Kate Bush: Albums Ranked | Worst to Best 

Beautiful summaries for each album. You really seem to get the essence of her artistry! My order, best to worst, is: 1 Aerial 2 Hounds of Love 3 The Dreaming 4 50 Words for Snow 5 The Sensual World 6 Never for Ever 7 Lionheart 8 Director's Cut 9 The Red Shoes 10 The Kick Inside

The Dreaming is a masterpiece. I’ll never forget first playing it, having never heard any of Kate’s work prior. It was primal. “Pull Out the Pin” was heartstopping. Just the sounds and twisted melodies. Couldn’t make out a word she was saying. I bought a cassette initially and went back to the record store immediately to get the vinyl so I could read the lyrics. Years later, while playing “Get Out of My House” at top volume. A half hour later, policemen knocked on my door. “We’ve had reports of a woman screaming…” Thanks, Kate.

The Sensual World is BRILLIANT, her work with the Bulgarian singers is just gorgeous. Just so strange to rank it so low, wow.

"The Dreaming" is absolutely the best album of her career, when people mention about brave albums, this is an album that at the time it confused everyone, and has taken decades for people to realise it's richness. Truly an album before it's time.

I totally agree. I love the Dreaming. Pushing boundaries of what art should be.

The Dreaming is my favorite as well. Spectacular album, I never get tired of it.

As an 8-year-old my youngest daughter used to dance around the house when Wuthering Heights was on the TV. In 1979 I bought her the album Lionheart, which she still has. I thought that “Wow” was, & still is, the outstanding track on an outstanding album. I’m in my mid 70’s and my admiration for the incredible talents and creativeness for Kate continues.

At last! Someone else who doesn't hate Lionheart. I love that album. Love your videos and love the Bob Harris-esque delivery. Nice.

There is so much packed into The Dreaming that listening to it is an overwhelming experience. It's no wonder EMI initially balked at it. Boundaries are pushed, and then some. Each track is a world unto itself. Fans usually cite Hounds of Love as Kate's best album, mostly because Side 1 is full of singles, but The Dreaming is her masterpiece. There is so much raw creativity on this album that it pushes the very limits of what a pop album can be.

Another great analysis Barry. Great research as usual. Discovering her as a hormonal teenager in 1978, we've grown old together and she remains my favourite singer/songwriter. I love the renewed interest in her as a result of that show, hopefully it might encourage her back into the studio. There are as many ranking opinions of her albums as there are KB fans but here's mine: 1) The Sensual World, 2) Never for Ever, 3) The Kick Inside, 4) Hounds of Love, 5) 50 Words for Snow, 6) Lionheart, 7) The Dreaming, 8) The Red Shoes, 9) Aerial, 10) Director's Cut. There are no failures in any of them.

Thank goodness for Stranger Things and that fantastic scene using Running Up That Hill! It's got her everywhere this summer! In the US, the first half of Hounds of Love does seem to be what most people think of when people get excited about Kate Bush. Well, that and the mad videos for Babooshka and Wuthering Heights. But yeah, looking deeper is so rewarding with her! The Dreaming remains endlessly interesting. And actually, for me, so does The Sensual World. Aerial and 50 Words for Snow also are gorgeous and such evidence that elder Kate is still a cool Kate as an artist.

I was happy to see you rank "The Dreaming" as her best. "Hounds of Love" is more accessible, but "The Dreaming" is great because it's utterly original; it sounds like nothing else I've ever heard. The title song could be the soundtrack to a nightmare, and I mean that as a compliment. And that scream torn from her throat just before "Eeyore" comes in on "Get Out of My House" is incredibly intense, one of my favorite moments on any album ever. It can still make me shudder.

'The Red Shoes' is her best album... and has the best production by miles.

She has not exactly been prolific but she has never made a bad album.A unique talent

As always, assiduously researched. I guess the difficult thing about this list is it's along journey to an inevitable end. My only change would be swap Lionheart for Never for Ever, and then relegate NFE a spot or two. NFE's songs just remind me too much of the kind of songs my high school girlfriend used to write and sing sooooooooo earnestly.

Great articulate descriptions. Cheers!

A very nice piece of insight into her music!! Thanks for the video! My personal ranking is: 1. The Dreaming 2. Hounds of Love 3. Never for Ever 3. (tie) The Sensual World 4. 50 Words for Snow (this one goes up to number 3 if I'm listening to it in the winter) 5. The Kick Inside 6. Aerial 7. The Red Shoes 8. Lionheart 9. Director's Cut (sorry! I'm just a bit too into the original version to appreciate an alternative version lol)

Great analysis and descriptions. The Dreaming is also the Kate Bush album I listen to the most. I just love how weird and abstract it is. I’ve actually recently introduced a couple of friends to this album too. Great to see it getting the recognition it deserves. I love all her albums although I don’t know some of the later ones that well, need to listen to them again, Kate Bush is a fantastic artist!

Thanks!!! As soon as you mentioned the Depeche Mode sample, I knew exactly which part...too funny. Kate is without parallel in this world.

I love the way you delve into describing each song, with great analysis. I also love the "Whispering Bob-ness" of your voice.

First off, it's wonderful to see a Kate Bush ranking video! I have loved her since two listeners barged into one of my Saturday morning radio shows back in the very early 80s, lugging their (at the time) meager Kate Bush collections and telling me I simply had to play her on air. I did. I have never regretted it. (Trust me, when you work in radio, you are so inundated with music that you simply cannot listen to everything, so unless other folks turn you onto things, you stand a good chance of missing out. But I digress...) I thought your order was actually quite fair, and I could see how you arrived at your listing. However, for me, Never Forever is and will always be my number one -- not just of Kate Bush albums, but perhaps across the board. Funny that with each song you mentioned, I could clearly hear them in my head...and I got downright teary-eyed with each one. Oh, yeah -- and aren't we glad Brian Wilson ignored Capitol Records' advice on song titles! Great job as usual, Barry. Bravo!

Nice one! Totally agree with your 1 - 3, and the rest with only a few slight adjustments. Well described and researched. Cheers. I think The Dreaming is one of those 'perfect' albums, where every track is excellent, with no weak songs.

Yeah, God Only Knows. I caught that. Great list. Me, personally, The Kick Inside has to be my #2 and Hounds of Love is my #1. Of course that is just personal. I just seem to go to Hounds of Love more often than anything else and will go to Kick Inside next. My choice really has nothing to do with the technical aspects of these albums, or quality, just song-wise they play out in that order personally.

Very useful AND very captivating description of most albums on todays roster. As per usual, but the obvious love for Kate Bush´s material really shines through! Thanks for sharing!

Another great and exceptionally well researched ranking video 👏

Wow, talk about making some tough calls on impossible questions - well done!

Excellent breakdown. Many new interesting titbits of Kate and her work that I had not heard before.

Great video. I love that Kate is getting the recognition she deserves. There's a version of "Wuthering Heights" from a compilation called "The Whole Story" (sadly not available on itunes), which I find superior to the original "Kick Inside" version. Her vocals on the remake are much more polished and powerful, imo (not to mention a searing guitar solo from Dave Gilmour). Hopefully at some point, it will be released again. Cheers

There has always been something magical about Kate Bush. Nobody is like her and she is like nobody else. My favourite will always be Never For Ever (Breathing, Babooshka, Violin). Followed by Lionheart (Hammer Horror!!!!) and Hounds of Love. I always felt that The Dreaming was a loud and percussive outing, which I personally did not really like overall. Although There goes a tenner is very funny. And yes, she has that special beautiful aura.

Thanks for another well researched and articulate ranking. I bought The Kick Inside in 1984 after reading so many people listing it as a DID record in the old Tower Records (Pulse?) magazine. I really struggled with her voice. Next year Hounds of Love came out. One listen of Running Up That Hill and I was all in and bought albums 2-4, and subsequent studio albums. If I were to graph out her albums with a 5-star max, it would be a rough upward trajectory. For the most part her albums have improved over the years. I treasure Kate’s catalog.

Kate is amazing artist, my favourite female singer,this is my ranking: 1 . Hounds of Love 2 . The Dreaming 3. The Kick inside 4. Ever for ever 5. Aerial 6. The Lion heart 7.50 words of Snow 8. The Sensual World 9. The Red Shoes

THIS is really kind of synchronicity....I bought "The Dreaming" in 1982 on MC here in Germany, one of the first ones i bought at all - just because of "Suspended in Gaffa"....and initially did not understand or like everything else, apart from that song - at all...later on, "The Dreaming" became THE ONE ALBUM I listened to the most until today...by far ! It fundamentally changed my perception of Music as a transcending force and it just so takes you to another world if you let Kate´s "magic“ do.

Great video and solid reasoning for the ranking. I think it tells quite a bit about Kate Bush's discography that you could almost make an argument for every one of her albums being her best, or at least in the top three. It is also incredible that she has done a great winter album (50 Words for Snow) and an even better summer album (Aerial's Sky of Honey).

John Lydon's favourite album I think, 'The Dreaming'.

Wow, I love the detail you go into on each album, and I pretty much agree with your ranking! I love The Dreaming and tend to gravitate to that album and Never for Ever when when putting her music on. I leaned so much about her music from this review, looking forward to watching more of your reviews! Just wondering if you were lucky enough to have caught one of her 22 shows she did in 2014?

Enjoyed your attention to detail and personal perspective on each album. I'm a huge Kate Bush fan. I would find it difficult to rank her work. It has evolved so much. The only artist I can think of that mirrors that arc is Joni Mitchell. True innovators and pioneering women who dared to push themselves and create such moving music.

Loved your descriptions of these albums. Especially for Lionheart. Possibly her most underrated album. On some days it’s in my top 3. Today it’s #6. Go figure

My top 5 (and I like them all): 1. The Sensual World 2. Hounds of Love 3. Aerial 4. The Kick Inside 5. Lionheart

Watched a number of your list videos, even where I either didn't know, or particularly like the artist, but with Kate, I am a smitten fool, and eager to hear your thoughts. I was also pleased and amazed to find your worst (if you can have such a thing with the blessed Kate), and best, match my choices exactly. There are certain albums between, I might mix up differently, but the Dreaming is, for me, a high point in a career full of peaks. I think it's inevitable, that with such a range of material, spread across so many years of music, the artist will, inevitably feel, that certain tracks did not come out as planned, hence the 'Directors Cut'. That said, I find it difficult to remove my ears from the sonic signatures of the originals, which are embedded deep within me by now, and difficult to supplant. Good stuff

Fantastic analysis. Thank you.

Really enjoyed your review.

God just when i think this channel can’t get any better. Not only have you got a fantastic way of describing great (and sometimes bad art), but you’re humor is super original. “Otherwise iSpy would be rather shit wouldn’t it” had me laughing way longer then I care to admit

I absolutely agree for your rank. It's funny. I went shopping hours ago and had The dreaming on my headphones.

Loved your reviews, thank you. I've learned such a lot. I have all but 2 of Kate's albums and collected these when they originally came out. This makes me very old! Yesterday my 10 year old granddaughter mentioned 'Stranger Things' and Kate Bush. Much to her amazement I played the song in question and proceeded to sing along, word perfect. A bit of street cred for old Nanny! My albums have today been dug out, dusted down and being played as I write. Thanks again.

Nice review, I think the message is that all her all her albums have genius, it's more a matter of which is your personal favourite. For me, it's The Dreaming, which is absolutely barking!

I agree ,side two of Hounds of Love is infinitely more interesting than the over played songs on side one. , Under the Ivy was one of her most beautiful songs and wasted as a B side.

Hounds of Love is my favourite album of all time

What an amazing catalogue! Sometimes I would have Never Forever top, sometimes Hounds. The only one I never really got on with was Lionheart. Glad you mentioned Mother Stands for Comfort and Under the Ivy - beautiful songs.

My favorite female artist/musician of all time. And you nailed number 1!

I've been putting off watching this as I've been a huge Kate Bush fan for many a decade but I needn't have worried. My list would be a bit different but your intelligent and well articulated reasoning is compelling.Top notch listing video! My list: 1. The Kick Inside 2. Hounds of Love 3. The Dreaming 4. Lionheart 5. The Sensual World 6. Never For Ever 7. The Red Shoes 8. Aerial 9. 50 Words for Snow 10. Director's Cut Though, of course, Kate's 'worst' is better than most artists' best.

They’re all amazing but the top 5 are NEXT LEVEL PERFECT 1. The Dreaming 2. Aerial 3. Hounds Of Love 4. Never For Ever 5. The Kick Inside 6. Lionheart 7. The Sensual World 8. 50 Words For Snow 9. The Red Shoes 10. Director’s Cut

Hmmm. Before Watching through the video: Best to Worst (Still good at 10 though). 1. The Dreaming (By some margin, but hard to quantify) 2. Hounds of Love 3. Never For Ever 4. Lionheart 5. The Sensual World 6. 50 Words for Snow. 7. The Kick inside 8. Directors Cut 9. The Red Shoes 10. Aerial IMHO of course.

Such a great video! So glad to see The Dreaming at #1 as I feel that's the album that showcases her mad genius in all its glory. Was pleasantly surprised to see Lionheart quite high in the ranking but I respect it since that album gets too much hate.

1.The hounds of love 2.The kick inside 3.The sensual World 4.Never for ever 5.The Dreaming 6.Lionheart 7.Aerial 8.The Red Shoes 9.50 words for snow

Kate is incredible. I have always thought of her, as a Female version of Peter Gabriel. I know it sounds very strange. Great video.

Great reviews. I agree with pretty well all you said about all the albums , the only difference being my order of preference. Arial , HOL, TSW and The Dreaming are my favourites with each reaching No1 whenever I listen to them . Surprised to Arial so low on your rankings! TKI and TRS are close seconds. The only album that never quite worked for me is Lionheart but still some great songs and I must now give it another go.

Yet another exquisite ranking, with words delicate and finely tuned... listening to Kate for more than 40 years since my childhood days. What a beautiful shock to a young boy, first seeing her on TV and hearing Wuthering Heights on the radio... fell in ♥️ for the rest of my life. Looking back, I must say that The Sensual World is probably my number one. Just because I listened to it the most all over the years. I love the groovy and (kind of) dark nature of it, and the (kind of) muddy mix. Sounds very much like Life to me, that record. Second and third in my ranking would bei 50 words for snow and Aerial. Interestingly, I never really "got" Hounds of love to this day. Although I immediately fell in love with Running up that hill and that lovely video clip for Cloudbusting, with "Papa" Sutherland... but I think it's clear to say: all of Kate's records are great - not an easy job to rank her... thank you Barry for the great work!

Generally very thoughtful and insightful reviews. And yes The Dreaming is #1

Great review and like many I suspect, I would actually put Hounds of Love at number 1 and possibly Aerial at 2. But then it is all subjective after all and he does a great job in defending his views. Editing is a bit disjointed at times, but that’s a small criticism, this is very well put together as usual.

“The Dreaming” is number 1 for me.

Well said, The Dreaming is my favourite too.

i am in love with her voice since 1985 when i heard hounds of love. i was 17 back then and that album along with the dreaming are my favs but i own and like all

Been a KB fan since Wuthering Heights. Adore how she conveys gentle strength femininity, with such expressiveness. Not familiar with all her work, however, & you've awoken my interest to explore this unique artist further. Absolutely love your in-depth, enthusiastic critique. You're clearly a big fan. Thank you 🙏🙂

Number one for me would be Lionheart, one of few albums that I have owned on vinyl, cassette and CD, and which has survived every one of my music collection culls.

10. Director's Cut - worth listening to once but no song on it is any better than the originals on Sensual World or Red Shoes. 9. Lionheart - You can sort of tell it was rushed and largely made up of leftovers from Kick Inside, but it's still decent. 8. The Red Shoes - grows on me each time I listen to it, but I do feel it's a tad 'cluttered'. 7. 50 Words for Snow - also growing on me, but it feels so different from Kate's other albums, you really have to be in the mood for it. Definitely an acquired taste. 6. Never for Ever - a mixed bag but has some absolutely brilliant stuff. Babooshka, Wedding List and Breathing are all right up there with her best work. 5. The Sensual World - a great follow-up to Hounds of Love with an overarching maturity not obvious in previous albums. Vocals as good as anywhere else in her discography. 4. The Dreaming - pretty much a tie with Sensual World, the difference being just how 'out there' it is. The vocals are less refined, but it works here where it wouldn't elsewhere. It feels like absolute chaos the first time you listen to it, but once you pay attention to the lyrics and production, you quickly realise that she's a total genius. So unique. 3. The Kick Inside - the album that got me hooked on Kate Bush and inspired me to look at the rest of her discography. It still blows my mind that an eighteen year old did something so complex and thoughtful. Lyrically superb, vocally sublime, and the variety of concepts gives you something new to pick up on every time you return to it. 2. Aerial - so unbelievably underrated. The first half is sung straight from the heart, from a woman, mother, and daughter's perspective. It feels so personal and the emotions so raw at times it makes me weep. The second half feels like a pleasant out of body experience. Listening to Sky of Honey, and especially Nocturn, in the dead of a warm summer's night is absolutely unreal. 1. Hounds of Love - nothing I can say will be new, everyone who hears this album raves about it, and rightly so. It's a bloody masterpiece.

I've been a fan of Kate's since her first album in the 1970s. The Dreaming is my favorite album of hers. I bought it as an import (I'm in the US) and at first it totally freaked me out. What the heck was this? It's absolutely brilliant!

Lindsay Kemp mentor of Bowie too ! Great work Barry thank you, I shall have to explore.

i played " the dreaming for a month straight. when it came out. and wished for a tour.

1. The Dreaming 2. The Red Shoes (yea well i thinks its very underrated) 3. Never forever 4. Hounds of Love 5. Kick Inside 6. Ariel 7. Sensual World 8. Lion heart 9. 50 words for snow

A very good review of the artist.

Your top 4 are same as mine, in the same order. I think Never Forever and The Dreaming show influence from her working on Peter Gabriel's 3rd album. Speaking of which, I'd love to see a Peter Gabriel solo album ranking.

It's saying quite a lot about this artist's calibre, that the worst you can say about her worst album is that it feels a bit rushed 🙂.

Love your subtle allusion to 'God only knows'!😁

I agree with your choice for number one. My favourite track on it has to be "All the Love", which you don't discuss.

That's a wonderful run through the amazing Kate Bush back catalogue. I can't disagree too much with your personal ranking, although The Kick Inside would have to slip in at number three for me.

Your video is very good and I like your list order but would put The Sensual World much higher.

I love your take on these albums and the songs! All of Kate's albums are equally phenomenal and moving. They each have their own charm and distinct sound. I have a hard time choosing between them but I'd I had to, this would be my list. 1. The Kick Inside 2. Never For Ever 3. Lionheart 4. The Dreaming 5. Hounds of Love 6. Aerial 7. The Sensual World 8. The Red Shoes 9. 50 Words for Snow 11. Directors Cut I'm 22 and have a very playful and story like mind so her older work is just amazing to me. I'm just in awe that someone that young could have had that much musical genius especially for her time. She's just brilliant in every way. From writing, to dancing, to production, to life, to personality. I greatly admire and look up to this woman. My favorite part about her is how little she cares for fame. Her family life was always more important. I have 2 kids myself so I just really love that aspect of her. I as well am always with my kids and chose them over anything. I love making music with them. They are my ultimate inspiration.

We share the same top 5 in the same order. I also prefer side 2 of the Hounds of Love. Great video. Love your thoughts on these great albums

My top 5 would be: 1. *The Dreaming* (absolute perfection) 2. *Hounds of Love* (also pretty much a perfect album, just not quite as no filler/hit after hit as The Dreaming) 3. *The Sensual World* (gorgeous and easy-going) 4. *Never for Ever* (wild, praguey, bold) 5. *The Kick Inside* (so wholesome and vibrant)

That's a really interesting listing. My recollection of 'Never For Ever' release, was that it received a rather lukewarm reception from the music press. I must check it out again as I haven't listened to it in many years.

Great work Barry, have you seen Cloudbusting. the Kate Bush tribute band fronted by the wonderful Mandy Watson, a must see for any Kate bush fan. mine are 10. Directors cut 9. Red Shoes 8. Ariel 7. Sensual World 6. 50 Words for snow 5. Lionheart 4. Hounds of love 3. The Kick Inside 2. Never forever 1. The Dreaming I honestly love everything she has ever done but my top 5 I have more history with, but all ten get a regular listen. I also think December will be magic again is a great forgotten Christmas classic

Red Shoes is fabulous. As is Aerial. Throw in HOL, SW, And 50 Words and I'm happy. We are all different.

Today I would agree to your list but tomorrow it would be a different one ☺️that's the beauty of Kate Bushs work she's so diverse, I can pick an Album for every season every situation in life even for every single day.. Thank you very much I appreciate your thoughts

The song Houdini is absolutely stunning and dramatic.

Totally agree about The Dreaming as No 1; totally disagree about putting The Red Shoes & The Sensual World at the bottom; these for me belong in joint 2nd as I can't choose between them. I consider this Trinity to be clearly ahead of anything else. I'm generally indifferent to Hounds of Love. But as you say, it's all a massively impressive canon of work - perhaps the result of only putting out 9 real (I don't count Director's Cut) albums over 45 years!

I think at one point you said that she got married in the interim between Hounds of Love and The Sensual World. This actually happened in the late 90s well after The Red Shoes, although I'm not enough of a fanboy to know the exact dates. Great video nonetheless.

Great t-shirt btw! Kate Bush... aaah I had enormous crush one her when I was a kid. I kinda grew up listening her 1st album my parents had on vinyl. That was magic to me. Still is... what a wonderful artist she is! Cheers!

I just love your pithy remarks. Makes you sound like you know what you're talking about, even at the times you don't. But I would rank Sensual World and The Red Shoes above 50 Words for Snow. When I first heard the Red Shoes I wasn't that impressed overall. But I have come to appreciate more. And So Is Love and Moments Of Pleasure are true standouts.

I truly fear (but also secretly hope?) Broadway will do a Kate Bush jukebox musical now. (Pray they respect her.)

10. Director’s Cut 9. The Red Shoes 8. Lionheart 7. The Sensual World 6. Aerial 5. The Kick Inside 4. 50 Words For Snow 3. Never For Ever 2. The Dreaming 1. Hounds Of Love

I agree about Under The Ivy, that's a beauty.

I applaud the I Spy joke.... well done, sir.

My personal list: 1. Hounds of Love (favorite album, Kate Bush or otherwise) 2. The Dreaming 3. The Kick Inside 4. Aerial (the second half alone would place it in 3, but the first half is not my cup of tea. Still good, but not my cup of tea) 5. The Sensual World 6. Never For Ever And I guess I don’t really have too strong opinions on her other 3-4 albums.

For me the top 5 looks like: 1. Never for Ever 2. The Kick Inside 3. Hounds of Love 4. The Dreaming 5. Lion Heart Found all albums after "Hounds of Love" very boring, especially "Aerial". The only album that I don't know is "50 Words for Snow".

Barry, have you heard 'The Other Sides'? it's a fantastic 4 CD set, some amazing stuff on there.

Very interesting. I am a big fan of hers. I agree with the top part, the albums I know.

1)The Dreaming 2)Never For Ever 3) Hounds of Love 4) The Kick Inside 5) Lionheart 6) The Sensual World 7) Ariel 8) 50 Words For Snow 9) Red Shoes 10) Directors Cut (I don't really count it as proper KB album). I regard her first 5 albums (all in my top 5) as absolute classic albums, yes, even Lionheart which is often unfairly dismissed by some. The only album of her 9 albums I don't really like that much is Red Shoes. She is the most individualistic, unique, talented female artist of all time as far as I'm concerned

The positive thing with The Red Shoes is Moments Of Pleasure is the best thing she's ever done. Have you seen the video with her twirling around in the snowfall? Shivers me timbers. Greetings from the US.

I must admit, I much prefer Kate's earlier work. She was almost a Peter Pan figure who should never have grown up, who should never have got involved in the demands of the music industry. Even the weakest of the early songs have an air of rebellion about them. 1)The Kick Inside: One of the greatest debut albums ever 2) The Dreaming: Mainly for the title track which is amazing 3) Never Forever: Roy Harper on "Breathing" makes this for me 4) Lionheart: I love the simplicity of most of the songs and the title track is just beautiful. 5) Hounds of Love: Big singles album but... 6)The Sensual World: I think I listened to it twice. 7) The Red Shoes; Saw the film "The Line, The Cross and the Curve" and bought the album. Listened to it once.

The ''god only knows'' joke deserves my like