Kate Bush -

Kate Bush is an English singer/songwriter who released five albums on EMI between 1978 and 1985, followed by three further albums over the subsequent 20-year period.

Background

Kate was born Catherine Mary Bush on July 30, 1958, in Bexleyheath, Kent, into an artistic family. Her father, Dr. Robert Bush, was an amateur pianist. Her mother, Hannah (née Daly), was an amateur Irish dancer. She has two older brothers, Paddy (an instrument maker) and John (a poet, photographer, and karateka), who were into the local folk scene.

At age 11, Bush took up piano and organ. Eventually, she started writing melodies and lyrics. In 1972, her family produced her first demo tape, which was shopped around to various labels. It eventually made its way to Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, who received it from a mutual friend of the family.

In 1975, Gilmour helped Bush record a more professional demo with producer Andrew Powell and engineer Geoff Emerick. Two songs from this demo, “The Man with the Child in His Eyes” and “The Saxophone Song,” were later included on her first album. During the recording sessions for Wish You Were Here, Gilmour played the demo to executives from EMI, which signed the 16-year-old.

Due to her age at the time, EMI put her on a retainer for two years. She used her advance from the label to enroll in dance classes with Lindsay Kemp (who once taught David Bowie) and mime training with Adam Darius. During the first half of 1977, she performed at London houses with the KT Bush Band. That August, she began recording her debut album.

1978

“Wuthering Heights”

On January 20, 1978, Kate Bush released her debut single “Wuthering Heights,” backed with “Kite.”

The Kick Inside

Kate Bush released her debut album, The Kick Inside, on February 17, 1978, on EMI.

In May 1978, Kate lifted “Man With the Child In His Eyes” as the album’s second single, backed with “Moving.”

In Japan, “Man With the Child” appeared as the b-side of “Them Heavy People.”

Lionheart

Kate Bush released her second album, Lionheart, on November 13, 1978, on EMI.

“Hammer Horror” appeared in late October as the album’s lead-off single, backed with “Coffee Homeground.”

In March 1979, Kate lifted “Wow” as the second Lionheart single, backed with “Fullhouse.”

1979

In September 1979, EMI issued On Stage, an EP comprised of four numbers from Kate’s May 13 Hammersmith show.

1980

Never for Ever

Kate Bush released her third album, Never for Ever, on September 7, 1980, on EMI.

Five months before Never for Ever, Kate released “Breathing” as an advance single, backed with “The Empty Bullring,” an exclusive cut.

On June 27, Kate released “Babooshka” as the album’s second advance single, backed with “Ran Tan Waltz.”

Two weeks after Never for Ever hit shelves, Kate lifted “Army Dreamers” as the third and final single, backed with “Delius” and “Passing Through Air.”

“December Will Be Magic Again”

On November 17, 1980, Kate Bush released “December Will Be Magic Again,” a Christmas-themed original, backed with “Warm and Soothing.”

1981–1983

On June 19, 1981, Kate Bush released “Sat In Your Lap,” a taster of her album in progress, backed with the exclusive “Lord of the Reedy River.”

The Dreaming

Kate Bush released her fourth album, The Dreaming, on September 1, 1982, on EMI.

“The Dreaming” appeared five weeks prior to the album in late July (thirteen months after “Sat In Your Lap”) as the album’s second advance single, backed with an instrumental version titled “Dreamtime.”

In November 1982, Kate released “There Goes a Tenner,” a British Isles single backed with the non-album French-sung track “Ne t’enfuis pas.” In Continental Europe, “Suspended in Gaffa” appeared as the third Dreaming single.

“Ne t’enfuis pas”

In July 1983, “Ne t’enfuis pas” appeared as an a-side in France and Canada, backed with another French-language track, “Un Baiser D’enfant.”

On November 21, 1983, “Night of the Swallow” appeared in Ireland as the fifth Dreaming a-side, backed with the album cut “Houdini.”

1984–1986

Hounds of Love

Kate Bush released her fifth album, Hounds of Love, on September 16, 1985, on EMI.

“Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” appeared in August as the lead-off single, backed with “Under the Ivy.”

In October, Kate lifted “Cloudbusting” as the second single.

“Hounds of Love” became the album’s third single in February 1986.

On April 28, 1986, Kate lifted “The Big Sky” as the fourth and final Hounds of Love a-side, backed with the non-album “Not This Time.”

“Experiment IV”

On October 27, 1986, Kate Bush released “Experiment IV,” the exclusive new track from her upcoming compilation The Whole Story.

In November, EMI issued The Whole Story, which features “Experiment IV” and eleven songs from her five studio albums.

1987–1989

The Sensual World

Kate Bush released her sixth album, The Sensual World, on October 16, 1989, on EMI.

“The Sensual World” appeared four weeks before the album as a single, backed with “Walk Straight Down the Middle” and “The Sensual World.”

In late November, “This Woman’s Work” appeared as the album’s second single, backed with “Be Kind to My Mistakes” and “I’m Still Waiting.”

In February 1990, Kate lifted “Love and Anger” as the third and final Sensual World single, backed with “Ken.” CD and 12″ vinyl copies contain two additional tracks, “One Last Look Around the House Before We Go” and “The Confrontation.” A US CD promo version contains a different bonus, “Walk Straight Down the Middle.”

Discography: