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
Genre	Country
Length	41:31
Label	Sire, Warner Bros.
Producer	k.d. lang, Ben Mink, Greg Penny
K.d. lang and the Reclines chronology
Shadowland (1988) Absolute Torch and Twang (1989) Ingénue (1992)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Chicago Tribune	[2]
Los Angeles Times	[3]
Q	[4]
Robert Christgau	B+[5]
Rolling Stone	[6]

Track listing

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

Other Personnel

• Greg Penny – Producer
• Willie Nelson – Composer
• Leroy Preston – Composer
• Jeannie Smith – Composer
• Wynn Stewart – Composer
• Kenneth Carroll – Composer

Production

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

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1989–1990) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[7] 81 Canadian Albums (RPM) 29 Canadian Country Albums (RPM) 8 US Billboard 200[8] 69 US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[9] 12

Year-end charts Chart (1989) Position US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[10] 44 Chart (1990) Position US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[11] 16

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions
		CAN Country	CAN	US Country
1989	"Full Moon Full of Love"	1	—	22
	"Three Days"	9	—	55
1990	"Luck in My Eyes"	10	—	—
	"Big Boned Gal"	23	—	—
	"Pulling Back the Reins"	—	—	—
	"Trail of Broken Hearts"	—	87	—

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[12]	Gold	35,000^^
Canada (Music Canada)[13]	Platinum	100,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[14]	Silver	60,000^^
United States (RIAA)[15]	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

References

1. Absolute Torch and Twang at AllMusic
2. Chicago Tribune review
3. Los Angeles Times review
4. Album reviews at CD Universe
5. Robert Christgau Consumer Guide
6. Rolling Stone review
7. "Chartifacts – Week Ending: 26 April 1992 (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 117)". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved February 17, 2017.
8. "k.d. lang Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
9. "k.d. lang Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
10. "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1989". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
11. "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
12. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
13. "Canadian album certifications – k.d. lang and The Reclines – Absolute Torch & Twang". Music Canada. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
14. "British album certifications – k.d. lang – Absolute Torch And Twang". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
15. "American album certifications – k.d. lang & The Reclines – Absolute Torch & Twang". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 2, 2021. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.