# Greatest Hits By (Not the lead singer) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 17, 2013, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-hits-by-not-the-lead-singer/676601 "2013-12-17T22:37:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-hits-by-not-the-lead-singer/676601/41 "2013-12-18T17:02:57Z")
> [@ouryL](#): > > Derek Holt penned and sang “I Love You”, which was a tribute to his wife and was one of the Climax Blues Band’s biggest hits. The band hated this lovey dovey song and rejected it and refused to sing on it. So Holt decided to record it himself with help of the drummer and famous Nicky Hopkins on piano. It becomes big hit but the other singers refused to perform it. It fact, it has never ever been sung live They also vetoed it from other compilation albums and for a while the song went missing when they stopped printing the original album. This is probably the main was the song wasn’t a bigger hit and the band even more popular.:o That song WAS a big hit, and still gets played at weddings (and in this case, it’s actually appropriate for that purpose). A while back, my brother read a story about it and added that a few years prior to that, he and his wife (yes, the same one) were on vacation and stopped in a karaoke bar, and that song was on the list. And yes, he did sing his own song. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-hits-by-not-the-lead-singer/676601/42 "2013-12-18T17:04:38Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > My Wife is really well-known. > > Ringo Starr sang Yellow Submarine, right? He sang “Octopus’ Garden” too. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-hits-by-not-the-lead-singer/676601/43 "2013-12-18T17:15:31Z")
Drummer Debbie Peterson was the lead singer on the Bangles’ popular cover of “Going Down to Liverpool.” “Help Me, Rhonda” was one of the few #1 hits for the Beach Boys, and it was also one of the few Beach Boys songs that had Al Jardine on lead vocals. Guitarist Jeff Beck sang lead on the Yardbirds’ “The Nazz Are Blue.” ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-hits-by-not-the-lead-singer/676601/44 "2013-12-18T17:48:23Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > Mickey Dolenz of **The Monkees** sang \* Last Train to Clarksville\*, _(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone_ and \* A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You\*. ? Mickey Dolenz was the lead singer for The Monkees. Davy Jones started singing lead on some of the later singles because he was the big girl-crush and because he was willing to go along with the suits when the others were balking. In fact, he sang lead on “A Little Bit You, A Little Bit Me” separate from the rest of the group using session musicians as part of a Don Kirshner power play. Mike Nesmith usually sang lead on the songs he wrote. Peter Tork got the occasional Ringo-like novelty song. But Mickey was the lead singer from the beginning. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-hits-by-not-the-lead-singer/676601/45 "2013-12-18T18:00:52Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > And what is that song? Just curious. That would be “[Back on the Road Again](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dva8aVJH8uE)” ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-hits-by-not-the-lead-singer/676601/46 "2013-12-18T22:59:56Z")
Bassist Jack Bruce and guitarist Eric Clapton split most of the lead vocals on Cream albums 50-50. But drummer Ginger Baker got a rare chance to sing lead on “Blue Condition” from the \*\*\*Disraeli Gears \*\*\*album. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-hits-by-not-the-lead-singer/676601/47 "2013-12-18T23:03:47Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > When Trevor Rabin joined Yes, the album on which the band was working on (90125) wasn’t going to be labeled as a Yes album, since it didn’t have enough members of the band. Vocalist Jon Anderson wasn’t involved in the project, and Rabin was slated to act as both lead vocalist and guitarist. Anderson joined the project partway through, and took over most of the lead vocals, though Rabin still sings co-lead on several tracks, including Leave It (Rabin sings the first verse). Trevor Rabin, Chris Squire and Alan White were originally planning to form a power trio called Cinema. They only took back the name Yes after Jon Anderson and Tony Kaye got involved. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-hits-by-not-the-lead-singer/676601/48 "2013-12-18T23:05:46Z")
_ **She’s My Little Rock n’ Roll** _ by the Stones is Keith Richards singing. I don’t know if it counts as a hit - it certainly got airplay when\* Tattoo You\* came out. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-hits-by-not-the-lead-singer/676601/49 "2013-12-19T00:03:45Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > That would be “[Back on the Road Again](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dva8aVJH8uE)” OK. Hadn’t heard that song for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-hits-by-not-the-lead-singer/676601/50 "2013-12-19T00:14:39Z")
Don’t forget Sail On Sailor by the Beach Boys. Blondie Chaplin sang it. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-hits-by-not-the-lead-singer/676601/51 "2013-12-19T00:26:48Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Dude, Ben Orr could actually _sing_ ;). Ocasek yelp-speaks his leads. The two sound completely different. Orr sang “Just What I Needed” and “Let’s Go,” but to my ears, he sounds indistinguishable from Ocasek on those recordings. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-hits-by-not-the-lead-singer/676601/52 "2013-12-19T01:05:40Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Orr sang “Just What I Needed” and “Let’s Go,” but to my ears, he sounds indistinguishable from Ocasek on those recordings. I’ll just re-iterate what WordMan said: Benjamin Orr could actually sing. He had range and technique that Ocasek, well, just didn’t. Love the Cars, and I actually like Ocasek’s sound. It worked for him. But he had a vocal tone like a nail getting pulled from a board. [Here’s one](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuZA6qiJVfU) that might help distinguish the two more. Not saying it’s a vocal tour de force. But Ocasek could not have sung this song. Or [this one](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9d-1d0ltCM). Or [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR6GDGoiO8Y). ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-hits-by-not-the-lead-singer/676601/53 "2013-12-19T01:27:03Z")
The primary lead singer for Blue Oyster Cult was Eric Bloom, but both “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” and “Burning for You” were sung by the guitarist Buck Dharma. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-hits-by-not-the-lead-singer/676601/54 "2013-12-19T02:04:10Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > I actually like Ocasek’s sound. It worked for him. But he had a vocal tone like a nail getting pulled from a board. I am totally using that, and will give you a byline. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-hits-by-not-the-lead-singer/676601/55 "2013-12-19T02:05:44Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I am totally using that, and will give you a byline. 😉 Feel free. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-hits-by-not-the-lead-singer/676601/56 "2013-12-19T02:23:15Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Bassist Jack Bruce and guitarist Eric Clapton split most of the lead vocals on Cream albums 50-50. But drummer Ginger Baker got a rare chance to sing lead on “Blue Condition” from the \*\*\*Disraeli Gears \*\*\*album. That he did, but his real chance to shine was when he sing-talk-recited-whatever the lyrics to [Pressed Rat and Warthog](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDgokYi-1lI). A few that come to mind; - “Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through”, the Top 40 single from Jim Steinman’s first and only solo album, was actually sung by session vocalist Rory Dodd. (Steinman lip-synced to it in the music video.) - Pink Floyd’s “Have a Cigar” wasn’t sung by a member of the band at all - it was sung by Roy Harper, who subbed for Roger Waters due to his having thrown out his voice singing “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-hits-by-not-the-lead-singer/676601/57 "2013-12-19T02:56:32Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > I’ll just re-iterate what WordMan said: Benjamin Orr could actually sing. He had range and technique that Ocasek, well, just didn’t. Love the Cars, and I actually like Ocasek’s sound. It worked for him. But he had a vocal tone like a nail getting pulled from a board. > > [Here’s one](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuZA6qiJVfU) that might help distinguish the two more. Not saying it’s a vocal tour de force. But Ocasek could not have sung this song. > > Or [this one](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9d-1d0ltCM). Or [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR6GDGoiO8Y). I didn’t mean my post as a slam against either singer. Both songs were hits pre-MTV when you were limited to just hearing the songs on radio or LP or tape. You didn’t get a visual for who was singing unless you saw them in a concert film or live. The two songs I mentioned in particular I was not aware for many years that anyone but Ocasek sang lead for the Cars. Orr’s style on those two songs was very similar to Ocasek’s on “My Best Friend’s Girl” or “Good Times Roll,” for example. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-hits-by-not-the-lead-singer/676601/58 "2013-12-19T04:11:28Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > “Tuesday Morning” by The Pogues, one of their most successful singles, was sung by Spider Stacy, as Shane Macgowan had left the band by that point. Spider was arguably the lead singer of the band at that point, although several members sang on that album, but he’s certainly not the singer most people think of when they think of The Pogues. As not even a casual fan of The Pogues, knowing perhaps 2 songs and the name/face of Shane Macgowan, I never knew that. I hear the song on most Tuesday mornings, too. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-hits-by-not-the-lead-singer/676601/59 "2013-12-19T05:10:10Z")
Not sure if it was a big hit, but Long Live Rock was Pete Townsend as lead singer. Keith sang on a few songs but I don’t think any were even close to a hit. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-hits-by-not-the-lead-singer/676601/60 "2013-12-19T16:14:31Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > I’ll just re-iterate what WordMan said: Benjamin Orr could actually sing. He had range and technique that Ocasek, well, just didn’t. Love the Cars, and I actually like Ocasek’s sound. It worked for him. But he had a vocal tone like a nail getting pulled from a board. Ric Ocasek agreed with you. Years ago, when the Cars appeared on the old phone-in radio show\*\*\* Rockline\*\*\*, a caller asked how the band decided who’d sing each song. Ocasek said (only HALF jokingly), “When songs need GOOD vocals, Ben sings them. I sing the rest of them.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-hits-by-not-the-lead-singer/676601.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-hits-by-not-the-lead-singer/676601.md?page=4)