k.d. lang
Country of origin:
Canada
Type of music generally:
Country, torch, alternative pop
Status:
Most recent release, Case/Lang/Veirs (with Neko Case and Laura Veirs, 2016); most recent release of solo material, Sing It Loud (2011)
See also:
k.d. lang 's site
Comparisons:
Patsy Cline
Covers/own material:
Covers and own
General comments:
k.d. lang has courage, humour, vitality, and a big big voice. (fleur)
Recommended first album:
Most ectophiles seem to like Ingénue best
Recordings:
- A Truly Western Experience (1984)
- Angel With a Lariat (1987)
- Shadowland (1988)
- Absolute Torch and Twang (1989)
- Ingénue (1992)
- Even Cowgirls Get The Blues (soundtrack, 1993)
- All You Can Eat (1995)
- Drag (1997)
- Invincible Summer (2000)
- Live By Request (live, 2001)
- Hymns of the 49th Parallel (2004)
- Watershed (2008)
- Sing It Loud (2011)
- Case/Lang/Veirs (with Neko Case and Laura Veirs, 2016)
Shadowland
Release info:
1988—Sire—7599-25724-2
Availability:
Wide on release
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for country fans
Group members:
k.d. lang—vocals
Guest artists:
David Angell—violin
George Binkley—violin
John Borg—viola
Harold Bradley—bass guitar, ukulele, banjo, gut string guitar
Jimmy Capps—rhythm guitar
Roy Christensen—cello
Doug Clements—vocals
Conni Ellisor—violin
Buddy Emmons—steel guitar
Jim Ferguson—vocals
Carl Gorodetzky—violin
Rob Hajacos—fiddle
Buddy Harman—drums
Jim Horn—sax
Tony LaMarchina—cello
Lee Larrison—violin
Brenda Lee—vocals
Loretta Lynn—vocals
Ted Madsen—violin
Bob Mason—cello
Neal Matthews—vocals
Bill McElhiney—string arrangement
Tony Migliore—piano, accordion
Dennis Molchan—violin
Roger Morris—piano
Louis Nunley—vocals
Hargus "Pig" Robbins—piano
Hal Rugg—Steel guitar
Pamela Sixfin—violin
Buddy Spicher—fiddle
Gordon Stoker—vocals
Henry Strzelecki—bass
Gary Vanosdale—viola
Pete Wade—electric guitar
Kitty Wells—vocals
Duane West—vocals
Hurshel Wiginton—vocals
Produced by:
Owen Bradley
Comments:
The album seriously exceeds my tolerance for country music. I suspect k.d. lang can do much better than this, though (as evidenced by the "Calling All Angels" duet from Until the End of the World soundtrack). (jbr@casetech.dk)
Ingénue
Release info:
1992—Sire
Availability:
Wide on release
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for country/torch fans
Group members:
k.d. lang—guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin, percussion, tamboura, vocals
Guest artists:
Teddy Borowiecki—accordion, keyboards, piano, santur
Graham Boyle—percussion, tambourine, tympani
Gary Burton—marimba, vibraphone
Sal Ferreras—percussion
Ingrid Friesen—pizzicato, violin
John Friesen—cello
Martin Laba—pizzicato, violin
Greg Leisz—steel guitar, lap steel guitar, pedal steel
Sue Leonard—vocals, backing vocals
Ben Mink—bass, beat box, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, percussion, programming, string arrangements, viola, violin
Greg Penny—beat box, percussion, programming
David Piltch—bass, acoustic bass, electric bass, fretless bass
Myron Schultz—clarinet
Randall Stoll—drums
Rosel Zech—vocals, backing vocals
Produced by:
k.d. lang, Ben Mink, Greg Penny
Comments:
Hardly a weak song on this album, the first in k.d. lang's "new direction" away from her country roots. Haunting songs that convey a sense of a steely determination tackling a complicated life head on. A tremendously rewarding listening experience. More please! (nightwol@dircon.co.uk)
Even Cowgirls Get The Blues
Release info:
1993—Sire
Availability:
Wide on release
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
k.d. lang—guitar, vocals
Guest artists:
Lincoln Adler—alto sax
Jeff Berlin—bass
Teddy Borowiecki—accordion, keyboards
John Friesen—cello
Les July—bass
Annie King—sackbut
Steve Kujala—flute
Greg Leisz—steel guitar
Mike Lent—bass
Dennis Marcenko—bass
Ben Mink—guitar, strings
Dean Parks—guitar
Ann Patterson—trumpet
David Piltch—bass
Tom Ralls—trombone
Chris Stephens—banjo
Randall Stoll—drums
Greg Wells—percussion
Produced by:
Susan Herrick, k.d. lang, Ben Mink, Marc Moss
Comments:
k.d. lang's soundtrack to Gus Van Sant's adaptation of Tom Robbins' novelit's more than "just" a soundtrack. (vickie@enteract.com)
All You Can Eat
Release info:
1995—Warner
Availability:
Wide on release
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
k.d. lang—banjo, harmonica, harp, keyboards, vocals
Guest artists:
Teddy Borowiecki—Fender Rhodes, keyboards, organ, piano, synthesizer
Graham Boyle—percussion
John Friesen—cello
Ben Mink—bass, guitar, keyboards, ukulele, viola, violin
David Piltch—bass
Randall Stoll—drums
Produced by:
k.d. lang and Ben Mink
Comments:
I've always liked k.d., even when she was doing country. This is actually the first album of hers that I've been able to hold on to and listen through. So far, I like it. It's a little mellow, but k.d.'s voice is as gorgeous as ever. (stevev@hexadecimal.uoregon.edu)The art work I find to be uninspiring and it doesn't seem to match the material at all—the art work's kind of a hip-hop mishmash of pop culture—the songs are much like those on ingénue, but don't seem to have as much punch. The lyrics seem to be her most frank. Will have to listen to this a few more times before I give a final judgment—right now I'll just have to say nice—but not particularly exciting. (jjhanson@att.net)
Drag
Release info:
1o997—Warner
Availability:
Wide on release
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
k.d. lang
Guest artists:
Teddy Borowieckl—accordion, keyboards, piano
Kevin Breit—banjo, guitar
Kimberly Brewer—backing vocals
Lisa Coleman—keyboards
Antony Cooke—cello
Larry Corbett—cello
Suzi Datayama—cello
Bruce Dukov—violin
Henry Ferber—violin
Ron Folsom—violin
Benji Gavabedian—violin
Connie Grauer—piano
Portia Griffin—backing vocals
Jimmie Haskell—conducting, orchestration
Jon Hassell—trumpet
Pat Johnson—violin
Karen Jones—violin
Dennis Karmazyn—cello
Ray Kelley—cello
Jerry Kessler—cello
Marva King—backing vocals
Abe Laboriel, Jr.—drums
Greg Leisz—pedal steel
Gayle Levant—harp
Joe Lovano—saxophone
Joy Lyle—violin
Wendy Melvoin—guitar
Sid Page—violin
David Piltch—bass
Barbara Porter—cello
Jay Rosen—violin
David Torn—guitar, kotar
Kim Zick—drums
Produced by:
k.d. lang, Craig Street
Comments:
I almost didn't buy this album until I finally realized that the main reason I didn't was because I'm not fond of cigarettes, and couldn't imagine a whole album with smoking as a theme. However, the album far outweighs her last effort, All You Can Eat, and shows off her lovely voice in some great arrangements. The highlights for me are the Siberry-penned "H'Ain't it Funny?" and the straight-faced but campy "Theme from the Valley of the Dolls." (jjhanson@att.net)
Thanks to Jens P. Tagore Brage for work on this entry.
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