| features in: Album Chart of 1978 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1970s |
Debut album from the piano playing 19-year-old singer-songwriter from Kent, 8 years after she started writing songs. What took her so long? Obviously her talent would have shone through in any event, but the fast-forward button was pressed when a mutual friend passed her demo tape to Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, which led to her being signed to EMI. Perhaps wisely, they didn't put any pressure on her young 16-year-old shoulders, allowing her to finish her schooling and to develop her artistry away from the mainstream spotlight. Sealing the masterplan for the first album creation, Kate's regular touring band had been asked to step aside to make way for the session men, as group members from the Alan Parson Project as well David Gilmour, the album's executive producer, stylishly laid down the progressive pop motifs.
I love the story of how, when the time came, Kate and the record company had a bit of a battle over what was to be the first single; EMI wanted the upbeat pop bounce of “James And The Cold Gun”, Kate wanted the more irregular oddity, “Wuthering Heights”. After winning round one of the battle, she had to face round two in November '77, insisting that the cover be changed. Promo copies were recalled and the 7", complete with new cover, was finally released in January '78. With hindsight, not having to compete with “Mull Of Kintrye” was a stroke of good fortune, and “Wuthering Heights” ascended all the way to #1 in the UK Pop Charts. Programmers and listeners loved the mysterious and unique production. The accompanying video and appearances on Top of the Pops propelled the momentum, with Kate's stary eyes and interpretative dance routine (she had been taking lessons) giving her an instantly recognisable and memorable persona in households up and down the land. This, ladies and gentleman, is how to make a #1 hit single. The success was instant in many European countries as well as the lands down under. With impeccable timing, the album was released just as the lead single reached the top spot, and the long player duly climbed to #3 in the UK. The follow up single in the UK, “The Man With The Child In His Eyes” (#6), was, for me, the album's highlight track, classy in the way of “She's Leaving Home”. There can be no doubt; a new star was born.
The Jukebox Rebel
01–Sep–2016
| Tracklist |
| A1 | [03:01]  Kate Bush - Moving (Kate Bush) Pop Ballad |
| A2 | [03:51]  Kate Bush - The Saxophone Song (Kate Bush) Cerebral Pop |
| A3 | [02:57]  Kate Bush - Strange Phenomena (Kate Bush) Songwriter |
| A4 | [02:56]  Kate Bush - Kite (Kate Bush) Dubbeat |
| A5 | [02:39]  Kate Bush - The Man With The Child In His Eyes (Kate Bush) Songwriter |
| A6 | [04:28]  Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights (Kate Bush) Pop Ballad |
| B1 | [03:34]  Kate Bush - James And The Cold Gun (Kate Bush) Soft Rock / A.O.R. |
| B2 | [03:02]  Kate Bush - Feel It (Kate Bush) Songwriter |
| B3 | [03:18] Kate Bush - Oh To Be In Love (Kate Bush) Cerebral Pop |
| B4 | [02:27]  Kate Bush - L’Amour Looks Something Like You (Kate Bush) Pop Ballad |
| B5 | [03:04]  Kate Bush - Them Heavy People (Kate Bush) Dubbeat |
| B6 | [04:03]  Kate Bush - Room For The Life (Kate Bush) Cerebral Pop |
| B7 | [03:30]  Kate Bush - The Kick Inside (Kate Bush) Songwriter |
