Stevie Nicks Loves Kate Bush Ahhhhh!!!

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by mikebise

The Dreaming is my favourite of Kate's, with "Get Out Of My House", "Sat In Your Lap" and "Houdini" as my stand-outs.

I forgot to mention that Kate is also known for being sampled in the massive 1992 hit "Something Good" by Utah Saints, which incorporates "Cloudbusting" in the song and video (listening to it right now!).

In November 1985, People magazine compared Rock A Little and Hounds Of Love, and said that Stevie & Kate were very similar in many ways.

I love Pat's cover of "Wuthering Heights"! It's what got me into Kate Bush in the first place.

Kate's live version of "Running Up That Hill" reminds me of Waddy's guitar somewhat, so I could see Stevie performing it in concert (instead of "Face The Promise"?)

Same for me!! When I picked up Benatar's "Crimes Of Passion" LP in 80' I immediately zeroed in on this melodramatic, moody "Wuthering Heights". It was one of my favorite songs on this classic album. It's not hard to understand why Pat would have been attracted to it, with its soaring melody & theatrics and her training as an opera singer. Interesting little Stevie related factoid is that Keith Olsen, producer of Buckingham Nicks, The White FM album, and the arbitrary Stevie solo tune, was at the helm of production on "Crimes Of Passion" Pat biggest selling record of her entire career (5x Platinum).

Anyway, It wasn't until U. S. record execs gave Kate a 2nd breakout chance in America during the oft proclaimed 2nd British music invasion of the early to mid 80's that I came upon Kate's work again. I immediately picked up "Hounds Of Love" after RUTH and loved it! Next up was the superb "Don't Give Up" w Peter Gabriel & "The Whole Story" in 86', where I first heard songs from her 1st 4 records, including Kate's version of WH, to which my first reaction was ! Her voice was so shrill (and that was a new vocal!) and the music felt so miniature, yet ostentatious and all Dark Shadow-ish. Needless to say, her older material was an acquired taste, which I grew to love and appreciate. I especially enjoyed "Babooshka", "Experiement IV", "Breathing" & TMWTCIHE, but I still prefer Benatar's version of WH!

For me Kate's masterpiece is "The Sensual World". I think it's a perfect place for those unfamiliar with Kate's work to begin. It's accessible, romantic & heartbreaking, just as Bella Donna would be a great place for a Stevie newbie to begin. The "The Red Shoes" is good as well, even as it borders on self indulgent, insulated & a little neurotic. But it's worth a listen if you can put up with its excesses.

[mikebise]

"You're The One" on The Red Shoes is the most depressing break-up song ever. The lyrics just kill me.

"It's just everything we did,
We did together...
And there's a little piece of you
In whatever..."

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by mikebise

"You're The One" on The Red Shoes is the most depressing break-up song ever. The lyrics just kill me.

"It's just everything we did,
We did together...
And there's a little piece of you
In whatever..."

Great Lyric! It's quite harrowing indeed.

[mikebise]

The first time I heard "You're The One" in 1993, I had a (crystal) vision, and I knew this song would devastate me one day. And 12 and 1/2 years later, it did.

It's still very hard to listen to.

Stevie comes closest in "She Still Loves Him", with the line: "They wouldn't have liked it much anyway to know that she still loves him..."

But "You're The One" has that starkness of the break-up, and the realization that it's all gone, all of it.

"It's alright, I know where I'm goin'
I'm goin' to stay with my friend
Mmm, yes, he is very good looking...
The only trouble is
He's not you...
He can't do what you do
He can't make me laugh an' cry
At the same time...

I know where I'm goin'
But I don't wanna leave...
I just have one problem
We're best friends, yeah...

Sugar...
Honey...!
Sugar..."

[Pyewacket]

Originally Posted by Christopher

Interesting little Stevie related factoid is that Keith Olsen, producer of Buckingham Nicks, The White FM album, and the arbitrary Stevie solo tune, was at the helm of production on "Crimes Of Passion" Pat biggest selling record of her entire career (5x Platinum).

Some off-topic but interesting info about the Olsen/Benatar working relationship: there was none! "Crimes" was Pat's second LP and the person who really produced it was her guitarist and husband-to-be, Neil Giraldo. The record company was nervous about her being able to build on the success of the first record, so they brought in a heavy hitter (Olsen). But according to Pat's autobiography, he did almost nothing and left it for Neil and Pat to find their own way through. Still, when it came time to divvy up album credits, Neil's name could only be found under "The Band." She was quite pointed about this (her wording seemed very annoyed!). It wasn't until the third album that Neil would begin to get a producer's credit.

Back on topic: I also discovered "Wuthering Heights" (and all of Kate's works for that matter) through Pat Benatar, who'd heard the song while on tour through Europe. Pat's voice is gorgeous on it, but even she feels she did not do it justice. My preference is for Kate's original vocal, which is high, but not shrill, and very plaintive like that of a ghost sadly begging to be let in (which is appropriate, since that is the role being played).

Also good is this live version, for which the wireless microphone was invented(!):

[mikebise]

I much prefer Kate's original "Wuthering Heights" vocal to the 1986 one. Ugh.

Because of Pat's version (which I got in March 1981 when Crimes Of Passion was still in the Top Five), I finally broke down and got the first album by "that Kate Bush person" in September 1983. So, The Kick Inside was my first Kate album, and "Moving" my first time to hear her voice. After 2 and 1/2 years of non-stop Pat, Kate's "Wuthering Heights" was a big shock to me!

At first I hated the album. But I played it non-stop that first weekend. By Sunday afternoon, I was entranced!!!! "Oh To be In Love", "James And the Cold Gun", "The Saxophone Song"... Every song is wonderful.

The next day, when I went back to college, I bought Kate Bush, the EMI America sampler put out in 1983, and started falling for her music even more. Right before Christmas break 1983, I got The Dreaming, Kate's most recent album, on cassette for my Walkman, and my headphones were glued to my head until the middle of January!!!! (At first, I was SO amazed at the tambourine jangling from the left headphone to the right on "Houdini"!).

[mikephxaz]

On an earlier post someone said that Kate is the best female vocalist of our time....I'm not sure I agree with that but i understand why a Stevie fan would love Kate and vice versa..however I always found Kate's compositions and vocals to be more theatrical than Stevie's...Stevie is more grounded, more real, more attainable...Kate is "out there"...I love them both

[TrueFaith77]

Originally Posted by mikephxaz

On an earlier post someone said that Kate is the best female vocalist of our time....I'm not sure I agree with that but i understand why a Stevie fan would love Kate and vice versa..however I always found Kate's compositions and vocals to be more theatrical than Stevie's...Stevie is more grounded, more real, more attainable...Kate is "out there"...I love them both

I didn't say vocalist or singer (greatest female singer of all time is Aretha); I said female music artist. And I stand by that pronouncement.

[fumidesigns]

Originally Posted by TrueFaith77

I didn't say vocalist or singer (greatest female singer of all time is Aretha); I said female music artist. And I stand by that pronouncement.

Oh my......lol!

[mikephxaz]

Originally Posted by fumidesigns

Oh my......lol!

lol ..............

[tothegypsy]

I can see how someone would make that argument. Kate is truly a musical mad scientist.

[HejiraNYC]

OMG, I frackin' love YouTube. I had no idea this existed. It's almost as if Kate Bush was an honorary member of Pink Floyd:

[Pyewacket]

I'm sure you know about this Floyd/Bush collab, but I'll post it anyway.

[Dodfather]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

It's almost as if Kate Bush was an honorary member of Pink Floyd:

She kind of is, lol. David Gilmour is a good friend of her brother Paddy and discovered her talent at the age of fiteeen and brought her to the attention of EMI. He comntinued to be involved (in an advisory capacity) in the early stages of her career, including the 3 years it took to work on her debut album.

[beccamorrisfift]

My old headteacher used to play Babooshka in assemblies, that was the first time I heard Kate Bush.
Quite strange to think back now to a hall full of seven to eleven year olds singing Babooshka