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Doggy Style: Kate Bush revamps Hounds of Love

Three new editions. No new audio.

By Paul Sinclair

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227

Kate Bush has delivered on her promise of ‘special presentations’ of her classic 1985 album Hounds of Love with three new editions, none of which offers any new audio.

The Baskerville Edition is a gatefold vinyl presentation with entirely new artwork by Glasgow-based design studio Timorous Beasties (who delivered some of the illustrations for Before The Dawn). Inside the gatefold is a LED light (“little light…shining”) which doesn’t require batteries since it’s powered via a solar panel on the rear of the product! Oh yes. You can see clearly what the product is like from the video below. There are no bonus tracks or anything like that and indeed this edition uses the same 2018 remaster as the recently announced black and coloured vinyl reissues. Interestingly, ‘The Big Sky’ is no longer indicated as the ‘single mix’ even though it must be, if they are using the 2018 version. The Baskerville Edition is retailing for £138 from Kate’s newly-designed website.

The other two editions actually split the album in half. The Boxes of Lost At Sea Edition consists of two boxes, each containing one side of the album. Each disc features a UV printed illustration on white vinyl and a battery powered LED light. Kate says: “The idea was to create a hybrid of an album and a piece of artwork you could hang on the wall. They’re based on something I designed for an auction for the charity War Child”. (In 1993 Brian Eno asked Kate to contribute to an auction for War Child, and she came up with the idea of two identical box frames, each containing a flashing red LED with text on brass plaques). A donation will be made to War Child from each new box that is sold.

The Boxes of Lost At Sea editions are part art, part album

These boxes are £285 each, so that’s £570 for the album, although there’s a bundle edition of this hybrid album/art edition available which costs £500.

All three new editions of Hounds of Love will be released on 1 December 2023 via The state51 Conspiracy. They appear only to be available via Kate’s site. Don’t forget you can order the standard coloured vinyl indie editions from the SDE shop as an alternative to the above!

The back of the ‘The Baskerville Edition’ of Hounds of Love. The black square is a solar panel that charges the LED light within

Tracklisting

Hounds of Love Kate Bush / The Baskerville Edition

      1. Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) (2018 Remaster)
      2. Hounds Of Love (2018 Remaster)
      3. The Big Sky (2018 Remaster)
      4. Mother Stands For Comfort (2018 Remaster)
      5. Cloudbusting (2018 Remaster)
      6. And Dream Of Sheep (2018 Remaster)
      7. Under Ice (2018 Remaster)
      8. Waking The Witch (2018 Remaster)
      9. Watching You Without Me (2018 Remaster)
      10. Jig Of Life (2018 Remaster)
      11. Hello Earth (2018 Remaster)
      12. The Morning Fog (2018 Remaster)

Tracklisting

Hounds of Love Kate Bush / The Boxes of Lost at Sea Edition – Box A

      1. Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) (2018 Remaster)
      2. Hounds Of Love (2018 Remaster)
      3. The Big Sky (2018 Remaster)
      4. Mother Stands For Comfort (2018 Remaster)
      5. Cloudbusting (2018 Remaster)

Tracklisting

Hounds of Love Kate Bush / The Boxes of Lost at Sea Edition – Box B

      1. And Dream Of Sheep (2018 Remaster)
      2. Under Ice (2018 Remaster)
      3. Waking The Witch (2018 Remaster)
      4. Watching You Without Me (2018 Remaster)
      5. Jig Of Life (2018 Remaster)
      6. Hello Earth (2018 Remaster)
      7. The Morning Fog (2018 Remaster)

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227 Comments

227 thoughts on “Doggy Style: Kate Bush revamps Hounds of Love”

  2. Beautiful objects, but a nice double CD with the original album on the first CD and the associated tracks on the second would be much better. Not that these are that hard to find, but it’d be nice to have them all on a single package. But I gave up hope a long time ago… I don’t think she’ll ever give us any “complete” versions of any of her albums, and I’d say that probably there won’t be any new albums, too. It’s a shame, but I do love her music, so I can always enjoy what little of it she’s released, and I don’t really need any fancy rereleases of the same tracks I already have. Kate Bush and her music will always have a special place in my heart, and for this I’m thankful.

  4. All this effort and expense, superfluous packaging with no new content, and all the while, the video footage of Before The Dawn languishes in a “vault” destined never to see the light of day. I was there on opening night and would love to indulge in it over and over again, not to mention the countless tens of thousands of people who never got to witness that magnificent series of events.

    I will always love and respect Kate but gestures such as this chip away at the sheen…

  5. Picked up a copy of How to be invisible the Faber hardback. Fascinating book. Particularly the Ninth Wave section with the additional lyrics missing from the album sleeve. Mind you it still missed the John Carder Bush lines from the end of Jig of Life. Can’t understand why I never bought it sooner.

  6. What I find baffling is the number of sellers who are listing these coloured editions as ‘rare’ on ebay and flogging them for at least twice the cover value, AND more baffling to note, people are bidding on them! I take it these buyers don’t bother to check official websites, SDE etc. There’s even someone who’s listed the Baskerville edition at £449! (Roll of eyes, tut tuts all round).

  8. Over half my life has revolved around Kate Bush’s work.
    Having said that, this is ridiculous.
    The excess & wastefulness leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
    I’m happy that Kate feels free to do as she pleases, but this seems confused and ill-advised.

    Let me say that the snarky comments here offer more entertainment value than this re-packaging does!

    1. This site isn’t called ‘Frugal Minimalist Editions’, it’s called ‘Super Deluxe Editions’’. Complaints about excess & wastefulness could be levelled at a large number of the ‘super deluxe’ products highlighted here every week (as a extreme example, did the George Harrison ATMP really need to have an edition in a wooden crate complete with a set of garden gnomes? etc etc) , so i’m assuming you must have a constant bad taste in your mouth !

  9. Kate Bush is my favourite artist of all time, but for God’s sake enough is enough. No additional material, no Atmos mix (even though I suspect Steven Wilson would offer his services free of charge to remix this). Kate, we love you, but no more please. If you’re not going to give any added value to previous releases then just sit back on your laurels and enjoy the financial benefits of the stranger things resurgence and cease with these arty fatrty releases that none of the true fans really wants. It actually hurt me to say that but at least I know that Kate Bush will never read it.

  10. Looking at the unboxing video again… I’m amazed that having travelled through time and space all those years, wrapped only in brown paper, held together with string and no bubble wrap or protective card, how undented the album corners are.

    They obviously didn’t get Amazon style deliveries in 1954 where they leave your cardboard packages outside in the rain to resemble shreddies in hot milk.

  11. Just a thought, but if you have to put the album in daylight/sunlight to get the light to work, be sure to remove the vinyl from the sleeve. We wouldn’t want a warped disc now, would we!

  12. I don’t see the controversy over this. There’s no new audio, so unless you’re into art, there should be no particular reason to buy it. It’s not as though we’re being squeezed. Art is traditionally pricey anyway.

    1. I think we are just disappointed that the special announcement was this.

      It is indeed a very special album and it needs tender curating care.

      I feel sorry for Bonnie & Clyde who have been usurped by a couple of hand drawn dogs that look like art work you’d pick up in a pound store.

      A big ‘woof!’ to them indeed!

      1. Yes. That new illustration is completely counter to the lyrics of the song… a song which began with a sample from horror film “Night of the Demon” and contains the lines “It’s coming for me through the trees
        Oh, help me, someone
        Help me, please.”

  13. Interestingly, on Kate’s website, the following message is used in promotion of these new sets.
    “In a virtual world where no-one knows what’s real, there are people out there who want to feel the music in their hands”
    Sounds rather similar to something else. Can’t think what. Paul might know.

    1. Good Spot Stan. Has anyone ever seen a photo of Paul S. and Kate B. in the same spot at the same time ? I think the cheekbones may be a bit of a giveaway. Can’t speak for the legs though, unfortunately.
      (edited for gratuitous sexual innuendo.)

  14. She disappeared up her own kazoo a while back, just more of the am-dram rubbish again with that awful video (the am-dram element of Before The Dawn being one of the better reasons to choose the CD version and the skip button).And there is zero justification for the price of this repackage, so for me it’s a no.

    For the people waiting for Before The Dawn on DVD/BR, be careful what you wish for. If it was edited down to the musical pieces only then yes it would be awesome but the skip button will come in handy again otherwise. I was fortunate enough to go to one of the shows but it meant I had to sit through all that guff. Sausages anyone?

  15. Ok – my position – I love Kate Bush’s work. I bought everything originally on release, all 2018 CD & vinyl box remasters, and as many bootlegs as I could find.
    Are these new releases nice? Certainly are.
    Would I like them? Yes
    Will I buy them. No
    Apart from the astronomical cost, the whole concept to me is just completely pretentious bo**ocks!
    Music is what I want – not flickering lights.
    There are tracks in the vault. I hope she will turn her attention to those now – but obviously not holding my breath

  16. Terrible artwork aside, Kate sticks to her “I’m-different”-attitude to the point where it becomes ridicolous. She obviously knows better what fans of her music should get. As much as I adore her music, I’ve come to the point that I just don’t care anymore for her disappointing rereleases. Is it too below her level of excellence to release beautiful crafted “common” deluxe editions? Probably yes. Even if there will come the time, and I honesstly do hope this will be in a very, very distant future, when she will no longer have personal control over her releases, her estate will act not differently. Prove me wrong, Kate. I’m sorry about my grammar.

  17. I wasn’t going to order the special presentation editions of Hounds of Love due to the cost, especially after ordering every single color vinyl edition of the studio albums…BUT in the end I couldn’t resist. I really like that the editions are really creative and unique in design. It’s an added bonus that Kate chose to link the editions to a charitable cause.

  19. It’s a bad time to be a Kate Bush fan. First overpriced coloured vinyl, then this extortionately-priced Hounds of Love nonsense and finally, a no-show at her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction (not that she was ever really expected to appear).

    It’s our choice (based on affordability) whether or not to buy any of these new issues and I certainly won’t be doing so, but it’s becoming harder and harder to defend her. I used to think/say to others “she may not tour, or release records often, but at least she doesn’t try to re-sell her old stuff time and again”. And now she’s doing just that. There’s still some truth in it, in that there hasn’t been endless compilation albums from her (just the one from 1986!) but for me, she’s crossed the line.

  20. Wow. At around £83 per track, that’s some price. If you had to pay that sort of money for each track you downloaded, I think streaming of music would not be as popular as it is! My late sister was a huge Kate Bush fan and although she would have agonised over purchasing this release, I think even she would struggle to justify the cost! What I’d like to know is why the bulldog in the artwork? It just doesn’t work for me. It would have made more sense to draw the two dogs that were on the original cover, surely? (It does to me anyway). Whilst we may never know who’s crackpot idea this was, I’m afraid this may be the tip of the iceberg for wacky vinyl issues.

    1. It’s not £83 per track though is it – the music itself is freely available (literally). It’s like complaining that a First Folio of Shakespeare is £6 per word, er yes it is, but if you don’t want to spend £6 million you just buy a standard edition for £20 like everyone else.

  21. I find it strange when certain people use the term love when it comes to Kate Bush because how can anybody love someone who has a total disregard for her fans, has no interest in releasing material that people have been asking for for years and for these latest releases just exploits the very people who have stood by her and supported her.
    You may love her music and admire her , but to love someone you do not even know and who gives very little in return maybe love is the wrong word?

    1. I’m baffled by the self importance of some fans in thinking that they should have a say in Kate’s career just because they’ve been long term fans who may have purchased her albums in the past. Kate doesn’t owe them anything. I as a fan don’t expect anything off her. Of course it’d be happy to see a new album or best of but I’m not going to unjustifiably attack her just because she’s releasing something that’s out of my budget.

      1. Are you really ‘baffled’ by fans being annoyed that Kate neither ‘gets’ reissues at all, or delivers new albums quicker than once a decade? I would say it’s extremely EASY to understand why people get upset. Not ‘owing’ anyone anything and treating your audience with respect are not mutually exclusive.

        1. Surely any long term fan already knows that Kate only releases albums very rarely and takes her time to record stuff. Does anyone really expect her to start churning out albums quicker?

          How would you say Kate disrepects her audience?

          1. One simple example is she didn’t tour for 35 years, then only played in one venue in London when she finally got on stage again in 2014 and then she didn’t release it on video so her fans who didn’t get to go to the shows (i.e. most of them) could watch the show. People always say “she doesn’t owe you anything… blah blah blah” but if you had a partner who was only ever willing to do what *they* wanted to do and never did anything you wanted, no matter how reasonable the request, you get fed up and think “there’s no give and take in this relationship”. Kate has a relationship with all of her fans, for better or worse, and just not caring about what THEY want and always just doing what YOU want is the very definition of disrespectful, I’d say.

          2. I really can’t see the ‘partner’ analogy. KB – any artist – has to make music (or not), play live (or not), look after their back catalogue (or not) in whatever way they think fit. Their fans buy what they do (or not).

            It’s not a partnership, relationship, marriage or anything like it. The choices people like KB make may be disappointing (I’d love to be able to see ‘Before the Dawn’) but if it’s not available, I can’t buy it and that’s that.

            I’m sure most fans would want a new album as good as ‘Hounds of Love’ every year. Once reason why that doesn’t happen is not a simple choice to neglect the audience, but the sheer difficulty involved in making an album.

            Finally, these new ‘art’ editions. They are ridiculous but the saving grace is – no new mixes, unreleased songs etc. Imagine the outcry if the only way to get a new KB track was to spend a few hundred pounds!

      2. It’s kinda weird when people defend an artist’s “right” to do this or that and attack other people who dare to criticise their attitude. Everything and everyone may be criticised… there’s nothing “wrong” or “offensive” about it, provided that the critics are presented in a respectful manner. As much as I love Kate Bush’s music, I do think she could be a little nicer to her fans and release some of the less readily available stuff she has on her vaults. But obviously she will do whatever she wants, and there’s nothing inherently “wrong” about that.

    2. You can love her as in her music and art, which is what I think most people mean. I don’t get annoyed at artists choosing not to release unreleased tracks but I think releases like this one is open for criticism.

  23. That promo is just…the worst. How can anyone take this promotion seriously? Is it meant to be a provocation? Are we meant to feel annoyed and insulted? Seriously.

  24. I’m totally fine with this type of release. She’s not gating unheard music or a new remaster behind an expensive deluxe edition. I’m WAY more irritated with artists that do a remaster but make you buy a $250 vinyl/cd release with a bunch of merch to get it (Rush’s Signals, for example). I doubt this will sell a ton of copies but that’s kind of the point – if you want a vanity copy of HoL to hang on the wall and never listen to, here you go. If that’s not your thing and all you care about it the music, just ignore this release entirely.

  25. I think it’s just a possibility to make lots of money. Most fans are quite old now and it’s the only way to make lots of money nowadays. (Despite live gigs) The younger generations prefer streaming.

    Most record collectors will be dead in 20 or 30 years and the younger ones won’t buy large amounts of expensive vinyl boxsets.

    The music industry knows that very well.

    It would be interesting to know more about the music market 2050.

    1. I would like to think I will still be alive in 40 years. What a horrible thing to say about record collectors (“Most will be dead in 20 to 30 years”). Not all the younger generation stream music, as there are those that buy vinyl only, so they maybe the record collectors of the future. Your glass maybe half empty, but mine is definitely half full.

      2. I’m 58 and I hope I’m still here when Elon Musk or similar invent cerebral implants that mimic Dolby Atmos without having to have any equipment in your house!. Obviously a royalty could then be payable to SDE and associated artists for use of the by then 300 and counting SDE blu rays!. Hopefully we will have news of another ABC sde blu ray for beauty stab long before that though!.

    3. I fear your right about the way things are going. I’ll no doubt be toast in 20 or 30 years time and my hearing long before that I suspect, but I’d hope my kids would want my treasured record collection, but try as I might, they aren’t the least bit interested in hifi systems, vinyl records or even cds! For them it’s the convenience of streaming on cheap smart speakers, headphones or in the car.
      The industry seems to recognise that and are now starting to milk physical music collectors for whatever they can get away with in the short term, whilst creating really desirable product and sending it straight to streaming only. Physical collecting is under threat with massive price hikes, underwhelming reissues, multiple colour vinyl reissues instead of new product. At this rate, music in 2050 is likely to be streaming on subscription only with physical product a very niche market!
      Alternatively, I could go full “Fahrenheit 451” and predict vinyl records will be banned, collectors will have been “plastic-shamed” and forced underground as the world burns; the SDE site will only be available on the dark web and Paul Sinclair will be leader of the resistance. But that might be too glass half empty for a prediction I guess!

      1. “Alternatively, I could go full “Fahrenheit 451” and predict vinyl records will be banned, collectors will have been “plastic-shamed” and forced underground as the world burns; the SDE site will only be available on the dark web and Paul Sinclair will be leader of the resistance. But that might be too glass half empty for a prediction I guess!”
        
        Suella Braverman is looking at this as we speak.

  26. I went to a Jack White show last year, and there was a particular piece of very nice, very expensive merch (on the order of $300). It was a three-dimensional wall hanging with multiple die-cut layers, made and signed by a local artist in a very small edition (50 or 100 maybe). It was only on sale for that show, and there was a sign near it saying, “If you think this is too expensive, then it isn’t for you – please enjoy our other merchandise selections” (or something to that effect).

    One the one hand, it feels very dismissive – you can’t afford something this nice, too bad for you – and no one wants to feel that their favorite musician is dismissive towards them in any way. How dare they?! Don’t they know that our love and devotion made their lifestyle what it is today?

    On the other hand, artists gotta art, fans be damned. The creation of something like this isn’t borne of fan service at all – it’s a completely different impulse, and ultimately, when you think about it, it’s that impulse that drives our love of the artist in the first place.

    So this leads me to wonder, what is Kate trying to communicate artistically with these editions of this beloved album? And even if I can’t afford it (or just don’t want to pay for it) their existence gives me the space to consider that question, and that has value also, even if I never get to see one in person.

    1. Good point, I saw that at the Jack White shows, I work with people who spend a lot on art and furniture, the thing I don’t understand is with this KB is when there’s no accompanying audio in a reissue if the art is music, and KB is known for her music

    1. Aside from the fact some bonus tracks were Sensual World b sides.

      There was a CD version like the cassette I saw in HMV years ago with the 12 inch RUTH appearing after Cloudbusting. I was going to buy it but the case was badly damaged. Never seen it since and I’ve never seen it listed on Discogs either…

    3. The one to have would be the original album, with all 11 of the associated 12″ tracks from 1985/86. Sadly that has never been made. So:
      Running Up That Hill (Extended Version)
      Running Up That Hill (Instrumental)
      Under The Ivy
      Cloudbusting (Organon Mix)
      Burning Bridge
      My Lagan Love
      Alternative Hounds Of Love
      The Handsome Cabin Boy
      The Big Sky (Single Mix)
      Not This Time
      The Big Sky (Meteorological Mix)
      How hard would it have been to sometime in the last three decades to release a 2CD version with all these tracks on the second disc? Even The Other Sides criminally omitted RUTH (Instrumental) and Not This Time. And as of now, as there’s room, you could add the 2012 RUTH remix and the RUTH TOTEM remix, to bring things up to the present time (and include for the younger audience).
      Instead we get the original album (not even that, due to the original The Big Sky being replaced), in a new ugly cover, and only on vinyl, at £138 for the pleasure. The other ‘art’ pieces are not even worth discussing.
      It may be a special presentation, but not that worthwhile in my opinion.

      1. I made a single sided cassette of all the b sides and 12 inch mixes for a friend in the late 80s, before CDrs existed, before a lot of the versions were on CD at all. I named it alternative Hounds of Love…

        Tracklisting:
        Under the ivy
        Running Up That Hill (12)
        Alternative Hounds of Love
        The Big Sky (Meteorological)
        Cloudbusting (Organon)
        Burning Bridge
        My Lagan Love
        The Handsome Cabin Boy
        Not This Time
        Experiment IV (12)

        My cassette recorder somehow let me fit 48 minutes a side, so it must have played too fast on other players.

        Years later I made a CD version with the same track order but including Mother Stands for comfort, and the entire Ninth Wave.

        It had a black sleeve using variants of the front and rear photos. I was really proud of it. I even used a similar font Lucida calligraphy I think it was called.

        1. neil young and StanButler – There’s also the video mix of Cloudbusting, which did turn up on a Red Shoes CD single in 1994 but hasn’t appeared since. Also could add the Amnesty International live version of RUTH with Dave Gilmour, but charity/rights issues might make that difficult for her to release. I’d probably add all three released versions of Experimenf IV (7”, video mix and 12” mix – the video mix turned up on The Other Sides).

          1. I didn’t know the Cloudbusting video mix was on the Red Shoes cd single until much later. I was originally underwhelmed by The Red Shoes album and so never invested in the cd singles until much later, which is why it never appeared on my own compilation, but you are right, it needs including… And I forgot the video mix of Experiment IV was different. Seriously terrifying video that one.

  28. I seem to remember Bjork doing something similar with a box of tuning forks for Biophilia (As well as Rammstein with… oh well, never mind), so as an “ultimate edition” I don’t have a problem with it as a piece of art, which happens to have an album as part of the art.

    However, something like this is only really justifiable as an investment piece as well as a piece of artwork. No edition limit is indicated on the Fish People site. Therefore it is not clear where the value is in a £500 (or £1000 if you want the normal AND Braille editions) artwork.

    I wouldn’t propose to buy this anyway, but for those who would, I think the lack of an edition limit would be a big problem.

    1. I recall the Bjork special box contained a selection of various bird call whistles, and cost maybe £500. I bought a wooden box and half a dozen various bird call whistles to go with my cd copy. Cost about £20 all in. Just checked, this was for Utopia. Did something similar with All Things Must Pass – gnomes, leaves, etc.

  29. I got out my This Woman’s Work CD box set which I’d had stored unplayed for years. You know what, those old CDs sound amazing and I fell in love with Kate’s music all over again for the umpteenth time. Sometimes the things that surprise us the most are the things we had all along.

    1. This is the only Kate CD box I own. It may seem a bit dull to some compared to modern day deluxe editions, but it included everything issued aside from Dreamtime, RUTH instr. Sensual World instr. and The Confrontation. The latter two tracks featured on CD single from the same time anyway…

      I scrimped and saved to get it and I’ve treasured it since.

  30. This calls to mind how Neil Tennant contemplated if pop is art (?) Although not literally as in this case or indeed inaccessible due to prohibitive costs.

    As I believe they are releasing other Kate Bush albums in a similar style perhaps costs could be recouped by collecting them all and opening your own Kate Bush exhibition.

  31. I mean….The Boxes of Lost at Sea are more objet d’art than something for the average consumer. They’re meant to display on the wall and just so happen to include LPs of each side of HoL to contribute to the artwork. The Baskerville Edition seems to be a similar type of experimental reissue, just SLIGHTLY less expensive. For the rest of us, the colored editions look quite lovely. With her new Fish People site not listing Remastered in Vinyl IV/The Other Side, I’m wondering if there will be an expanded version coming with the missing B-Sides, Instrumentals, and On Stage (plus maybe the album mix of The Big Sky? Pretty please?). In any case, it comes off as Kate not being interested with any session tracks or expanded box sets. And that’s her prerogative as the artist. Though I wouldn’t say no to an official release of an album from The Tour of Life.

    1. I have a general KB question. I have all the remasters except Director’s Cut and 50 Words. I’ve never been 100% satisfied with the sound on these original vinyl copies. Do the Remasters of these two LPs sound notably better. I do have a pretty good home set up Rega P6. I’d probably pick up new coloured copies of these two if they are considered improved.

  32. Blimey! I had to read this a few times, I’m still baffled, I think I understand the collectors market for limited editions as I’ve spent enough over the last 40 years or so lol, including some more expensive editions such as the Bowie Genesis books, and have had a family fund for my brother’s 60th, the £265 Paul Weller Genesis book, signed and with an exclusive vinyl. But wtf lol. Seeing Kate Bush doing Babooshka on TV when I was 12 or so was one of the big lightbulb moments of my life, I’ve been a fan ever since, maybe I’m missing the point or don’t understand the collecting side of the art/music world, or if this is considered a bargain by some, but 100% complete bafflement from this KB fan.

  33. I will not be buying any of them because they are vinyl and I already have the two 2018 CD boxsets ‘Remastered Part 1’ and ‘Remastered Part 2’ which consist of all her albums plus loads of bonus tracks. These just seem to be another way of cashing in on her gullible fans and those new to her music. Well, I will not be spending my money on them.

  34. Beggars belief. We love Kate because she created her own universe, and hold it dear. Sadly despite humanist views, vast success when physical product was really moved; and despite benefitting from new world streaming – and the thought of it benefiting charity (war child) to some extent then Kate has put herself in an incongruent position to ordinary people (fans past and present). Such a shame – the music is glorious. It’s not a disgrace – she can do what she wants. However how ill judged for so many reasons.

  36. Kate darling – love you to death but stop dissing your fans – get off your backside and give us some new material. FFS – what cost of living crisis world are you NOT living in??!! Yes, no one has to fork out for these vanity products, but let’s remember the hundreds of thousands of ordinary people who have faithfully bought your brilliant records for 45 years and rightly celebrated your amazing talent. Give those people something back and give yourself a credibility break at the same time.

    Many artists of your generation, or older than you, are still producing great product for their fans – either through live shows and/ or new material or great expanded reissues. Please don’t piss us all off with same old same old wrapped up in new cloaks. I thought you were better than that.

  37. Paul, please do not buy this to do a SDETV unboxing. Don’t waste your money – spend the time / money on more SDE exclusives.

    If you do, I want the cowboy hat and shite about cloudbusting!

    Watching the video again to remind myself how awful it is.

    Watched it and vomited again.

  38. Seriously? God was I praying for a media book edition with all the b-sides, the extended versions and other edits she chose to ignore for the reissue campaign, and of course remastered videos, and maybe an essay from her personally about the making of this landmark album. Prayers unanswered. I’ll live with it. Instant no from me to live with this nonsense in my house. Hurrah for the collectors. I’ll shed a small tear and move on. I don’t believe for a second she doesn’t know what her loyal fanbase (and I’ve been a faithful member since I heard the first piano tinkles of Withering Heights) really want. I’d grab the cd edition in an instant if I thought she’d restored The Big Sky in its original form but there’s no mention so hey ho. I’m done.

  41. Kate will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame tomorrow (Friday Nov 3), for what it’s worth. I have not seen anything to indicate Kate’s acknowledgment or participation in this event. Granted it has much more meaning for American audiences than those of another nations, but I am more excited to see how her induction is handled during the ceremony than these reimaginations/repackaging of HoL, the announcement of which is seemingly timed to coincide.

    If only Kate would visit Steven Wilson so she could experience what an Atmos mix could do for her music. A spatial mix is the only way I’ll buy any more of her existing catalogue be it standalone or in a boxed set. I’d even buy a mixed media set if it contained a Blu-ray of the album in spatial audio.

    I hope those who have enough money to buy any of these enjoy them and feel they were worth it. Being a fan focused on her music, not the packaging, these are not for me.

  42. My theory, as I have stated a few times on this forum site, has always benn that of the industry gradually self – destructing itself, first with cds and then with the streaming philosophy, to be later saved by fans of vinyl like us who, with their resistance during the dark years of the Nineties decade, created the basis for the vinyl resurgence.

    Speaking with a local independent retailer recently it would appear that
    I was totally wrong: according to an acquaintance of his who “participates (or has participated) in record label management meetings” here in Italy the labels were and are actually doing pretty fine earning millions with streaming especially thanks to commercials and advertisements but, since those idiots of the record buying public (aged ones as well as a few of the young generation) have developed this absurd fashion / mania of the vinyl object thus forcing them to return to their production, then such idiotic buyers must pay a hell of a lot of money for this disturbance.

    Whatever the truth, examples like these (with all affection for Kate Bush intact, even though I am not a fan) are really pushing everything to the limits of farce on the part of the industry and artists that are tempted to embrace the “opportunities” it offers.
    And, at least for me, the reference to the Fry & Laurie episode is most fitting.

  43. I’m intrigued that for the red light to work, the solar panel on the back of the album needs to be exposed to light, to charge up. Then the album cover needs to be left open to view a stupid red bulb. So basically no one is ever going to view this beyond initially opening up the album. Brilliant!

    I’m guessing the braille edition is aimed at the visually impaired community who won’t be able to see the light. I think I’m missing the point! Or maybe I’m unable to visualise the value in this concept.

    If you want a piece of art, there’s a print of the album cover for £20. Sadly it’s an ugly image – perhaps the large dog loving community will lap it up.

    They should number each copy on dispatch and see if they get to fifty – Kate managed fifty words for snow, so it’d be lovely for her to get to that milestone. It’s a big world with lots of rich people, so this brilliant artist / album will sell some, but sadly 99.5% of Kate’s audience won’t be participating.

    1. But they will feel the light Eddie!
      And to some feeling the light is far more important than seeing the light! Hope your all light,have a great weekend,,love your old pal john

  45. Oh Kate. I’m stunned. I had the privilege of seeing you at Before the Dawn, and I’ve loved your music for years.

    I was excited by the announcement about a special edition of HoL earlier this year. But I prepared myself to be disappointed, and in that you certainly didn’t let me down.

    You must be aware of what your fans want from you and yet you released these. Gutted.

  46. Easy pass on these items, but at least there actually ISN’T any new audio on these items to compel long-time fans to buy any of them. And the phrase ‘a donation to be made’ seems too vague if they’re going to do any significant contribution to a charity. Months from now I’ll be curious to see if any announcement is made as to how much money actually ends up going to War Child from this campaign. At this point in my life the only thing I’d be willing to purchase from the world of Kate Bush is a proper DVD or Blu-Ray of ‘Before The Dawn’. What a wasted opportunity right now for that show not to be available; if anything the new young fans should be seeing what Kate has done since the 1980s, along with long-time fans finally being satisfied that the content is available to them. Not much more I can add to this topic, but Paul thanks as always for keeping us all informed!

  47. Just when you think artists have hit peak nonsense with SDEs, there comes another to scale new heights. You’ve got to laugh at this stuff now, no point getting angry at Clown World.

  49. Ultimately, people will pay what they want to pay and that’s how concepts like ‘value’ and ‘worth’ for this sort of fluff get defined. Personally it’s disappointing because I was hoping some kind of new audio but also it just looks ugly to me.

    By the way, later this month we will pass beyond the current longest duration between KB albums (Red Shoes and Aerial) as it’ll be 12+ years since 50 words. Kate’s never seemed to be an artist with a deep-seated desire to create, like Bowie, Prince or even McCartney or the Stones and given she doesn’t tour, CDs don’t sell much maybe these vinyl tricks with a new record company presumably giving her a greater share than EMI ever did is her way to keep Bertie in the custom to which he’d like to be accustomed…

  52. This album is in my top ten of all time but it’s the sound I’m after, not fancy packaging that’ll sit on my record shelves. I bought the box sets a few years back and that pressing is quite amazing. That and the EMI 100 anniversary CD will keep me going.

  53. Like so many others I genuinely thought this was a joke, I think the coloured vinyl reissues are taking the micky enough after only recently re-releasing all the vinyls, right now I don’t know who’s worse for rehashing the same product over and over but some gullible completists will feel the need to buy it I’m sure

  54. Record exec: Kate, youu have garnered 100 MILLION new fans ourtesy of the good folks at stranger things.

    Kate: yep

    Record exec: so we want to keep them on board with a new packaging of the lp that contains that o e song that they know already.

    Kate: ok

    Record exec: so we propose releasing the whole album in a Conan Doyle reference package on vinyl for £130.

    Kate: errr……

    Record exec: aah I see your reluctance for that….but don’t worry, we are also album as two packages of half the album each for only £285…for each half.

    Kate: will it have a blinking light? People like blinking lights!

    Record exec: it will now!

  55. If this was on any other site I’d say it was a parody piece.
    It reminds me of an episode of Filthy,Rich & Catflap where Stephen Fry & Hugh Laurie played art critics who had a bet that they could use their names to endorse any old crap and their fawning followers would spend fortunes on it.
    We seem to have reached that point with Kate Bush.

  57. The sleeve art looks like one of those t shirts you can buy in Novelty shops at the seaside or in tourist tat shops.. excerpt underneath it’d say something like “Well Trained Dog Owner!”…or “Dogs Fill Your Heart without Trying”…

  58. Read about this last night. I’m a big Kate Bush fan, I’m used to being disappointed but this tops it all. I think Kate has finally lost the plot. She has every right to put out whatever she wants, but I think a little respect for the fans who have put her in that position is called for occasionally. She is either totally out of touch with what her fans want, or doesn’t care about her fan base, and I for one won’t be buying regurgitated 2018 remasters no matter if they have a flashing red light or not.

    I nearly pressed the button on the recent coloured obi editions but drew back due to the price and the feeling of being exploited, now Kate has topped that. Her new record deal seems to be just a vehicle for extracting ever increasing amounts of money from fans. Come on Kate give the fans what they want;

    Deluxe box of Hounds
    Blu Ray of the early videos and a Greatest hits update
    Surround remixes
    New songs
    Before the Dawn BluRay
    The unreleased early demo’s that a lot of us have in bootleg.

    It shouldn’t be hard, and I would hope she wants to please her fans, but I am beginning to doubt she ever will…..

  59. Kate gets given a whole lot of slack from her fans, far more than other artists. She seems totally out of touch with her fanbase. She either doesn’t know what her fans want, or knows and doesn’t care. Either way it’s not a good look. Just about the last thing I’d want from any release is a newly designed cover. Add a gatefold, sure, but take out the original artwork, and don’t even include it in a booklet?!?!

    Talking of a booklet, where is it? Why is it not there? At this price point, why not? And repeating a blinking light Pink Floyd used (albeit battery operated) decades ago is just retrograde. No new master, The Big Sky is still ruined, and the price is off the charts. When Kate said something special is coming, this is nothing of what I hoped for.

    Can I suggest it should have been called “The Basketcase Edition”?

  61. Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx once said he hates Kate Bush more than president George Bush. After checking these comments there seems to be many more who feels the same at the moment!

    1. Not true at all. If we didn’t love Kate so much, we wouldn’t care. She inspires a devotion amongst her fans rarely seen elsewhere. However, love is reciprocal, and it feels all a bit one way over recent years. She’s still wonderful though.

    2. It’s not about hating Kate. It’s just a continued feeling of disappointment. The artist is the worse curator of their music. Kate seems to be in charge, and we get this flaccid nonsense. That new cover is terrible. I’ve no idea what they’re thinking. As others have said, who is going to put their £150 record in sunlight to charge? I mean, this hasn’t even been thought through.

      Collectors will buy this because they think they can flip is later. That’s the ONLY reason to bother. For me, life is too short.

      1. Totally agree V. If that cover represents ‘the hounds of love’ then l have been reading Ms Bush wrong all along.
        Do ‘they ‘ really need to be told that sunlight and records don’t mix? Yes. Yes they do.

  62. I probably have a different take on this than most. While.. the prices are a bit crazy.. some of my most cherished collectible items are cool things like this. Its way out of my current price range.. and I don’t collect Ms Bush.. but if my faves Tears for Fears put out a cool one off like the Baskerville edition, I would certainly have to ponder long and hard about buying it..

    Is it a money grab? Sure. But there are those that will gladly fork over that money.

    1. i am right there with you with regards to tears for fears…i finally found the seeds of love book that was released when the album came out…it completes me (lord, it’s a sickness, lolol) and my collection of seeds of love items-picture discs, 3in cd’s, the sde, tour programme, t-shirts, and a 45 with the buttons…all together, i have spent over $500…and thankfully, feel i’m done…the kate bush items are art…if some don’t love them enough, they can shut their pie hole and not buy them…and at least there is to be a donation to War Child for each box that is sold…and they are beautiful to look at

  63. “Is there so much hate for the ones we love”? I don’t quite understand the anger expressed below. She’s not forcing anyone to buy the stuff, and after years of no new product at all there’s now lots to choose from and I’d identify originality in the concepts. And whilst it might not be what wewant her to release, she has earned the right as a great artist to authorise whatever editions she chooses. And we can choose whether or not to buy it. Personally I hovered over the boxes for a few minutes and despite the 1990s Bowie endorsement decided I just didn’t like them enough to invest that much £££. But I gave in on the Timorous Beasties edition as they are great designers. And anyway, I thought this was Super Deluxe Edition – precisely what these new products are!

  64. Hounds of Love is my favourite album of all time, but this beggars belief.

    Pardon my ignorance, but I couldn’t sit through the whole video so I may have missed something but…

    Is it linked to the Doctor Who anniversary. The unboxing video is all a bit ‘wibbly wobbly timey wimey’.

    How can a boy from Maine USA in 1954 own an LP 69 years before it’s release and 30 years before it was recorded. How could he even afford it? Maybe the current price is inflation based…

    And I certainly wouldn’t handle vinyl like that…

    And how much postage did he pay? Did he buy it off Discogs?

  65. The original artwork looks very outdated because of URW Chancery. But who could have known back then it would be (mis)used on millions of birthday invitations and home-made flyers of neighborhood astrologers for decades?

  66. I probably would have paid this price to fly to the UK from LA to see the ”Before The Dawn” show.
    This? No chance.
    As an aside, I always loved the original cover. No reason to change it.

  67. Where is the voting widget?

    Lowest score of all time for the beloved k.Bush.

    How can she redeem herself?

    Answer:
    1) blu Ray video of before the dawn concerts
    2) a new song, or a reading of the back of a cereal packet, or the sound of her clapping , something , anything that can be considered as music and is NEW.

  68. I have the covers of two dozen of my favorite albums framed and hanging on the wall of my studio/office. The Dreaming and Hounds of Love are among them. Just the regular old covers from long ago. They are and will remain sufficient, thanks.

      1. Indeed. The paper band alone must be valued at £50! Also, if state51 Conspiracy mails the nearly £180 LP to me overseas wrapped in brown paper and twine, there’s going to be a problem. ;)

  70. This to me summarizes what is wrong with the ‘vinyl comeback’, instead of cherishing the format for the beauty, nostalgia and sound quality it delivers, instead let’s exploit it for as much as we can before the bubble bursts. These hounds of love releases do not need a record included, it won’t get played, just sell the ‘art’ to the fans that want it.
    At least Duran Duran didn’t feel the need to include an 8 track cartridge with their Mathmos lava lamp, it was just a lamp.
    In a month which has brought us multiple formats for a Beatles single, which just needed to be a black vinyl 7″ or possibly an EP to bookend their career. Hey though, it’s Macca, he does not do simple
    Plus the Rolling Stones setting a new high(low) bar for the ultimate number exploitative of formats, picture disc with football shirt, anyone?
    It seems to be a battle of who can do it better (worse) in terms of milking the fan base. Newer artists are informed by older artists who then in turn replicate and innovate. Taylor Swift versus McCartney versus Rolling Stones, the only losers are us with empty bank accounts and shelves creaking with played once media.

  71. Dearest Kate, thanks for your work but this is not one of your best ideas. It’s all very well trying it be artsy fartsy with “reimagined” packaging but seriously, come on! What’s the point of ruining the original when you could just put the new “artwork” in as an insert or removable cover over the original one instead of this 6th form project?
    And as for the solar power light idea, just wait for the first person to put it in direct sunlight to charge your “little light” and forget to remove the LP only to find it warped in the suns heat. Yep brilliant.
    Love always, Phil
    P. S. Where’s the Surround sound Atmos mix that’s really what we want?

    1. Yes. Great question.

      Although “Kate” was never “my bag,” a REASONABLY PRICED cd/5.1+ Blu-ray RE campaign would have me (HAPPILY) “diving in” with BOTH feet.

  73. Nothing new to add that hasn’t been said really. You’d think there would be something lurking in the music vault to add to justify 138.00 for 1 vinyl, with I cover I’m not sure I even like. Sure she’ll end up taking my money, just wish it was better…I had more will power.

  75. Is this the strangest reissue of all time? Certainly up there with that Off The Wall reissue with added chalk. Bizarre.

    Imagine as a new Kate fan or casual music fan going through the latest releases and seeing “Fish People edition” coming soon. So odd.

  78. Her and the remaining Beatles have lost touch with reality.
    I hope they enjoy their money in their ivory towers well away from ordinary people.
    Good riddance to them all, I won’t be buying any of these ridiculously priced releases.

  82. I assume Bertie is in financial trouble, or maybe just a need of his own mansion..:)? like others snagged the Baskerville edition because it’s.. elementary, and because I know I will regret it once it’s gone. just wondering how many of these will be scalped for 700 pounds in a year’s time

    1. When Bertie takes over his Mum’s estate he’ll do full-on box-sets like the Beatles with every out-take, re-take and double-take his Mum ever committed to tap…

    2. I can’t see there being a strong resale market for any of these editions. They’re way too overpriced already and there is zero new music. The artwork isn’t very good, either.

  84. Seriously, I think Kate has lost touch with reality. The prices are ludicrous for an oddball repackaging of half of an LP with zero new content outside of ‘new’ artwork. At what point have people applauded the dispensing of original decades old artwork in favor of a completely new take, especially something more like a glorified comic with a ‘little light, shining’? Kate must have nothing but yes-people in her circle because anyone with the slightest connection with the fan base would tell her to expand the music content and be realistic with your pricing. You would think those millions from the Stranger Things boost would have Kate thinking about her fans, old and new, but instead she’s thinking of herself and how to (attempt to) get more millions with the least possible effort. To quote one of the songs on this album, WAKE UP!

    1. The line “glorified comic” is disrespectful to a art form that has produced the likes of “Maus”, “Jimmy Corrigan” and “From Hell” please find another way to disparage something. This is a common insult that in this day and age is frankly ignorant. There is good and bad in everything. Otherwise I agree with you entirely.

      1. Somehow I’d never heard of Jimmy Corrigan. Thanks for the tip; I read the reviews and I’ve ordered a copy. So some good has come out of this Kate bush thing.

  85. You know when a new post goes up and it already has 78 comments that someone has whacked a wasps nest with a big stick.

    Quite right too. I’m with everyone when it’s too much money for too little content and sticks a middle digit up to loyal fans.

    Let them eat cake!

    1. Maybe Peter Gabriel will tell her?

      Or peter will tell David Rhodes and he will tell her?

      Someone tell her,!!!!! The sky is falling!

  89. Wow the prices on these!. These folks certainly know how to get people to pay top dollar, and unfortunately there are those who will happily pay such outrageous amounts and thus the saga will continue!.

  90. For the music lovers amongst us there is no need to spend any money here. I’m expecting to see 12 special editions of The Hounds of Love album next year, one being released every month, as these are guaranteed to pull at the heart-strings of hound owners. Here are some suggestions: The Basset Hound edition, The Bloodhound edition, The Afghan Hound edition, The American Foxhound edition, The Dachshund edition, The Irish Wolfhound edition, The Greyhound edition, The English Foxhound edition. Maybe we could get a cover photo of Kate with each of these hounds as well. Wonderful. Please cut me in on 10% of the proceeds and I’ll happily come up with more money making ideas for old rope. Better yet, why not donate 10% of the proceeds of the sale of these records to charity. I think the people of Palestine and Ukraine need all the help that they can get right now. Love Kate Bush’s music, one of the most original artists of the past 50 years in any field. Don’t love the increasing avalanche of product merchandise that we are being swamped with by the record companies to generate revenue for their long established / legacy artists.

    1. This is a good point. We are getting much more product merch style releases. Rather than having good extra musical content, labels are opting for some very lame packaging ideas. It’s as though they get their ideas from the front of an HMV shop, full of Funko Pop and tat.

  91. I was hoping for a Deluxe Box Set of the album: Vinyl, Cd, Cassette, Hardback Book, Blu-Ray Dolby Atmos disc and Memorabilia – in a limited numbered embossed box signed by her.
    I love Kate, and will always too. And yes, I purchased a copy of the Baskerville edition as it’s still in my top 5 all time favourite albums.

  93. Ha ha ha oh the madness. Unbelievable. Seriously, I’d like to see someone, anyone, on Kate’s side or on the fanbase side, justify this crazy release. It’s a joke. People are struggling to heat homes, afford food, and ‘old’ music every fan already owns likely a few times over is being re-released like this. Not even a new remix or demo versions. It’s as if Kate is giving her fanbase the finger.

    Mind, you can always separate fools from their money.

    1. State51 has an account here, I’ve seen their replies, but I’ll bet they don’t wade into this mess, though. Absolutely absurd, IMO, no way would I *ever* buy this. I’m content with my CDs in both the new-ish and old box sets, and the vinyl edition I have in a folder with pics, marbled vinyl, and a pink ribbon tying it all up.

  94. When it was announced earlier in the year that a ‘special presentation’ of Hounds Of Love was in the offing, I was very sceptical that it would be anything that would appease her fans. All sort of speculation about demos, newly found new mixes, surround sound, video material, books etc. was bandied about on here. Now I’m not the sort to say told you so, and I won’t, because even though I knew we would be disappointed; what has actually been offered by Kate, frankly beggars all belief, and would tend to reinforce the belief that she is totally detached from her fans (except when they are streaming RUTH TO No.1)
    The artwork is truly horrible. That’s subjective, I know; but to me it is so bad, that it makes me almost pine for a photo of a semi-naked man wearing an oversized fish head (not something I thought I’d ever say). She really needs to move on from this art team. They are dragging her down badly.
    As for the Lost of Sea version; £500 to hang that overpriced tosh on the wall! Give me strength! I do have a framed Aerial print on my wall for a mere fraction of the cost. And the blinking light? Words fail me, though ‘blinking’ could well be used!
    When you think of the beautiful photographs (many of which turned up in the KB club fanzine in the mid 80s) that accompanied this era; not just the alternate covers, but all those fantastic John Carder Bush pictures that Inside The Rainbow showcased. It’s such a waste.
    The pricing is almost irrelevant, as what is being offered is of so little interest or merits hardly any worth; its not worth discussing.
    The promo video was also in keeping with the overall package; absolutely terrible.
    No new musical content is no surprise. As Ken99 stated earlier, most disappointedly, this means we will most likely never see a Hounds Of Love SDE, certainly not in Kate’s lifetime. And as I’m not that many years behind her, I’m not going to wait around for something that won’t happen.
    I think I have probably already bought my last piece of Kate Bush music. Is that throwing the toys out of the pram? Not really. It’s realism. I don’t envisage any new music from her in the future. I have the first remastered box and the Other Sides from 2018. I can’t see any upgrade on those ever being made available.
    Her star really was in the ascendant after last year, and what has been the result? Firstly, overpriced coloured vinyl sets, and now this debacle. What a shame.

  97. It’s not art it’s profiteering!
    Everything that this site should avoid nothing to do with music.
    Apple (Beatles) Kate Bush must be laughing at all the gullible fans all the way to the Bank.
    Sorry good people it’s rubbish and deep down you all know it

  98. Cue the outrage!..

    I think it’s pretentious guff but it isn’t Kate’s first foray into that arena.

    Personally I’d love an SDE with vault tracks or alternate recordings. I’d happy pay out for that. But it doesn’t look like it will ever happen.

    So this isn’t for me. Neither is the recently repackaged £40/£50 coloured vinyl reissues. I will use my money instead to support new artists or on SDE’s that expand on an artist’s body of work.

    If Kate does decides to either release new material or issue previously unreleased songs I’ll be all in.

  100. Yesterday, I impulsively purchased the Baskerville edition for £179.40 GBP/$228.01 USD (incl. shipping to the USA) thinking its a great deal less than those dull black boxes for £500.00 GBP/$607.00 USD! This morning its kicking in that I just spent £179.40 for a single LP with that hideous Fish People logo and nothing else new to offer unless you count a gimmicky blinking light. Oh well. I do love the album but lesson learned.

  102. I think the big problem is Kate’s site describing these as 12″ Vinyl Album and 12″ Vinyl Boxed Set – as if they were music releases. They’re clearly artworks (and priced accordingly) and not intended to be listened to.

  105. Personally I think all this reissued stuff is all being put out to prepare for a new album next year. Get all the old stuff out on a new label before releasing the new stuff.

    1. Almost the very same reply you made on the Now and Then thread. I think I see a connection. ‘Middle aged blokes’ are probably her only audience for this overpriced tosh, so perhaps she would do well to take countenance of their comments. Alas, there are always fools with more money than sense, and some will satiate her detached self being. That, however, certainly won’t be the younger generation, who won’t go within a country mile of this.

      1. That’s where she dropped the ball IMO, she could have easily utilised on the new fans (for the most part younger) brought in by RUTH being heavily used in Stranger Things. But as you say they aren’t going to be interested in ridiculously priced vinyl gimmicks when they can pick up the CD dirt cheap or digitally via Spotify.

  108. State51 does “art editions” of things frequently, so this doesn’t come as a complete shock. That said, for the money they’re asking, I’d have expected it to be numbered and signed. And like pretty much every SDE reader, I had hoped for more music. (And personally, I don’t care for the Baskerville artwork.)

    At least the standard color vinyl isn’t limited and looks really nice – sticking with that myself.

    (Admit it – all you’re thinking about right now is Kate in a Stetson hat.)

  109. What I can’t understand is it’s not like the extra material that could have been included isn’t readily available.
    For example she could have easily capitalised on the new fans Stranger Things brought in or at least included the various different versions of RUTH in some double disc CD edition. The TOTEM Remix of RUTH alone would have warranted a purchase from me for one. A clear case of not reading the room…

  112. Fabulous new artwork for the lp is literally the only nice thing I can offer regarding this new presentation.

    Why the godawful boring stereotype USA-driven dross of an official promo unboxing video?To just ignore the fact that Kate is an Iconic English music artist and promote it solely for a USA audience is bonkers.Nobody( other than US citizens living in the deep south) is interested in some godawful prococious American kid pontificating utter cobblers at us!

    This is just a luxury product for the well-offs.Folk who buy this will already have the music somewhere,so will just purchase it to display unplayed next to all their other nice expensive stuff.An utterly pointless over-priced collectable.This new artwork should have just been put onto the recent re-release.It is nice but does not justify the extortionate retail price.

    The depressing thing about this release is it confirms 100% that a SuperDeluxe with new content will NEVER be released by Kate.That’s it folks!All over!Nothing new from her back catalogue/ archive is ever going to be offered us.So alas those of us who have all her lps have all she will ever offer us,so we no longer need to buy anything from Kate again as we already have all the audio she is ever going to offer us!Just depressing as I thought this new deal would inspire Kate to sort out her archive and make use of the SuperDeluxe format.But alas it seems she just wants to sell us the same content over and over again.A real depressing bummer!

  118. I love Kate but sadly this shows just how out of touch she is with her fans and indeed reality.
    I can’t believe that she is concentrating all her efforts on a new edition of Hounds of Love with different artwork, flashing red lights etc, but no bonus audio?
    Kate, we want to hear the music! B-sides, 12″ mixes, out-takes, 5.1 mixes etc.
    How can an artist be so removed from what her fans actually want and serve up something so unappealing and at eye-watering prices.
    Cost of living may not be affecting Kate but she’s clearly not got a scooby about the rest of us outside of her cosseted circle.
    It’s such a shame as she’s a genius and really likeable in interviews. But this is frankly ridiculous and a real slap in the face to ordinary fans who just want to hear the music – all of it!

  119. Not what anybody was hoping for. Literally £500 of packaging around the same album we’ve had for decades, with a lot of unnecessary electronic waste being created.

    1. Unnecessary electronic waste? Are you implying these items are going to be landfill some time soon? Or are you saying that those LEDs could have been put to better use in a child’s toy?

      1. Like almost everything, these will end up as junk eventually. I don’t know how soon. It’s not as if these LEDs and solar panels had to go into this record or into a toy instead. But a toy would be a better use for them, yes, given the right design.

  120. Completely insane. All kinds of bells and whistles but no additional audio. How about a super deluxe box with the extended versions, b-sides, demos, alternative versions and live material? What a joke.

    1. Hi Kauwgompie,

      i can understand your wish (i would be happy to buy such a box too) but by now you should have understood that this is not going to happen… at least not in Kate’s lifetime.

  123. Pretentious video for a pretentious release .
    Unfortunately the video isn’t like her great original work , and the price for this and the other versions are ridiculous given that there’s no extra audio .
    Did Dave Gilmour tell her about little flashing LEDs ?
    Probably aimed at her older fans who can afford this junk . I’m out .

  125. That kid really needs to be told how to handle vinyl more carefully, especially when it’s £138 (£11.50 per track)! I can’t stand the cover but love the gatefold image and the LED reminds me of Floyd’s Pulse. As for the Lost At Sea Edition, well you might claim it’s more conceptual art but to me it’s all just gimmicky nonsense for those with more money than sense. I think all KB fans will have to accept, if they haven’t already, that they will never get the things they really want, just overpriced tosh like this.

    1. How about £500 for the Baskerville Edition which is still easily available for £138!
      https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/145407525087?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=145407525087&targetid=885285326120&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9046005&poi=&campaignid=10219897599&mkgroupid=103415893353&rlsatarget=pla-885285326120&abcId=1063846&merchantid=114981000&gclid=CjwKCAjwkY2qBhBDEiwAoQXK5feAx-L8tUE4D39A-EzAWCJAU69py5y4AacB6yx92oEnxD374qleBxoCB-cQAvD_BwE

  129. Well, to sum up my overall thoughts in three letters…..

    WTF

    I’m sorry, I’m just a boring pleb who loves Kate’s music and thinks she is an unparalleled genius.

    But, I have no idea what or who or why or where this is directed to. I don’t need flashing lights or new artwork (or a snazzy video which must have also cost money to make, complete with cute kid). I just need Kate’s sublime music. As far as these new releases are concerned I have that already. So, no thank you, bye bye, I hope you can recoup the production costs.

    I guess this, in a way, reflects the crazy world we’re living in. So sad to be critical of Kate, but I just don’t understand the thinking behind this whole thing. So sad, and waiting for simple CD new content, it doesn’t have to be new material (though that would be wonderful), just demos, unreleased songs. That’s all I want. Plain and simple.

    Ps Is it my imagination, or can I hear Paul holding well back in the article while wanting to vent his real feelings…..

  130. A really cool item if you have the dosh! Personally not for me at that price ! Especially as it adds nothing to it, just seems to be a cash grab to me , yes there is a donation to charity but at those prices it’s not surprising she doesn’t release any new music , she doesn’t need to !

  131. Interestingly Kate’s new website also says that The Dreaming will be next up for a similar treatment, in time for Valentine’s Day 2024. I wonder if that edition will come wrapped in gaffa tape?!

  133. I had to check that it isn’t April the First when I read this. Kate is a genius but this is a misguided cash grab. I can justify buying the gorgeous (albeit slightly overpriced) coloured vinyl reissues, but this is bonkers!

    1. I’m thinking @pauls is looking at this and wondering how he’s going to come up with something even more insane than this for his April 1 post next year.

  138. These box sets are just ridiculous and show just how out of touch Kate is with the average punter and their money. Why can’t we have Super Deluxe box sets for each album, like the Tears for Fears ones?? To gouge punters with no extra tracks and a flashing light (Was this Gilmour’s idea??) is laughable. It’s a hard pass, sorry Kate.

  139. There are also braille editions, so if you want all the editions it will cost you £1138. Just when we thought vinyl price gouging must be peaking we suddenly move to a new level.

  141. Literally just ordered. (baskerville edition) The more expensive sets are out of my price range, especially if you consider there will be similar editions for other albums in the future. Some will bemoan the lack of demos, but knowing Kate, she will feel that the studio versions should be the only versions out there and as an artist, the music should be released in the whatever way she feels is the best presentation for her. The public at large don’t have to buy them, besides, “is there so much hate for the ones we love”?

  143. Not gonna waste time by discussing the extortionate prices, unjustifiable, but I pre-ordered the Baskerville edition because it’s the only one that makes sense (for crazy fans) and has nice artwork. What I don’t understand if why those two art boxes are IDENTICAL bar the inscription and the discs. Mounting them means you will only see the silly red LED and nobody will see the inscription unless you go close, so, what are those romboids supposed to represent, as they are identical. Did anyone analyse them to see if they are part of a bigger picture ones, godforbid, she does the same thing for all her albums and the thingies are different shapes that will make sense?
    Also, are the Lost At Sea one-sided records actually grooved to play Side A / Side B at all?

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