Angel With a Lariat

by k.d. lang, k.d. lang and the Reclines

Overview

k.d. lang's first major-label album (and debut American release) was a bit of a switch from the polished retro-country of her best-known work; with Dave Edmunds in the producer's chair, Angel with a Lariat often sounds more like rockabilly or roots rock than classic C&W, with a big, snappy drum sound, plenty of guitars mixed upfront, and lots of slapback of lang's vocals (a production decision lang mentioned with little enthusiasm several years after the album came out). "Turn Me Around" and "High Time for a Detour" rock significantly harder than most of lang's body of work, and "Watch Your Step Polka," "Diet of Strange Places," and "Tune Into My Wave" find lang and her band (who are in fine form throughout) indulging her sly sense of humor, which tended to get lost in the shuffle on later albums such as Ingenue. While the production and arrangements tend not to focus on the subtleties of lang's voice (with the exception of the weepy closer, "Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray"), she's one heck of a belter on this set, with a set of pipes as big as all outdoors. And the cover of the old Lynn Anderson chestnut "Rose Garden" actually tops the original. Fast, fresh, and funny, Angel with a Lariat may not be k.d. lang's best album, but it's probably the best one to put on at a party -- it's got a good beat, and you can dance to it. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	09/10/2021
Label:	Nonesuch / Warner Records
UPC:	0075992544115
Rank:	78736

Tracks

1. Turn Me Around
2. High Time for a Detour
3. Diet of Strange Places
4. Got the Bull by the Horns
5. Watch Your Step Polka
6. Rose Garden
7. Tune Into My Wave
8. Angel With a Lariat
9. Pay Dirt
10. Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray

Album Credits

Performance Credits

k.d. lang and the Reclines   Primary Artist,Vocals (Background)
k.d. lang   Primary Artist,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
B.J. Cole   Guest Artist,Guitar (Steel)
Dave Edmunds   Guest Artist,Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Teddy Borowiecki   Accordion,Keyboards
Keith Nelson   Banjo
Gordie Matthews   Guitar
Ben Mink   Guitar,Violin,Mandolin
Roy Dodds   Drums
Michel Pouliot   Drums
Dennis Marcenko   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Ben Matik   Mandolin

Technical Credits

Teddy Borowiecki   Composer
Billy Jones   Composer
Eddie Miller   Composer,Composer,Lyricist
Joe South   Composer
W.S. Stevenson   Composer,Lyricist
Dave Edmunds   Producer
Gordie Matthews   Composer
Ben Mink   Composer
Carey Taylor   Engineer
k.d. lang   Composer,Lyricist,Performer
Dennis Marcenko   Composer
Amos Boyd   Composer
k.d. lang and the Reclines   Performer