phoenix - the history of the demos

The first recordings:

In 1972/73 Kate recorded several tapes of songs (more than 30 songs per tape, some sources say 60 altogether, Kate once said "...I had, say like 50 songs...". Some said up to 200 songs). 20-30 of these songs were presented via JCB's friend Ricky Hopper, first without success to record companies.

"I was about fifteen. My family thought it would be interesting to see if we could get some of my songs published, I'd written loads of songs. I just used to write one every day or something."

"He (Ricky Hopper) came around to listen to me. I put twenty to thirty of my songs on a tape and he'd take it to record companies. Of course there was no response; you wouldn't be able to hear a thing, just this little girl with a piano going "yaaaa yaaaa" for hours on end... (the songs) weren't that good. They were OK, but..."

Then Ricky Hopper presented the songs to David Gilmour. Gilmour noticed her talent, but also the bad tape recorder quality.

Gilmour: "A friend of mine has a friend who told my friend that his sister was very talented. This friend of mine came to me and said, "My friend has a very talented sister" and would I listen to her. And I said "sure", so I listened to her. I thought she was very good."

The second recordings: ('Gilmour piano session')

This session took place at Kate's house with Gilmour in 1973. Only Kate and piano, with a better recorder. There are at least two Gilmour-interview confirmations about this session (Q and CHEZ Canadian radio). I think this is the session, Kate had in mind, when she said:

"Absolutely terrified and trembling like a leaf, I sat down and played for him."

"He came along to see me and he was great, such a human, kind person - and genuine.

Gilmour: "I did some recording at her house, her parent's house..."

Gilmour: "I know that one of the first songs that I noted was "The Man With the Child in His Eyes", out of many songs that she had written. She was only 14, I think, when I met her, maybe just about 15."

But Gilmour also once said, re this session: "He paid to have Kate go into a studio and re-record some fifty songs over again. (again, apparently, solo with her own piano accompaniment-- not, it seems, with Gilmour and his musician friends at Gilmour's house)." (Q magazine, 1990)

This is a bit confusing. It seems to be sure, that Gilmour visited Kate at her home and listened to her songs. I also think, they recorded something. Did Gilmour visit Kate more than once? Did he bring a recorder at the first meeting? What is this about the piano studio session? It seems unlikely IMHO, to insert yet another session here. Nothing is well confirmed so far.

The third recordings: ('Passing through air' session)

In August 1973 at Gilmour's farm with two "Unicorn" band members: drummer Peter Perrier and bassist Pat Martin, and Dave Gilmour on electric guitar. According to Gilmour (Q) ca. 10-20 songs had been recorded. This tape definitely made it to EMI. Besides 'Passing through air' also the second version of 'Maybe' was recorded.

Kate: "And we went to Dave's for a day, basically. And the bass player and drummer from Unicorn sat down andwe just kind of put a few songs together. I remember it was the first time I'd ever done an overdub with the keyboard - I put this little electric piano thing down, and I remember thinking: 'Ooh! (laughing) I like this!'"

And, well, I mean really it was because of those tracks that I then went on to do the tracks which were then used - two of which were used to go on the first album. As far as I remember the tracks we did with this session in '73... There was a track called "Passing Through Air", which I think went on a b-side -"('Passing through air' appeared as a B-side of Army Dreamers.) The song Maybe:

The version from this session was presented by Kate in part on Personal Call, BBC Radio 1, 1979:
(A portion "Maybe" is played)

Ed: Kate had a very wistful look on her face. Why was that?

K: I was waiting for the flat note in the middle. (Laughs)

Ed: Ah, you mean we faded it just in time!

K: No, you caught it actually, I'm sure... )

Kate 1978 re Maybe: "pretty awful."

1990, Bush Con: "It had a couple of titles..."Maybe". ...there was an - "Humming", it was called as well.")