Discount Christmas CDs have become something of a subgenre unto themselves over the years. You know, an artist releases one or more Christmas album over the years and then, when they've pretty much run their course, a bargain "Christmas best of" surfaces later. With artists like Bing or Frank, this makes a lot of sense. The diehard fans will probably go for the more fullpriced (and more complete) versions, but the curious (often younger consumers who might want to check out the stars of yesteryear) are just as well served by the discount 'samplers.'

In the case of Cyndi Lauper, well, it's a bit more complicated. She only did the one Christmas album (MERRY CHRISTMAS...HAVE A NICE LIFE) and it wasn't all THAT long ago (1998, which may seem like an eternity to some, but believe me, I'm Cyndi's age and at this point in life six years ain't hardly nothin'--as they might put in Queens). Why a discount so soon, you may well ask, especially, when the list price for the original is hardly what you'd call prohibitive (at least by current pricings)?

I can't say. Still, in the spirit of Christmas, I'm recommending both releases to fans of the spirited Ms Lauper. As one poster below noted, this collection includes two very rare tracks "Heading for the Moon" (a "b" side from the 80s) and European hit "The World Is Stone," which has heretofore never been available in the US except as an import.

There is nothing especially "Christmassy" about either of these tracks--except that it's a pleasant yuletide surprise to have them available at last--AND AT A DISCOUNTED PRICE. And I suppose that only a real Scrooge would complain at all that the track "Feels Like Christmas" makes its third appearance on a distinct CD. It was on HAT FULL OF STARS, the first Christmas release and now this. But hey, it's a wonderful little tune, and since none of the albums its appeared on so far went triple platinum, it's nice that maybe a few more listeners will get to discover it. Maybe they'll decide to purchase some of the other stuff too.

The zydeco and calypso feel of many of the tracks orignially from the '98 release make for a novelty Christmas record in the best sense. Cyndi is constantly experimenting, and her Christmas songs have an unselfconsious and playful multicultural feel that expresses her actual openhearted sensibility to a T.

And to Ryan in Astoria, it should come as no surprise that other reviewers who post here are from Queens (I'm not, as it happens, but I visit friends there a lot.) Hey, Cyndi Lauper is the Queen of Queens. And the Queen of the Christmas Conga Ball too.

Well this album is very similar to the Merry Christmas ... Have A Nice Life cd. It has 6 of the songs on that album plus 2 more. The World Is Stone, which went to number two in France and was never released here in the states and Heading For The Moon. Other then those two songs she still has the great songs from the other cd like Minnie And Santa and the bouncy Christmas Conga. I thought it was wierd the other person who reviewed this album is from Astoria too. I guess she has a fan club here lol.

This is just a cut-down version of her 1998 "Merry Christmas....Have a Nice Life" album. No new tracks and it doesn't even all the tracks from the 1998 album. Don't get me wrong, the music is good, but do yourself a favor and get "...Have a Nice Life" - it's the better album. Cyndi Lauper's Christmas tracks are some of the best modern pop Christmas music I've listened to - a must have for the Christmas season.