When Cyndi Lauper just wants to have fun, she heads for country music! Lauper has selected a dozen songs–some you’ll recognize, like Patsy Cline classics “Walkin’ after Midnight” and “I Fall to Pieces;” some you’ll love for having her introduce you to them; and each one is a classic in its own right. These are songs from when there were no crossover artists or hits. Country was country, pop was pop and, even though the artists might record in different genres, there was no Southern Rock: this was real-deal heartache, love, and lust, and good plain fun.
Lauper gets some great folks to work with her here, too, my particular favorites on this album being “Detour,” featuring the clear beauty of Emmy Lou Harris’ vocals, as well as Willie Nelson on “Night Life,” and Jewel on “I Want to Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart.” My favorites overall, right now, might be her opening number, Wanda Jackson’s “Funnel of Love,” perfect for summer, and her take on “Hard Candy Christmas,” from “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” after Dolly Parton, featuring Alison Kraus, where my senses of joy and the bittersweet nature of life were both keenly activated at the same time. Get the new CD on Sire Records and tickets now for her nationwide “Detour”-tour, and get going on the dime-hike of your life–it’s gonna be an awesome ride!