Track Listing

1. Rubber Band Girl
2. And So Is Love
3. Eat The Music
4. Moments Of Pleasure
5. Song Of Solomon
6. Lily
7. Red Shoes
8. Top Of The City
9. Constellation Of The Heart
10. Big Stripey Lie
11. Why Should I Love You
12. You're The One

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2263 in Music
• Released on: 1993-11-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

CD Description
Kate Bush was never the most prolific of artists; this 1993album and its attendant singles formed her complete '90s output. Her recordings are carefully conceived, densely orchestrated, and finely tuned, and THE RED SHOES is no exception.Though spontaneity may not be her strong suit, her records are never dull or self-indulgent.
Among Kate Bush's most relaxed recordings, THE RED SHOES features a number of guestappearances, notably Eric Clapton, Nigel Kennedy, and Jeff Beck. Highlights include the appropriately bouncy "Rubberband Girl", the double entendre-laden "Eat the Music", completewith a great horn section, and "Big Stripey Lie", an angry track shot through with distortion and some of Bush's most agonised vocals since her 1980 album NEVER FOR EVER. Also noteworthy is "Why Should I Love You?" an interesting collusionbetween Bush's introspective style and loose funk lite, courtesy of The Artist Hereafter Known As Prince Rodgers Nelson.

Customer Reviews

Gets better with age
Listening to this album for the first time in ages, you realise that, at the time of its release, perhaps people were a bit too harsh on "The Red Shoes". Yes, a few songs feel straightjacketed by mainstream pop and sound a tad over-cooked. But there is real beauty in this record. Like in "Song of Solomon" - when the Trio Bulgarka sweep in for a moment. Or "Moments of Pleasure", a poignant and personal tune, namechecking lost loved ones. And most especially "You're the One" - an open letter of heartbreak at the end of a long-term relationship. The album is half sorrow (the death of her mother is also a strong influence here) and half playfulness - "Rubberband Girl" and "The Red Shoes" are fun slices of skewed pop.

Yes then - a mixed bag, but full of hidden delights. Listen harder.

Why so much hate for this album?
Well, Red Shoes has caused an ominous controversy among Kate's fans, and only Kate fans, because whoever else gets to listen to this album truly loves it.

The lyrics are sharp & truthful, the music is at its best (with only 2 exceptions, which are not bad at all but do not sound like Kate), and the production is less experimental than her previous albums but always imaginative, hi-quality and timeless. Also bear in mind that it was her most popular album in the US, which means it is much more accessible than her previous projects.

Being a Kate Bush fan myself, I'd rather go for the Dreaming, but Red Shoes is one of the Kate albums you MUST have. Other Kate fans (or, may I say, fanatics) loathe it because they find it 'shallow' in contrast to her previous works. This album, however is characterized but its emotional depth and meaningfulness.. Moreover, it is strange how people who can't stand Kate, really like this album, and some have even added it to their alltime favorite list..

Who could ever resist the beauty and the intimacy of MOMENTS OF PLEASURE (which is, hands down, one of her finest recordings, ever), the pure joy of RUBBERBAND GIRL, the painful and heartaching AND SO IS LOVE - SOLOMON SONG, or the wickedness of BIG STRIPEY LIE?

Don't miss on this album.. it truly deserves its place among Hounds of Love, Sensual World and The Dreaming...

Worth any time you give it
At first I listened through the album (well, not entirely, I skipped tracks after the intros) and pretty well hated it. So it stayed in its bag, under my desk. I've recently been working my way through all of Kate's albums after being introduced to Hounds of Love. They're just fantastic. So by this point, the only one I was short of was The Dreaming. And I bought and listened to and loved it, whilst The Red Shoes was still under my desk (I am also a messy person), and I realised The Red Shoes deserved a second chance. Which is what I am giving it now, as I write; I have to say, I am more than pleased. This is actually a brilliant album, if you give it time (which you most definitely should). And if you haven't listened to any Kate albums before, I actually recommend this as a starting point, because they can only get better that way ;)