"Before the Dawn" is the second live album by English singer-songwriter Kate Bush, released on November 25, 2016. The album was recorded in 2014 during Bush's 22-date residency, Before the Dawn, at the Hammersmith Apollo in London. This residency marked her return to the stage after a 35-year absence. The album was certified gold in the UK.
The album mirrors the structure of the residency, divided into three parts: seven miscellaneous songs, the full Ninth Wave suite from Hounds of Love, and A Sky of Honey from her 2005 album Aerial. The tracks are arranged in the same order as the original performance, drawn from various shows throughout the residency.
A unique inclusion on the album is the track "Tawny Moon," performed by Bush's son, Albert McIntosh. Additionally, Before the Dawn features the song "Never Be Mine," which was not performed live during the residency but recorded during the show's filming without an audience.
After two years of speculation, the album was officially announced on September 29, 2016, with the release of the track "Prologue." Bush described the process of creating the show as "extraordinary," emphasizing the immense effort and privilege of working with a talented team. She hoped that the album could stand alone as a piece of music, appreciated both by those familiar with the show and those who were not present. Bush expressed her gratitude for the overwhelming response from the audiences, noting their energy could be felt in every beat of the recorded music.
Ahead of the album's release, several tracks were made available for streaming, including "Prologue (Live)" on September 28, followed by "King of the Mountain (Live)" on October 21, and "And Dream of Sheep (Live)" with an accompanying video on November 18.
In November 2018, Bush released a box set of remastered studio albums, which included Before the Dawn. However, the live album itself was not remastered for the set.
