Drag (k.d. lang album)

Drag is a cover album by k.d. lang, released in 1997; most of its songs feature a smoking motif, although some address broader issues of dependence and/or addiction. The cover of Dionne Warwick's "(Theme from) Valley of the Dolls" was notably used in key scenes in the pilot episode and series finale of the Showtime comedy-drama series Nurse Jackie. Lang's cover of "Hain't It Funny" was part of the soundtrack for the 2002 film Talk to Her.^[7]

Reception

In an Allmusic review, Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote, "A collection of covers that are somehow related to smoking, Drag is far more ambitious than the average cover record... lang's rich voice and the measured arrangements make Drag a ringer for Ingénue in places, but the tone is considerably lighter and more humorous, which certainly makes it an enjoyable listen."^[8]

Writing for the Los Angeles Times, Robert Hilburn wrote "The pace is sometimes slow and demanding and a couple of the songs are marginal, but the heart of this album combines mainstream pop accessibility and torch-driven cabaret intimacy in ways that seem absolutely addicting themselves."^[9]

Track listing

Personnel

k.d. lang – vocals
Teddy Borowieckl – piano, accordion, keyboard
Kevin Breit – banjo, guitar
Kimberly Brewer – background vocals
Lisa Coleman – keyboards
Anthony Cooke – cello
Larry Corbett – cello
Suzie Katayama – cello
Bruce Dukov – violin
Henry Ferber – violin
Ron Folsom – violin
Benji Gavabedian – violin
Connie Grauer – piano
Portia Griffin – background vocals
Jimmie Haskell – conductor
Jon Hassell – trumpet
Pat Johnson – violin
Karen Jones – violin
Dennis Karmazyn – cello
Ray Kelley – cello
Jerry Kessler – cello
Marva King – background 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

Production

Producers: k.d. lang, Craig Street
Engineer: Danny Kopelson
Assistant engineer: Doug Boehm
Mixing: Patrick McCarthy
Mixing assistant: Mike Scotella
Mastering: Greg Calbi
Orchestration: Jimmie Haskell
Art direction: Linda Cobb, K.D. Lang
Design: Linda Cobb
Photography: Albert Sanchez

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Drag at AllMusic
^ Kot, Greg (1997-06-13). "K.D. Lang Drag (Warner)". articles.chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2013-04-19.
^ Browne, David (1997-07-13). "Drag Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 11, 2008. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
^ Hilburn, Robert (1997-07-10). "ALBUM REVIEW / POP: Lang's 'Drag' Could Become Addictive". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
^ Holden, Stephen (1997-07-08). "A Torch-Song Anthology About Dangerous Pleasures". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
^ Vincentelli, Elisabeth (1997-06-11). "K.D. Lang: Drag: Music Reviews". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2009-02-11. Retrieved 2013-04-19.
^ "Talk to Her (2002) Soundtracks". IMDb. Retrieved 2014-04-11.
^ Drag - k.d. lang | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2022-03-28
^ "lang's 'Drag' Could Become Addictive". Los Angeles Times. 1997-06-10. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
^ "Australiancharts.com – k.d. lang – Drag". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
^ "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 65, No. 16" (PHP). RPM. June 23, 1997. Retrieved 2013-06-01.
^ "Charts.nz – k.d. lang – Drag". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
^ "k.d. lang > Artists > Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
^ Allmusic - Drag > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums
^ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 1997". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
^ "American album certifications – K.D. Lang – Drag". Recording Industry Association of America.