Director's Cut (Kate Bush album)

Last updated

Director's Cut
Katebushdirector'scut.png
Studio album by
Kate Bush
Released16 May 2011
Recorded2009–2011
Genre
Length57:04
Label
  • Fish People
  • EMI
Producer Kate Bush
Kate Bush chronology
Aerial
(2005)		Director's Cut
(2011)		 50 Words for Snow
(2011)
Singles from Director's Cut
  1. "Deeper Understanding"
    Released: 5 April 2011

Director's Cut is the ninth studio album by English singer-songwriter Kate Bush, released on 16 May 2011. [1] It contains no new material, consisting of songs from her earlier albums The Sensual World (1989) and The Red Shoes (1993). All tracks have new lead vocals, drums, and instrumentation and are remixed and restructured. Some song were transposed to a lower key to accommodate Bush's lowering voice. Three of the songs, including "This Woman's Work", have been completely rerecorded, often with lyrics changed in places. Bush described the album as a new project rather than a collection of remixes.

Contents

It was Bush's first album release since 2005's Aerial and the first on her own record label, Fish People.

Bush wrote all of the songs and lyrics with the exception of lines borrowed from James Joyce. [1] The album has received mostly positive critical reviews. [2]

Overview

Released in May 2011, the album features four tracks taken from The Sensual World (1989) and seven from The Red Shoes (1993) which have been re-recorded while retaining most of the original instrumentation.

Regarding the entirely new lyrics to the song "The Sensual World", now re-titled "Flower of the Mountain", Bush said this: "Originally when I wrote the song "The Sensual World" I had used text from the end of Ulysses by James Joyce, put to a piece of music I had written. When I asked for permission to use the text I was refused, which was disappointing. I then wrote my own lyrics for the song although I felt that the original idea had been more interesting. Well, I'm not James Joyce am I? When I came to work on this project I thought I would ask for permission again and this time they said yes. It is now re-titled "Flower of the Mountain" and I am delighted that I have had the chance to fulfill the original concept. For some time I have felt that I wanted to revisit tracks from these two albums and that they could benefit from having new life breathed into them. Lots of work had gone into the two original albums and now these songs have another layer of work woven into their fabric. I think of this as a new album." [3]

All the lead vocals on Director's Cut and some of the backing vocals have been entirely re-recorded, with some of the songs transposed to a lower key to accommodate Bush's matured voice. Additionally, the drum tracks have been reconceived and re-recorded, with some of the tracks featuring Steve Gadd. Bassist Danny Thompson also appears and, on backing vocals, Mica Paris. Three songs have been completely re-recorded: "This Woman's Work", "Rubberband Girl" and "Moments of Pleasure".

Director's Cut is available as a digital album, a standard CD in a case-bound book, a deluxe version ("Collector's Edition"), consisting of a box set including Director's Cut, The Sensual World and The Red Shoes (re-mastered from digital to analogue), and two-disc vinyl. Director's Cut was recorded using analogue equipment. Bush stated in an interview for BBC radio that she never liked the "hard-edged sound" of the digitally recorded The Red Shoes and feels both the new recordings of the songs from this album and the re-mastered The Red Shoes have a "warmer, fuller sound." [4]

The album peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart (matching the chart peak of both The Sensual World and The Red Shoes) and although it fell swiftly down the chart after its first week it has sold consistently and has since been certified Gold in the UK. [5] The album also charted in a number of other countries, including a number-four entry in the Irish charts, [6] and also reached the top 10 in the Netherlands and Norway.

Director's Cut versions of "Lily" and "Top of the City" were performed live for the first time in Before the Dawn 2014 series of concerts.

In November 2018, Bush released box sets of remasters of her studio albums, including Directors Cut.

Singles

The only single to be released from the album was "Deeper Understanding", originally the sixth track of The Sensual World. Its lyrics describe a relationship between a lonely person and a computer which has replaced human companionship. [7] The video was released through her official YouTube account. [8] The song features a newly recorded main vocal by Bush, and the voice of her son Bertie on the chorus. The single, upon its initial release as a digital download, charted in the UK at No. 87. [9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic? 7.4/10 [10]
Metacritic 80/100 [2]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [1]
The Daily Telegraph Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [12]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]
The Independent Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [14]
NME 8/10 [15]
Pitchfork 7.3/10 [16]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [17]
Spin 9/10 [18]
Uncut Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [19]

Critical reception for the album was mostly positive, with reviewers acknowledging the confusion surrounding the release of this revisitation of old songs. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 80, based on 22 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". [2] Simon Price of The Independent noted: "Director's Cut was greeted with reactions ranging between disappointment, bafflement and ridicule, before anyone had heard a note... taken on its own merits, however, there's plenty to enjoy". [20]

In a 4-star review, Fiona Shephard of The Scotsman wrote "Ever the perfectionist, Kate Bush has revisited earlier songs, the first-time recordings of which didn't reflect her original vision. The resulting revamps are satisfying, rounded – and occasionally bizarre." [21] Thom Jurek of AllMusic stated that he found the release "deeply engaging and satisfying" and that since Bush has "her own world-class recording studio" where "she's kept up with technology" that it shows positively in the details added to the remade songs. [1]

Track listing

All songs written by Kate Bush except "Flower of the Mountain" lyrics by James Joyce.

  1. "Flower of the Mountain" – 5:15 (originally from The Sensual World , 1989)
  2. "Song of Solomon" – 4:45 (originally from The Red Shoes , 1993)
  3. "Lily" – 4:05 (originally from The Red Shoes, 1993)
  4. "Deeper Understanding" – 6:33 (originally from The Sensual World, 1989)
  5. "The Red Shoes" – 4:58 (originally from The Red Shoes, 1993)
  6. "This Woman's Work" – 6:30 (originally from The Sensual World, 1989)
  7. "Moments of Pleasure" – 6:32 (originally from The Red Shoes, 1993)
  8. "Never Be Mine" – 5:05 (originally from The Sensual World, 1989)
  9. "Top of the City" – 4:24 (originally from The Red Shoes, 1993)
  10. "And So Is Love" – 4:21 (originally from The Red Shoes, 1993)
  11. "Rubberband Girl" – 4:37 (originally from The Red Shoes, 1993)

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Director's Cut
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [5] Gold100,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kate Bush</span> English singer-songwriter (born 1958)

Catherine Bush is an English singer, songwriter, record producer and dancer. In 1978, at the age of 19, she topped the UK Singles Chart for four weeks with her debut single "Wuthering Heights", becoming the first female artist to achieve a UK number one with a solely self-written song.

<i>The Long Run</i> (album) 1979 studio album by the Eagles

The Long Run is the sixth studio album by American rock group the Eagles. It was released in 1979 by Asylum Records in the United States and the United Kingdom. This was the first Eagles album to feature bassist Timothy B. Schmit, who had replaced founding member Randy Meisner, and the last full studio album to feature Don Felder before his termination from the band in 2001.

<i>A Kind of Magic</i> 1986 studio album by Queen

A Kind of Magic is the twelfth studio album by the British rock band Queen, released on 2 June 1986 by EMI Records in the UK and by Capitol Records in the US. It is based on the soundtrack to the film Highlander, directed by Russell Mulcahy.

<i>Hounds of Love</i> 1985 studio album by Kate Bush

Hounds of Love is the fifth studio album by English musician Kate Bush, released on 16 September 1985 by EMI Records. It was a commercial success and marked a return to the public eye for Bush after the relatively low sales of her previous album, 1982's The Dreaming. The album's lead single, "Running Up That Hill ", became one of Bush's biggest hits, giving Bush her second UK number-one single in June 2022. The album's first side produced three further singles, "Cloudbusting", "Hounds of Love", and "The Big Sky". The second side, subtitled The Ninth Wave, forms a conceptual suite about a woman drifting alone in the sea at night.

<i>The Kick Inside</i> 1978 studio album by Kate Bush

The Kick Inside is the debut studio album by English singer-songwriter Kate Bush. Released on 17 February 1978 by EMI Records, it includes her UK No. 1 hit, "Wuthering Heights". The album peaked at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart and has been certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). Several progressive rock musicians were involved in the album including Duncan Mackay, Ian Bairnson, David Paton, Andrew Powell, and Stuart Elliott of the Alan Parsons Project and David Gilmour of Pink Floyd.

<i>Lionheart</i> (Kate Bush album) 1978 studio album by Kate Bush

Lionheart is the second studio album by English singer-songwriter Kate Bush. It was released in November 1978, just nine months after Bush's successful debut album The Kick Inside. Lionheart reached no. 6 on the UK Albums Chart and has been certified Platinum by the BPI.

<i>Never for Ever</i> 1980 studio album by Kate Bush

Never for Ever is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Kate Bush, released on 8 September 1980 by EMI Records, it was Bush's first No. 1 album and was also the first album by a British female solo artist to top the UK Albums Chart, as well as being the first album by any female solo artist to enter the chart at No. 1. It has since been certified Gold by the BPI. It features the UK Top 20 singles "Breathing", "Army Dreamers" and "Babooshka", the latter being one of Bush's biggest hits. Bush co-produced the album with Jon Kelly.

<i>The Sensual World</i> 1989 studio album by Kate Bush

The Sensual World is the sixth studio album by the English singer-songwriter Kate Bush, released on 16 October 1989 by EMI Records. It reached No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart. It has been certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shipments in excess of 300,000 in the United Kingdom, and Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the United States.

<i>The Red Shoes</i> (album) 1993 studio album by Kate Bush

The Red Shoes is the seventh studio album by English musician Kate Bush. Released on 1 November 1993, it was accompanied by Bush's short film, The Line, the Cross and the Curve, and was her last album before a 12-year hiatus. The album peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart and has been certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), denoting shipments in excess of 300,000 copies. In the United States, the album reached number 28 on the Billboard 200, her highest-peaking album on the chart at the time.

<i>Agent Provocateur</i> (album) 1984 studio album by Foreigner

Agent Provocateur is the fifth studio album by the British-American rock band Foreigner, released on December 14, 1984. The album was the band's first and only number one album in the United Kingdom, and it reached the top 5 in the United States. Although album sales were lower than their previous work in the US, it contains the band's biggest hit single, the album’s love theme "I Want to Know What Love Is", which is their only #1 single in the UK and the US, staying at the top spot for three and two weeks, respectively. The follow-up single, "That Was Yesterday", also proved to be a sizeable hit, peaking at #12 in the US. The album was certified Platinum in the UK by the BPI, and triple Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

<i>Ive Been Expecting You</i> 1998 studio album by Robbie Williams

I've Been Expecting You is the second studio album by English recording artist Robbie Williams. It was released on 26 October 1998 through Chrysalis Records. The album spawned five singles, including lead single "Millennium", which became Williams' first UK number-one hit.

<i>Aerial</i> (album) 2005 studio album by Kate Bush

Aerial is the eighth album by English singer-songwriter and musician Kate Bush. It was released as a double album in 2005, twelve years after her 1993 album The Red Shoes.

<i>Back to the Light</i> 1992 studio album by Brian May

Back to the Light is the debut solo studio album by English musician Brian May, the guitarist of Queen. It was released on 28 September 1992 by Parlophone Records in the UK, and on 2 February 1993 by Hollywood Records in the US and Canada. May's second solo release following his 1983 EP Star Fleet Project, Back to the Light was co-produced with Justin Shirley-Smith and recorded between March 1988 and November 1992 at Allerton Hill—May's home studio—and mixed at Metropolis Studios.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kate Bush discography</span>

The discography of English singer-songwriter Kate Bush consists of 10 studio albums, two live albums, two compilation albums, six video albums, four box sets, five extended plays, 36 singles, seven promotional singles, and 39 music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rubberband Girl</span> 1993 single by Kate Bush

"Rubberband Girl" is a song by English singer-songwriter Kate Bush that was the first of five singles released from her seventh studio album, The Red Shoes (1993). The B-side is "Big Stripey Lie" in the UK and "Show a Little Devotion" in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Red Shoes (song)</span> 1994 single by Kate Bush

"The Red Shoes" is a song written and performed by English musician Kate Bush. It was the fourth single released from her seventh studio album, The Red Shoes (1993). The single was released in April 1994 by EMI and reached number 21 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deeper Understanding</span> 2011 single by Kate Bush

"Deeper Understanding" is a song by Kate Bush released as the lead single from the 2011 album Director's Cut. The single was a re-working of the track originally included on her 1989 album, The Sensual World. The song's lyrics describe an increasingly intense relationship between a lonely person and a computer. It was her first single release since 2005.

<i>50 Words for Snow</i> 2011 studio album by Kate Bush

50 Words for Snow is the tenth studio album by English singer-songwriter Kate Bush, released on 21 November 2011. It was the second album released on her own label, Fish People, and Bush's first all-new material since Aerial (2005). The album includes the single "Wild Man".

<i>Bush</i> (album) 2015 studio album by Snoop Dogg

Bush is the thirteenth studio album by American rapper Snoop Dogg. It was released on May 12, 2015, through Doggy Style Records and I Am Other, and distributed by Columbia Records. The album was produced by Pharrell Williams with additional production by Chad Hugo. It features guest appearances from Kendrick Lamar, Stevie Wonder, Charlie Wilson, Gwen Stefani, T.I. and Rick Ross. Bush was the first album by the rapper after his return to the hip hop moniker Snoop Dogg.

<i>Hydrograd</i> 2017 studio album by Stone Sour

Hydrograd is the sixth and most recent studio album by American rock band Stone Sour. Recorded at Sphere Studios in Los Angeles, it is the follow-up to the band's 2012–2013 double concept album, House of Gold & Bones Part 1 and 2. It was released worldwide on June 30, 2017 via Roadrunner Records.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Jurek, Thom. "Director's Cut – Kate Bush". AllMusic . Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "Reviews for Director's Cut by Kate Bush". Metacritic . Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  3. ↑ Sean Michaels (5 April 2011). "Kate Bush reveals guest lyricist on new album – James Joyce The Guardian 5 April 2011". Guardian. London. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  4. ↑ "BBC Radio, interview with Kate Bush". BBC. 4 May 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  5. 1 2 "British album certifications – Kate Bush – Director's Cut". British Phonographic Industry. 23 December 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  6. ↑ "The Hot Press Newsdesk, 20 May 2011". Hotpress.com. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  7. ↑ "Deeper Understanding Lyrics". Lyricsfreak.com. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  8. ↑ KateBushMusic. "Official Kate Bush channel". YouTube. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  9. ↑ "Deeper Understanding". Official Charts Company. 16 April 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  10. ↑ "Director's Cut by Kate Bush reviews". AnyDecentMusic? . Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  11. ↑ Brown, Helen (13 May 2011). "Kate Bush, Director's Cut, CD review". The Daily Telegraph . London. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  12. ↑ Wood, Mikael (18 May 2011). "Director's Cut". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on 27 March 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  13. ↑ Petridis, Alexis (12 May 2011). "Kate Bush: Director's Cut – review". The Guardian . London. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  14. ↑ Gill, Andy (13 May 2011). "Album: Kate Bush, Director's Cut (Fish People)". The Independent . London. Archived from the original on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  15. ↑ Elan, Priya (11 May 2011). "Album Review: Kate Bush – Director's Cut". NME . Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  16. ↑ Harvell, Jess (19 May 2011). "Kate Bush: Director's Cut". Pitchfork . Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  17. ↑ "Kate Bush: Director's Cut". Q . No. 299. June 2011. p. 115.
  18. ↑ Walters, Barry (31 May 2011). "Kate Bush, 'Director's Cut' (Fish People/EMI)". Spin . Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  19. ↑ "Kate Bush: Director's Cut". Uncut . No. 169. June 2011. p. 81.
  20. ↑ Simon Price (15 May 2011). "Album: Kate Bush, Director's Cut (Fish People) – Reviews – Music". The Independent. London. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  21. ↑ Shephard, Fiona (17 May 2011). "Album review: Kate Bush, Director's Cut". The Scotsman . Edinburgh. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  22. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Kate Bush – Director's Cut". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  23. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Kate Bush – Director's Cut" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  24. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Kate Bush – Director's Cut" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  25. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Kate Bush – Director's Cut" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  26. ↑ "Albums: Top 100 (for the week ending 2 June, 2011)". Jam! . 9 June 2011. Archived from the original on 26 December 2004. Retrieved 10 June 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  27. ↑ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 20.Týden 2011 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  28. ↑ "Danishcharts.dk – Kate Bush – Director's Cut". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  29. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Kate Bush – Director's Cut" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  30. ↑ "Kate Bush: Director's Cut" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  31. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Kate Bush – Director's Cut". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  32. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Kate Bush – Director's Cut" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  33. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Kate Bush". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  34. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Kate Bush – Director's Cut". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  35. ↑ ディレクターズ・カット（デラックス・エディション）/ケイト・ブッシュ [Director's Cut (Deluxe Edition) / Kate Bush] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  36. ↑ "Charts.nz – Kate Bush – Director's Cut". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  37. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Kate Bush – Director's Cut". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  38. ↑ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  39. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  40. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Kate Bush – Director's Cut". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  41. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Kate Bush – Director's Cut". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  42. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Kate Bush – Director's Cut". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  43. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  44. ↑ "Kate Bush Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  45. ↑ "Kate Bush Chart History (Top Current Album Sales)". Billboard . Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  46. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  47. ↑ "UK Year-End Charts 2011" (PDF). UKChartsPlus . 2011. p. 8. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.