A Night to Remember (Cyndi Lauper album)

A Night to Remember is the third studio album by American singer Cyndi Lauper, released on May 9, 1989, by Epic Records. The album was originally set to be released in 1988, under the name Kindred Spirit, but was delayed until 1989 and the songs from the initial project were reworked. Although the album managed to score a top-10 single, it did not enjoy the commercial success of her previous two albums, and was met with mixed-to-poor reviews and in interviews, Lauper refers to it as A Night to Forget. Worldwide, the album has sold more 1,500,000 copies.

A Night to Remember
Cyndi Lauper (seen wearing a colorful outfit) holding a microphone that is attached to a stand on a cobblestone street. The Stand is seen nearly leaning while Lauper is holding the stand. The Manhattan Bridge can be seen in the background. Near Lauper, a School Bus and another person doing a fire performance on the sidewalk.
Studio album by
Cyndi Lauper
ReleasedMay 9, 1989
RecordedJanuary 1, 1988 – February 28, 1989
StudioThe Hit Factory (New York City)[1]
GenrePop rock
Length39:53
LabelEpic
Producer
  • Cyndi Lauper
  • Lennie Petze
  • Phil Ramone
  • Eric "E.T." Thorngren
Cyndi Lauper chronology
The Best Remixes
(1989)		 A Night to Remember
(1989)		 Hat Full of Stars
(1993)
Singles from A Night to Remember
  1. "I Drove All Night"
    Released: April 16, 1989
  2. "My First Night Without You"
    Released: July 3, 1989
  3. "Heading West"
    Released: August 22, 1989
  4. "A Night to Remember"
    Released: October 24, 1989

Background and production

The album was originally conceptualized as a project called Kindred Spirit, due for release in October 1988, and was going to include the track "Hole in My Heart (All the Way to China)", but when that song and the film it was featured in, Vibes, were unsuccessful, the album was reworked.[2] The original Kindred Spirit tracklist included 10 songs, eight of which were eventually included on the final album.[2] The two songs that were removed were "Hole in My Heart," which would only appear on Japanese CD editions of A Night to Remember, and "Don't Look Back," written by Lauper and John Turi, which remains unreleased. The songs "A Night to Remember", "Dancing With a Stranger" and "I Don't Want to Be Your Friend" were added to the tracklist later on after the release date was pushed back to 1989, with the other songs being remixed some time between their original 1988 planned release date and their eventual release.[3] Some proof sheets of the original album artwork exist with the alternate title and track listing.

"Unabbreviated Love," penned by Lauper, Dusty Micale and Franke Previte, was recorded for the album but only appeared on the B-side of the "My First Night Without You" single.[4]

The photo used in the album's final cover artwork was taken at the intersection of Plymouth and Pearl Streets, just east of the Manhattan Bridge, in Brooklyn, New York.[5]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
Chicago Tribune[7]
Robert ChristgauC+[8]
Los Angeles Times[9]
Number One[10]
Rolling Stone[11]

Critically, the album was met with mixed-to-poor reviews. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic website retrospectively gave the album two out of five stars and wrote that with the album Lauper tried "becoming a self-consciously "mature" singer/songwriter" and that the album's songs didn't "always work" except for "I Drove All Night" which made "a lasting impression" and illustrated "what Lauper was attempting to achieve with the record". Chris Heim of the Chicago Tribune pointed out that the album bears the same name as the 1958 film about the Titanic; he gave the album two and a half stars out of five and wrote that the "crisp" and "spunky" production and the "appealing" vocals "can't quite keep this album and its predictable pop love song cargo afloat." Rolling Stone and the Los Angeles Times singled out Lauper's voice as a strong point, while noting the material was inconsistent.[7][9][11] Other reviewers were more harsh: The New York Times criticized A Night to Remember's "anonymous vocals, songs full of submissive cliches and slapdash production",[12] while The Village Voice, in comparing the album to Lauper's previous work, declared "How embarrassing to have placed hope in this woman."[8]

Billboard magazine gave the album a 'spotlight' in its album reviews section for the May 20 1989 issue. Despite this, the album was described as having "somewhat unchallenging settings", though the lead single "I Drove All Night" was marked out as a "solid" start to the album campaign and album track "Like a Cat" was also highlighted as of interest.[13]

In a review for Cyndi's 1997 album Sisters of Avalon, People magazine retrospectively described A Night to Remember as "joyless" and blamed the album for her decline in popularity, stating that the album caused "a large chunk of her considerable following" to move on.[14]

Commercial performance

The album sold moderately well but did not compare to the enjoy the same commercial success of her two previous albums,[15] despite the success of the album's lead single, "I Drove All Night", which became a Top 10 hit, her last in the U.S.A., earning Lauper a Grammy nomination. In the UK, however, A Night to Remember was Lauper's highest-charting album, peaking at No.9.[16] According to the book St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture (Volume 3), the album sold half a million copies in the United States in 1989.[17]

Although the album is called A Night to Remember, Lauper jokingly preferred to call it A Night to Forget, given its poor reviews and disappointing sales, compounded by the problems she encountered with producer and boyfriend David Wolf⁠f during the production of the album.[18] Although not certified by RIAA, BPI and others trade associations, according to Lauper's official website the album was certified platinum in Australia and United Kingdom and gold in Germany, Italy and United States.[19] As of November, 1989 the album had sold 1.3 million copies worldwide.[20]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"Cyndi Lauper
  • Cyndi Lauper
  • Lennie Petze
0:27
2."I Drove All Night"
  • Lauper
  • Petze
4:11
3."Primitive"
  • Lauper
  • Kelly
  • Steinberg
  • Lauper
  • Petze
3:48
4."My First Night Without You"
  • Lauper
  • Kelly
  • Steinberg
  • Lauper
  • Petze
3:01
5."Like a Cat"
  • Lauper
  • Petze
3:23
6."Heading West"
  • Lauper
  • Kelly
  • Steinberg
  • Lauper
  • Petze
3:54
7."A Night to Remember"
  • Lauper
  • Petze
3:43
8."Unconditional Love"
  • Lauper
  • Kelly
  • Steinberg
  • Lauper
  • Petze
3:55
9."Insecurious"
  • Lauper
  • Petze
3:31
10."Dancing With a Stranger"
  • Lauper
  • Previte
  • Paul Chiten
  • Lauper
  • Eric Thorngren
4:11
11."I Don't Want to Be Your Friend"Warren
4:21
12."Kindred Spirit"Lauper
  • Lauper
  • Petze
1:16
Total length:41:00
Bonus track (Japan)[21]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."Hole in My Heart (All the Way to China)"Richard Orange
  • Lauper
  • Petze
3:59
Total length:44:59
Exclusive track (2008/2013 Japanese remaster)
No.TitleLength
14."I Drove All Night" (live at Summer Sonic 2007)3:59
Total length:48:49

Notes
  • In 2013, the 2008 Japanese remaster was reissued on BSCD2 format, with the same 2008 track listing.[22]
  • Tracks 13 and 14 are bonus tracks on the 2008 Japanese remastered mini-LP version, as well as its 2013 reissue.[23]
  • Track 14 recorded at the Summer Sonic Festival on August 12, 2007, in Chiba, Japan.

Personnel

Musicians

Technical
  • Cyndi Lauper – producer
  • Lennie Petze – producer (1-6, 8, 9, 12)
  • Phil Ramone – producer (7, 11)
  • Eric "ET" Thorngren – producer (10), recording
  • David Wolff – executive producer
  • Gary Lyons – recording
  • Gary Wright – additional engineer, assistant engineer, recording (12)
  • Tim Leitner – additional engineer, assistant engineer
  • Rich Travali – additional engineer, assistant engineer
  • Craig Vogel – additional engineer, assistant engineer
  • Joe Pirrera – assistant engineer
  • Dave McNair – mixing (12)
  • George Marino – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York City)
  • John Doelp – product manager

Artwork
  • Cyndi Lauper – art direction, design
  • Stacy Drummond – art direction, design
  • Chip Simons – photography
  • David Tabatsky – fire juggler on album cover

Accolades
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1990 "I Drove All Night" Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance Nominated

Charts

Certifications and sales
Certifications and sales for A Night to Remember
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[43] Gold 35,000^
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[44] Gold 100,000[44]
Canada (Music Canada)[45] Gold 50,000^
France (SNEP)[46] Gold 100,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[47] Platinum 145,260[48]
United States — 500,000[17]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Cyndi Lauper – A Night to Remember at Discogs
  2. "Kindred Spirit". www.cyndilauper.com. Archived from the original on December 6, 2003. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  3. "Cyndi Lauper - Kindred Spirit". www.cyndilauper.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2003. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  4. "My First Night Without You (single)". discogs.com. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  5. "Cyndi Lauper - A Night To Remember". Musical Maps. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  6. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Cyndi Lauper: A Night to Remember" at AllMusic. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  7. Heim, Chris (May 18, 1989). "Cyndi Lauper A Night To Remember (Epic)". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on July 26, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  8. Christgau, Robert (June 27, 1989). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  9. Boehm, Mike (May 14, 1989). "CYNDI LAUPER "A Night to Remember."". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  10. Bell, Max (July 12, 1989). "Albums". Number One. p. 43. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  11. Guterman, Jimmy (June 15, 1989). "Cyndi Lauper: A Night to Remember". Rolling Stone. Straight Arrow. ISSN 0035-791X. Archived from the original on March 8, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  12. Pareles, Jon (May 14, 1989). "HOME ENTERTAINMENT/RECORDINGS; RECENT RELEASES". The New York Times. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  13. "Album reviews" (PDF). Billboard. May 20, 1989. p. 68. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  14. "Picks and Pans Review: Sisters of Avalon". People. May 19, 1997. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  15. Grech, Aaron (February 12, 2020). "Bat For Lashes Covers Cyndi Lauper's 'I Drove All Night' and Kate Bush's 'This Woman's Work'". mxdwn.com. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  16. Buckley, Peter (2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. p. 584. ISBN 9781843531050. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  17. Tom & Sara Pendergast, (1999). St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, Volume 3. St. James Press. ISBN 1-55862-400-7 (set) ISBN 1-55862-403-1 (v.3)
  18. Nick Duerden (April 4, 2014). "Cyndi Lauper interview: She's still having fun". Independent.co.uk. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  19. "Cyndi Lauper - A Night To Remember". www.cyndilauper.com. Archived from the original on December 6, 2003. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  20. Lima, Irlam Rocha (November 4, 1989). "Cyndi Lauper aterrissa em SP". Correio Braziliense (in Portuguese): 3. Retrieved March 30, 2020. In A Night to Remember (it's also the title of a romantic song) which has sold 1.3 million copies worldwide, Cyndi has two special guest stars: guitarist Eric Clapton and bassist Bootsie Collin.
  21. "Cyndi Lauper – A Night to Remember (Japan first press CD)". discogs.com. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  22. "Blu-spec CD – A Night to Remember". sonymusicshop.jp. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  23. "Japan remastered Mini-LP version". sonymusicshop.jp. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  24. "Australiancharts.com – Cyndi Lauper – A Night to Remember". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  25. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6380". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  26. Lwin, Nanda (1999). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
  27. "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 28. July 15, 1989. p. VIII. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  28. "Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste". InfoDisc (in French). Retrieved July 27, 2022. Select "Cyndi LAUPER " from the drop-down menu and click "OK".
  29. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Cyndi Lauper". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 143. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  30. "Offiziellecharts.de – Cyndi Lauper – A Night to Remember" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  31. "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved July 27, 2022. Select "Album" in the "Tipo" field, type "A night to remember" in the "Titolo" field and press "cerca".
  32. シンディ・ローパーのアルバム売り上げランキング [Cyndi Lauper album sales ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  33. "Charts.nz – Cyndi Lauper – A Night to Remember". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  34. "Divas of South Africa & America – Albums". South African Divas. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2019 – via GeoCities.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  35. "Swedishcharts.com – Cyndi Lauper – A Night to Remember". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  36. "Swisscharts.com – Cyndi Lauper – A Night to Remember". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  37. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  38. "Cyndi Lauper Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  39. Kimberley, Christopher (2000). Zimbabwe Albums Chart Book: 1973–1998. Harare.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  40. "The 100 biggest selling albums in Australia for 1989". ARIA. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2016 – via FortuneCity.
  41. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1989" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  42. "1989年 アルバム年間TOP100" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 31, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2016 – via GeoCities.
  43. The ARIA Report. Vol. 1. ARIA. January 14, 1990. p. 19.
  44. Rodrigues, Apoenan (November 4, 1989). "Mais uma estrela pop nos trópicos". Jornal do Brasil (in Portuguese): 1. Retrieved August 3, 2021. Cyndi has barely released her third album – A Night to Remember – and it is already certified as gold in Brazil for selling 100,000 copies. Two gold and one platinum record were given to her, yesterday, by the president of the Brazilian CBS, Cláudio Condé.
  45. "Canadian album certifications – Cyndi Lauper – A Night To Remember". Music Canada.
  46. "French album certifications – Lauper C. – A Night To Remember" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  47. "Japanese album certifications – シンディ・ローパー – ナイト・トゥ・リメンバー" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved July 21, 2022. Select 1996年2月 on the drop-down menu
  48. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
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