Hammer Horror

‘Hammer Horror’ was released as a 7″ single only, featuring the song Coffee Homeground on the B-side. There are three officially released versions of ‘Hammer Horror’: the album version and the single version (which omits the sound of the gong at the very end) plus a live version recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon during the Tour of Life in 1979. However, a demo version from 1977 has also surfaced. It appears on the bootleg 7″ single Cathy Demos Volume One and various bootleg CD’s. A promotional video was made for the single, directed by Keef and featuring Bush and a black-masked dancer performing the song against a black background. Kate performed ‘Hammer Horror’ in various places all over the world. Some notable performances include ‘Countdown’ in Australia on October 12, 1978 (a world premiere) and at the San Remo festival in Italy in 1979. On Radio 1’s Round Table on October 27, 1978 the single was reviewed by DJ’s John Peel (“I didn’t like the album at all and I’m not too enthused with this either”) and Paul Gambaccini (“It doesn’t grab me immediately as The Man With The Child In His Eyes “). There were also reviews in the written press. Kate keeps up the formula and doesn’t upset the fans… sounds like Joni Mitchell popping tabs with the LSO. Offbeat, quirky and all that stuff… Ominous post ELO orchestration with the unrequited lust of a broken affair viewed as living dead love-bites-back as in classic 50’s British celluloid, a real nail biter, hypnotic and disconcerting. You stood in the belltower, But now you’re gone So who knows all the sights Of Notre Dame? Who calls me from the other side Of the street? And who taps me on the shoulder? I turn around, but you’re gone