Blue Angel

Music on CD returns Blue Angel, the 1980 self-titled album from the band fronted by a pre-fame Cyndi Lauper, to print. After spending the '70s in cover bands and dive bars that strained her vocal cords and required coaching to regain her instrument, Lauper finally seemed poised for success when she met keyboardist/saxophonist John Turi and formed Blue Angel. (Guitarist Arthur Nelson, bassist Lee Brovitz and drummer Johnny Morelli rounded out the line-up.) The group blended a punk/New Wave style with the bright pop styles of the '60s, and those styles were fused to perfection with the help of producer Roy Halee, known for his work with Simon & Garfunkel. Yet Blue Angel failed to find an audience when Polydor issued it. A subsequent legal battle with then-manager Steve Massarsky (who'd previously managed The Allman Brothers Band) sent Lauper into bankruptcy; she struggled through menial jobs trying to pick up the pieces, while pursuing the solo career which finally took off in 1983 with the electrifying She's So Unusual.  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.