Cyndi Lauper and Seymour Stein Talk Country Album ‘Detour’ in Outlaw Country

Cyndi Lauper says the True Colors of pop and rock are rooted in country.

The music icon recently released her first country music album, “Detour,” which features her takes on classics by Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, and more. To celebrate, Lauper taped a one-hour special for Outlaw Country with the album’s executive producer and founder of Sire Records, Seymour Stein, who’s also worked with legends like Madonna and The Ramones.

“I think that country music, and especially in the time period that you and I focused on, was a time period when country and R&B kind of crossed the aisle, and the beginning of rock ‘n roll,” Lauper said.

“Exactly. They were the two main ingredients. Elvis’ first six records hit the country chart and never hit the pop chart. It wasn’t until Heartbreak Hotel,'” added Stein, who Lauper dubbed “the original outlaw.”

The collaborators also discussed Lauper’s cover of Willie Nelson’s “Night Life,” to which the Red-Headed Stranger contributed vocals.

“I thought that his version was just the best, so when we did it, I wanted to keep it kind of like his version, and I made my voice like a soft, round sound, because if he sang on it, it would kind of complement it, you know what I mean?” Lauper said. “And he liked it.”