6. Kate BushThis Woman’s Work Volume One
Part of a deluxe boxed set of Kate’s work right up until Experiment IV, the woman is an absolute genius and I just love this collection of B-sides, Christmas singles etc. ‘Under The Ivy’ and ‘The Empty Bullrin’’ just break my heart. I love Kate’s vocals laid bare, often better than the finished studio versions – just piano and her.
Also, please check out the bootleg Cathy’s Home Demos: it’s staggering. It’s worth the price simply for ‘December Will Be Magic Again’ and ‘Lord Of The Reedy River’ (which I didn’t realise was a Donovan song). I am haunted by Kate’s opening line "I fell In Love With a Swan", that’s where the swan bike for ‘Phantasmagorical Entertainment’ came from and, of course, ‘Ride A White Swan’ by Mr Bolan.
