to know about how very precious and appreciated she is. I am thankful for her work and her kindness and it’s very right and proper that she has been named as a Fellow of our Academy, we are lucky to have her.”
Crispin Hunt, Chair of The Ivors Academy, said, “As a music creator it is unnerving when you know that your words will fall short, but this is one of those times. Kate’s talent is incalculable, her achievements are peerless and artistry leaves you breathless. Countless songwriters and composers have referenced how Kate has informed their musical development. On behalf of all songwriters and composers, The Ivors Academy is giving Kate the highest honour we can bestow as a heartfelt expression of our love and admiration.”
Kate Bush’s extraordinary contribution to music is both impossible to pigeonhole and capture. Kate has created a truly unique career based around retaining creative autonomy and demonstrating mastery of the music production process, powerful vocals and captivating performances. She has forged her own path ever since her debut single Wuthering Heights was the first time a woman achieved a number one with a self-written song.
Kate Bush has influenced generations of music creators and has been nominated six times for an Ivor Novello Award. She won her first Ivor in 1979 for Outstanding British Lyric of The Man With The Child In His Eyes and she was awarded her second Ivor Novello in 2002 becoming the recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to British Music award.
“Two-Headed Hummingbird” by Gail Potocki features on the cover of the new album
22 years ago in 1998 I was reporting on this very site about the launch of the world’s first ever Kate Bush tribute album, being recorded and produced in Chicago, USA. Today, it’s re-released as I Wanna Be Kate: The Songs of Kate Bush Remastered & Expanded. Kate was so touched by the album when it was first released that she wrote Thomas a lovely note of thanks and wrote the words “I Wanna Be Thomas” on the back of the envelope. The album now consists of 24 tracks, including 7 brand new recordings – all sounding gorgeous thanks to the remastering work of Liam Davis in Chicago. Orders for the album on Bandcamp have been very strong. Here is the tracklisting of the 2020 remastered and expanded album:
The Aluminum Group – L’Amour Looks Something Like You (2020 Remaster) 04:46
Susan Voelz – The Sensual World (2020 Remaster) 04:16
The Moviegoers – Hounds Of Love (2020 Remaster) 04:51
Syd Straw – The Man With The Child In His Eyes (2020 Remaster) 03:12
The J. Davis Trio – There Goes A Tenner (2020 Remaster) 05:07
Nora O’Connor – The Saxophone Song (2020 Remaster) 05:15
Justin Roberts – You’re The One (2020 Remaster) 04:50
Mouse – Coffee Homeground (2020 Remaster) 04:56
Catherine Smitko – Jig Of Life (2020 Remaster) 04:08
Victoria Storm – The Kick Inside (2020 Remaster) 04:12
The Baltimores – Running Up That Hill (2020 Remaster) 03:27
Diamond Jim Greene – Home For Christmas (2020 Remaster) 03:42
My Scarlet Life – Suspended In Gaffa (2020 Remaster) 03:36
The Plunging Necklines – Kashka From Baghdad/Babooshka (2020 Remaster) 05:08
Trinkets Of Joy – Love And Anger (2020 Remaster) 04:19
Thomas Negovan – And Dream Of Sheep (2020 Remaster) 06:32
Tom Dunning & Your Boyfriends – Not This Time (2020 Remaster) 05:01
Butterfly Child – Top Of The City 04:56
Zapruder Point – You Want Alchemy 03:33
Yules – Cloudbusting 04:37
Tristan an Arzhig – Joanni 06:03
Grimeland – Among Angels (Live in Denmark) 05:43
Michael Ross – A Coral Room 05:18
Tom Dunning & Your Boyfriends – Nocturn (feat. Carol Keogh) 08:22
Limited edition vinyl is also available to order at Bandcamp here:
Producer Thomas Dunning has made the 7 newly recorded tracks (along with his own remastered recording of Not This Time) available as a limited edition 8-track EP on translucent aqua coloured vinyl – a gorgeous way to showcase the newer tracks AND all orders of the vinyl come with a full download of the entire 24-track digital album. Warm congratulations to Thomas and all the artists involved, both then and now – an amazing achievement. You can read all about the album at the brand new website: www.iwannabekate.ie
Excited to tell you about this! Check out the teaser video for the launch next week of I WANNA BE KATE: The Songs of Kate Bush – Remastered & Expanded! The classic 1998 tribute album is reborn…PRE-ORDER
Archive audio recordings for the years 1982 and 1983, The Dreaming and After have now been added, and can be accessed via the index page HERE.
There will be no page for 1984, because we do not have any audio recordings for that year. However 1985, the year of the Hounds of Love album and its various singles, will be available shortly.
