Angel with a Lariat is one of her earliest albums, and full of some reasonably pleasant self-penned high impact tunes, of which my favourites are Watch Your Step Polka and Tune Into My Wave. What really makes this album for me is the two cover versions. I would sing Rose Garden at a karaoke if a)I ever did karaoke and b) if it was ever an option at the karaokes I don't do. It is immeasurably better than the other version in my collection, by Lynn Anderson. Three Cigarettes In An Ashtray is a soulful and poignant ditty.
Drag is an amazing concept album, one entirely devoted to smoking, which I think was a very brave - or mischievous - disc to bring out in 1997. It would probably be censored by the do-gooders today. Every track is a cover version, and, let's face it, who does covers better than kathy dawn. Even songs like The Joker sound moody and soulful, whereas the original by The Steve Miller Band bugged the bejaysus out of me. The Air That I Breathe leaves me breathless, tingly and swoony.
I don't think I have ever seen the film of Even Cowgirls Get The Blues, so this album was bought sight-unseen, so to speak, Like most film soundtracks, it is a bit patchy, but includes some amazing tracks - Hush Sweet Lover, Sweet Little Cherokee and Curious Soul Astray.
Ingenue is probably her best album, certainly the one with which she broke through with critical acclaim and commercial success. Ideally, it should be played with the lights dimmed. For me, it's great music, to share with a lover, even though the underlying theme is a love that has ended. Probably my favourite track is Miss Chatelaine, but the rest are so superb and mood altering - which is a superior art form to 'good, if I'm in the mood...' that this is definitely a major contender for Gert's top albums of all time!
Shadowland, recorded in 1988, is a collection of cover versions of various country songs, perhaps not the most auspicious description of an album. But the combination of that amazing voice with whining guitar weaves a touch of magic. Highlights include Don't Let the Stars Get In Your Eyes, Tears Don't Care Who Cry Them, I'm Down to My Last Cigarette, and the fabulous Honky Tonk Angels' Medley, featuring Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn, and Kitty Wells.
And finally, a wonderful world, with tony bennett. I still have the price sticker on - is that as big a faux pas as leaving the price sticker on the bottom of your shoes so that when you kneel at the Communion rail* everyone can see how much you paid for your shoes. More distressing is that the stock-control sticker categorises it as "easy". I don't do Easy, all right? It's inspired by Louis Armstrong, and it is definitely moody bluesy. I'm not a fan of Tony Bennett, but his voice seems to provide an interesting contrast with kd's. It would be tempting to dismiss this as dinner party or coffee table music (is there a difference? if so, what?) but you know how much I absolutely adore everything about kd lang's voice so this is active listening. The best track is What a Wonderful World.
*yes, I know, nobody kneels at the Communion rail these days - but, trust me, it's a long time since I've made a habit of going to church.
