Welcome back to the countdown! We’re cruising right along on the Highway to Halloween, and today’s pick is just as creepy as they come, even if the artist is not. A dream-like version of a witch trial, it starts off sweet and melodic and quickly turns weird, with a growling voice barking commands to confess while church bells toll, and a chorus declares “Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!”
Number 6: Kate Bush – Waking The Witch
Kate Bush is well known for her ability to spin a dreamy tune, with her flexible voice and piano skills. Her first studio album was recorded when she was only 19, and she became the first woman to top the British charts with a song she wrote, “Wuthering Heights.”
“Waking The Witch” comes from her most successful album, Hounds Of Love, released in 1985. The second side of the album is an interconnected series of songs, called The Ninth Wave, and this tune is the 3rd one in. A little off beat for Kate Bush, it made me sit up and take notice the first time I heard it.
Hounds of Love is one of the albums that I played constantly in my teen age years, and when it came time to put together my first Halloween playlist, this song was on the short list. Here’s “Waking the Witch” by Kate Bush.
The Countdown
- 20) Eels – Fresh Blood
- 19) Squirrel Nut Zippers – Hell
- 18) Tom Waits – Whistlin’ Past The Graveyard
- 17) Donovan – Season Of The Witch
- 16) Jeremy Messersmith – Organ Donor
- 15) Neville Brothers – Voodoo
- 14) Siouxsie & The Banshees – Eve White Eve Black
- 13) The Adverts – Gary Gilmore’s Eyes
- 12) The Ramones – Pet Semetary
- 11) Talking Heads – Psycho Killer
- 10) Michael Jackson – Thriller
- 9) Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Red Right Hand
- 8) Warren Zevon – Excitable Boy
- 7) TV On The Radio – Wolf Like Me
- 6) Kate Bush – Waking The Witch