Cyndi Lauper singing Country & Western classic songs. You have to admit it’s a strange idea. But, believe it or not, Cyndi Lauper manages to carry this High Concept off. My favorite song on this CD is “Hard Candy Christms” with the wonderful Alison Krauss helping Cyndi out. The only clunker is “Night Life” because Willie Nelson cannot sing anymore, but he tries (and fails) on this song. If you’re in the mood for something different, give Cowgirl Cyndi a try. I’m providing a sample below. GRADE: B+
TRACK LIST:
1. “Funnel of Love” Charlie McCoy · Kent Westbury 3:15
2. “Detour” (featuring Emmylou Harris) Paul Westmoreland 2:55
3. “Misty Blue” Bob Montgomery 3:19
4. “Walkin’ After Midnight” Alan Block · Don Hecht 2:16
5. “Heartaches by the Number” Harlan Howard 3:10
6. “The End of the World” Sylvia Dee · Arthur Kent 3:12
7. “Night Life” (featuring Willie Nelson) Walt Breeland · Paul Buskirk · Willie Nelson 2:58
8. “Begging to You” Marty Robbins 3:24
9. “You’re the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly” (featuring Vince Gill) Lola Jean Dillon · L.E. White 3:42
10. “I Fall to Pieces” Hank Cochran · Howard 3:00
11. “I Want to Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart” (featuring Jewel) Patsy Montana 3:13
12. “Hard Candy Christmas” (featuring Alison Krauss) Carol Hall 3:54
She’s definitely a fine singer and the snippets I heard were pretty good! And let’s face it, Willy Nelson was never a good singer!
Bob, your analysis is right on the money: Cyndi Lauper can sing and Willie Nelson can’t!
That is definitely a “high concept” idea. I love Willie, but no one would ever call him a great singer.
I will have to check her on the two Patsy Cline songs. OK, interesting. “I Fall to Pieces” sounds a lot closer to Patsy, one of the great singers, than I would ever expect. In fact, if I didn’t know it was Cyndi Lauper I doubt I’d have guessed it.
Jeff, I was surprised Cyndi Lauper could sing these classic C&W songs. They’re a far cry from “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”
I like Cyndi Lauper a lot. I’ll be listening to this CD today for sure.
Bill, I think you’ll be surprised–I was–by Cyndi Lauper’s renditions of these wonderful songs!
I was most surprised by “end of the world” she really nailed that one. I liked the ones on the sampler, thanks.
Most of the time, I have a book on cd in the car. For those times the book has ended and I forgot to put another in the car when I was nearing the end, I’ve been playing
the soundtrack from Delovely. Maybe I should start walking again, with a walkman with music.
Maggie, Diane and I listened to an Alexander McCall Smith audiobook on our drive to Ohio to visit Diane’s sister. Loved it!
I’ve enjoyed the McCall Smith’s I’ve listened to.