"wuthering heights" was finally released on 20 january 1978, being immediately playlisted by capital radio and entering their chart at no. 39 on 27 january 1978. it crept into the national top 50 in the week ending 11 february 1978 at no. 42. the following week it rose to no. 27, and bush made her first appearance on "top of the pops". the song was finally added to radio one's playlist the following week and became one of the most played records on radio. in 1986, the first pressings of her first compilation album erroneously stated the release date for this single as 4 november 1977.