Best song on Kate Bush's Hounds Of Love

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Have at it.

Poll Results

OptionVotes
Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) 23
Cloudbusting 14
Hounds Of Love 13
Hello Earth 7
Jig Of Life 7
The Morning Fog4
And Dream Of Sheep 2
The Big Sky 2
Under Ice 2
Watching You Without Me 1
Waking The Witch 0
Mother Stands For Comfort 0


Surmounter, Monday, 20 August 2007 17:00 (eighteen years ago)

Hello Earth.

Surmounter, Monday, 20 August 2007 17:01 (eighteen years ago)

The title track, with "And Dream of Sleep" second.

no B-sides?

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 20 August 2007 17:06 (eighteen years ago)

i have a hard time disaggregating the ninth wave into individual tracks. i guess i'll go "jig of life," although what i really mean is "jig of life"/"hello earth."

tipsy mothra, Monday, 20 August 2007 17:10 (eighteen years ago)

(almost need separate polls for side A and side B, they seem like different albums to me.)

tipsy mothra, Monday, 20 August 2007 17:11 (eighteen years ago)

B-Sides... were not on Hounds of Love.
It is a hard call to make, really. Big Sky or Hello Earth?

ian, Monday, 20 August 2007 17:16 (eighteen years ago)

i like the Big Sky mention. i love that song, and it encapsulates so many memories for me, but it doesn't get due cred in my experience./

Surmounter, Monday, 20 August 2007 17:18 (eighteen years ago)

almost impossible to choose, comes down to either cloudbusting, mother stands for comfort, or running up that hill....so I choose cloudbusting.

akm, Monday, 20 August 2007 18:32 (eighteen years ago)

This seems to be tougher than the Dreaming poll. I can't decide on my favorite Ninth Wave track but at the same time Cloudbusting is simply perfect. 10 days might not be long enough to work this out.

Bus Driver Stu, Monday, 20 August 2007 20:49 (eighteen years ago)

"Watching You Without Me". Would have voted for the entire "Ninth Wave" had it been possible.

Geir Hongro, Monday, 20 August 2007 22:01 (eighteen years ago)

this one was easier for me that the poll for the dreaming.

Charlie Howard, Tuesday, 21 August 2007 03:56 (eighteen years ago)

word. title track in a heartbeat

impudent harlot, Tuesday, 21 August 2007 05:10 (eighteen years ago)

craziness!

Surmounter, Tuesday, 21 August 2007 05:20 (eighteen years ago)

Hello Earth, then the title track, then And Dream of Sheep, then Running Up That Hill, then...

Tim F, Tuesday, 21 August 2007 05:21 (eighteen years ago)

cloudbusting, but it's been ages since i've listened to this

gershy, Tuesday, 21 August 2007 05:25 (eighteen years ago)

Hello Earth
Cloudbusting
Jig Of Life
And Dream Of Sheep
Hounds Of Love
Under Ice
Waking The Witch
The Big Sky
Running Up That Hill
Mother Stands For Comfort
Watching You Without Me
The Morning Fog

i guess

Surmounter, Tuesday, 21 August 2007 05:31 (eighteen years ago)

It's gotta be the Jig!

butchy, Tuesday, 21 August 2007 13:51 (eighteen years ago)

Under Ice.

And *COUNT* the drug references!

pisces, Tuesday, 21 August 2007 14:39 (eighteen years ago)

ugh under ice is so hot

Surmounter, Tuesday, 21 August 2007 14:56 (eighteen years ago)

i will not participate in this thread

cutty, Tuesday, 21 August 2007 16:03 (eighteen years ago)

bump for bimble

Surmounter, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 01:51 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, cheers for leaving out the bonus tracks, Surmounter, I was going to recommend doing that.

Bimble, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 01:54 (eighteen years ago)

wow, i love this entire album, but am totally surprised by the fact that most people haven't chosen 'running up that hill.' i thought that would be the obvious winner!

the table is the table, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 03:05 (eighteen years ago)

not around here - i think ILM really likes The Ninth Wave.

running up that hill should not be underrated tho.

Surmounter, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 03:06 (eighteen years ago)

great album but the hits are the best!

M@tt He1ges0n, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 03:14 (eighteen years ago)

"Running Up That Hill" (with "Cloudbusting" napping at its heels).

Alex in NYC, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 03:47 (eighteen years ago)

"The Big Sky" is sadly neglected!

Mark G, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 09:30 (eighteen years ago)

This is so hard to pick. Could be Cloudbusting.

sonderangerbot, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 11:50 (eighteen years ago)

I said I'd vote for "Hello Earth" and that's what I'm a gonna do!

zaxxon25, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 14:43 (eighteen years ago)

word!

Surmounter, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 14:57 (eighteen years ago)

The Ninth Wave is the shit!

butchy, Thursday, 23 August 2007 00:11 (eighteen years ago)

oh don't ruin it

cutty, Thursday, 23 August 2007 00:42 (eighteen years ago)

but am totally surprised by the fact that most people haven't chosen 'running up that hill.' i thought that would be the obvious winner!

I'm pretty sure it is when we get to see what all the lurkers have voted for.

Geir Hongro, Thursday, 23 August 2007 10:12 (eighteen years ago)

hmmmm

Surmounter, Thursday, 23 August 2007 14:21 (eighteen years ago)

Running up That Hill is the most dull song on the entire album for me. Whenever I listen to Hounds, I start at track 3.

butchy, Thursday, 23 August 2007 19:22 (eighteen years ago)

i really hate you

cutty, Thursday, 23 August 2007 19:23 (eighteen years ago)

i don't hate you but that is unfortunate. those first three songs are pretty magical.

hounds of love in particular - or the end of Big Sky? nothin gets me movin like that.

Surmounter, Thursday, 23 August 2007 20:32 (eighteen years ago)

you don't hate anyone, you are sir mounter

cutty, Thursday, 23 August 2007 20:33 (eighteen years ago)

i was going to say i don't hate anyone but then i thought of a couple of ppl

Surmounter, Thursday, 23 August 2007 20:54 (eighteen years ago)

I mean, I like the first side too, but the songs sound a bit too much like each other. Plus those drum machine beats are kind of annoying.

Geir Hongro, Thursday, 23 August 2007 22:18 (eighteen years ago)

RONG

cutty, Thursday, 23 August 2007 22:56 (eighteen years ago)

I feel a bit prejudiced, because some songs have just aged more over time than others. If you'd asked me in 1985 or even in the 90's I would have said something different than today.

For me "The Morning Fog" is the one that has endured the most. Go figure.

Bimble, Thursday, 23 August 2007 23:59 (eighteen years ago)

i can do without the jig of life

cutty, Friday, 24 August 2007 00:18 (eighteen years ago)

I can now, but for a billion years that was my fave song on this album. So you're making a bold statement, there.

Bimble, Friday, 24 August 2007 01:57 (eighteen years ago)

certainly far from the worst on this album

Catsupppppppppppppp dude 茄蕃, Friday, 24 August 2007 01:58 (eighteen years ago)

wow.

jig of life = exclusion and The Morning Fog = best are 2 ideas that i just can't wrap my mind around.

Obv, the most classically amazing song is fucking Hello Earth, and the song the album could do without is The Morning Fog.

i'm sorry bimble. but jig of life, i must agree, is more than can be hoped for.

Surmounter, Friday, 24 August 2007 03:25 (eighteen years ago)

The Morning Fog is the perfect song to finish the album with; especially after Hello Earth.

butchy, Friday, 24 August 2007 06:13 (eighteen years ago)

its true its a good contrast tool

Surmounter, Friday, 24 August 2007 15:18 (eighteen years ago)

i don't dislike jig of life. i just could take it or leave it. too medieval times for me--i do like the guy talking at the end, that is funny

cutty, Friday, 24 August 2007 15:24 (eighteen years ago)

hilarious

Surmounter, Friday, 24 August 2007 15:25 (eighteen years ago)

It's a beautiful video. Great piece too.

I saw this just now while looking for director credits: http://www.katebushnews.com/index.php/2011/07/rip-gow-hunter-1960-2011/

jmm, Wednesday, 29 January 2014 15:31 (twelve years ago)

five months pass...

Then Play Long reaches out to Hounds of Love: http://nobilliards.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/kate-bush-hounds-of-love.html

agincourtgirl, Friday, 18 July 2014 16:04 (eleven years ago)

three years pass...

So I listened to this 12" version of "The Big Sky" for the first time in forever, and realized that midway through it has those same voices that show up in "Waking The Witch."

Which also made me think that Side One has always felt like a string of more conventional pop songs, while Side Two is this novella...but if this longer version of "The Big Sky" were on the album, it would make Side One just as much of a story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gemzegd0YZQ

... (Eazy), Tuesday, 24 April 2018 06:19 (seven years ago)

better poll would've been what's the second best song lol

austinb, Tuesday, 24 April 2018 06:30 (seven years ago)

I've always preferred 'Cloudbusting' to 'Running Up That Hill', fwiw.

Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Tuesday, 24 April 2018 06:37 (seven years ago)

been really enjoying 'The Big Sky' lately. it works really well as a surprise drop in a DJ set

brand new universal harvester (dog latin), Tuesday, 24 April 2018 08:14 (seven years ago)

cloudbusting is the best song here. One of the finest uses of a minimal drum beat in a pop song ever and the train SFX ending is perfect

after party for the apocalypse (Ross), Tuesday, 24 April 2018 08:27 (seven years ago)

Are these the only 12" mixes she put out? Cause they're all damn good.

Cloudbusting (The Organon Mix) 6:33
The Big Sky (Meteorological Mix) 7:45
Experiment IV (12" Mix) 6:37

Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 24 April 2018 15:27 (seven years ago)

The 12" Extended Mix of Running Up That Hill is mainly louder drums and some dubby echo effects on the vocals. Probably of some use for 'club play' but loses atmosphere by bringing elements into sharper focus IMO. Actually the Instrumental on the other side works better and does retain some parts of the vocal.

Gonk Steady Crew (Noel Emits), Tuesday, 24 April 2018 16:07 (seven years ago)

Some of the Red Shoes singles had "12-inch" remixes, I think?

erry red flag (f. hazel), Tuesday, 24 April 2018 17:31 (seven years ago)

this is one of the finest kate bush remixes/covers i've heard

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQxEVhyvA0I

(Under the Ice)

after party for the apocalypse (Ross), Tuesday, 24 April 2018 18:40 (seven years ago)

The 12" of "Hounds of Love" (the song) is close to being an entirely different song iirc?

anatol_merklich, Tuesday, 24 April 2018 22:18 (seven years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R86V64GLq4

Heavy Messages (jed_), Tuesday, 24 April 2018 23:51 (seven years ago)

Right, that's from the "Hounds Of Love" 12", I forgot about that one. It's on the "This Woman's Work" bonus discs.

The "Running Up That Hill" 12" has a 5:45 extended version.

"The Big Sky" 7" has a 4:34 "Special Single Mix". Are any of the other 7" versions more than just an edit?

Gerald McBoing-Boing, Wednesday, 25 April 2018 15:17 (seven years ago)

Oh, and it looks like those two I mentioned are on this CD single: https://www.discogs.com/Kate-Bush-The-Red-Shoes/release/1412937

Gerald McBoing-Boing, Wednesday, 25 April 2018 15:18 (seven years ago)

It'd be neat if she did a tour where the set was just a 70-90 minute version of Running Up That Hill

erry red flag (f. hazel), Wednesday, 25 April 2018 16:29 (seven years ago)

Has there ever been a thread for extended
Mixes of 80s songs? There’s tons of dope extended mixes online of everything from kim carnes to the cars. Like the extended version of Drive is beautiful

after party for the apocalypse (Ross), Wednesday, 25 April 2018 16:58 (seven years ago)

four months pass...

this fuckin album

Οὖτις, Monday, 24 September 2018 20:29 (seven years ago)

indeed :)

love this too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQxEVhyvA0I

with the under the ice samples

sweetheart of the Neo Geo (Ross), Monday, 24 September 2018 20:48 (seven years ago)

^ I love this track, too. I've seen The Field live a bunch of times and he always plays it; particularly great with a live drummer. There's something super uplifting about dancing to these samples of Kate's voice.

ˈʌglɪɪst preɪ, Tuesday, 25 September 2018 09:41 (seven years ago)

absolutely :)

sweetheart of the Neo Geo (Ross), Tuesday, 25 September 2018 15:58 (seven years ago)

five months pass...
six months pass...

Pulled this up for a listen today and found that Spotify has a “2018 Remaster” version. Through headphones, the strings are much more distinct and the drums are intense.

... (Eazy), Thursday, 5 September 2019 22:29 (six years ago)

how the hell did Big Sky only get two votes here?

sleeve, Thursday, 5 September 2019 22:56 (six years ago)

we never understood it

the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Friday, 6 September 2019 00:02 (six years ago)

three years pass...

Some surprises here, looking back;

And Dream Of Sheep 2
The Big Sky 2
Under Ice 2
Mother Stands For Comfort 0

piscesx, Saturday, 5 November 2022 16:31 (three years ago)

Not so strange, those are mostly subtle mood pieces on an album with a lot of tracks and several better-known songs. If someone told me their favourite song on the record was "Mother Stands For Comfort", I'd respond, "Oh, you don't like Kate Bush?"

Halfway there but for you, Saturday, 5 November 2022 17:21 (three years ago)

sad no love for waking the witch that's when shit really gets going

Left, Saturday, 5 November 2022 19:27 (three years ago)

So i guess i don't like Kate Bush :(
Xpost

nostormo, Saturday, 5 November 2022 20:06 (three years ago)

maybe I love Kate Bush AND Eberhard Weber

fetter, Saturday, 5 November 2022 22:35 (three years ago)

If someone told me their favourite song on the record was "Mother Stands For Comfort", I'd respond, "Oh, you don't like Kate Bush?"

i know, ILM is a safe space, it welcomes people saying daft shit in an authoritative register

but ffs

wearing wraparounds (Noodle Vague), Saturday, 5 November 2022 22:38 (three years ago)

Love the radio-type sounds on that song.

The self-titled drags (Eazy), Saturday, 5 November 2022 22:59 (three years ago)

the fairlight? yeah particularly the very final flourish that ends the song (and cuts out rather than fades)

akm, Saturday, 5 November 2022 23:07 (three years ago)

Where, I ask, were all these supporters of "Mother Stands For Comfort" in 2007, when your vote counted?

I just think of it as the epitome of a breather/change-of-pace track. Also, for Bush/Weber fans, "Houdini" is a way more impressive song.

Halfway there but for you, Saturday, 5 November 2022 23:13 (three years ago)

"Mother" is maybe my third-favourite song on the album, but that won't earn it any credit if that's true for everyone. Mods, please implement first-past-the-post voting

Vinnie, Sunday, 6 November 2022 04:35 (three years ago)

there aren't any bad songs on that album, but Mother is definitely one of the more subtle ones... what chance does it have stuck between the Big Sky and Cloudbusting?

Jaime Pressly and America (f. hazel), Sunday, 6 November 2022 17:10 (three years ago)

it's a better song than the Morning Fog.

akm, Sunday, 6 November 2022 19:58 (three years ago)

love "waking the witch" and "watching you without me"

dyl, Sunday, 6 November 2022 20:05 (three years ago)

A more controversial opinion is that this is the weakest of her first five records (though the best tracks on this are better than those on Lionheart.

Halfway there but for you, Monday, 7 November 2022 05:04 (three years ago)

eleven months pass...

this new reissue is ugly and preposterous, what on earth. I guess the prices are really for the artwork, but the artwork is...not good?

https://music.katebush.com/buy/hounds-of-love-lost-at-sea/

I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Thursday, 2 November 2023 03:56 (two years ago)

Re the conversation about "Mother Stands For Comfort" above, it would only be like top 6 for me, but I used to include it on a lot of mixtapes paired with The Blue Nile's "Automobile Noise" as a kind of mini-suite of found-sound synth balladry.

Tim F, Thursday, 2 November 2023 04:00 (two years ago)

$300 for a vinyl reissue with no new songs or anything, that is pretty obnoxious... is it for charity or something?

the absence of bikes (f. hazel), Thursday, 2 November 2023 05:30 (two years ago)

it's not clear at all. apparently she had a limited artwork like this as part of a War Child charity, and this is another go at that, but I don't think these go to War Child. Plus...it's not the full album! Most of these configurations are for like...1/2 the album

I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Thursday, 2 November 2023 13:23 (two years ago)

more info on this page: https://www.katebush.com/hounds-of-love/

LED light. like PF's Pulse. c'mon Kate.

I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Thursday, 2 November 2023 13:26 (two years ago)

The Baskerville Edition is the first in the series of illustrated editions of the albums.

so she has a whole series planned

ufo, Thursday, 2 November 2023 13:44 (two years ago)

maybe this is to make the elevated prices of the colored vinyl reissues seem reasonable

I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Thursday, 2 November 2023 13:45 (two years ago)

it's all tacky af

the absence of bikes (f. hazel), Thursday, 2 November 2023 14:03 (two years ago)

No outtakes or 12 inch mixes (“The Big Sky” Meteorological Mix is outstanding)? Fuck this.

beamish13, Thursday, 2 November 2023 14:36 (two years ago)

big agree there, beamish. stop neglecting remixes and long edits!

(lotta other 80s acts guilty of this schitt, too)

it's missing some stuff from the period, but this version is pretty hard to beat: https://www.discogs.com/release/7727012-Kate-Bush-Hounds-Of-Love

"another slice of death, please." (Austin), Thursday, 2 November 2023 18:37 (two years ago)

(and ya, this new reissue is gimmicky af)

"another slice of death, please." (Austin), Thursday, 2 November 2023 18:38 (two years ago)


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