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Hymns of the 49th Parallel is the ninth studio album by the Canadian singer and songwriter k.d. lang, released in 2004. It is an album of songs by lang's favourite Canadian songwriters, and also includes a new version of her original composition "Simple" that initially appeared on her 2000 album Invincible Summer.

Title

The album's title refers to the Canada–United States border as the 49th parallel defines much of the international boundary between the two countries.

Track listing

  1. "After the Gold Rush" (Neil Young) – 4:00
  2. "Simple" (k.d. lang, David Piltch) – 3:02
  3. "Helpless" (Neil Young) – 4:15
  4. "A Case of You" (Joni Mitchell) – 5:12
  5. "The Valley" (Jane Siberry) – 5:31
  6. "Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen) – 5:01
  7. "One Day I Walk" (Bruce Cockburn) – 3:24
  8. "Fallen" (Ron Sexsmith) – 2:56
  9. "Jericho" (Joni Mitchell) – 3:45
  10. "Bird on a Wire" (Leonard Cohen) – 4:28
  11. "Love is Everything" (Jane Siberry) – 5:43

Personnel

  • k.d. lang – vocals
  • Teddy Borowiecki – piano, accordion, keyboard
  • Clayton Cameron – drums
  • Larry Corbett – cello
  • Brian Dembow – viola
  • Eumir Deodato – conductor
  • Stephen Erdody – cello
  • Cynthia Fogg – viola
  • Tiffiany Yi Hu – violin
  • Armen Ksadjikian – cello
  • Ben Minkacoustic guitar, fiddle, electric guitar
  • Ralph Morrison – violin, concert master
  • Sara Parkins – violin
  • David Piltch – electric bass guitar, acoustic bass guitar
  • David Stenske – violin
  • Cecilia Tsan – cello

Production

  • Producers: k.d. lang, Ben Mink
  • Engineer: David Leonard
  • Mixing: David Leonard
  • Mastering: Bob Ludwig
  • Digital editing: Ben Mink
  • Assistant: John Morrical
  • Technical assistance: David Eaman, John Musgrave, Russell Nash
  • String arrangements: Eumir Deodato
  • Contractor: David Sherr
  • Copyist: Tom Calderaro
  • Cover photo: Andy Goldsworthy
  • Photography: Jeri Heiden, John Heiden

Charts

Chart (2004)Peak position
Charts Chart (2004) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA) 3 Canadian Albums Chart 2 Dutch Mega Albums Chart 90 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) 23 United States Billboard 200 37Year-end charts Chart (2004) Position Australian Albums Chart 44 Chart (2005) Position Australian Albums Chart 85
Australian Albums (ARIA)3
Canadian Albums Chart2
Dutch Mega Albums Chart90
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)23
United States Billboard 20037
Chart (2004)Position
Australian Albums Chart44
Chart (2005)Position
Australian Albums Chart85

Certifications

RegionCertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)2× Platinum140,000^
Canada (Music Canada)Platinum100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)Silver60,000‡
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

External links