Cyndi Lauper – True Colors – Mofi Vinyl

An all-star cast aids Lauper in shaping what remains a colossally underrated record. Billy Joel (vocals), Adrian Belew (guitar), the Bangles (vocals), Aimee Mann (vocals), Nile Rodgers (guitar), and Rick Derringer (guitar) are among the guests. So is Pee Wee Herman, whose telephone operator role at the conclusion of “911” speaks to the fact that Lauper didn’t abandon her whimsical nature even as she pressed forward. Cajun accents, soulful motifs (“What’s Going On”), and joyous covers of traditional fare (“Iko Iko”) keep the album pleasantly varied and accessibly offbeat.

Of course, Lauper also turns in, with “True Colors,” what’s arguably her career-defining moment, the chart-topping single radiating with gorgeous elegance and graceful phrasing that forced audiences to regard the performer in a different light. For her boldness, Lauper was rewarded with two Grammy nominations and a song that has since been covered by artists such as Phil Collins and appeared as the theme for the 1988 Olympic Games and 2003 Rugby World Cup.