i think that was only in the UK and certain parts of Europe

the song that really broke her through was Running Up That Hill

Well, Wuthering Heights from her debut album is her biggest selling single. It was the first single by a female solo artist to reach #1 on the UK singles charts and made her famous and commercially successful over night. If I had to point out one commercial breakthrough with importance to her career, that would definetly be it.

She had a Japanese no1 in the late 70s, and had been successful in other places like Australia as well. She was probably more famous in America from Hounds of Love on but they were a bit behind on things. :)

She was certainly popular in Japan after her debut. She appeared on japanese television and even did a commercial there (featuring the song "Them Heavy People" from the debut), the only one she's ever done.



So she was already successful outside Europe before Hounds of Love and I think that if you also add the fact she never really wanted to be famous (she's a famous recluse), then the point that Hounds of Love may have extended her famousness to new corners of the earth seems less relevant to me.

Tore have you got around to hearing this yet?
BBC - Music - Review of Kate Bush - Director's Cut

It is not essential by any means but it is certainly worth a listen and given Kate's reticence for being in the studio, it is a great little curio.

Yes, I have :) I don't like everything about it, but it is interesting to hear the reinterpretations and I felt like some of them worked while some of them didn't. The reworked version of Deeper Understanding (originally from 1989 release The Sensual World) f.ex was rather good and I also really liked the video for it.



As is sometimes typical in my relationship with Kate, she sometimes dares things in such a way that I'm not always sure whether I think an idea she's had was good idea or bad, f.ex the very auto-tuned computer voice in the new version of this song :p: But that's fascinating in a way and I usually end up liking it.

What's also good is that the version I got also included The Sensual World and The Red Shoes with better sound quality than the previous releases!

Her latest album '50 Words for Snow' might well be her most consistent album since Hounds of Love. Possibly her 3rd best behind that and The Kick Inside. Ariel I thought was rather overrated but this one sounds much more successful as a whole for me right now. Of course my opinion could change, but this is my initial impression. The style itself is quite minimalist and dependant on the emotional grip of the vocals so there is probably a bit of an emo influence. Though the tracks can be long they generally last out ok, maybe the title track could have faded out during the instrumental section near the end.

oh, where have you been, starrynight?

Ah good someone noticed me. :D Well I guess my interest just got took up with some other things. But I've just started to look through 2011 albums seriously now so back here to see what is happening.

^^I ought to be acquiring 50 Words for Snow soon

as soon as it hits the stores here