← Back

The Whole Story

by Kate Bush

Released: November 10, 1986

Art rock

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Breakthrough.

The Album

The album opens with a remix of her debut single, "Wuthering Heights" (1978), featuring newly re-recorded vocals. "The Whole Story" is the second compilation album by English singer-songwriter Kate Bush, released on November 10, 1986. It is her first greatest hits album worldwide and became a major success, earning Bush her third UK number-one album.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

The compilation includes eleven of Bush's singles, as…

The compilation includes eleven of Bush's singles, as well as "Experiment IV," which had been released as a single just three weeks earlier and reached the UK top 30.

Additionally, it includes an alternate mix of "The…

Additionally, it includes an alternate mix of "The Man with the Child in His Eyes," which differs from the single version.

Alongside the album, a home video compilation with…

Alongside the album, a home video compilation with the same title was released.

This video features the promotional videos for each…

This video features the promotional videos for each of the songs included in the album.

Start listening here

Essential Tracks

The Man With The Child In His Eyes

Additionally, it includes an alternate mix of "The Man with the Child in His Eyes," which differs from the single version.

Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)

After the resurgence in popularity of her song "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" in 2022, the album peaked at number 17 on the UK Albums Chart.

Experiment IV

The compilation includes eleven of Bush's singles, as well as "Experiment IV," which had been released as a single just three weeks earlier and reached the UK top 30.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

Kate Bush - The Whole Story

Open in Albums Gallery

Then

Reception

The album went on to become her best-selling release, eventually being certified four times platinum in the United Kingdom. In 2014, The Whole Story re-entered the UK charts at number 8 during Bush's Before the Dawn residency at the Hammersmith Apollo. After the resurgence in popularity of her song "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" in 2022, the album peaked at number 17 on the UK Albums Chart.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"The Whole Story" is the second compilation album by English singer-songwriter Kate Bush, released on November 10, 1986. It is her first greatest hits album worldwide and became a major success, earning Bush her third UK number-one album. The album went on to become her best-selling release, eventually being certified four times platinum in the United Kingdom.

The compilation includes eleven of Bush's singles, as well as "Experiment IV," which had been released as a single just three weeks earlier and reached the UK top 30. The album opens with a remix of her debut single, "Wuthering Heights" (1978), featuring newly re-recorded vocals. Additionally, it includes an alternate mix of "The Man with the Child in His Eyes," which differs from the single version.

Alongside the album, a home video compilation with the same title was released. This video features the promotional videos for each of the songs included in the album. The video was nominated for Best Concept Music Video at the 1988 Grammy Awards.

In 2014, The Whole Story re-entered the UK charts at number 8 during Bush's Before the Dawn residency at the Hammersmith Apollo. After the resurgence in popularity of her song "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" in 2022, the album peaked at number 17 on the UK Albums Chart.