In my eyes, Cyndi Lauper will always be best known for her 80’s hit ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’. Growing up in the 80’s though makes it hard for me to see past that fun-loving track and probably not as open minded to something different as I should be. After hearing her 2008 sensation Bring Ya to the Brink, not an overly amazing album but all original stuff, the idea of Lauper attempting a blues covers album both surprised and frightened me.

After a good two decades hiding away from the mainstream arena, Lauper has boosted her profile incredibly with a stint on The Celebrity Apprentice as well as a semi-regular character on Bones. Lauper’s voice is one of the most powerful and distinctive in pop music and I’m afraid and even a little annoyed to say that after her favourable celebrity come back, Memphis Blues is one of her weakest efforts to date.

Surrounding herself with blues legends such as Allen Toussaint, Ann Peebles and the incredible B.B. King, you can almost forgive Lauper for blues not being a perfect fit for her style-wise. After listening to the album in full a few times I have to say that I was more excited by the awesome harmonica in the opening track “Just Your Fool” than by Lauper’s raspy, Bronx-style blues attempt at the lyrics.

“Rollin’ & Tumblin’” with Ann Peebles wasn’t an overly catastrophic offering and with it being a duet, Lauper really seemed to able to sponge off the energy and attitude Peebles brought to the table. Easily the two strongest tracks on the album would be "Early in the Mornin'" and "Mother Earth.” There is just no faulting Toussait's tremendous blues piano, truly adding that bluesy roots feel, something that Lauper is lacking with her vocals alone. "Don't Cry No More" brings the most conviction for Lauper, being the one track and arrangement that really suits her iconic pop status.

I feel that this album is weak and has no real depth or power that any Lauper fan would expect. She seems lost and out of her range, with Blues definitely not being her calling. I do have to applaud her though on another ballsy attempt at stepping outside of the circle. Her soul and quirkiness really does add emphasis to her commitment to being unique and not shying away from where the wind blows her. I do pray however that the wind becomes more of a light breeze next time ‘round.

Review Score: 4.5/10