When I heard that another Cyndi Lauper best-of album was going to be released, my first question was whether this new collection would measure up to her previous best-of collections, especially 12 Deadly Cyns...And Then Some. Well I can tell you that it certainly does. Essential Cyndi Lauper, in my opinion, comes the closest to being the ideal Cyndi collection available. But before I go on, I thought it would be helpful to first give a track listing (taken from her official website) since there doesn't seem to be one here:

1) Girls Just Want To Have Fun

The first thing I noticed about this collection is that it offers *all 6* of the smash hits from She's So Unusual. That alone is a major plus when it comes to a Cyndi Lauper collection. I would have liked to see "What's Going On" on this disc instead of "Change Of Heart," as I think that song better represents the True Colors album. But oh well, "True Colors" is here, and that's the biggest hit from her sophmore release. Yet again, only "I Drove All Night" is included from Cyndi's highly underrated A Night To Remember album. The powers-that-be still think that this song is the only worthy one off that album. But we know better, don't we?

Another thing worth mentioning about this collection is that it offers songs from both Hat Full Of Stars and Sisters Of Avalon. Whether you agree or disagree that the songs here representing those albums are the best selections, it's nice to see some songs from Cyndi's lesser-known (but still great) albums here.

And of course, my review wouldn't be complete without saying that "The Goonies 'R' Good Enough" has FINALLY been included in an official domestic best-of collection. Until now, one had to spend quite a lot of money to get this song from the import collections or the (also pricy, not to mention hard to find) Goonies soundtrack. The inclusion of "The Goonies" here will surely make a lot of Cyndi fans quite pleased. I think it's a tragedy that "Hole In My Heart (All The Way To China)" is again not included in a Cyndi Lauper best-of compilation. If it had been, I would have given this album 5 stars without a second thought. So if you want that song, you'll need to find the Japanese version of 12 Deadly Cyns or A Night To Remember: it's a bonus track on both of those albums.

All in all though, this Cyndi Lauper collection doesn't disappoint and delivers. Highly recommended.

Cyndi Lauper has been another one of the most successful female solo artists of the early 80s. Her career started to take a fall with the release of 1989 album, A Night To Remember. After the unwanted failure of A Night To Remember (1989). In 1993, Cyndi released another album that failed entitled, Hat Full Of Stars.

In 2003, she was able to release, The Essential Cyndi Lauper, her second greatest hits compilation since Twelve Deadly Cyns ...And Then Some (1994). I definitely call it a must-have album.

GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN

MONEY CHANGES EVERYTHING

WHO LET IN THE RAIN

SHE BOP

TIME AFTER TIME

I DROVE ALL NIGHT

HAT FULL OF STARS

CHANGE OF HEART

SISTERS OF AVALON

ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT

WHEN YOU WERE MINE

TRUE COLORS

UNHOOK THE STARS

THE GOONIES 'R' GOOD ENOUGH

If you are a Cyndi Lauper fan, then you need to buy a copy of this collection. It's worth all the money you pay and you are guaranteed to be impressed.

Both collections are 14 tracks, and both have the "essential" songs, but my vote is for this one. The other tracks on "Twelve Deadly Cyns" are good, but not as strong as the ones here. Specifically, this cd has "Who Let In The Rain", "When You Were Mine", and "Hat Full Of Stars", which the other does not. The other big inclusion here is "The Goonies 'R' Good Enough", which will make alot of people happy. Anyone who really misses "What's Going On", "Hole In My Heart (all the way to china)", and others, may want to order the "36 All Time Favorites" import. Overall though, if you're looking for an affordable single disc collection, I'd say this one IS the "Essential Cyndi Lauper".

First, I think you should buy this CD if you like Cyndi Lauper at all---she's a completely unique and powerful singer, a sometimes gifted songwriter and a smart, outspoken survivor.

That said, I'm not totally on board with this collection.

She's no longer on Epic, so probably they didn't worry much about pleasing her. What could have been a long overdue COMPLETE kind of collection is more a sturdy and unimaginatively arranged grouping of some of her absolute must-have tracks with very few surprises.

Cyndi's early work sounds a little dated, yet its appeal is undeniable--there are 6 tracks from SHE'S SO UNUSUAL here. I'm glad "All Through the Night" was included as you might expect it would be overlooked. From later CDs, it's more like one-track-per, and the set ends with a shocker--the inclusion of "(The Goonies 'R') Good Enough."

My reluctance to rave is not that[garbage]was included (the only song I truly dislike that made it on is "Who Let In the Rain," (which I really think is a bad song badly sung, maybe the only song she's ever NOT sung brilliantly). But I would gladly swap "When U Were Mine" for any number of more un-u-su-al (insert Cyndi laughter) songs that are missing:

"Hole in My Heart (That Goes All the Way to China)" from VIBES is so needed. It's a fantastically fun song from a terrible movie in which Cyndi's acting was nonetheless quite good. It's a song many fans probably don't own. I'm sure Epic could have gotten it on there.

Where are such obvious M.I.A.s as "Come On Home" and "That's What I Thinik?" Her non-Epic "Shine" could have been licensed (I'm reaching there). And with so, so many from SHE'S SO UNUSUAL, where on earth is "What's Goin' On?" or "My First Night Without You?"

Less glaring and more my own personal picks, and for your humble consideration, howzabout..."Right Track, Wrong Train" the exquisite B-side to "GJWHF"; "Maybe He'll Know" (or any other Blue Angel stuff, but I included that since it was legitimately included on an Epic CD); "Boy Blue?" "Heading West?" "Sally's Pigeons?" ""Hey Now (Girls Just Want to Have Fun)?"

Even without these, the collection shows off Cyndi's vocal artistry...but she deserves a really juicy "Essential" collection that has more flair and that has the brains to INCLUDE "Goonies"...but not use it as the finale.

A very good CD that I feel most people would enjoy. Pleasant on the ear and good melody. Yes it is up there.