Kate Bush’s 6 best B-sides, album tracks and deep cuts
Attitude goes beyond the hits to unearth hidden musical treasures, from 'Under the Ivy" to 'Get Out of my House'.
By James Hodge
Kate Bush is an icon, that is not up for debate. After ‘Running Up That Hill’ hit Number One earlier this year 37 years after its initial 1985 release thanks to its inclusion in Stranger Things season 4, we wanted to looks at some of the Queen of Art-Pop’s less well-known but no less brilliant tracks.
B-side: Under the Ivy
The B-side to the now-iconic ‘Running Up That Hill’ is a fan favourite, a stripped-back piano ballad that’s melancholic and reflective, with a vulnerability that contrasts beautifully with the assertive lead number.
Album track: ‘Kashka from Baghdad’
Here, Kate doesn’t celebrate queer fans with a dance anthem, but by revealing her admiration for those who manage same-sex love in countries where it’s illegal. Kashka, the subject of the song, may “live in sin”, according to his neighbours, but for Kate, he and his lover have found happiness by being their authentic selves.
Album track: ‘A Sky of Honey’
Always a talented conceptual storyteller, Kate Bush composed this 42-minute extended track
to capture the passing of a summer’s day — through the musical stylings of jazz, dance, flamenco and the emulated cooing of pigeons.
Duet with Elton John: ‘Snowed in at Wheeler Street’
Elton John claims that Kate’s collaboration with Peter Gabriel ‘Don’t Give Up’ saved his life. His duet with Kate is also replenishing: a haunting tribute to a lost love between two time travellers. As they finally unite, their voices come together in a stunning and dramatic climax.
Album track: ‘Why Should I Love You?’
Only Prince could improve a Kate track. He dismantled the original demo and, with his vivacious flair, added guitar, keys and layered vocals to produce an elevated, upbeat love song.
Album track: ‘Get Out of My House’
Kate’s always been a cinephile, even making a short of her own (The Line, the Cross and the Curve, 1993). In this song, she captures the essence of her favourite horror movies, producing an unsettling and highly dramatic album finale.