06/28/2026
COFFEE WITH LOGAN!
Happy Pride! Here today to talk about k.d. lang & The Reclines’ 1989 album Absolute Torch And Twang. It’s lang’s fourth album overall following 1988’s ‘Shadowland,’ my personal favorite in her discography, and her third with backing band The Reclines after 1987’s half-hour barnburner ‘Angel With A Lariat.’ I was first introduced to k.d. lang on the Pee-Wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special, where she performs the absolute best rendition of ‘Jingle Bell Rock,’ and as I got older, I started diving into her albums. ‘Absolute Torch’ was actually one of the last ones I got my hands on, even after less celebrated but still wonderful albums like 1997’s standards tribute ‘Drag’ and 2004’s late-career slam dunk ‘Hymns Of The 49th Parallel.’ lang pens most of the lyrics on this one, including the standouts ‘Big B***d Gal’ and ‘Didn’t I,’ but also takes on Willie Nelson’s ‘Three Days’ and Wynn Stewart’s ‘Big, Big Love’ with strong performances. Surprisingly, the only song from this album in her streaming Top 20 is ‘Trail Of Broken Hearts,’ a slower heart worn number that maybe evokes the album’s title better than any other track. Giddy up, partners, and throw this one on this week before the unavoidable four-day fireworks kick off.
