Ballad of Cleo and Joe

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"Ballad of Cleo and Joe "
Single by Cyndi Lauper
From the album Sisters of Avalon
Released 1997
Recorded 1996
Genre Pop
Record Label Epic Records
Writer Cyndi Lauper, Jan Pulsford
Producer Cyndi Lauper, Mark Saunders, Jan Pulsford
Cyndi Lauper singles chronology
"Sisters of Avalon" "Ballad of Cleo and Joe"
"Early Christmas Morning"

Ballad of Cleo and Joe is the third and final single off of Sisters of Avalon by Cyndi Lauper.

Contents

[edit] Song Information

The song is about the double life of a drag queen. 'Joe' by day, 'Cleo' by night. This song was one of the many songs on the Sisters of Avalon album that was about taboo subjects.

Clubs received the remixes in the beginning of September of '97. The remixes were by, Soul Solution who is Bobby Guy and Ernie Lake.

No video was released but there was a tape video (not film) edited for the clubs in the US. It featured a pregnant Lauper. Her stomach was desquised as a disco ball. The video was mainly for clubs only and is a video rarely seen. It has been mostly by fans who saw the clip.

The single was only released in the United States, as a result of heavy promotion for the single in the clubs it became a dance hit in the states. It even made an appearance on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.

Lauper in the "Ballad of Cleo and Joe" music video.
Enlarge
Lauper in the "Ballad of Cleo and Joe" music video.

[edit] Club Promotion

In order to promote the single, Epic celebrated several parties. At this purpose, they sent the following e-mail to several people (subject: Cyndi Lauper Parties):

Epic Records invites you to a party celebrating the release of BALLAD OF CLEO & JOE the new dance remix from CYNDI LAUPER

Here are the dates and places:

  • ATLANTA Dec. 4 Armory
  • CHICAGO Nov. 23 GLEE Club at Crobar
  • HOUSTON Nov. 26 Heaven
  • LOS ANGELES Nov. 25 Axis
  • MIAMI Nov. 19 Warsaw
  • MINNEAPOLIS Nov. 29 Gay 90's
  • NEW ORLEANS Nov. 26 Bourbon Pub
  • NEW YORK Nov. 21 1984 at Pyramid Club
  • SAN FRANCISCO Nov. 22 Club Universe at Club Townsend
  • SEATTLE Nov. 13 Neighbours
  • TAMPA Nov. 25 Pleasure Dome

BALLAD OF CLEO & JOE tells the story of an average working Joe who goes home every night and transforms himself into Cleo, the drag queen who rules the night. To celebrate the new dance remix, come to one of the clubs above. See all of Cyndi's videos (and a special video greeting to the club) --- grab free copies of CLEO & JOE --- in many clubs, see drag tributes to Cyndi or enter Cyndi drag lookalike contests --- and get chances to win complete sets of Cyndi's CDs, AUTOGRAPHED! Drag queens may also win some special outfits & accessories from Cyndi's own closet (in the drag show cities).

Note that these parties are in gay or mixed gay/straight clubs, so be cool with that. Most will have age restrictions of 21 or 18 (NYC and San Francisco are 21 with ID). For exact details in your city, please call the club. And of course, every person at every party won't get every thing. Hope we see you there!

And be sure you go to the record store and get a copy of CLEO & JOE

During most of these parties (but not every one), there were posters on the walls and the video was shown.

[edit] Chart Performance

Chart (1997) Peak
position
U.S. Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles 25
U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play 36

[edit] Official Versions

  1. A Capella
  2. Soul Solution Instrumental 8:51
  3. Soul Solution Radio Edit 3:54
  4. Soul Solution Tribal Dub 3:35
  5. Soul Solution Vocal Dub 8:46