A remastered version was released a few years ago and it sounds less 'shiny'. There are some gorgeous songs on Red Shoes though: Moments of Pleasure, Song of Solomon, Lily, Red Shoes. I would only cull Top of the City and You're the One. The rest is all very good IMO.

The Red Shoes depressive nature has always divided fans. I think it is a stunning and honest album about life and loss. I think visually, this was an album that would of been best represented on a tour. But she did do that mini movie musical, which she later called bollocks. Although I liked it, because I could visually understand the album through it.

Great post LM. "We used to say 'Ah hell we're young', but now we see that life is sad and so is love" is a simple lyric but can feel devastatingly prescient as time rolls on.

The Sensual World for me.

The Red Shoes is amazing, if only for Lily alone. Packs a really lyrical punch.

My favourites:

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

Aerial and The Whole Story. I have and am still to listen to 50 Words and Director's Cut, so that might change.

You should definitely check out Director's Cut. It's a really interesting album.

Some of the new versions are better than the originals, some are not. Lily and Song of Solomon are especially good. And This Woman's Work and Moments of Pleasure are very different to the originals and well worth hearing.

Well if i had to rank the albums as well

The Kick Inside
Hounds Of Love
Never For Ever
The Dreaming
The Red Shoes
Lionheart
The Sensual World
Director's Cut
50 Words for Snow
Aerial

Hounds of Love- It goes without saying the album that sums up, and makes the most of her talents.

The Dreaming- Needed a little refining but brilliantly bonkers.

Aerial- Sublime, An Endless Sky of Honey say no more.

The Sensual World
The Kick Inside
Never For Ever
The Red Shoes

Then way way way way below:

50 Words For Snow- Boring
Lionheart- I cannot describe how unlistenable and unenjoyable I find this.

And even further:

Directors Cut - A bad remix album that only updates and doesn't better the originals.

"The Kick Inside" is my favourite album.

But, my favourite single is "The Sensual World" (love the video too).

Hounds of Love it is, followed by Aerial.

The Nocturn/Aerial conclusion of the latter - peerless stuff.

I felt the same when it first came out but over the years it's grown on me and it's now right up there as one of her best.

I couldnt get into aerial at all apart from the track King of the Mountain

Feel it and James and the cold gun I love from that album

i am going to be quite against the grain here ...i am such a huge fan but i know my fave songs and albums are not aligned to most fans.

I have to qualify that most of her albums meet the gold star standard for me (which is a 4/5 rating)

my faves:
Lionheart
Hounds of Love
Red Shoes
Aerial
Kick Inside
Never for Ever


my least favourite:
directors cut - she was right that red shoes was a masterpiece and needed remastering but with original vocals or new vocals in a vintage warm sound ...but actually this collective was so disjointed and more digital sounding than previous releases/

^^^

I agree DC was a bit pointless, especially as Kate didn't do anything with the pre Prince version of Why Should I Love You? which is gorgeous and crying out for the DC treatment.

there were a few gems there ...

Lily (which imo is among her best songs contained her recent vocal range and timbre so she could perform it live and it didn't disappoint live - perhaps the standout ). I just wish that recorded songs using warm orchestra and warm vintage sounding vocals ...whereas some songs were so digital in places (deeper understanding - the alter vocal needs to be be put back in the mix a little)... and some songs were altered to a different inferior arrangement. It was some of the lesser songs that stood out though with that warmer sound. Thankfully 50 words for Snow was excellent. Warm and comforting.

Yes, I agree - Lily, Song of Solomon and Red Shoes are the best tracks on there. She was amazing live. Still can't believe it happened!

she is among my anointed as best live acts ever!

based on my live experiences - it is the je ne sais quo - the artistry : the mix of music, songs, lyrics, theatrics, lighting, presence, energy and connection - the storytelling.

She had it in all abundance!

Agree 100%. I was surprised how strong her voice was too. Damn where is that DVD?!

Can't decide between Aerial and Hounds of Love. 50 Words For Snow comes a close third for me.

The Dreaming is her best album, it's a work of dark genius.

Another vote for The Dreaming here. I still can't work out how that came out of one 24 year old brain.

Followed by Hounds of Love.

Then in a big, difficult to separate but brilliant lump are:
The Kick Inside
Lionheart
Never For Ever
The Red Shoes

Then I've always struggled to get into:
The Sensual World
Aerial
50 Words for Snow

And bringing up the rear, with barely one full listen and only really bought to keep my collection complete is Director's Cut.

Deleted

May as well do the full catalogue too

The Sensual World - mmmmm yes!
The Kick Inside
Hounds Of Love
The Dreaming

Never For Ever
Lionheart
50 Words for Snow
Aerial
The Red Shoes


Director's Cut - apart from the "humming" chorus on Moments of Pleasure, which is beautiful, I never listen to this album.

So hard to do this list tho' as there are wonderful, surprising moments in every album