On Stage (EP)


On Stage is a live recording of four songs performed on Kate Bush's Tour of Life in 1979. It was released on 31 August 1979 and peaked at number 10 on the UK chart. The EP sold 5,980 units in Japan.

Background

On Stage contains recordings ostensibly from Bush's concert recorded live at the Hammersmith Odeon on 13 May 1979. However, the four tracks on this EP are noticeably different from those released in 1994, when 60 minutes of the 13 May 1979 concert was issued on audio CD. On Stage became Bush's first official live performance on vinyl.
The record was usually issued in various global markets as a four-track 7" disc running at 33RPM. It was also released on 12" vinyl in some countries. Uniquely, Canada also issued the EP as a cassette. In the UK EMI issued the EP over four sides of two 7" discs packaged in a gatefold sleeve. A 2-disc version was also chosen as the commercial Portuguese issue. The commercially available UK 7" version was initially packaged in a gatefold sleeve which was quickly replaced by a single pocket version. Canada also issued a variant of the 7" single in a gatefold sleeve packaged inside a limited edition 12" outer cover.
The EP's peak at No 10 gave Bush her third UK top 10 hit. Studio versions of all four songs were originally released on her first two albums; "Them Heavy People", "James and the Cold Gun" and "L'Amour Looks Something Like You" from The Kick Inside and "Don't Push Your Foot on the Heartbrake" from Lionheart.

Track listing