Watershed [LP]

Submitted by nonesuch on
Release Date
DescriptionExcerpt

This is the first-ever vinyl release of k.d. lang's 2008 Nonesuch album, Watershed, declared "a masterpiece" by the Times. As the title suggests, Watershed represented a milestone in lang’s career. For the first time, she assumed the role of producer, as well as writer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist. “Watershed is like a culmination of everything I’ve done," lang said; "there’s a little bit of jazz, a little country, a little of the Ingénue sound, a little Brazilian touch. It really feels like the way I hear music, this mash-up of genres, and I think it reflects all the styles that have preceded this in my catalogue. I didn’t feel the need to be genre-specific because this experience felt so wide open."

Description

k.d. lang's acclaimed 2008 Nonesuch album, Watershed, is out on vinyl for the first time on November 20, 2020. Watershed was the first album of newly written material from lang since 2000’s Invincible Summer and her first studio album since 2004's Canadian songbook, Hymns of the 49th Parallel. The Times of London declared it "a masterpiece." The New York Times said: "Few singers command such perfection of pitch. Her voice, at once beautiful and unadorned and softened with a veil of smoke, invariably hits the middle of a note and remains there."

As the title suggests, Watershed represented a milestone in k.d. lang’s groundbreaking career. For the first time, she assumed the role of producer—as well as writer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist—for this album of eleven new songs. lang reunited with longtime collaborators from both the studio and the road on the album: pianist Teddy Borowiecki, bassist David Piltch, steel player Greg Leisz, and guitarist Ben Mink. Jon Hassell makes a guest appearance on trumpet, as does Punch Brothers banjo player Noam Pikelny.

Following her previous albums, Watershed is a much more personal look at k.d. lang and where she found herself at the time. Featuring plenty of musical and lyrical intimations of how she got here, lang explained then that “Watershed is like a culmination of everything I’ve done—there’s a little bit of jazz, a little country, a little of the Ingénue sound, a little Brazilian touch. It really feels like the way I hear music, this mash-up of genres, and I think it reflects all the styles that have preceded this in my catalogue. I didn’t feel the need to be genre-specific because this experience felt so wide open."

ProductionCredits

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Produced by k.d. lang
Additional production on tracks 1, 3-5, 9 by David Piltch
Additional production on track 6, 7, 10 by Teddy Borowiecki
Lynne Earls: recording engineer, pro-tools editing, drum programming, GPS
Strings arranged and conducted by Teddy Borowiecki
Mixed by David Leonard
Assited by Kennie Takahashi
Recorded at: Art Kitchen, The Hut, Jungle Room
Strings recorded and mixed at glenwood studios by david leonard and kennie takahashi

Track 4 composed by k.d. lang; tracks 1, 3, 5, 9, 11 by lang/piltch; tracks 2, 8 by lang/mink; track 6 by lang/piltch/leisz/borowiecki; track 7 by lang/borowiecki; track 10 by lang/borowiecki/meredith

Photography: Jeri Heiden
Art Direction: Jeri Heiden
Design: smog design, inc., John Heiden and Nick Steinhardt

ns_album_releasedate
Album Status
Artist Name
kd lang
MusicianDetails

MUSICIANS
k.d. lang, vocals (1-11), guitars (1, 3-5, 9), keyboards (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9), drum programming (9), harp (10), piano (11), banjo (11)
David Piltch, bass (1-10), guitars (1 3), drum programming (1, 4, 7), drums (3, 5), programming (6), percussion (9)
Teddy Borowiecki, organ (1, 2), vibraphone (2, 7, 9), guitar (6), keyboards (6-10), programming (6), drum programming (7), piano (8)
Greg Leisz, steel guitar (1, 3, 4), guitar (1, 6), electric guitar (8, 9)
Danny Frankel, drums (1, 2, 4, 6-9), percussion (2)
Ben Mink, guitar (2, 8)
Lynne Earls, programming (2, 6, 7)
Noam Pikelny, banjo (3)
Bryan Sutton, guitar (4)
Grecco Buratto, guitar (5)
Jon Hassel, trumpet (9)

reissues?
reissues
Cover Art
UPC/Price
Label
LP+MP3
Price
17.00
UPC
075597917505

Track Listing

News & Reviews

  • "If you know anything about me, accolades and awards and record sales never mattered to me. I will say that this one is pretty meaningful," k.d. lang said following her induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame and her first performance with her band the Reclines in 35 years, at the CCMA Awards in Edmonton on Saturday. "It's all very much rich with sentiment. I‘m filled with absolute joy." She spoke about the honor and her career on CBC News, which says: "Whether it was an original song or a spin on a classic, k.d. lang always brought originality to her music and her life." You can watch both here.

  • "My participation in country music was short lived, but it was the launchpad for my career," k.d. lang tells Talia Schlanger, guest host of CBC's Q, ahead of her reuniting with her band The Reclines for the first time in 35 years to perform on the Canadian Country Music Awards and her being inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame this weekend. "It's nice to be recognized, that I had an impact for that small amount of time ... I'm lit up about it, what can I say? It was a really fun period of my life." You can hear their conversation here.

Buy Now

  • About This Album

    k.d. lang's acclaimed 2008 Nonesuch album, Watershed, is out on vinyl for the first time on November 20, 2020. Watershed was the first album of newly written material from lang since 2000’s Invincible Summer and her first studio album since 2004's Canadian songbook, Hymns of the 49th Parallel. The Times of London declared it "a masterpiece." The New York Times said: "Few singers command such perfection of pitch. Her voice, at once beautiful and unadorned and softened with a veil of smoke, invariably hits the middle of a note and remains there."

    As the title suggests, Watershed represented a milestone in k.d. lang’s groundbreaking career. For the first time, she assumed the role of producer—as well as writer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist—for this album of eleven new songs. lang reunited with longtime collaborators from both the studio and the road on the album: pianist Teddy Borowiecki, bassist David Piltch, steel player Greg Leisz, and guitarist Ben Mink. Jon Hassell makes a guest appearance on trumpet, as does Punch Brothers banjo player Noam Pikelny.

    Following her previous albums, Watershed is a much more personal look at k.d. lang and where she found herself at the time. Featuring plenty of musical and lyrical intimations of how she got here, lang explained then that “Watershed is like a culmination of everything I’ve done—there’s a little bit of jazz, a little country, a little of the Ingénue sound, a little Brazilian touch. It really feels like the way I hear music, this mash-up of genres, and I think it reflects all the styles that have preceded this in my catalogue. I didn’t feel the need to be genre-specific because this experience felt so wide open."

    Credits

    MUSICIANS
    k.d. lang, vocals (1-11), guitars (1, 3-5, 9), keyboards (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9), drum programming (9), harp (10), piano (11), banjo (11)
    David Piltch, bass (1-10), guitars (1 3), drum programming (1, 4, 7), drums (3, 5), programming (6), percussion (9)
    Teddy Borowiecki, organ (1, 2), vibraphone (2, 7, 9), guitar (6), keyboards (6-10), programming (6), drum programming (7), piano (8)
    Greg Leisz, steel guitar (1, 3, 4), guitar (1, 6), electric guitar (8, 9)
    Danny Frankel, drums (1, 2, 4, 6-9), percussion (2)
    Ben Mink, guitar (2, 8)
    Lynne Earls, programming (2, 6, 7)
    Noam Pikelny, banjo (3)
    Bryan Sutton, guitar (4)
    Grecco Buratto, guitar (5)
    Jon Hassel, trumpet (9)

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    Produced by k.d. lang
    Additional production on tracks 1, 3-5, 9 by David Piltch
    Additional production on track 6, 7, 10 by Teddy Borowiecki
    Lynne Earls: recording engineer, pro-tools editing, drum programming, GPS
    Strings arranged and conducted by Teddy Borowiecki
    Mixed by David Leonard
    Assited by Kennie Takahashi
    Recorded at: Art Kitchen, The Hut, Jungle Room
    Strings recorded and mixed at glenwood studios by david leonard and kennie takahashi

    Track 4 composed by k.d. lang; tracks 1, 3, 5, 9, 11 by lang/piltch; tracks 2, 8 by lang/mink; track 6 by lang/piltch/leisz/borowiecki; track 7 by lang/borowiecki; track 10 by lang/borowiecki/meredith

    Photography: Jeri Heiden
    Art Direction: Jeri Heiden
    Design: smog design, inc., John Heiden and Nick Steinhardt