An original UK pressing of Kate’s sophomore LP (only the second copy to ever hit the site) with INCREDIBLE Shootout Winning Triple Plus (A+++) sound or close to it from start to finish
We shot out a number of other imports and the midrange presence, bass, and dynamics on this outstanding copy placed it head and shoulders above most of the other pressings we played
Both of these sides are dramatically richer, fuller and more Tubey Magical than all others we played, with Kate’s exceptionally present and breathy vocals front and center where they belong
A vintage copy of Kate’s debut LP with an INCREDIBLE Shootout Winning Triple Plus (A+++) side two mated to a solid Double Plus (A++) side one
Forget the domestic pressings (with the different cover), forget all the lame reissues that have come or will come down the pike – if you want to hear this album right, a Hot Stamper British pressing is the only way to go
Our last shootout was over a year ago and we will not be in a hurry to do another one anytime soon – with so many incompetent “record dealers” in the game now, getting clean copies of Kate Bush’s albums across the pond was much more difficult and expensive than it should have been
Includes Bush’s hit “Wuthering Heights,” and a number of tracks written by this precocious artist at only 15
4 stars: “… the sound of an impressionable and highly precocious teenager spreading her wings for the first time… a mightily impressive debut.”
An original UK import pressing with seriously good sound from start to finish
Guaranteed to be a huge improvement over anything you’ve heard, this Brit is big, lively, and full-bodied with excellent presence – Kate’s wonderfully breathy vocals really soar
The domestic pressings are clearly made from dubs and should have no business taking up space in any serious audiophile record collection (but you may have noticed that we have a habit of saying that about a lot of records)
4 1/2 stars: “…from the minutiae of each song to the broad sweeping arc of the two suites, all heavily ornamented with layered instrumentation, makes this record wonderfully overpowering as a piece of pop music.”
If you’re a fan of the Ms Bush, her Magnum Opus from 1985 belongs in your collection.
The complete list of titles from 1985 that we’ve reviewed to date can be found here.
