FEATURE:
Re-Release and Revision…
Celebrating Kate Bush’s The Whole Story at Thirty-Six
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ON 10th November…
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush in an outtake from The Whole Story shoot/PHOTO CREDIT: John Carder Bush
the Kate Bush greatest hits album, The Whole Story, is thirty-six. Through the years, the album has been released on L.P., C.D., tape, and Minidisc (in 1998). A 180-gram vinyl edition was released by Simply Vinyl on 30th October, 2000. My exposure to the album came in the form of the VHS. That was my first exposure to Kate Bush. The VHS had videos of the album’s songs on them. There was one difference that I will mention (also, an extra video (not included on the audio version), for The Big Sky, was added). The video for Wuthering Heights was a revelation! There was something about the choreography and the setting of the video. Bush, wide-eyed and ghostly. It was a turning point in my life when it came to music and how I saw it! You can get a copy of The Whole Story on vinyl, but the cost is quite steep. Ahead of the anniversary of the album, I want to discuss a couple of different aspects. Before I get to it, here is a link to interviews where Bush talked about The Whole Story:
“Yes, I was [against the release of a compilation album] at first. I was concerned that it would be like a "K-tel" record, a cheapo-compo with little thought behind it. It was the record company's decision, and I didn't mind as long as it was well put together. We put a lot of work into the packaging, trying to make it look tasteful, and carefully thought out the running order. And the response has been phenomenal - I'm amazed! (Kate Bush Club newsletter, Issue 22, December 1987)
It wasn't chronological because we wanted to have a running time that was equal on both sides, otherwise you get a bad pressing. In America, where I'm not very well known, they didn't realise it was a compilation! ('Love, Trust and Hitler'. Tracks (UK), November 1989)”.
It would be nice if The Whole Story were re-released on vinyl. She remastered her catalogue in 2018, and I feel a new edition of The Whole Story would be a great introduction to fans. I will end with thoughts on the album and why, thirty-six years after its release, it still remains powerful and one of the best greatest hits albums. There are a couple of limitations and drawbacks with the album. Even though the video for Wuthering Heights was included, the audio version of the song featured a new vocal by Bush. Perhaps conscious of its higher register and the way some people satirised it, Bush wanted something that made her feel and seem less child-like and young. I feel the original vocal is one of her very best and should have been left. For her first greatest hits collection, having one of her most important songs remain intact would have been better. Also, as the album was released a year after Hounds of Love, there was a lot to choose from in terms of the songs. I have already written about the single released from the album, Experiment IV, Bush wrote this especially for The Whole Story. I do think there should be a remaster of the greatest hits album, as we have not really seen anything like it since. There has been chronicling of Bush’s work after 1986, though there has not been a greatest hits collection.
I have written about this before when looking at The Whole Story but, as we prepare to mark thirty-six years of this collection, it is interesting how there has bene no real further revision. Bush’s success this year must make her think that a career-spanning album or compilation could be welcomed. As she told Tom Doyle in a 2006 interview, Bush thought that the idea of a greatest hits was naff. She said no way. It was a crap suggestion. The man - whose name is not revealed -came back with all this research. A convincing amount of hard work changed Bush’s mind. She was sold and, as it turned out, The Whole Story reached the top spot and became Bush’s biggest-selling record. She is glad that she had her hesitancy reversed and allowed The Whole Story to go ahead! Bush is not a great fan of revisionism, but at least remastering The Whole Story would be a start. What I wanted to conclude with is how much respect and adulation the album received. I guess the success of Hounds of Love in 1985 and 1986 carried into November of 1986. She was very much at the forefront of public affection and critical approval. It is funny, as Hounds of Love might have been her first album – her fifth at that point – that unified people in that way. Whilst Hounds of Love did not get all great reviews in the U.S. (even though it was a critical success there), British press raved! When The Whole Story came up, Bush’s popularity was at an all-time high. Even though there were twelve tracks on the album, critics were stunned by the vast quality. Recognising her gifts and genius, they were stunned at the variation and consistency that The Whole Story offered! NME noted how Bush was streets ahead of her male peers. Andy Strickland, writing for Record Mirror noted: "A monumental tribute to this craziest, coziest girl-next-door. (...) One of the most refreshing compilation LPs it would be possible to put together".
I am dropping in a few videos that would have appeared on the VHS edition of The Whole Story. Not only did the public and press get the audio delights of Bush’s career in the compilation. It was a rare occasion to piece together her ever-evolving and growingly ambitious videos. It is quite fitting that Bush, who was being mocked, facing sexist questions, and being reduced to her looks in 1978 and actually through her career, was now being heralded as a goddess and British innovator! 1986 was a watershed year when this once-derided and misunderstood artist was being elevated. Not everyone was in Bush’s camp and, to be fair, there was respect for all of her albums until this point. There was definitely a shift in the way she was perceived and the impression people had. Linking together a selection of her best songs together did provide the complete picture. The whole story. In 1986, that was definitely true. Bush has released five studio albums since 1986. There has been a lot of activity and new material. I do think that there should be some form of retrospection. Bush could not object. In lieu of new material and plans for an eleventh studio album, she would surely allow there to be something in the way of a new collection,. In recognising how important The Whole Story was for me, in the sense it introduced me to Kate Bush, it also sees me looking ahead. 2022 has been such a packed and crazy year for Kate Bush. Once more thrust back into the limelight – though in a very different way to 1985 and 1986 -, fans all around the world hope that…
THE story is not finished quite yet.