At Last

by Cyndi Lauper

Overview

As the girl who just wants to have fun, Cyndi Lauper became an '80s music icon with her flamboyant style, powerful baby-doll voice, and quirky songs, but as time and tastes moved on, her playful persona wore thin and attempts at becoming a more serious artist failed to regain her dwindling audience. With At Last, Lauper steps even further away from that playful image to become the girl who just wants to sing as she tackles a set of pop standards that showcase her underrated voice. Although occasionally shrill and reckless, Lauper's forceful tones can be quite moving and awe-inspiring when corralled into the proper setting, as with her bluesy take on Etta James' "At Last." With its lazy tempo and minimal arrangement, Lauper is able to relax and convey the lyrics in one of her most mature and affecting performances. Even more low-key is the whisper quiet of "Walk on By," in which she turns Dionne Warwick's midtempo gem into a dark tale of mourning by sadly singing the lyrics over a crawling tempo. Getting a Tori Amos-style ballad treatment is the Animals' "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," which lets Lauper's rock roots rise to the surface with her edgy performance. While some of her song choices work, others fall flat, like "La Vie en Rose," in which her slightly ragged reading is too rough for the delicate song. Also misfiring is her corny duet with Tony Bennett, "Makin' Whoopee," where the voices of these two New Yorkers clash like stripes and plaids. Lauper also has a little too much fun with Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs' "Stay," as she reverts back to her boisterous voice of yesteryear and disrupts the mature tone of the disc. Although the results are mixed, At Last does focus on Cyndi Lauper's best asset -- her voice -- and may help to rejuvenate a career in which the personality unfortunately overshadowed the talent. ~ Aaron Latham

Product Details

Release Date:	11/18/2003
Label:	Bmg / Sony Music Entertainment
UPC:	0886977033124

Tracks

1. At Last
2. Walk On By
3. Stay
4. La Vie En Rose
5. Unchained Melody
6. If You Go Away
7. Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)
8. My Baby Just Cares For Me
9. Makin' Whoopee
10. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
11. You've Really Got a Hold On Me
12. Hymn To Love
13. On the Sunny Side of the Street

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Cyndi Lauper   Primary Artist
Tony Bennett   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Sheila E.   Guest Artist,Percussion
Stevie Wonder   Guest Artist,Harmonica
Stacey Shames   Harp
Steve Jordan   Drums
Nancy McAlhany   Violin
Mark Stewart   Cello
Richard Locker   Celli
Jeanne LeBlanc   Celli
Steve Gaboury   Piano,Melodica,Accordion,Keyboards,Organ (Hammond)
Jan Mullen   Violin
Jonathan Dinklage   Violin
Aaron Heick   Flute
Paul Langosch   Bass
Allison Cornell   Viola,Violin
Ben Street   Bass
Don Sebesky   Conductor
Mitch Frohman   Sax (Tenor),Sax (Baritone)
Lawrence Glazener   Bass
Gerard Reuter   Oboe
Paul Woodiel   Violin
Lee Musiker   Piano
Carol Emanuel   Harp
Gray Sargent   Guitar
Joyce Hammann   Violin
Clayton Cameron   Drums
John Walsh   Trumpet
Katherine LiVolsi Stern   Violin
Rob Hyman   Organ (Hammond)
Rob Mathes   Keyboards
Kathleen Dyson   Guitar,Vocal Harmony
Ronnie Cuber   Clarinet (Bass)
Ann Leathers   Violin
Sammy Merendino   Drums
Elena Barere   Violin
William Wittman   Bass
Frederick Zlotkin   Celli
Narcisco Figueroa   Violin
Dan Reagen   Trombone

Technical Credits

C. Paul   Composer
Steve Jordan   Arranger
Dave Bennet   Engineer
George Fullman   Mixing Assistant
Sharon Tucker   Assistant Engineer
Jill Dell'Abate   Contractor,Production Coordination
Rebbecca Arnold   Photo Composites
Rodney Smith   Original Photography
Sean Evans   Art Direction,Photo Composites
Sheila E.   Track Arrangement
Ted Jensen   Mastering
Steve Gaboury   Arranger,Engineer,Flute Arrangement,Piano Arrangement,Track Arrangement,Vocal Arrangement
Sol Marcus   Composer
Clarence Paul   Composer
Jacques Brel   Composer
R. S. Lourgay   Composer
Marguerite Monnot   Composer
Brian Dozoretz   Assistant Engineer
Alex North   Composer
Stevie Wonder   Composer
Burt Bacharach   Composer
Gus Kahn   Composer
Jimmy McHugh   Composer
Allison Cornell   String Arrangements
Hal David   Composer
Ben Street   Arranger
Femi Jiya   Engineer
Dorothy Fields   Composer
Mack Gordon   Composer
Don Sebesky   Arranger
Smokey Robinson   Composer
Adam Owett   Creative Director
Tim Stritmater   Assistant Engineer
Cyndi Lauper   Producer,Piano Arrangement,Vocal Arrangement,String Arrangements
Lee Musiker   Rhythm Arrangements
Eddie Constantine   Composer
Edith Piaf   Composer
Bennie Benjamin   Composer
Russ Titelman   Mixing,Producer,Piano Arrangement,Track Arrangement,Vocal Arrangement,String Arrangements
Mack David   Composer
Walter Donaldson   Composer
Dave O'Donnell   Basic Track
Rod McKuen   Composer
Rob Hyman   Arranger
Rob Mathes   Rhythm Arrangements
Kathleen Dyson   Arranger,Track Arrangement
Hy Zaret   Composer
Ryan Smith   Mastering
Lucho Cueto   Horn Arrangements
Peter Doris   Assistant Engineer
Maurice Williams   Composer
Sammy Merendino   Track Arrangement
Morris Broadnax   Composer
Gloria Caldwell   Composer
William Wittman   Mixing,Arranger,Engineer,Track Arrangement
Harry Warren   Composer
Sheri G. Lee   Art Direction
Marcel Louiguy   Composer
Elizabeth Collins   Assistant Engineer
David Massey   A&R
Kurt Marks   Assistant Engineer
Jason Finkel   Assistant Engineer
Helena Faccenda   Make-Up,Hair Stylist