FEATURE:
Sat (Quite Uncomfortably) in Your Lap
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush in 1979/PHOTO CREDIT: Gered Mankowitz
Is It the Time for an Ultimate Kate Bush Compendium?
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AS I have said many times…
the past year has been a bumper one for Kate Bush literature! There have been album-specific books regarding her albums, The Kick Inside and The Dreaming, a couple of song-by-song guides and, later this year, there is an illustrated guide/book – I am looking forward to Finding Kate. I have written about this subject before, though I have not really covered the magnitude of Bush’s work and just what a literary volume can be dedicated to her career! I am a massive fan of The Beatles. A historian and expert on the band, Mark Lewisohn, has published Tune In - which is the first volume in his historical trilogy, The Beatles: All These Years. These books are massive and in-depth looks at The Beatles and the minutia of their career. It is a fascinating read. Whilst Kate Bush has not had quite the seismic and globe-straddling impact as The Beatles, her work is hugely important. One can trace her earliest recordings to the very early-1970s. Today, in 2021, she still holds so much intrigue. Granted that there is this potential fifty-year arc, there is enough ammunition and scope for a compendium. The books that are out and incoming are brilliant. Whether it is John Carder Bush’s KATE: Inside the Rainbow – her brother’s beautiful book is a selection of photos that he took from her early childhood to 2011 – or the essential biography by Graeme Thomson, Under the Ivy: The Life & Music of Kate Bush, there is a great selection out there. For any fan, I would encourage you to check them out. In my recent essay I wrote for Kate Bush’s birthday, I did go into depth about the books out there about her.
I think it would be a challenge to release three Kate Bush books that rival what Mark Lewisohn is attempting - and, as it takes him so many years to write one, any historian or fan willing to undergo the challenge has to dedicate a substantial chunk of their life to it! There are things from all of the books out in the market that compels me; that could be reworked into this incredible volume. I think a very detailed history and biography would be the narrative approach. It would expand on what Graeme Thomson has written and give us a glimpse into the early life, rise and legacy of one of music’s true originals. Alongside this would be a selection of photos. These would include ones from her brother, other photographers and the press. Of course, as it would be a hardback book, it would be quite a big and sturdy edition! This tome would not be published merely to capitalise on the continuing popularity of Kate Bush. With the biography, there could be these illustrations and pictures. Finding Kate will provide this illustrated look at Bush’s world and work. I also love the idea, as I have said before, of there being graphs and tables. Putting her chart positions and lyrics into illustrations and exploring her albums in colour. Of course, the detail and depth are important in terms of the words. Going deep into the life and work of Kate Bush. To accompany this, photos, graphs and incredible visuals would be welcomed. There are so many print interviews Bush has been involved in through the years.
Not that there would be separate chapters for her albums but, when we got to that point in the book – for instance, 1982 is when The Dreaming was released -, there could be this deep investigation into the production and songs. Maybe not as detailed as we see in Laura Shenton’s books about The Kick Inside and The Dreaming, there could be personnel listings, details about the songs and photos. Given everything that can be included in a book, there would be enough material for something that maybe rivalled Tune In. One can buy the books that are out there, yet I feel there is an opportunity for an authoritative and complete guide to the magnificent Bush. When, if such a thing were to exist, would it come out?! Bush turns sixty-five on 30th July, 2023. Maybe that would not allow enough time for the book to come out. Realistically, 2025 seems likes a ‘doable’ year for competition. By then, Hounds of Love would be forty; it would be fifty years since Bush recorded The Man with the Child in His Eyes (The Kick Inside). In that time, other books would come out. I feel there would be plenty of demand for a huge book that took us from Bush’s childhood to now. Maybe someone has started work on this! The volume of books and magazine articles about Bush these past couple of years provides there is this huge demand for her music and admiration for her legacy. As she is not yet done with her career – let us hope! -, there is going to be more chapters to write. Having this incredible book to hand would provide any Kate Bush fan with the best photos, the most detailed information, a complete and thorough look at her interviews, an expansive biography and so many extra details. Given everything that Kate Bush has given to the world (and continues to do so), a career-spanning compendium – not sure what the title would be -, is no less…
THAN she deserves.