"December Will Be Magic Again" is a festive-themed song by English singer-songwriter

Kate Bush Catherine Bush (born 30 July 1958) is an English singer, songwriter, record producer and dancer. In 1978, at the age of 19, she topped the UK Singles Chart for four weeks with her debut single "Wuthering Heights (song), Wuthering Heights", ...

. It was released as a single in the UK in November 1980.

Song release

"December Will Be Magic Again" was written and originally recorded in 1979 at Abbey Road Studio 2 London with

Preston Heyman Preston Heyman is a British record producer, drummer and percussionist. He is credited on the Kate Bush album ''Never for Ever''. He played Oriental percussion instruments on the track "Blood Sucking" of Mike Oldfield's soundtrack for the fil ...

on drums, sleigh bells and maracas,

Alan Murphy Alan Murphy (18 November 1953 – 19 October 1989) was a British rock session guitarist, best remembered for his collaborations with Kate Bush and Go West. In 1988, he joined the jazz-funk band Level 42 as a full-time band member, and played wi ...

on guitar, Kuma Harada on bass and Kate herself on piano, but not released until the Christmas season of the next year on 17 November 1980. The single peaked at number 29 on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

, but due to its early release date had slipped before the Christmas week. No promotional video was filmed for this single, but an alternative recording of the song was performed on Bush's 1979 Christmas television special. In addition to the version on the single release, another very different cut exists (on CD) with congas played by Tour of Life drummer

and slide whistles on the rhythm track. Neither has ever appeared on a Kate Bush album, except for the ''This Woman's Work'' box set, but both have managed to find their way on to various Christmas compilations. The B-side was "Warm and Soothing", a simple piece of Bush singing with just her piano accompaniment. In this sense it was similar in style to "In the Warm Room" and "Feel It" from her first two albums. This was the first song she recorded at

Abbey Road Studios Abbey Road Studios (formerly EMI Recording Studios) is a recording studio at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music c ...

. Initial pressings of the 7" single have "Cut by Chris Blair", "Songs & arrangements by Kate Bush", and "Cover by Nick Price" centered on the rear sleeve. Reissues have these acknowledgements spread out across the bottom. Originals also have "Happy Christmas" etched into the dead wax on Side A. The song was featured on the 12" single of "

Experiment IV "Experiment IV" is a song by the English singer Kate Bush. It was released as a single on 27 October 1986, in order to promote Bush's greatest hits album ''The Whole Story''. The single peaked at 23 in the UK Singles Chart, simultaneously with " ...

" and later on the second of two CD editions of the "

Moments of Pleasure "Moments of Pleasure" is a song written and recorded by British musician Kate Bush, released in November 1993 as the third single from Bush's seventh studio album, '' The Red Shoes'' (1993). The song peaked at number 26 on the UK Singles Chart. ...

" single in 1993 and had a slightly different mix. In 2005 the song was included on

Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist and composer. Commonly nicknamed the "Rocket Man" after his 1972 hit single of the same name, John has led a commercially successful career a ...

's Christmas album, ''

Elton John's Christmas Party ''Elton John's Christmas Party'' is a Christmas-themed compilation album from English musician Elton John. It features his 1973 Christmas single, "Step into Christmas", and a new duet with Joss Stone, "Calling It Christmas". According to John's i ...

''.

Charts

References

{{authority control Kate Bush songs 1980 singles British Christmas songs Songs written by Kate Bush 1980 songs EMI Records singles