KATE BUSH Night of the Swallow/ Houdini RARE Irish 7”, 1st Ed., IEMI9001 - 1983

$

250

KATE BUSH

Night of the Swallow (5:34)/ Houdini (3:49)

RARE – IRISH ONLY RELEASE

1983 (Recorded 1981)

Near Mint/ Mint Condition

First Issue – Hard paper stock sleeve

EMI IEMI 9001

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Condition – this set is in near perfect condition.

·     Records – Near Mint - Mint

·     Jacket - Mint

Personnel:

Kate Bush: Vocals & Keyboards

Stuart Elliott: Drums

Del Palmer: Bass & 8-String Bass

Bill Whelan: Bagpipes and String arrangement

Liam O'Flynn: Uillean Pipes and Penny Whistle

Seán Keane: Fiddle

Dónal Lunny: Bouzouki

Background on this RARE release:

"Night of the Swallow" is a 1982 song by Kate Bush. Written and produced by her, it was included on the album The Dreaming. The song has a significantly Irish theme in that it features many Irish musicians and instruments. It was released as a single in Ireland in late 1983, making it the fifth release from the album.

The song's release in Ireland only is most likely due to the Irish nature of the song, featuring instrumental accompaniment by Irish musicians. These include members of Planxty and The Chieftains: Bill Whelan on Bagpipes and String arrangement, Liam O'Flynn on Uillean pipes and Penny whistle, Seán Keane on Fiddle and Dónal Lunny on Bouzouki. Whelan is credited as writing the string parts for the song, although this was in close association with Bush herself. Bush was to explore Irish themes in later works also, such as "Jig of Life" from Hounds of Love (1985) and the single "Rocket Man" (1991). Bush's mother was Irish and so Kate had listened to traditional Irish music from a young age and was eager to explore this style. Her brother Jay also influenced her due to his appreciation of the group Planxty.

The song was the first of two (the other being "Sat in Your Lap") to be recorded for the album. It was mainly recorded at Abbey Road studios in Spring 1981 over several sessions. The Irish musicians section was recorded in Ireland, with Bush working there with them overnight. After completing the track at seven in the morning, she headed back to London to finish mixing the song. Bush spoke about the song (where its name was revealed) as early as July 1981, saying that Planxty were "Fantastic musicians with open, receptive minds, which is unusual for people who work with traditional folk music".

The track was finally released in September 1982 as the seventh track of ''The Dreaming (album). The single was released over a year after the album and failed to chart in Ireland. It also went unpromoted, with no music video made for the song.

The B-side of the single was another track from The Dreaming, "Houdini". This song is about the story of Bess Houdini and her attempts to communicate with her deceased husband Harry, using a plan they developed while he was still alive. The album cover of The Dreaming depicts a scene from this song and in particular the line; "with a kiss, I'll pass the key".

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