Girls Just Wanna Have The Blues

Memphis Blues--Cyndi Lauper--Well, you may ask, does she pull it off? Can quirky, perky Cyndi Lauper sing the blues? Yes she can! Passionately and authentically. Clearly, she did her homework. What may strike some listeners more, though, is the work of her backing group and guest stars Allen Toussaint on the piano, B.B. King and Jonny Lang, guitar and vocals, nearly forgotten singer Ann Peebles, and Narrows alum Charlie Musselwhite (in photo, Narrows, 2009), harmonica. And the song choices: Muddy Waters' "Rollin' and Tumblin'" (with Narrows alum Amy Lavere on bass), Robert Johnson's "Crossroads," and other lesser known but inspired choices. "I was very careful to pick songs that were blues but had a soulful, joyful journey, too. They were very human and really depict the times we live in today," she told Elle.com. Recorded in Memphis in March of this year--a quick turnaround for a project by a major artist--Memphis Blues proves this fifty-something girl can still have fun. And so can we.