Absolute Torch and Twang

Absolute Torch and Twang is the third album by k.d. lang and the Reclines, released in 1989.

Absolute Torch and Twang
Studio album by k.d. lang and the Reclines
Released	1989 (1989)
Studio	Vancouver Studios (Vancouver, BC)[1]
Genre	Country
Length	41:31
Label	Sire, Warner Bros.
Producer	Greg Penny, k.d. lang, Ben Mink
k.d. lang chronology
Shadowland (1988) Absolute Torch and Twang (1989) Ingénue (1992)

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Chicago Sun-Times	[3]
Chicago Tribune	[4]
Los Angeles Times	[5]
NME	7/10[6]
Q	[7]
Record Mirror	5/5[8]
Rolling Stone	[9]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[10]
The Village Voice	B+[11]

Fred Dellar of Hi-Fi News & Record Review gave the best rating to the album and said that "Canuck has fashioned yet another album that crosses borderlines and blends various aspects of country music with the sounds stemming from a late night, 40's jukebox".^[12]

Track listing

All tracks written by k.d. lang and Ben Mink, except where noted.

No.	Title	Music	Length
1.	"Luck in My Eyes"		4:10
2.	"Three Days"	Willie Nelson	3:17
3.	"Trail of Broken Hearts"		3:24
4.	"Big Boned Gal"		3:08
5.	"Didn't I"		3:39
6.	"Walflower Waltz"		4:22
7.	"Full Moon Full of Love"	Leroy Preston Jeannie Smith	2:49
8.	"Pullin' Back the Reins"		4:23
9.	"Big, Big Love"	Kenneth Carroll Wynn Stewart	2:29
10.	"It's Me"		2:20
11.	"Walkin' in and Out of Your Arms"		3:03
12.	"Nowhere to Stand"	k.d. lang	4:27
Total length:			41:31

Personnel

Musicians

• k.d. lang – acoustic guitar, guitar, vocals
• Graham Boyle – percussion, tambourine, claves, spoons
• Michael Creber – piano
• John Dymond – bass
• The Five Blind Boys of Alabama – background vocals, voices
• Greg Leisz – steel guitar, slide guitar
• Gordie Matthews – acoustic guitar, guitar, electric guitar
• Ben Mink – organ, acoustic guitar, guitar, mandolin, strings, violin, electric guitar, mandola, bowed bass
• David Piltch – fretless bass, bowed bass
• Michel Pouliot – drums
• Ed Thigpen – drums

Production

• Producers: Greg Penny, k.d. lang, Ben Mink

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1989–1990) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[13] 81 Canadian Albums (RPM) 29 Canadian Country Albums (RPM) 8 US Billboard 200[14] 69 US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[15] 12

Year-end charts Chart (1989) Position US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[16] 44 Chart (1990) Position US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[17] 16

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[18]	Gold	35,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[19]	Platinum	100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[20]	Silver	60,000^
United States (RIAA)[21]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Awards

Grammy Awards

Year	Winner	Category
1989	Absolute Torch and Twang	Best Female Country Vocal Performance