# Best songs not sung by the lead singer **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 20, 2012, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-not-sung-by-the-lead-singer/628813 "2012-07-20T03:56:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-not-sung-by-the-lead-singer/628813/61 "2012-07-20T19:09:29Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Genesis - “For Absent Friends” and “More Fool Me” were sung by drummer Phil Collins. > Hey, it counts! He _was_ just the drummer back then! I thought of “More Fool Me,” but figured it DIDN’T count. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-not-sung-by-the-lead-singer/628813/62 "2012-07-20T19:19:38Z")
“It’s Just that Simple” by \*\*Wilco \*\*is sung by bassist **John Stirratt** and I think it’s quite good. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-not-sung-by-the-lead-singer/628813/63 "2012-07-20T19:54:08Z")
I was going to nominate Dan Hartman of the Edgar Winter Group, but, IIRC, he sang almost all of the songs on “They Only Come Out at Night” album. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-not-sung-by-the-lead-singer/628813/64 "2012-07-20T23:00:46Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > You think that’s “best?” 🙂 > > Andy sang on a B-side from the _Synchronicity_ era, “[Someone To Talk To,](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aBeQDeqEOg)” which is a really good song. I have no idea how that made a B-side and “Mother” made it to the album. “Mother” has a bad-ass guitar solo, yes, but that’s the only redeeming quality. Gotta confess I’d never heard that song. It IS better than “Mother”…which is not a lot to say. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Surb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@The\_Surb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Surb)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-not-sung-by-the-lead-singer/628813/65 "2012-07-21T01:22:55Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > You…BASTARD! > > :mad: > > 😃 > > After reading everyone else’s that was my only one left I could think of! > > Fine, I’ll add “Strange Ways”, also by KISS…sang by Peter Criss. > > Take that! I’m glad you didn’t say “Back In The New York Groove” by Ace. I also like “Wearing The Inside Out” with Rick Wright on vocals. It’s hard to explain because his voice isn’t great. It’s like he’s not singing, he’s telling a story. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-not-sung-by-the-lead-singer/628813/66 "2012-07-21T01:46:48Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > Who’s being wooshed here, you or me? (Good example, regardless.) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-not-sung-by-the-lead-singer/628813/67 "2012-07-21T02:45:30Z")
> [@tomcar](#): > > The only song sung by John Cale with VU was Lady Godiva’s Operation. If you don’t count The Gift, off White Light/White Heat, although that is more of a spoken word narration than actual singing. He has such a lovely soothing speaking voice, though. ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-not-sung-by-the-lead-singer/628813/68 "2012-07-21T02:54:48Z")
> [@Beastly\_Rotter](#): > > If you don’t count The Gift, off White Light/White Heat, although that is more of a spoken word narration than actual singing. He has such a lovely soothing speaking voice, though. I love The Gift but it isn’t sining. It makes you want to hear Cale narrate a whole O Henry anthology over feedback and drone 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-not-sung-by-the-lead-singer/628813/69 "2012-07-21T02:55:50Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > ['39](http://youtu.be/-SVCrR1M8_o) by Queen. > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Queen was blessed to have three strong singers in the band. > Roger Taylor had a great falsetto voice, and was the singer on “I’m In Love With My Car” and “Rock It (Prime Jive)”, among otherse. I thought of these three songs right away > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Excellent Queen examples given. Who would have thought to use anyone else when you have Freddie up front. Roger Taylor is probably my 2nd favorite vocalist behind Freddie,while I enjoyed the Queen + PR stuff, I wish Roger would have done the vocals himself. ---
**Author:** ![coolbyrne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@coolbyrne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coolbyrne)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-not-sung-by-the-lead-singer/628813/70 "2012-07-21T03:25:28Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > How the hell did I not know this? Great choice. > > “Seconds” was a much better (IMO) song with The Edge on lead vocals. “Numb” was even better. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-not-sung-by-the-lead-singer/628813/71 "2012-07-21T09:27:09Z")
> [@The\_Surb](#): > > I’m glad you didn’t say “Back In The New York Groove” by Ace. > > I also like “Wearing The Inside Out” with Rick Wright on vocals. It’s hard to explain because his voice isn’t great. It’s like he’s not singing, he’s telling a story. “Stay” is another that he sings. As you say, his voice isn’t great but it’s pleasant enough, good in small doses and significantly better than Ringo Starr. I’m not sure if “One of these Days” counts or not. The only line it has is spoken by Nick Mason. I think it may be his only line in the band’s history. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-not-sung-by-the-lead-singer/628813/72 "2012-07-21T09:36:43Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > “Stay” is another that he sings. As you say, his voice isn’t great but it’s pleasant enough, good in small doses and significantly better than Ringo Starr. Hell, I sound better than Ringo Starr and I sing like a crow. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Surb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@The\_Surb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Surb)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-not-sung-by-the-lead-singer/628813/73 "2012-07-21T15:26:11Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > Roger Taylor is probably my 2nd favorite vocalist behind Freddie,while I enjoyed the Queen + PR stuff, I wish Roger would have done the vocals himself. “Fun In Space” is one of my favorite albums. I also like his cover of “Racing In the Streets” ---
**Author:** ![hamwater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/0ea827/32.png) [@hamwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hamwater)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-not-sung-by-the-lead-singer/628813/74 "2012-07-21T17:40:01Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > You…BASTARD! > > :mad: > > 😃 > > After reading everyone else’s that was my only one left I could think of! > > Fine, I’ll add “Strange Ways”, also by KISS…sang by Peter Criss. > > Take that! I came to add “Hard Luck Woman”, also sung by Peter Criss ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-not-sung-by-the-lead-singer/628813/75 "2012-07-21T17:48:55Z")
Semisonic’s song “[In Another Life](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA3iUxCdo-M)” is sung by bass player John Munson (not lead singer Dan Wilson). It’s not a bad song, but not IMO as impressive a vocal performance as some of his lead vocals for their previous band Trip Shakespeare (like “[Late](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8Tyn1VOYQY)” and “[Lulu](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=RhmXVdAOtS0#t=17s)”). Those probably don’t count, however, as that was more of a “multiple lead singers” situation. Madness had some good songs not sung by the regular lead singer, including “[Tears You Can’t Hide](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahM1QULDlbo)” and “[Michael Caine](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMbw7BYDG5U&feature=player_detailpage#t=27s)” sung by Cathal Smythe and “[Razor Blade Alley](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiYwFeYLK_U)” sung by saxophonist Lee Thompson. One of my favorite Men At Work songs is “[Giving Up](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFGrXcHQFos),” sung by the late Greg Ham. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-not-sung-by-the-lead-singer/628813/76 "2012-07-25T00:01:25Z")
Does Your Mother Know? - ABBA Not sung by Agnetha or Anni-Frid but by guitarrist Björn Ulvaeus. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-not-sung-by-the-lead-singer/628813/77 "2012-07-25T00:48:16Z")
Gotta go with “Tempted” by Squeeze, the only lead vocal from Paul Carrack, their keyboardist for one album. It’s probably their best known song in the US. If the OP hadn’t specified _great_ songs, I’d mention “How Many Say I”, the only Van Halen song to feature lead vocals from Eddie Van Halen. “Wart Hog” by Ramones featured a vocal from Dee Dee. I see I’ve already been scooped on the Dave Davies contributions to the Kinks’ repertoire. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-not-sung-by-the-lead-singer/628813/78 "2012-07-25T00:54:16Z")
_Sand Storm_ by Bitter Destiny, sung by the bassist Anthony “What?” Gilbertson. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-not-sung-by-the-lead-singer/628813/79 "2012-07-25T03:43:48Z")
> [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > Gotta go with “Tempted” by Squeeze, the only lead vocal from Paul Carrack, their keyboardist for one album. It’s probably their best known song in the US. Good call, but a nitpick: Carrack also sang lead on “Loving You Tonight,” a single from Some Fantastic Place, released in 1993. Twelve year gap between “Tempted” and this one. Not as famous as the earlier track, but still a damn good one. If we’re talking Squeeze, I’m going to nominate “Cool for Cats,” sung by lyricist but background vocalist Chris Difford. One of their biggest hits, #2 in 1979. One of my favorite Toad the Wet Sprocket songs is “Crazy Life,” sung by guitarist and background vocalist Todd Nichols (Glen Phillips is the lead singer). The best song, IMO, on The Jacksons’ _Victory_ album is “Wait,” sung by Jackie Jackson (Michael sings ad libs at the end of the song). “Body,” sung by Marlon, was a single from the record. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-not-sung-by-the-lead-singer/628813/80 "2012-07-25T09:51:18Z")
> [@The\_Surb](#): > > I also like “Wearing The Inside Out” with Rick Wright on vocals. It’s hard to explain because his voice isn’t great. It’s like he’s not singing, he’s telling a story. Great song. Up until Dark Side Of The Moon, Wright was pretty much one of three lead vocalists for Pink Floyd, including singing on some of the early singles. If we’re counting him as an occasional vocalist, “Remember A Day” is my contribution for this thread. He also sang joint lead with Gilmour on some of his recent solo tours, and the version of “Comfortably Numb” from _Live In Gdansk_ is probably my favourite version of it, with Wright doing the vocal part Waters did on the original. If you like “Wearing The Inside Out”, it might be worth checking out Wright’s solo album _Broken China_. It’s not the most cheerful of albums, but has a somewhat similar feel to that song. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-not-sung-by-the-lead-singer/628813.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-not-sung-by-the-lead-singer/628813.md?page=5)