Hounds of Love 40th Anniversary: Day 1!

Hi everyone, Seán here. To mark the fact that Hounds of Love, Kate’s celebrated 5th studio album, will be 40 years young in September (no, we can’t believe it either), I have decided to put together a time capsule each day – a daily miscellany of the people, events and objects that relate to this momentous work, whether back in 1985 or right up to the present day.

Also watch out this month for special Kate Bush Fan Podcast episodes related to Hounds of Love. Let’s have fun looking back at Kate’s most iconic album, unleashed on an unsuspecting world four decades ago this month! With special thanks to James at the brilliant katebushcollectibles.com for all his tireless help with the artefacts, and to Brian Cloughley for designing the beautiful 40th anniversary logo badge! Thanks to Ian for stellar help with technical site gremlins this past weekend! Lastly, thanks to Kate for making this incredible album.

Hounds of Love – person of the day

The wonderful Paddy Bush has had a massive impact on his little sister’s musical journey, influencing her with his deep knowledge of the music and instruments of the world. On Hounds of Love among other things, Paddy can be heard playing balalaika on Running Up That Hill, dijeridu on The Big Sky, backing vocals on Cloudbusting, harmony vocals on Under Ice, and fujara and violins on The Morning Fog.

You’ll also spot Paddy in the videos for Hounds of Love and The Big Sky and we think we spot his curly locks behind a mask in the Running Up That Hill video also (Paddy has just told me that yes, he was on that side of the shot anyway!)

Paddy’s writing about the Hounds of Love album in the Kate Bush Club newsletter was typically entertaining and a little surreal – just how he likes it. “There are a lot of mysterious threads to untangle on this particular record. Two years have flown by whilst weaving this latest flying carpet, so don’t expect to unravel it just like that.

It’s been rather like living on a light-house in the Atlantic ocean, with the odd supply-ship turning up laden with musicians clad in their oilskins. We strap them into the bo’sun’s chair and winch them on board amid sea fog, squalls and showers. Through gales and driving hail these salty dogs weathered the storms, and on hot dijeridu nights we’d hose down the oscillator banks with all hands to the pumps and play on into the small hours. The delicate equipment, recorders, charts, etc. are housed in their own watertight compartments, and musicians have to pass through an elaborate air-lock mechanism in order to get from the studio to the bridge. This is probably obvious to the technically minded amongst you, as studios are normally airtight anyway in order to be soundproof.

This of course is not without its problems. I remember on a couple of occasions the hissing sound from the regulator valve on my underwater breathing apparatus caused the odd difficulty. Often when recording near the starboard hatch the sounds of passing whales, ships and seagulls would actually spill in through an open porthole, and these can definitely be heard in one or two places on side two.”

Hounds of Love – happening of the day

Kate performed Running Up That Hill on the BBC TV show Wogan on August 5th 1985, the day of the single’s release. A powerful statement that Kate wasn’t just back, but taking her artistry to stunning new heights of sophistication, and massively renewed popularity. Del Palmer, Charlie Morgan, Stuart Elliott, Paddy Bush, Kevin McAlea and Martin Glover (Youth) can all be seen performing behind her.

Hounds of Love – artefact of the day

(Brought to you in association with katebushcollectibles.com)

Running Up That Hill was released in the UK on 7″ and 12″ single. The 7″ release included a version in a glossy gatefold sleeve with generic black inner sleeve and black labels. The b-side was Under The Ivy. Additionally the 12″ vinyl included the instrumental version of the song. All photography and body calligraphy was by Kate’s brother, John Carder Bush.

Hounds of Love – trivia of the day!

The silver dragon ear-rings that Kate wears on the album cover, and also wore to the album launch and in various photo shoots in 1985, are by designer Lexi Dick and are still available to purchase on her online store!