(Used) CYNDI LAUPER cd collection Twelve Deadly Cyns... And Then Some True Colors
Cyndi Lauper emerged in the early 1980s with an unmistakable combination of new-wave colour, theatrical personality and serious vocal ability. Her playful image sometimes disguised the emotional depth of her music, which moved easily between dance-pop, rock, soul and intimate ballads.
These three CDs combine an essential studio album with two regional editions of the same career-spanning compilation. The Japanese version is particularly interesting for its additional material.
Twelve Deadly Cyns… and Then Some
Released in 1994, Twelve Deadly Cyns… and Then Some gathers Lauper’s most important recordings from her first four studio albums.
The collection includes “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “Time After Time,” “She Bop,” “All Through the Night,” “Change of Heart,” “True Colors” and “I Drove All Night.” Later songs such as “That’s What I Think” and “Sally’s Pigeons” demonstrate her more mature songwriting.
It also contains three then-new recordings: “I’m Gonna Be Strong,” the reggae-influenced “Come On Home” and “Hey Now (Girls Just Want to Have Fun),” a lively reworking of her signature hit.
The most convenient introduction to Cyndi Lauper’s early career.
Twelve Deadly Cyns… and Then Some (Japan Press, No OBI)
The Japanese edition offers the same central overview while expanding the programme beyond the common international release.
Alongside the major hits and new recordings, this edition includes additional songs such as “Who Let in the Rain,” “The World Is Stone” and the Japanese bonus track “Hole in My Heart (All the Way to China).” The latter originally appeared in connection with Lauper’s 1988 film Vibes and is absent from many other editions.
Collectors who already own the regular CD may still want this version for its longer track selection and regional bonus material.
True Colors (Japan Press, No OBI)
Released in 1986, True Colors followed the enormous success of She’s So Unusual. It presents a more controlled and emotionally mature Cyndi Lauper without abandoning her colourful pop personality.
“Change of Heart,” featuring backing vocals from the Bangles, opens the album with considerable energy. The title track became one of Lauper’s defining performances, while her interpretation of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” places its social message within a contemporary pop arrangement.
“Boy Blue,” “Calm Inside the Storm” and “The Faraway Nearby” explore more reflective territory, while “911” and the traditional “Iko Iko” retain her eccentric sense of fun.
A concise and varied album that proves Lauper’s artistry extended well beyond her remarkable debut.