# Favorite Guest Vocal Performances **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 6, 2002, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-guest-vocal-performances/112658 "2002-06-06T13:05:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-guest-vocal-performances/112658/1 "2002-06-06T13:05:25Z")
I was listening to the new Sheryl Crow album today, and she’s got a lot of guest vocalists on there: Lenny Kravitz, Don Henley, Stevie Nicks, Liz Phair and Gwyneth Paltrow(!). It’s a relatively common thing in the pop/rock world, and it’s always fun to see who gets who to sing on what. What are some of your favorites? To get the ball rolling: –Mick Jagger on Carly Simon’s _You’re So Vain_: Maybe the perfect marriage of guest vocalist and song. The irony of the subject matter and the choice of singer is delicious. –Roy Harper on Pink Floyd’s _Have A Cigar_: Not just a guest vocal, a guest lead vocal! Harper’s dark, glottal voice lends the song a cynicism that neither Gilmour nor Waters could have given it. –Flo and Eddie on the Psychedelic Furs’ _Love My Way_: The founders of the Turtles and longtime members of the Mothers of Invention, guesting on the first big MTV hit for one of the 80s’ most recognizable-sounding bands. Way cool. –Yoko Ono on the Beatles’ _Bungalow Bill_: She gets one solo line on the song, but it’s so ridiculously goofy and appropriate. Maybe the best vocal Yoko ever did. What are some of your faves? ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-guest-vocal-performances/112658/2 "2002-06-06T13:25:05Z")
Johnny “Guitar” Watson on “San Ber’dino” by Frank Zappa. Fun and funny. Elmer Gantry on “Psychobabble” by The Alan Parsons Project. Since they used so many studio musicians I’m not sure if he counts as a guest, but his voice is awsome on this song. Peter Gabriel on “Hush, Hush, Hush” by Paula Cole. A nice transition to a male voice in a song about reincarnation. ---
**Author:** ![moodtobestewed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@moodtobestewed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moodtobestewed)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-guest-vocal-performances/112658/3 "2002-06-06T14:00:13Z")
One of Nanci Griffith’s songs off “Late Night Grande Hotel” has a great guest appearance by Tanita Tikaram…but I can’t remember which song it is exactly. Tikaram’s earthy, world-weary voice compliments Griffith’s very well. Emmylou Harris has put in a number of nice background vocal appearances over the years. For a “big name performer,” I would think she’s done more guest appearances than anyone I’m aware of. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-guest-vocal-performances/112658/4 "2002-06-06T14:08:32Z")
Rod Stewart on Python Lee Jackson’s “In a Broken Dream.” Rod’s best performance by far. Mick Jagger on Peter Tosh’s “Walk and Don’t Look Back.” ---
**Author:** ![Coil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Coil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coil)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-guest-vocal-performances/112658/5 "2002-06-06T14:13:16Z")
Kylie on Nick Cave´s “Where the Wild Roses Grow”. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-guest-vocal-performances/112658/6 "2002-06-06T16:30:21Z")
Like many metal fans in the 70s, I’d never heard of Fairport Convention before I bought “Led Zeppelin IV (aka “Zoso”)”. Sandy Denny added some eerily gorgeous vocals to “The Battle of Evermore.” So, I’d have to say that’s my favorite guest stint ever- not just because Sandy sounded so great on that one track, but because that track familiarized me with Fairport Convention, whom I came to love also. ---
**Author:** ![Kyomara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8edcca/32.png) [@Kyomara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyomara)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-guest-vocal-performances/112658/7 "2002-06-07T02:12:58Z")
KRS1 on R.E.M.'s _Radio Song_. Ha ha ha…not really, I’m just funning with you. “Huh, baby baby baby baby…!” ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-guest-vocal-performances/112658/8 "2002-06-07T09:53:22Z")
Elton John’s 1972 version of _Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me_ featured Toni Tennille (of Captain & Tennille) and Carl Wilson and Bruce Johnston (of the Beach Boys) as backup vocalists. (If you hadn’t limited it to vocals, I would have mentioned the tap dancing of “Legs” Larry Smith on _I Think I’m Gonna Kill Myself_.) ---
**Author:** ![madcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@madcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madcat)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-guest-vocal-performances/112658/9 "2002-06-07T11:03:46Z")
Virtually everyone on Was(not was)'s _Born to Laugh at Tornados_ . ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-guest-vocal-performances/112658/10 "2002-06-07T11:35:49Z")
The irreplacable Kirsty MacColl on the Pogues’s “Fairytale of New York”- “…you scumbag, you maggot, you cheap pansy faggot…” …it won’t be Christmas again without her. ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-guest-vocal-performances/112658/11 "2002-06-07T11:54:19Z")
Oh yeah, Lib, that reminds me of Dennis and Carl Wilson’s and Al Jardine’s appearance on Chicago’s _Wishing You Were Here_. Quite a nice performance. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-guest-vocal-performances/112658/12 "2002-06-07T12:20:57Z")
Michael Stipe joining the Indigo Girls on “Kid Fears”, from their self-titled debut album. ---
**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-guest-vocal-performances/112658/13 "2002-06-07T12:24:53Z")
Tom Waits on both the Replacement’s _Date to Church_ and Primus’ _Tommy the Cat_. Mike Stipe on Syd Straw’s _Future 40’s_ and his work on the Golden Palomino’s _Visions of Excess_ album. Terre Roche on Robert Fripp’s song _Exposure_. ---
**Author:** ![Fibonacci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Fibonacci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibonacci)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-guest-vocal-performances/112658/14 "2002-06-07T21:30:06Z")
Engelbert Humperdinck joining Smashmouth on stage to sing “Walkin’ On The Sun” on Penn & Teller’s _Sin City Spectacular_ was hip beyond belief. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2002, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-guest-vocal-performances/112658/15 "2002-06-08T02:46:46Z")
**Sting** in Dire Straits’ “Money for Nothing”. Don Henley and Glenn Frey on “Desperadoes under the Eaves” by Warren Zevon. **Bonnie Raitt** singing “Angel from Montgomery” with John Prine. **Margo Timmons** singing “If you were the woman” with John Prine. Or alternatively, **John Prine** singing it with the Cowboy Junkies. I’m not sure who the guest was. ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2002, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-guest-vocal-performances/112658/16 "2002-06-08T05:29:33Z")
[bPavarotti\*\* on Miss Serajevo (Passengers). ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2002, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-guest-vocal-performances/112658/17 "2002-06-08T07:50:15Z")
Bette Midler on the final _The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson_\*. That was a real tear-jerker. She sang _One For My Baby (and One More For The Road)_, and when she finished, even Johnny was crying. Great show. \*Ever notice the Tonight Show now is “with” Jay Leno. I’d bet my eye teeth it’s in Carson’s contract that nobody else could be called the “star” of the Tonight Show. And, of course, he’d be right. ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2002, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-guest-vocal-performances/112658/18 "2002-06-08T09:38:46Z")
Thom Yorke in PJ Harvey’s **“This Mess We’re In”**. PJ Harvey, Shane MacGowan, Kylie Minogue and Anita Lane in Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ **"Death is Not the End**. Bloody hilarious. Beth Orton in the Chemical Brothers’ **“Where Do I Begin?”**. Macy Gray in the Blackeyed Peas’ **“Request Line”**.