Cyndi Lauper Collection CD

This box set compiles three of Cyndi Lauper's most well-known and beloved records: She's So Unusual, True Colors, and Hat Full of Stars. The 35 songs found on these three discs span the most important years of Lauper's evolution as an artist, from freaked-out pop star hell-bent on pushing the creative pop envelope to its hilt to more introspective and contemplative moments. A wide range of her most well-known songs are here, including "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," "True Colors," and "Time After Time," but there are also other fan favorites like her cover of Prince's "When You Were Mine" and "She Bop." While most people would be just as well off to make the more economically sensible purchase of a greatest-hits compilation, those looking for the complete records remastered with bonus tracks would be well served by checking this out. ~ Rob Theakston

3 LPs on 3 CDs: SHE'S SO UNUSUAL (1983)/TRUE COLORS (1986)/HAT FULL OF STARS (1993).

Personnel: Cyndi Lauper (vocals, recorder); Eric Bazilian (guitar, saxophone, bass guitar, background vocals); Neil Jason (guitar, bass guitar); Rick DiFonzo, William Wittman, Carlos Alomar (guitar); Peter Wood (keyboards, synthesizer, drum programming); Rob Hyman (keyboards, background vocals); Jeff Bova, Marv de Peyer (keyboards); Richard Termini (synthesizer); Kevin Jenkins (bass guitar); Anton Fig (drums, percussion); Bashiri Johnson (congas); Rick Chertoff (percussion); Jimmy Bralower (drum programming); Ellie Greenwich, Georgia Jones, Junior Vasquez (background vocals).