The Red Shoes

by Kate Bush

Overview

The album is a continuation of Bush's multi-layered and multiple musical pursuits and interests. If not her strongest work -- a number of songs sound okay without being particularly stellar, especially given Bush's past heights -- Red Shoes is still an enjoyable listen with a number of diversions. The guest performer list is worthy of note alone, ranging from Procol Harum pianist Gary Brooker and Eric Clapton to Prince, but this is very much a Kate Bush album straight up as opposed to a collaborative work like, say, Santana's Supernatural. Opening song "Rubberband Girl" is actually one of her strongest singles in years, a big and punchy song served well with a horn section, though slightly let down by the stiff percussion. "Eat the Music," another smart choice for a single, mixes calypso and other Caribbean musical touches with a great, classically Bush lyric mixing up sexuality, romance, and various earthy food-based metaphors. Another highlight of Bush's frank embrace of the lustier side of life is "The Song of Solomon," a celebratory piece about the Bible's openly erotic piece. Those who prefer her predominantly piano and vocal pieces will enjoy "Moments of Pleasure" with a strong string arrangement courtesy of Michael Kamen. Other standouts include "Why Should I Love You?" with Prince creating a very Prince-like arrangement and backing chorus for Bush (and doing quite well at that) and the concluding "You're the One," featuring Brooker. ~ Ned Raggett

Product Details

Release Date:	11/20/2023
Label:	Fish People
UPC:	5057998268665
Rank:	40214

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Kate Bush   Primary Artist,Bass,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards,Fender Rhodes
Gary Brooker   Guest Artist,Organ (Hammond)
Trio Bulgarka   Guest Artist,Vocals
Jeff Beck   Guest Artist,Guitar
Eric Clapton   Guest Artist,Guitar
Prince   Guest Artist,Bass,Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards
Charlie Morgan   Percussion
Nigel Kennedy   Viola,Violin
Colin Lloyd Tucker   Vocals
Steve Sidwell   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
John Giblin   Bass
Del Palmer   Fairlight
Justin Vali   Kabosy,Valiha,Vocals,Zither
Lenny Henry   Vocals
Stuart Elliott   Drums,Percussion
Paul Spong   Trumpet
Nigel Hitchcock   Sax (Tenor),Sax (Baritone)
Neil Sidwell   Trombone
Gaumont d'Oliver   Bass,Drums,Percussion,Sound Effects
Eva Georgieva   Vocals
Stoyanka Boneva   Vocals
Danny McIntosh   Guitar
Paddy Bush   Bells,Fujara,Valiha,Vocals,Zither,Mandola,Strings,Musical Bow,Singing Bowls,Whistle (Human),Whistle (Instrument)
J. Neil Sidwell   Trombone
Gary Booker   Organ (Hammond)
Gaumont D'Olivera   Bass,Drums,Percussion
Yanka Rupkhina   Vocals
Colin Lloyd-Rucker   Vocals
Nigel Sidwell   Trombone
Kabossy   Vocals

Technical Credits

Bernie Grundman   Digital Remastering
James Guthrie   Digital Remastering
Del Palmer   Mixing,Engineer,Recording
Prince   Arranger
Michael Kamen   Orchestration,Orchestral Arrangements
Kate Bush   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Ian Cooper   Mastering
Haydn Bendall   Engineer
Boromira Nedeva   Interpretation
Lily   Narrator
John Carder Bush   Photography
Joel Plante   Digital Remastering
Ian Sylvester   Digital Consultant
Lily Cornford   Narrator