FEATURE:
Open to Interpretation
IN THIS PHOTO: Solange Knowles has covered Kate Bush during her live performances
Envisaging a Kate Bush Covers Album
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JUST recently…
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush in 1982/PHOTO CREDIT: John Carder Bush
I put out a feature into the world that suggested why, at a time like now, we need more Kate Bush projects in the world. I have kicked around the idea of a new Kate Bush covers album because, in 2020, there has been a lot more attention and love for her music. There are cover albums online like this one, and there has been a reissue of an older covers compilation. These collections are great and, whilst they do put new spins on familiar songs, I do think that there is a chance to have a new and more expansive collection. Maybe recording one for a charity like Crisis – which Bush herself is a supporter of -, there are so many artists out there influenced by her work that have either not covered her work live or versions of Bush’s songs have not appeared on any of their albums - a percentage of the proceeds would go to the charity, whereas the rest would cover the recording and other costs/go to Bush herself. I mooted recently how it would be great if someone like John Grant tackled a song such as The Man with the Child in His Eyes (from The Kick Inside, 1978) - as I adore his voice - but, really, there is an ocean of choice regarding artists and songs! Everyone from Rufus Wainwright, Anna Calvi, Mica Paris, Guy Garvey, St. Vincent, Madonna, Emma Pollack, Field Music, Björk, Big Boi, Charli XCX, Regina Spektor, Beth Orton, Florence Welch, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Billie Marten, Ellie Goulding, KT Tunstall, Alison Moyet, Grace Jones, Gemma Hayes, Boy George, Hayden Thorpe, Bat for Lashes, Stevie Nicks, PJ Harvey, London Grammar, Bright Lights, Elton John, Bright Lights, Annie Lennox, First Aid Kit (who covered Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) live) and Brett Anderson have been influenced by Kate Bush in some form - or cite her music as important (Saint Saviour covered Army Dreamers a few years back and it blew me away!). One can keep that list going - and some curveballs like IDLES or some unknown artists mixing in the pack would add some definite variety! - but, whilst they have talked about her and, in some form, write their music with a bit of Bush in the mix, there have not been a lot of covers - maybe it seems odd covering Bush’s songs on their own albums.
Over the past year, there have been a few Kate Bush covers from some lesser-known artists and, through the years, everyone from The Futureheads and Placebo have taken on Bush’s catalogue. Maybe people think that it is a bit intimidating covering her music and it seems a bit daunting. I can appreciate that! Consider the vocal sounds and pitch on The Kick Inside and it would be hard to reinvent the songs on that album and retain the beauty and original wonder. I think albums such as The Dreaming have so much invention and different vocal sounds on them; that opens the door for artists to have a look and give particular songs a new slant. Bush reworked some of her songs on Director’s Cut in 2011 but, even though she focused on tracks from The Sensual World, and The Red Shoes, I still think other artists could take those songs and put their own print on them. There are lesser-known Bush tracks and B-sides that could be given a fresh boost and, when you look at the sheer number of artists who owe a nod to Bush – including Tricky, Neil Hannon, The Anchoress, k.d. lang, FKA twigs, Little Boots, Perfume Genius, and Alison Goldfrapp -, I would love to hear what they do with some of her songs! Also, Peter Gabriel has recorded with Kate Bush a few times, and it would be wonderful to see what he would do with one of her songs! Maybe there would be a battle over particular songs that many people would want to cover – including Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) -, but it would be fascinating hearing diverse artists take these songs to new places.
IN THIS PHOTO: Tricky
I don’t think one can be precious when it comes to artists covering icons and, whilst I am not completely sold on some of the Kate Bush cover versions that have been put out, there have been some good attempts! There are articles like this and this that rank the covers and, looking at those names, and I would particularly like to hear Solange’s cover of Cloudbusting (that she performed at Coachella in 2014), and Tori Amos’ take on And Dream Of Sheep from her live set put on a record! Hearing studio versions of these tracks alongside rising artists and familiar names bringing together a covers album would be awesome! I think of it more as a tribute to her because, as there has not been a documentary for a few years, I think a covers albums would show what love there is for Bush from so many different artists. One might have to put out a double album - and I can easily imagine around about twenty-five/thirty or so worthy and stunning covers from a selection of brilliant musicians (maybe a selection of artists could each take a song from Hounds of Love’s The Ninth Wave?). Maybe it would need to be on several vinyl records, but I think a lot of people would buy it and, as I said, a proportion of proceeds could go to Crisis. Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) is a song that Chromatics, Placebo, and First Aid Kit have all covered and, whilst their versions are brilliant, there would be room for another. It would take a great producer to bring everyone together and, whilst Kate Bush herself would not do it (that would be weird), I think the legendary Tony Visconti would be perfect; there was a brief moment before Bush produced The Dreaming herself when Visconti’s name was in the frame - Bush admired Visconti’s production and his work with David Bowie especially.
There are so many songs that have not been covered so, for that reason, it would be interesting to see what artists come up with. Of course, I would urge people to hear the original Bush recordings - but a tribute/covers albums could be a way in for many people. I will keep this short but, whilst one does not want to overload the market with Kate Bush-related products to an extent, I think there would be huge demand at a time when Bush’s music is as popular as at any other time! Maybe an album could collect together studio recordings others have done of her tracks, but I think wiping the slate clean and inviting a range of artists to take on songs fresh in the studio would be better. I have not really opened this up to people to see what the opinion is but, with no real contemporary tribute album to her, there is definitely a gap in the market. One could dream of which artist could take which song, but I’d love to hear a new recording of St. Vincent doing Hounds of Love, or Tricky taking on Breathing – both artists talked about these tracks in the BBC documentary of 2014, The Kate Bush Story: Running Up That Hill. Maybe it could be a possibility after the pandemic has died a little and it could mean artists could get to the same studio – Abbey Road Studio 2 - or Studio 3 for tighter and more intimate takes - seems like the perfect place (Bush worked at Abbey Road Studios on the albums Never For Ever, The Dreaming, and Hounds of Love in Studio 2, and the orchestral parts for the albums The Sensual World, and The Red Shoes). The plan of getting international artists together might be tricky in terms of cost and logistics but, if most artists could get there and others could do it from different studios, then that could work. Of course, if the recordings have to take place remotely, then that would be fine - it is more about getting the songs down than the importance of where it is recorded. It is a theory/speculative project right now, but a Kate Bush tribute album would open up…
IN THIS PHOTO: St. Vincent/PHOTO CREDIT: Scandebergs for GQ
SUCH interesting possibilities!