The Dreaming has always been my favorite Kate Bush album. I first heard it in 1982 and couldn't believe how good it was. "All the Love" gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.
My friend introduced me to Kate by blasting this album from his car stereo with me in the back seat. We were both aspiring musicians and we were ready for anything new and daring. But Kate Bush scared the shit out of me, I felt trapped inside a fractured hysterical mind when I heard this. It took me a couple more years to finally get it, and then Hounds of Love was released, the Ninth Wave saved my life, I circled back through The Dreaming, Never Forever, Lionheart, The Kick Inside, every B-side single, every video, I became immersed completely. What kind of spell?!?! I have spoken to friends and aquaintences who told me in confidence that they loved Kate Bush so much that it frightened them!
Agreed--her best. I have a copy of the CD autographed to me by Kate! I was just surprised you glossed over the incredible "Night of the Swallow," which is my favorite on the album, particularly that thrilling, layered ending part.
This and the second side of Hounds of Love are god-tier pieces of music that should be jettisoned into space as proof that we are an intelligent, creative life form 😊
When I first heard The Dreaming not long after it's release I didn't know what to make of it..finding it dark and depressing..that was my first impression. Over the decades since I have come to appreciate this album for it's sheer emotional intensity and utter originality. I've read that Kate wasn't in a particularly happy disposition around the time of writing and I guess that is reflected in the sanguine and moody feel of the songs. Musically, I still prefer her earlier work, particularly The Kick Inside.That said, this album manages to thrill and still sounds just as fresh and bonkers as it did in 1982. Great review as always.
Best is of course open to debate but definitely her most daring and groundbreaking effort... At times it is certainly my favourite! But she has many jewels in her crown so to speak. There's something of a uniquely "haunted" quality apparent in The Dreaming though. Ages ago I followed some online thread, basically about how different people experienced odd instances of inexplicable "synchronization" while listening to the album... you know, you experience "something" around you while listening to the album that seems almost to be conjured up by the music...
I love every Kate Bush album almost equally, some more equally than others. The Dreaming is her masterpiece, it is sonically brilliant and her vocals are amongst the most daring she ever attempted. Really enjoyed this video. The gem on this album has to be Night of the Swallow, although the entire record is tremendous
A brilliant synopsis. You are the only album reviewer that talks perfect sense. I don't always agree with you , but ofcourse music is subjective, however, you always break down thru analysis in a true, intelligent and profound way the subjects that you deal with. Superb, thanx buddy!.
I always liked Lionheart. But for me her greatest was Hounds of Love but The Dreaming stands out as one of her most inventive. Definitely Britain’s greatest singer songwriter.
For me, Kate Bush’s albums are some of the most consistent albums in terms of excellence of any artist or band. As such I find it impossible to decide on my favourite although sometimes I think it could just be “The Sensual World”.
It’s an unknown gem for me. I love hounds, red shoes and aerial but some reason, I’ve never had the pleasure of this album. Thank you for the reminder; I’ll check it out!
I found this album very different but interesting when I first heard it. I had to keep going back for more and eventually it became one of my favourites. Houdini is an incredible song.
I first listened to The Dreaming when I was 14 years old. I had to turn it off half way through as I found it just too jarring and weird, but it quickly became one of my favourite albums after re-visiting it. Hounds Of Love, The Dreaming, and Aerial are my favourite Kate Bush albums.
Excellent review, and one i very much agree with. I'd love to hear your take on Laura Nyro's New York Tendaberry - another highly artistic album, from 1969, which also may have been an early influence on young Kate.
The album is pure Prog! I think she wrote it after bingeing on Gentle Giant's early LPs! All The Love and Night of the Swallow are wonderful tracks! A great review of this absolute classic of an album!
The Dreaming is a masterpiece. It was just so interesting and different to anything else that I listened to I would get lost in the sounds and imagery. Love it! Great review, thanks.
Mate, recently discovered your channel via a random feed that popped up the other day and I have to say, I love your dry wit and insight. Not even a huge fan of Cassic Rock, but love listening to you prattle on with passion and great knowledge of the genre/era...thank you man.
I've actually given this considerable thought over the years. I bought the remasters of her albums a few years back and after listening to them, I decided if I could only own one Kate Bush album, it would be...Never for Ever.
An incredible album, light years ahead of anything at the time. I'd question if it's her best album, but I wouldn't question anyone who thought it was!
I love The Dreaming, a very strange and unique record. I wouldn't put it above The Hounds Of Love, but I'd put it joint 2nd with The Sensual World. What a remarkable talent Kate is. What other female artist has got a body of work anywhere close to hers. Joni Mitchell at a push, maybe.
The Sensual World, The Red Shoes, and Aerial are also up there - but sometimes overlooked, I feel. Attention is always lavished over Hounds of Love and the Ninth Wave, rightly so, but without much exploration forward. Great to see Geoff Downes. Can you tell me where the whole interview is? Longtime fan of his stuff with Yes.
I used to see LIONHEART and THE KICK INSIDE in the Import bins in my local SOUND ODDESSY and always wondered what this gorgeous woman sounded like. Then WXPN in Philadelphia began playing THE DREAMING on the DIASPAR program. It was so different from anything else I'd heard at that time. It's still my favorite of all her music
The best thing about this great album, which I own since it came out? Ninth Wave was some years away, waiting to make Hounds of Love only half a masterpiece. The Dreaming is her better, more adventurous album. But her discography is some mountain to climb.
agreed. Now in my fifties I base my favourites as those records I listen to most now- not the ones I wanted to hear back then... and its Hounds Of Love that I put on the player most ofeten. As an album it's still unskippable - [is that a word - it should be...].
Thanks for this. It's nice to see and hear something thoughtful and perceptive about an album, especially one so densely packed with ideas. Of course, the typical response is, "I prefer this other one", but if anyone is stimulated to ponder their preferences that has to be a good thing. The Dreaming has always stood out for me as her most interesting album, one to listen to actively and without distractions. You could say something similar about Ariel, but for the life in me I can't think of a good reason to sit through that one again.
My favourite Bush albums are The Kick Inside, Hounds of Love and Aerial. I've tried to get into The Dreaming and at one time had a poster of the fantastic album cover, but it was just too jarring a listen for me. However I respect your opinion, you make very satisfying and eloquent case for it.
Love all her albums but it's The Sensual World for me. Made my morning commute into London immeasurably better. Still play it regularly now I've retired.
Me too! It connected with me in many ways - I love the “song” songs with Gilmour, the experimental sounds of “Walk Straight Down the Middle,” and more, the magical Eastern European folk band… There is an embarrassment of riches. Still love it now.
Also too my fave album from Kate!A perfect example of using a Fairlight with brilliance! An odd album for the most of the people a gem for the rest! But her discography is pretty coherent and marvelous.
Yes, I agree wholeheartedly. "The Dreaming" shows Kate Bush from her most creative and daring side. Never before or after did she reach a level comparable to this album.
Hounds of Love is my favourite Kate album, along with The Kick Inside - a dazzling debut. The Dreaming is a difficult album but I love it - and if she never recorded this I doubt Hounds would have ever come out like it did.
I would put Never for Ever on par with The Dreaming. The former is more melodic while remaining elaborate, while the latter delves further into experimentation and extravagance. These two are for me the most interesting Kate Bush albums.
It is a stunning album. I'd say Hounds of Love would just beat it, if it wasn't for the obvious '80s production. My favourite KB album is her The Other Sides collection, there are some incredible songs on it.
Great Video! I could not agree with you More, as this IS my FAVE KB album, and the one that got me into Kate a loong time ago. My second would be "The Sensual World" and Hounds equally as tied . The Dreaming was very experimental, and totally beats the previous albums, however "Never Forever" was trying to go in this direction. "Sat in Your Lap" is pure genious as is all of this album, especially with Dave G. helping a bit. My Fave track is The Dreaming, with Leave it Open as Second and Song of the swallow as 3rd & Sat in Your Lap as fourth. Pull outthe pin Is creepy and I have to rank it as up there as well! 🙂It is a Perfect album for me as there are No BAD songs here. The problem with this album, is that it just went above many peoples heads at the time = The critics did not like it. It is IMHO, that IF she did not go experrimental, she would have just become just another forgotten musician, as I think her early first 2 albums were just BLAH really, but they did jump her career for sure! IMHO. Thank You for the Love of Kate!
The Dreaming is a fantastic record, and a really important one in her discography, but Hounds of Love is her masterwork. This is like saying Obscured by Clouds is a better album than Dark Side.
It's not her best album. It's her bravest and least commercial album, but it doesn't have the cohesion and brilliant songwriting of Hounds of Love. On this album, she tried out what the studio could do, and she came up with some very interesting results. On her next, she perfected her music. So there.
I think "The Kick Inside", "Never For Ever" and "Hounds Of Love" are better. My favorite, is her debut, "The Kick Inside". "The Dreaming" is very good.
Or anything but Kate Bush and Genesis....How about Steely Dan, Stone Temple Pilots, REM (like you mentioned). Too much 'high brow' reviews on this and most other channels. Joe Cocker, Allman Brothers Band, Dobbie Brothers.
I often go on a Kate Bush binge, squeaky voice and all.. damn you are vicious 🤣 If someone can pull off this pitch it is her. And Lene Lovich or Toyah when they wanted to. This album.. as with all true albums, needs to be listened to as a whole, I wonder if people still do this...
Hi Barry. Do you ever listen to The Stranglers? Like Kate they’ve been afraid to experiment. I thought you might be interested in them due to their exploration of different genres. Have you listened to their latest album “ Dark Matters” it’s a great album!
The Dreaming has always been my favorite Kate Bush album. I first heard it in 1982 and couldn't believe how good it was. "All the Love" gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.
My friend introduced me to Kate by blasting this album from his car stereo with me in the back seat. We were both aspiring musicians and we were ready for anything new and daring. But Kate Bush scared the shit out of me, I felt trapped inside a fractured hysterical mind when I heard this. It took me a couple more years to finally get it, and then Hounds of Love was released, the Ninth Wave saved my life, I circled back through The Dreaming, Never Forever, Lionheart, The Kick Inside, every B-side single, every video, I became immersed completely. What kind of spell?!?!
I have spoken to friends and aquaintences who told me in confidence that they loved Kate Bush so much that it frightened them!
She is the GOAT. Love all her albums but gotta go with "The Kick Inside". Unbelievable she created that album as a teen.
Yes - I listened to it during my student years in Manchester in the middle of the punk rock era. Amazing memories.
I agree that The Dreaming is Kate Bush's best album, while in my view her album immediately prior to this, Never Forever, is a close second.
On a given day I might put Never Forever on top.
We all loved Kate.
"Hounds of Love" is my favorite Kate Bush album. Absolute perfection.
Agreed--her best. I have a copy of the CD autographed to me by Kate! I was just surprised you glossed over the incredible "Night of the Swallow," which is my favorite on the album, particularly that thrilling, layered ending part.
Yep. This is definitely her best. Beautifully produced. Suspended in Gaffa is a high spot for me.
Agree, and thanks for including her. Love this album!
This and the second side of Hounds of Love are god-tier pieces of music that should be jettisoned into space as proof that we are an intelligent, creative life form 😊
@smallbizdigitalmedia One line on Hounds of Love, 2nd side: " I can't be left with my imagination ". Wow.
I am probably an outlier here. My favorite Kate Bush song of all time is Get Out Of My House; loved it for over 40 years.
When I first heard The Dreaming not long after it's release I didn't know what to make of it..finding it dark and depressing..that was my first impression.
Over the decades since I have come to appreciate this album for it's sheer emotional intensity and utter originality.
I've read that Kate wasn't in a particularly happy disposition around the time of writing and I guess that is reflected in the sanguine and moody feel of the songs.
Musically, I still prefer her earlier work, particularly The Kick Inside.That said, this album manages to thrill and still sounds just as fresh and bonkers as it did in 1982.
Great review as always.
A great and very in-depth review of a wonderfully brave, weird and intriguing album. Definitely her best!
Aerial i read up somewhere was Kate bush's best album but i like all here albums i have got her fist 4 album's remastered on coloured vinyl from 2023
Best is of course open to debate but definitely her most daring and groundbreaking effort... At times it is certainly my favourite! But she has many jewels in her crown so to speak.
There's something of a uniquely "haunted" quality apparent in The Dreaming though. Ages ago I followed some online thread, basically about how different people experienced odd instances of inexplicable "synchronization" while listening to the album... you know, you experience "something" around you while listening to the album that seems almost to be conjured up by the music...
This album and 'Never For Ever' have always been my personal favorites, but IMO 'The Dreaming' is Kate's most daring and fully realized work.
I love every Kate Bush album almost equally, some more equally than others. The Dreaming is her masterpiece, it is sonically brilliant and her vocals are amongst the most daring she ever attempted. Really enjoyed this video. The gem on this album has to be Night of the Swallow, although the entire record is tremendous
Your last sentence is both true and perfectly said. The song is transporting and thrilling.
A brilliant synopsis. You are the only album reviewer that talks perfect sense. I don't always agree with you , but ofcourse music is subjective, however, you always break down thru analysis in a true, intelligent and profound way the subjects that you deal with. Superb, thanx buddy!.
Thank you
Always been my fave Kate album, along with Sat In Your Lap and There Goes A Tenner being the best songs throughout her catalogue. Great video, thanks.
Both those songs are standouts
I love the references to the Warner Brothers gangster films of Cagney & Edward G. Robinson on the kooky. 'There goes a Tenner'...
I always liked Lionheart. But for me her greatest was Hounds of Love but The Dreaming stands out as one of her most inventive. Definitely Britain’s greatest singer songwriter.
I love Kate and this is my favorite album
For me, Kate Bush’s albums are some of the most consistent albums in terms of excellence of any artist or band. As such I find it impossible to decide on my favourite although sometimes I think it could just be “The Sensual World”.
Those first four albums are solid gold. I love each and every one equally and for different reasons.
It's this album you really feel the 'pull of the bush' with. The imaginative use of Fairlight was truly innovative.
It’s an unknown gem for me. I love hounds, red shoes and aerial but some reason, I’ve never had the pleasure of this album. Thank you for the reminder; I’ll check it out!
I found this album very different but interesting when I first heard it. I had to keep going back for more and eventually it became one of my favourites. Houdini is an incredible song.
I first listened to The Dreaming when I was 14 years old. I had to turn it off half way through as I found it just too jarring and weird, but it quickly became one of my favourite albums after re-visiting it. Hounds Of Love, The Dreaming, and Aerial are my favourite Kate Bush albums.
Excellent review, and one i very much agree with.
I'd love to hear your take on Laura Nyro's New York Tendaberry - another highly artistic album, from 1969, which also may have been an early influence on young Kate.
The album is pure Prog! I think she wrote it after bingeing on Gentle Giant's early LPs! All The Love and Night of the Swallow are wonderful tracks! A great review of this absolute classic of an album!
Her best album and I love them all.
The Dreaming is a masterpiece. It was just so interesting and different to anything else that I listened to I would get lost in the sounds and imagery. Love it!
Great review, thanks.
Mate, recently discovered your channel via a random feed that popped up the other day and I have to say, I love your dry wit and insight. Not even a huge fan of Cassic Rock, but love listening to you prattle on with passion and great knowledge of the genre/era...thank you man.
The Dreaming and Hounds Of Love both my favourites of hers.
I've actually given this considerable thought over the years. I bought the remasters of her albums a few years back and after listening to them, I decided if I could only own one Kate Bush album, it would be...Never for Ever.
Totally agree with you on this one! I love the whole catalog, but this album shines above the rest!
Another vote for The Dreaming.
I loved her squeaky head voice whimsy
Yes, my favorite as well. Had a poster of the album cover on my college dorm wall!
"The Kick Inside" is my favourite
A great album
O man I love The Dreaming. It's time to play it again.
Agree totally - this is her finest work, followed by The Red Shoes and The Sensual World.
the worst one she done is 50 words for snow load of crap
With this kiss,I pass the key,telling us how Houdinis wife,passed the key to him.
High art, most enjoyable. Love it. It's still a great album and has held it's own after all these years.
An incredible album, light years ahead of anything at the time. I'd question if it's her best album, but I wouldn't question anyone who thought it was!
I love The Dreaming, a very strange and unique record. I wouldn't put it above The Hounds Of Love, but I'd put it joint 2nd with The Sensual World. What a remarkable talent Kate is. What other female artist has got a body of work anywhere close to hers. Joni Mitchell at a push, maybe.
The Sensual World, The Red Shoes, and Aerial are also up there - but sometimes overlooked, I feel. Attention is always lavished over Hounds of Love and the Ninth Wave, rightly so, but without much exploration forward.
Great to see Geoff Downes. Can you tell me where the whole interview is? Longtime fan of his stuff with Yes.
The dreaming is my favorite album of hers. Since it came out
Amazing album but absolutely Love Lionheart . Absolutely perfection from start to finish. One of the greatest musicians of all time .
I used to see LIONHEART and THE KICK INSIDE in the Import bins in my local SOUND ODDESSY and always wondered what this gorgeous woman sounded like. Then WXPN in Philadelphia began playing THE DREAMING on the DIASPAR program. It was so different from anything else I'd heard at that time. It's still my favorite of all her music
The best thing about this great album, which I own since it came out? Ninth Wave was some years away, waiting to make Hounds of Love only half a masterpiece. The Dreaming is her better, more adventurous album. But her discography is some mountain to climb.
Hounds of Love for me.
agreed. Now in my fifties I base my favourites as those records I listen to most now- not the ones I wanted to hear back then... and its Hounds Of Love that I put on the player most ofeten. As an album it's still unskippable - [is that a word - it should be...].
This and Hounds of love! Classic stuff from Kate!
Thanks for this. It's nice to see and hear something thoughtful and perceptive about an album, especially one so densely packed with ideas. Of course, the typical response is, "I prefer this other one", but if anyone is stimulated to ponder their preferences that has to be a good thing.
The Dreaming has always stood out for me as her most interesting album, one to listen to actively and without distractions. You could say something similar about Ariel, but for the life in me I can't think of a good reason to sit through that one again.
I love the intense production and angular songwriting on this classic Bush production.
Look who's here to see you...
My favourite album of hers…..by a country mile 👍
This album was my first intro to Kate Bush and I really dig it, but I find myself listening more to The Kick Inside which has become my fav of hers.
Aerial is her masterpiece without a doubt ❤
Yep!
Agree. This is the one. The best of them all.
My favourite Bush albums are The Kick Inside, Hounds of Love and Aerial. I've tried to get into The Dreaming and at one time had a poster of the fantastic album cover, but it was just too jarring a listen for me. However I respect your opinion, you make very satisfying and eloquent case for it.
Fabulous artist, always loved her work.
Love all her albums but it's The Sensual World for me. Made my morning commute into London immeasurably better. Still play it regularly now I've retired.
💜
Me too! It connected with me in many ways - I love the “song” songs with Gilmour, the experimental sounds of “Walk Straight Down the Middle,” and more, the magical Eastern European folk band… There is an embarrassment of riches. Still love it now.
@@mattleppard1970 The Bass playing of the late John Giblin and the (not late) Eberhard Weber is pretty special on this album!
Also too my fave album from Kate!A perfect example of using a Fairlight with brilliance! An odd album for the most of the people a gem for the rest! But her discography is pretty coherent and marvelous.
I just listened to this album this weekend for the first time in years. I said to myself, "This may be my favourite KB album." Nice.
Yes, I agree wholeheartedly. "The Dreaming" shows Kate Bush from her most creative and daring side. Never before or after did she reach a level comparable to this album.
Completely agree.
The Dreaming is a masterpiece imo, when she became a master of the Studio and her Fairlight. Incredible vocals and creativity, in my top 5.
The Dreaming is my favorite Kate album.
Great analysis 🧐
I could not agree more. I like Never For Ever a lot as well.
Hounds of Love is my favourite Kate album, along with The Kick Inside - a dazzling debut.
The Dreaming is a difficult album but I love it - and if she never recorded this I doubt Hounds would have ever come out like it did.
I would put Never for Ever on par with The Dreaming. The former is more melodic while remaining elaborate, while the latter delves further into experimentation and extravagance. These two are for me the most interesting Kate Bush albums.
Excellent analysis. Thank you.
IMHO, a fantastic album and certainly a favourite... Then again, she's never made a bad one.
It is a stunning album. I'd say Hounds of Love would just beat it, if it wasn't for the obvious '80s production. My favourite KB album is her The Other Sides collection, there are some incredible songs on it.
excellent observation on the key and the silver buddha.
Great Video!
I could not agree with you More, as this IS my FAVE KB album, and the one that got me into Kate a loong time ago. My second would be "The Sensual World" and Hounds equally as tied
. The Dreaming was very experimental, and totally beats the previous albums, however "Never Forever" was trying to go in this direction.
"Sat in Your Lap" is pure genious as is all of this album, especially with Dave G. helping a bit. My Fave track is The Dreaming, with Leave it Open as Second and Song of the swallow as 3rd & Sat in Your Lap as fourth. Pull outthe pin Is creepy and I have to rank it as up there as well! 🙂It is a Perfect album for me as there are No BAD songs here.
The problem with this album, is that it just went above many peoples heads at the time = The critics did not like it. It is IMHO, that IF she did not go experrimental, she would have just become just another forgotten musician, as I think her early first 2 albums were just BLAH really, but they did jump her career for sure! IMHO.
Thank You for the Love of Kate!
Certainly one of her best. My favourite is Kick Inside 🤓
Kate Bush: the only woman I have ever loved! ❤
Well her and Stevie Nicks.
My favorite is The Red Shoes.
Although I do agree that The Dreaming is her best, my favorite is still The Sensual World.
The Dreaming is a fantastic record, and a really important one in her discography, but Hounds of Love is her masterwork. This is like saying Obscured by Clouds is a better album than Dark Side.
Love this argument even though I disagree and think this is her masterpiece although the second half of HoL matches it
The Dreaming seems to be the one album that seems to be lost down the sofa, but I think it's a great lead up to Hounds of Love.
The "The Kick Inside" for me ❤
It's not her best album. It's her bravest and least commercial album, but it doesn't have the cohesion and brilliant songwriting of Hounds of Love.
On this album, she tried out what the studio could do, and she came up with some very interesting results. On her next, she perfected her music. So there.
You are correct, sir.
I love all the albums in that first run, but the Dreaming is tops for me.
Lionheart is a memorable album, to my ears.
They are all classic. Lionheart is her most tender and best for me.
Never forever for me is her best.
I love this album too.
Lionheart and kick inside played back to back
Love Kate, she has always done new things with brilliant results. However, it is just music.
Vamos que los tres anteriores son también bellezas.
I think "The Kick Inside", "Never For Ever" and "Hounds Of Love" are better. My favorite, is her debut, "The Kick Inside". "The Dreaming" is very good.
I think you're right, it is.
Love your work. Any chance of a review of some of the work of REM?
Or anything but Kate Bush and Genesis....How about Steely Dan, Stone Temple Pilots, REM (like you mentioned). Too much 'high brow' reviews on this and most other channels.
Joe Cocker, Allman Brothers Band, Dobbie Brothers.
I often go on a Kate Bush binge, squeaky voice and all.. damn you are vicious 🤣
If someone can pull off this pitch it is her. And Lene Lovich or Toyah when they wanted to.
This album.. as with all true albums, needs to be listened to as a whole, I wonder if people still do this...
After watching your Roger Waters Morgan critique, which was excellent, you badly let me down with this bonkers talk 😮
Defenitiv her best album. HOL was the most succesful. The dreaming has a depth that no other album in my collection has.
Hi Barry. Do you ever listen to The Stranglers? Like Kate they’ve been afraid to experiment. I thought you might be interested in them due to their exploration of different genres. Have you listened to their latest album “ Dark Matters” it’s a great album!