Listen: https://songwhip.com/kate-bush/hounds-of-love-1985
Hounds of Love is the fifth studio album by English singer-songwriter Kate Bush, released on 16 September 1985 by EMI Records. It was a commercial success and marked a return to the public eye for Bush after the relatively low sales of her previous album, 1982’s The Dreaming. The album’s lead single, “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)”, became one of Bush’s biggest hits, reaching number 3 in the UK upon release and later giving Bush her second number 1 UK single in June 2022. The album’s first side produced three further singles, “Cloudbusting”, “Hounds of Love”, and “The Big Sky”.
The album was a critical and commercial success, and is considered one of Bush’s best albums. It has been praised for its innovative production, Bush’s vocal performances, and its exploration of themes such as love, loss, and the natural world. In 2011, Hounds of Love was ranked number 22 on Q magazine’s list of the “50 Best Albums of the 1980s”. In 2012, it was voted number 28 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.
The album is divided into two halves: the first side, “Hounds of Love”, is a rock-oriented concept album about a woman who escapes from her suburban life and embarks on a journey of self-discovery. The second side, “The Ninth Wave”, is a more atmospheric and experimental piece that tells the story of a woman who is shipwrecked and stranded at sea.
Hounds of Love is a highly ambitious and eclectic album that showcases Bush’s wide range of musical and artistic talents. It is a landmark album in her career and one of the most important albums of the 1980s.
Side one: Hounds of Love
- “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” 5:03
- “Hounds of Love” 3:02
- “The Big Sky” 4:41
- “Mother Stands for Comfort” 3:07
- “Cloudbusting” 5:10
Side two: The Ninth Wave - “And Dream of Sheep” 2:45
- “Under Ice” 2:21
- “Waking the Witch” 4:18
- “Watching You Without Me” 4:06
- “Jig of Life” 4:04
- “Hello Earth” 6:13
- “The Morning Fog”
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/master/28680-Kate-Bush-Hounds-Of-Love