Hat Full of Stars
Encyclopedia
Album information
Issued in 1993 it deviated from her pop-rock sound of previous projects and delved heavily into alternative music. It also furthered Lauper's growing penchant for writing topical songs about social issues.The album was co-produced by dance-music artist Junior Vasquez
Junior Vasquez
Junior Vasquez, , is an American club DJ and remixer/producer.-Career:...
and is highly typical of his work of the time. As such many of the songs are held together by synthetic loops and percussion. Lyrics address issues like abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
("Sally's Pigeons
Sally's Pigeons
"Sally's Pigeons" is a pop song by Cyndi Lauper that was featured on her 1993 album Hat Full of Stars. It was released as the album's second single in some countries, and as its third in others....
"), racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
("A Part Hate"), spousal abuse ("Product of Misery" and "Broken Glass") and incest
Incest
Incest is sexual intercourse between close relatives that is usually illegal in the jurisdiction where it takes place and/or is conventionally considered a taboo. The term may apply to sexual activities between: individuals of close "blood relationship"; members of the same household; step...
("Lies"). Some critics said Cyndi Lauper was becoming more political in order to keep up with Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, who had achieved unprecedented commercial and critical success years before dealing with the same issues: abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
("Papa Don't Preach
Papa Don't Preach
"Papa Don't Preach" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna. The song was written by Brian Elliot with additional lyrics by Madonna, and produced by Stephen Bray and Madonna for her third studio album True Blue, released in June 1986...
"), racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
(the video for "Like a Prayer
Like a Prayer (song)
"Like a Prayer" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna on her fourth studio album of the same name . It was released on March 21, 1989, by Sire Records as the album's lead single...
"), spousal abuse ("Till Death Do Us Part") and incest
Incest
Incest is sexual intercourse between close relatives that is usually illegal in the jurisdiction where it takes place and/or is conventionally considered a taboo. The term may apply to sexual activities between: individuals of close "blood relationship"; members of the same household; step...
("Live to Tell
Live to Tell
"Live to Tell" is a pop ballad by American singer-songwriter Madonna. Originally written by Patrick Leonard for the soundtrack of the film Fire with Fire, the song was shown to Madonna, who decided to use it for then-husband Sean Penn's film At Close Range...
").
The album had limited success overseas, it managed to achieve Gold sales in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. However it was considered a commercial disappointment in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Despite glowing critical review, it received little or no promotion, and it subsequently stalled at #112 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The singles "That's What I Think
That's What I Think
"That's What I Think" is a 1993 single by Cyndi Lauper from her album, Hat Full of Stars.-Song information:Produced by Lauper and Junior Vasquez, the song peaked in the top 40 in a couple of countries and was a dance hit in the United States. Its popular remixes caused the track to climb on the...
", "Sally's Pigeons", "Hat Full of Stars" and "Who Let in the Rain
Who Let In The Rain
"Who Let in the Rain" is a single by Cyndi Lauper released in 1993.-Song information:The single was the first from the Hat Full of Stars album. It is a ballad about the end of a relationship that proved popular among Lauper's fans. Outside the United States, it was a modest hit peaking in the top...
" were released; the latter of which was re-recorded in 2001 for her album Shine
Shine (Cyndi Lauper album)
Shine was an album released exclusively in Japan in 2004 by singer Cyndi Lauper. The album was ready for release in 2001 but Edel Records, the label it was recorded with, folded. The leaked tracks from a demonstration disc quickly circulated on the Internet and by 2002 Lauper realized there was no...
.
Lauper has commented that she wishes that her vocals on the project had been sharper. She worked with a vocal coach to sharpen her vocals for her next studio album Sisters of Avalon
Sisters of Avalon
Sisters of Avalon is the fifth studio album released by singer and actress Cyndi Lauper.Thematically the album expounded on the issue of complacency and ignorance in popular culture and the discrimination of minorities, gays, and women. Songs like "Love to Hate" and "You Don't Know" address the...
, and mentions this in the liner notes.
The album was recorded at the Hit Factory, Sigma Sound, Messina Sound, Right Track, The Enchanted Cottage, The Ranch, and World Famous Orbit Sound.
Track listing
- "That's What I ThinkThat's What I Think"That's What I Think" is a 1993 single by Cyndi Lauper from her album, Hat Full of Stars.-Song information:Produced by Lauper and Junior Vasquez, the song peaked in the top 40 in a couple of countries and was a dance hit in the United States. Its popular remixes caused the track to climb on the...
" (Cyndi Lauper, Eric BazilianEric BazilianEric M. Bazilian , is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer, best known for being a founding member of the rock band The Hooters.-Early life:...
, Rob HymanRob HymanRobert Andrew "Rob" Hyman is an American singer, songwriter, keyboard player, accordion player, producer, arranger and recording studio owner, best known for being a founding member of the rock band The Hooters.-Early life:Hyman started taking piano lessons at the age of four and grew up playing...
, Allee WillisAllee WillisAllee Willis is an American songwriter, artist, set designer, multimedia artist, writer, collector and director.-Overview:...
; Rellla Music, Warner-Tamerlane Music, Streamline Music, Dub Notes, Human Boy Music) – 4:39 - "Product of Misery" (Lauper, Bazilian, Hyman; Rellla Music, Dub Notes, Human Boy Music) – 4:11
- "Who Let in the RainWho Let In The Rain"Who Let in the Rain" is a single by Cyndi Lauper released in 1993.-Song information:The single was the first from the Hat Full of Stars album. It is a ballad about the end of a relationship that proved popular among Lauper's fans. Outside the United States, it was a modest hit peaking in the top...
" (Lauper, Willis; Rellla Music, EMIEMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
Virgin Songs, Streamline Moderne Music) – 4:37 - "Lies" (Lauper, Willis; Rellla Music, EMIEMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
Virgin Songs, Streamline Moderne Music) – 3:40 - "Broken Glass" (Lauper, Marv DePeyer, Junior VasquezJunior VasquezJunior Vasquez, , is an American club DJ and remixer/producer.-Career:...
; Rellla Music, MCA Publishing, House of Ellis Music, SonySony, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
Songs, Scream Music) – 5:34 - "Sally's PigeonsSally's Pigeons"Sally's Pigeons" is a pop song by Cyndi Lauper that was featured on her 1993 album Hat Full of Stars. It was released as the album's second single in some countries, and as its third in others....
" (Lauper, Mary Chapin CarpenterMary Chapin CarpenterMary Chapin Carpenter is an American folk and country music artist. Carpenter spent several years singing in Washington, D.C. clubs before signing in the late 1980s with Columbia Records, who marketed her as a country singer...
; Rellla Music, EMI Music & GetARealJob Music) – 3:48 - "Feels Like Christmas" (Lauper, Bazilian, Hyman; Rellla Music, Dub Notes, Human Boy Music) – 4:35
- "Dear John" (Lauper, Bazilian, Hyman; Rellla Music, Dub Notes, Human Boy Music) – 3:40
- "Like I Used To" (Lauper, Willis; Rellla Music, EMIEMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
Virgin Songs, Streamline Moderne Music) – 4:28 - "Someone Like Me" (Lauper, Bazilian, Hyman, Willis; Rellla Music, Warner-Tamerlane Music, Streamline Music, Dub Notes, Human Boy Music) – 4:07
- "A Part Hate" (Lauper, Tom Gray, David ThorntonDavid Thornton (actor)David Thornton is an American actor. He is the husband of Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Cyndi Lauper, whom he married in 1991. Their son, Declyn Wallace Thornton Lauper, was born on November 19, 1997.- Filmography :...
; Rellla Music, Gray Matter Music) – 4:56 - "Hat Full of Stars" (Lauper, Nicky Holland; Rellla Music, EMI Virgin Music & EMI 10 Music) – 4:28
- Unreleased Track: "Cold" was recorded for the album but was left off and released as the B-side to "That's What I ThinkThat's What I Think"That's What I Think" is a 1993 single by Cyndi Lauper from her album, Hat Full of Stars.-Song information:Produced by Lauper and Junior Vasquez, the song peaked in the top 40 in a couple of countries and was a dance hit in the United States. Its popular remixes caused the track to climb on the...
" and "Sally's PigeonsSally's Pigeons"Sally's Pigeons" is a pop song by Cyndi Lauper that was featured on her 1993 album Hat Full of Stars. It was released as the album's second single in some countries, and as its third in others....
".
Chart performance
| Chart (1993) | Peak position |
Total weeks |
|---|---|---|
| French Albums Chart | 9 | 7 |
| German Albums Chart | 52 | ? |
| Swiss Albums Chart | 32 | 4 |
| UK Albums Chart | 56 | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 112 | 4 |
Personnel
- Cyndi LauperCyndi LauperCynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper is an American singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT rights activist. She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the album She's So Unusual and became the first female singer to have four top-five singles released from one album...
– lead vocals, background vocals, recorder, production - Junior VasquezJunior VasquezJunior Vasquez, , is an American club DJ and remixer/producer.-Career:...
– production, background vocals - William Wittman – additional production, background vocals
- Gary Tole, Carl Glanville, Ted Truwhella, Brian Wittmer, Jennifer Monnar - assistant engineering
- Eric BazilianEric BazilianEric M. Bazilian , is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer, best known for being a founding member of the rock band The Hooters.-Early life:...
– background vocals, bass, drum programming, dulcimer, guitar, mandolin, piano, saxophone - Rob HymanRob HymanRobert Andrew "Rob" Hyman is an American singer, songwriter, keyboard player, accordion player, producer, arranger and recording studio owner, best known for being a founding member of the rock band The Hooters.-Early life:Hyman started taking piano lessons at the age of four and grew up playing...
– accordions, background vocals, casio, keyboards, melodica, organs - Peter WoodPeter WoodPeter John Wood was an English musician, born in Middlesex, England. In his early years he lived with his parents in Hythe Field Avenue, Egham, Surrey...
– additional arrangements, bass, drum programming, guitar, keyboards - Allee WillisAllee WillisAllee Willis is an American songwriter, artist, set designer, multimedia artist, writer, collector and director.-Overview:...
– additional programming, background vocals, bass, casio, keyboards - Nicky Holland – background vocals, keyboards, piano
- Hugh MasekelaHugh MasekelaHugh Ramopolo Masekela is a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, composer, and singer.-Early life:Masekela was born in Kwa-Guqa Township, Witbank, South Africa. He began singing and playing piano as a child...
– background vocals, Flügelhorn, vocal chant - Joey Moskowitz – bass, drum programming, keyboards
- Deborah Fraser, Georgia Jones, Faith Kekana, Lawrence Matshiza, Stella Zulu – background vocals
- Christopher Garcia – additional programming
- Kevin Jenkins, Bakithi Kumalo, Danny Sembello – bass
- Bashiri Johnson – congas
- Jimmy Bralower – drum programming
- Carlos AlomarCarlos AlomarCarlos Alomar is an American guitarist, composer and arranger best known for his work with David Bowie, having played on more Bowie albums than any other musician...
, Nile RodgersNile RodgersNile Gregory Rodgers is an American musician, producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist.-Biography:...
, Larry Treadwell – guitar - Rob Paparozzi – harmonica
- Jeff BovaJeff BovaJeff Bova is an American Grammy Award winning keyboardist, composer, arranger and record producer. He has been active in music industry since the mid-1970s, contributing to dozens of recordings by significant mainstream artists like Celine Dion, Michael Jackson, Blondie, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker,...
, Fred McFarlane – keyboards - Anton FigAnton FigAnton Fig , known as "The Thunder from Down Under" is a session drummer, noted for his work in David Letterman's house band, the CBS Orchestra. Letterman often refers to Fig as "Anton Zip"or "Buddy Rich Jr."...
, David UosikkinenDavid UosikkinenDavid Uosikkinen is an American drummer and Internet content manager, best known for being a founding member of rock band The Hooters.-Early life:...
– live drums - Stacy Drummond – art direction, design
- Dana Shimizu – design assistant
- Robert Lewis – photograph
- David Thornton – drawings
- Laura Wills – styling
- Jody Morlock – makeup
- Danilo for Pierre Michel, NYC – hair