Budget line compilations are a different animal from traditional "best of" or "greatest hits" albums. They usually have one or two clear cut hits mixed in with oddball, out-of-left-field tracks that may leave some listeners scratching their heads and others making delightful new discoveries.

As a career overview, WANNA HAVE FUN is a lot sketchier than Cyndi Lauper's earlier compilation, 12 DEADLY CYNS...AND THEN SOME or some of the foreign releases currently available, but it's all the more effective for it. People who may have purchased one of those "best of" packages can still invest in this one for an additional taste of what Lauper was up to musically for the period from 1983-'93. It's only a sampler, to be sure, but it may broaden the perspective of some listeners who still think that Cyndi was just about "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" and, maybe, "Time After Time" and "True Colors."

Indeed the latter two tracks are not even included here. The only track other than "Girls" that was a significant hit was "Money Changes Everything" and the only remaining track that was even released as a single is "That's What I Think." On the other hand, this collection is actually a fairer sampling of her work with at least two songs taken from each of the four albums released in the decade between '83 and '93. Some of Lauper's critics faulted DEADLY CYNS for including so many tracks from SHE'S SO UNUSUAL and suggesting that that fact alone was a tacit admission that she had not done much of real interest since her solo debut.

Well, they are wrong, but you can see how CYNS' selections might lend their arguments some credence. This budget release serves as something as a corrective in that regard. Two cuts from the very underrated NIGHT TO REMEMBER (the emotive title track, which should have been released as a single, and the loads-of-fun dance number "Dancing With a Stranger") may help rehabilitate that record's reputation among those who may have swallowed what seems to have become the standard critical line (that it was too poppy). In fact, there is some hope that, in its humble way, this "special product" will demonstrate a versatility and consistency that will surprise many who may have written Cyndi Lauper off by '87. G'wan! You can spare the ($$$)bucks. Check this record out!

There's a good chance you won't just stop there.

Was this album done to fulfill her contract with Sony? Did Cyndi really pick these songs? (If so, was she in the midst of morning sickness at the time?) It contains mostly songs that were fillers from other albums. "Dancing With a Stranger" and "Dear John" are Cyndi at her worst. The other songs (with the exception of "Money," "Girls," "When U Were Mine" and "Someone Like Me" -- all gems) are mediocre. Cyndi's newer material is much stronger.

Hey, who cares if this CD doesn't have any new songs? It's an interesting collection anyway. I love it because it's Cyndi and I don't need no more reasons to buy this album.

However, if you're not familiar with work of Cyndi (you're not a Shebopper yet), do yourself a favor and buy "Twelve Deadly Cyns" DVD (Amazon.com offers a VERY good deal). It contains some of her greatest music videos. You'll have the time of your life while watching this DVD.