FEATURE:
A Perfect Partnership
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel at Townhouse Studios, London circa 1979 (part of Bush’s 1982 album, The Dreaming, was recorded there)
Kate Bush on Peter Gabriel’s Melt
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I have written about Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel…
a few times before. I have already discussed their duet, Don’t Give Up, from 1986. Taken from Gabriel’s album, So, the single turns thirty-five on 27th October. Bush and Gabriel have combined a few times. I think one of the most interesting times for both artists was in 1980 when Gabriel released his third eponymous album. Often referred to as Melt, Bush appeared on two tracks. The album was recorded in the summer and autumn months in 1979 between Manor Mobile, Bath and The Townhouse/Townhouse Studios, London. At that time, Bush had completed The Tour Life (its final date was 13th May 1979). She recorded her third studio album, Never for Ever, between September 1979 and May 1980. It was a fertile period where she was producing (alongside Jon Kelly) for the first time. She was pushing herself in terms of sound and lyrical content. Although the impact of the Fairlight CMI did not fully materialise until late in the recording of Never for Ever, it was Gabriel who introduced Bush to it. She was curious when it came to the studio and technology. I can imagine it was interesting being around Peter Gabriel and picking things up from him in terms of production and the Fairlight CMI. Bush’s work with Gabriel was the first time she worked with another artist in such a deep way. Bush appeared on Roy Harper’s 1980 album, The Unknown Solider. She can be heard on the song, You.
That was released in 1980 (the same year as Melt). Having known Gabriel for a while and sung alongside him on Bush’s 1979 Christmas special, I think the most amazing thing about her contributions on Melt are how brief they are. I can imagine Gabriel wanted to remain the main vocalist in that stage of his career. By the time Bush duetted with him on Don’t Give Up, he was bringing more artists into the forefront. Before providing more thoughts, I better mention the two Melt songs Bush features on. The first (and thanks to the Kate Bush Encyclopaedia) is the fabulous Games Without Frontiers:
“Games Without Frontiers
Song written by Peter Gabriel. Originally released on his third self-titled solo album in 1980. Also released as a single from the album in February 1980. The song's lyrics are interpreted as a commentary on war and international diplomacy being like children's games. The track features Kate Bush on backing vocals, singing 'Jeux sans frontières', which is the title of the song in French, but also a reference to a European game show which ran from 1965 to 1999.
Versions
There are actually two versions of the original track. The album version of the song includes the line "Whistling tunes we piss on the goons in the jungle" after the second verse and before the second chorus. This was replaced for the single release with a more radio-friendly repeat of the line "Whistling tunes we're kissing baboons in the jungle" from the first chorus. There was also a German version, entitled 'Spiel Ohne Grenzen', in which the backing vocals by Kate are unchanged.
On the B-side of Peter Gabriel's 1992 single 'Steam', there was a remix version of 'Games Without Frontiers' created by Massive and Dave Bottrill.
And finally, in 2010, there was a remix contest where stems of the song could be downloaded and contestants could create their own remixes of 'Games Without Frontiers'.
Formats
'Games Without Frontiers' was released as a 7" single only.
Highest chart positions
Australia: 44
Canada: 7
UK: 4
USA: 48”.
I love how Bush can make such an impact with only three words: “Jeux sans frontiers” (games without frontiers in French). I feel that this kind of experience was responsible for her becoming more experimental and studio-pushing on Never for Ever, but especially The Dreaming. One can hear elements of Melt across The Dreaming – in terms of the strange and compelling Fairlight use and vocal sounds. I don’t think many people knew that it was Kate Bush on Games Without Frontiers. It is a hypnotic and beautiful vocal delivery that warrants a mention. Her collaborating with Peter Gabriel on Melt as the start of a pretty productive and varied professional and personal friendship. As was the case with Roy Harper on The Unknown Solider, working with Peter Gabriel provided Bush with a way of bringing something new to her own work. It was useful experience. Harper featured on Breathing from Kate Bush’s Never for Ever.
The other songs from Melt that features Bush on backing vocals is No Self Control. It is a very different song - and, again, Bush’s minimal input makes a huge impression:
“Song written by Peter Gabriel. Originally released on his third self-titled solo album in 1980. Also released as a single from the album in May 1980. Prior to the song being recorded in the studio, it was performed live by Gabriel under the working title 'I Don't Know How To Stop'. The track features Robert Fripp on guitar, Phil Collins on drums and Kate Bush on backing vocals.
Versions
There are two versions of the song: the original album version and a German version, entitled 'Keine Selbstkontolle', in which the backing vocals by Kate are unchanged.
Formats
'No Self Control' was released as a 7" single only.
Highest chart positions
UK: 33”.
I shall leave it there. Quite a few people are unaware of the other artists Bush has worked with through her career. I think Peter Gabriel was very instrumental to Bush in terms of discovering new avenues for her music and opening her eyes to the Fairlight CMI. Whilst one might not notice her on Melt, I think her vocal contributions are fantastic. An artist who could seemingly fit into any sound and fuse with so many different artists, No Self Control and Games Without Frontiers are my two favourite songs from Melt. Not only because of Bush’s vocals. The songs are so different to anything else. Gabriel was very much ahead of his time and such a pioneer. I can see why he and Bush had such a strong and natural connection. Although there are other people in the mix on 1980’s Melt, I think that Kate Bush’s cameos are…
ESPECIALLY fantastic.