Let’s get the “Legend of Lisa Loeb” out of the way: Yes, she was the first artist to have a #1 hit without being signed to a record label. The song, “Stay (I Missed You),” which played over the end credits to Reality Bites, remained at the top for three weeks in 1994.

And no, the singer-songwriter’s subsequent releases didn’t come close to hitting those same sort of heights. Just two others touched down inside the Top 20, “Do You Sleep?” and “I Do.” But that’s not to say there aren’t plenty of should-have-been hits. Just take a listen through 2006’s The Very Best of Lisa Loeb. The rockin’ “Taffy” (yes, Loeb can rock) remains one of my personal favorites, as does the lilting “Falling In Love.”

That same year, Loeb starred in her own reality series on E!, fittingly titled #1 Single, which chronicled her quest to find true love. The show’s theme song, “Single Me Out,” was included on the well-timed best-of. It was Loeb’s second time headlining a cable show; in 2004, she hosted a culinary adventures series on Food Network with then-boyfriend Dweezil Zappa.

So what’s been keeping Loeb busy more recently? Well, if you’ve got kids, you might be familiar with an even gentler side of Ms. Loeb’s work. In 2003, she released Catch The Moon, a children’s album that reunited her with school chum Elizabeth Mitchell. While attending Brown University, the two had performed as Liz and and Lisa. Later, Mitchell contibuted backing vocals to “Stay (I Missed You).” Videos from Catch The Moon aired on the Noggin network.

A second album aimed the small fry set, Camp Lisa, was released in June. Loeb attended summer camp as a kid, and celebrates the tradition for a whole new generation. The 19-song collection opens with the Meatballs theme, “Ready For The Summer,” and includes sing-along favorites like “Home On The Range” plus all-new tunes, too. Featuring guest spots from Nina Gordon (Veruca Salt), Jill Sobule, and Steve Martin, Camp Lisa is available exclusively at Barnes & Noble bookstores until September 16, when other retailers get in on the fun. A portion of every sale goes to help send kids to summer camp. (How very sweet.)

As for us, ahem, older fans, a new disc from Ms. Loeb is slated for later this year. If you wish to begin from the beginning, check out The Purple Tape, released in January. The set chronicles her coffeehouse years in NYC, pre-#1 Single.

Purchase The Very Best of Lisa Loeb via Amazon, iTunes.