Listening to Kate Bush’s Hounds of Love an experience that’s continued to win new fans since 1985. With its blend of ethereal sounds, emotional depth, and groundbreaking production, it’s no surprise that it remains a beloved masterpiece.
1. Running Up That Hill Almost Had a Completely Different Name
The lead single, “Running Up That Hill,” was initially titled “A Deal with God.” Kate Bush envisioned the song as a poignant exploration of gender empathy—a man and a woman making a deal with God to exchange places for better understanding. However, EMI Records worried that the religious reference might limit its airplay. Reluctantly, Bush agreed to change the title, but she always felt that the original title truly captured the song’s essence. Despite its initial release in 1985, the song gained a new generation of fans when it topped charts globally in 2022, thanks to Stranger Things.
2. The Dreamlike Inspiration Behind Cloudbusting
Inspired by Peter Reich’s memoir A Book of Dreams, “Cloudbusting” tells the story of the controversial psychologist Wilhelm Reich through the eyes of his son. The song’s narrative captures a child’s awe and heartbreak as he watches his father’s dream—his cloudbusting machine—fall victim to government raids. The music video, featuring Donald Sutherland, brought this poignant tale to life with cinematic visuals. Kate’s decision to cast Sutherland reportedly involved her sneaking into his hotel to personally pitch the idea!
3. The Ninth Wave Is a Concept Album Within an Album
Side two of Hounds of Love, titled The Ninth Wave, is a seven-track conceptual suite that tells the harrowing and ethereal story of a woman adrift in icy waters. Drawing on themes of survival, death, and rebirth, it’s an immersive narrative journey that feels cinematic in its scope. Bush layered sound effects, traditional Irish instruments, and choral arrangements to create an otherworldly atmosphere.
4. The Famous Fairlight CMI Synthesizer Was Front and Center
Kate Bush was one of the first artists to master the Fairlight CMI, a revolutionary synthesizer and sampler. She used it extensively on Hounds of Love, particularly on “Running Up That Hill” and other tracks, to create lush soundscapes that were ahead of their time. The album is a testament to Bush’s ability to fuse cutting-edge technology with deeply human emotions, a balance few artists have achieved so seamlessly.
5. The Album Launch Party Was Out of This World—Literally
When Hounds of Love was released on September 16, 1985, its launch party was held at the London Planetarium. Guests were treated to a playback of the album accompanied by a mesmerizing laser show—a fittingly celestial celebration for an album that feels like it came from another world. The theatricality and innovation of this event mirrored the album’s bold artistic vision, setting the tone for its critical and commercial success.
Hounds of Love redefined what pop music could achieve, blending avant-garde experimentation with chart-topping accessibility. Its themes of empathy, resilience, and artistic vision resonate as profoundly today as they did in 1985, offering a blueprint for how music can push boundaries while remaining deeply personal.
