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…
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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.
Opening night of Before the Dawn was utterly unforgettable, this day six years ago on August 26th 2014. I documented Kate’s amazing return to the live stage in a three-part podcast series which you can listen to below.
BEFORE THE DAWN Podcast Part 1 – The Dream Begins...
In this first episode, I trace the origins of Kate’s live comeback through the initial concept, rehearsals, massive media coverage, ticket frenzy and right up till opening night…
BEFORE THE DAWN Podcast Part 2 – The Show!
This 90-minute episode takes the listener right through her opening night performance on 26th August 2014, song-by-song, capturing the atmosphere, describing the on-stage action and celebrating one of the greatest returns to live performance in music history!
BEFORE THE DAWN Podcast Part 3 – Kate’s Triumph
The run of 22 shows begins! In this final Before the Dawn episode – all the excitement, ecstatic reviews, historic album chart success, celebrity attendees, awards, acclaim and the live album are all discussed in detail as Seán revisits the impact and lasting legacy of Before The Dawn….he even takes you for a browse through the merch stall. Enjoy!
Ryan Tubridy hosts the main morning national radio programme on Irish RTE Radio 1 and, having recently discovered and been impressed by Kate’s work on the 1996 track Mná na hÉireann from the Common Ground (Voices of Modern Irish Music) project he asked musician and producer Donal Lunny on air to discuss it. Kate sang the song in the Irish language, and we discovered today for the first time that she actually attended the track recording in the RTE Studios in Dublin with the orchestra present, with Kate singing along with them before refining her final vocal later back in her own studios in England with Del Palmer. You can hear today’s interview below.
Following the rebuilding of this site, the links on the HomeGround Audio Archive pages for 1978 and 1980 have now been restored, and a new page for 1979, the year of Kate’s first live shows, has now been added. The available years in the archive can be accessed at the Archive Index page.
LATER – New page for 1981 now added.
We have to continue to caution about the audio quality of some of this early material. When, in the late 70s and early 80s. we started gathering what would become this archive, we were collecting tapes which were umpteenth generation copies of material originally recorded (most likely) by balancing a microphone against a decidedly low-fi medium wave radio or analogue TV. These are precious survivals of material that has not (yet) appeared in a better format.
Regular Kate Bush Fan Podcast listeners will know that we host the Bush Telegraph series of audio chats with Darrell & Paul. Here’s Part 2 of their video episode Part 1 is here. Enjoy!
Paul and Darrell round up fans’ thoughts and comments about their favourite moments on Kate songs from ‘Hounds Of Love’ through to ‘Before The Dawn’. One of the guys is spotted wearing the BTD life jacket t-shirt, which is truly a rare sighting! Bush Telegraph are well known for their Kate reminiscences as teenagers, and this episode is no exception. We also get a fleeting visit from a live deer. Yes, you read that correctly!
British-Nigerian artist, Yinka ShonibareCBE, has included Kate’s name printed in gold on the spine of one of 2,700 books in an installation at the Tate Modern in London. Some of the books feature the names of first or second generation immigrants to Britain – Kate’s late mother, Hannah, was from Ireland. “Whether celebrated or lesser known, they have all made significant contributions to British culture and history. There are also books with the names of those who have opposed immigration. Other books are unmarked, suggesting that the story of immigration in Britain is still being written.” You can find Kate’s name, and read more about this installation here: https://thebritishlibraryinstallation.com/ (with thanks to James Russell for the news and photos of the artwork)
Andy Samberg‘s successful new time-loop comedy, Palm Springs, feature’s Kate’s Cloudbusting on the soundtrack in a pivotal scene toward the end of the film. The film is released on US streaming site, Hulu. The Brooklyn Nine-Nine actor both starred in and produced the new film, and had a hand in selecting the music for its soundtrack.
He says on the Pandora Stories podcast: “When we were making this movie we definitely wanted there to be a specific musical vibe to the soundtrack, we agreed that we wanted it to be something that was catchy and hooky but not necessarily modern stuff we loved… not stuff from the present day. And also songs that are classics, but not necessarily the ones you’ve heard too many times already.”
About Cloudbusting, he says it was “one of the best songs ever made…I love Kate Bush… I had this vision of this moment and this song and it sort of all coming together and it just made me feel very emotional and happy and made my brain tingle.” Samberg was determined that the song would make it into the film – so he delivered a personal plea to Kate after it had already been written into the script.
I wrote a letter to Kate Bush. I don’t know if she read it. If she did and this gets back to her somehow: ‘Thank you, Kate, so much. You’re a genius!’
If she never read it, all the same, I’m just so thrilled and happy that we got to put it in the movie. It elevates the moment so much. The moment in the movie was really designed for the song.
Andy Samberg
In an interview with Consequence of Sound, Samberg remarks: “It’s miraculous that we cleared it.”
Live Aid 1985, Bob Marley & The Wailers 1975 and Kate Bush 1979 are some of the iconic gigs featured.
Absolute Radio in the UK is continuing a new season of documentaries called “I Was There“, introduced by Sophie K, with an episode about Kate’s 1979 tour featuring contributions from choreographer Anthony Van Laast, tour manager Richard Ames and writer Graeme Thomson. You can listen live at 8pm UK time on Sunday August 2nd here: https://planetradio.co.uk/absolute-radio/shows/i-was-there/
The series looks at the most iconic gigs in rock history, and also includes Woodstock, Live Aid, the Isle of Wight Festival 1970, Rolling Stones Altamont 1969, Pink Floyd, Bob Marley and more, all told by the people who were there; from the artists to the roadies, the producers to the fans.
From the episode description: “The first and (up until very recently) last tour of mercurial pop superstar Kate Bush. A show that aimed to combine music, dance, poetry, mime, burlesque, magic and theatre, was it too ambitious for its own good? Or did it change what could be achieved in pop?” Kate also features heavily in the series promo trailer below.
It’s the 30th of July, which means it is the day fans flood social media with birthday messages for a woman who’s music means the world to them. Wishing you a fantastic day, Kate, filled with happiness and surrounded by your loved ones! xxx
Photo by John Carder Bush – from his book “Kate: Inside the Rainbow”London Underground salute Kate today on her birthday!
