# Popular songs where the backup singers are more famous than the lead **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [June 2, 2021, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467 "2021-06-02T13:07:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/21 "2021-06-02T15:01:09Z")
**David Bowie** wrote, produced and supplied backing vocals on **Mott the Hoople** hit **All The Young Dudes.** TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/22 "2021-06-02T15:05:32Z")
It always sounded like a John Lennon song to me. ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/23 "2021-06-02T15:09:18Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Sting sang on Dire Straits “Money for Nothin’”. Again, I’m not sure who was more popular at the time but I know who went on to be the biggest. At the time “Money for Nothing” was recorded, there’s no question that Sting was more famous. The Police were absolutely huge with _Synchronicity_ just a couple of years prior. While Dire Straits were known, they were nowhere near that level. _Brothers in Arms_ was the album that rocketed them to superstardom. ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/24 "2021-06-02T15:14:07Z")
The song **Shipbuilding** was a minor hit for **Robert Wyatt**. The lyrics, co-production and backing vocals were by **Elvis Costello**. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/25 "2021-06-02T15:20:22Z")
I think (Doobie Brothers) Michael McDonald did a nice job on Steely Dan’s “Peg.” ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/26 "2021-06-02T15:20:26Z")
Prince sang backup on most of the material on the The Time’s first three albums. Prince also wrote most of that material, provided a lot of the instrumentation, and produced the albums (under the pseudonym Jamie Starr). EDIT: Prince also sang backup on Sheila E’s “The Glamorous Life”. ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/27 "2021-06-02T15:22:03Z")
Can I mention a guitar contribution? The only studio track by **Queen** with guitars not from a member of **Queen** is **Innuendo** which has **Steve Howe** of **Yes** on it. I learned that just two days ago and I am desperate to use it somewhere. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/28 "2021-06-02T15:26:14Z")
> [@TCMF-2L](#): > > Can I mention a guitar contribution? > > The only studio track by **Queen** with guitars not from a member of **Queen** is **Innuendo** which has **Steve Howe** of **Yes** on it. I learned that just two days ago and I am desperate to use it somewhere. > > TCMF-2L. I’ve often wondered how or why collaborations like this came about. As fantastic of a guitar player that Steve Howe is, I doubt that there’s anything that he can do that Brian May can’t. So why use him? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/29 "2021-06-02T15:29:59Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > As fantastic of a guitar player that Steve Howe is, I doubt that there’s anything that he can do that Brian May can’t. So why use him? A lot of times, I think that it’s friendship and collaboration, and being in the right place at the right time. As [Wikipedia notes about the song](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innuendo_(album)#%22Innuendo%22): > [@](#): > > The middle section, written by Mercury, was included later and it featured a synth-orchestra programmed by producer [David Richards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Richards_(record_producer)) and a [flamenco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flamenco) interlude played by [Yes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes_(band)) guitarist [Steve Howe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Howe_(musician)), who had come to visit them and was asked to play. ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/30 "2021-06-02T15:31:12Z")
According to Wiki he was in the vicinity and (accounts differ) either Freddie or Brian made the original request Howe give them some flamenco style guitar. Apparently Howe was initially reluctant but the combined urgings of Freddie, Brian and Roger persuaded him. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/31 "2021-06-02T15:34:49Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > The king of this has got to be Warren Zevon. His backup singers have included: And I think the counterpart to Zevon as the queen of contributing artists is Emmylou Harris. She sang on hundreds of albums by artists that often were less famous than herself. ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/32 "2021-06-02T15:39:15Z")
Graham Parker’s [“Endless Night”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endless_Night_(Graham_Parker_song)) (1980) features backing vocals by Bruce Springsteen. Apparently The Boss once said that Parker was the only act he’d pay to see! [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OiuH7_ITOaI/hqdefault.jpg "Graham Parker and the Rumour -- Endless Night") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiuH7_ITOaI) @Sam_Stone - Zevon FTW! That’s quite a list. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2021, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/33 "2021-06-02T15:39:30Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Rockwell’s “Somebody’s Watching Me” First thing I thought of when I saw the thread title. > [@DCnDC](#): > > Daryl Hall sung in the chorus of INXS’s “Original Sin.” Hall also sang on Elvis Costello’s 1984 single “The Only Flame In Town.” ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/34 "2021-06-02T15:41:46Z")
Since I was on the **Queen** Wiki page I note **Freddie Mercury** provided uncredited backing vocals on **Andrew Gold** ’s cheesy pop hit **Never Let Her Slip Away** in 1978. **Freddie** and **Queen** drummer **Roger Taylor** provided credited background vocals on **Billy Squier** track **Emotions in Motion** in 1982. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/35 "2021-06-02T15:43:30Z")
In 1961 a single, “My Bonnie”, was released that was credited to “Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers”. This was later changed to “The Beatles with Tony Sheridan”. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/36 "2021-06-02T15:45:29Z")
Don Henley and Michael McDonald both sang on Christopher Cross’s debut album before Cross became a big name. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/37 "2021-06-02T15:49:42Z")
> [@Chad\_Sudan](#): > > Graham Parker’s [“Endless Night”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endless_Night_(Graham_Parker_song)) Those lyrics are AWESOME! ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/38 "2021-06-02T16:15:08Z")
That’s John Lennon and Paul McCartney singing backup to The Rolling Stones on “We Love You.” I suppose you could argue they were more famous than anyone else in the room. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4Wj3UWp9-TM/maxresdefault.jpg "We Love You") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wj3UWp9-TM) ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/39 "2021-06-02T16:16:22Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > That’s interesting considering that I can think of exactly one Warren Zevon song. I’d heard “Lawyers, Guns, and Money” but I didn’t know that it was his. Not “Werewolves of London?” Mick Fleetwood and John McVie played on it. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qae25976UgA/maxresdefault.jpg "Warren Zevon - Werewolves Of London (Official Music Video) [HD]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qae25976UgA) Look at some of the backup he had on this album (individual track personnel listed). > **[The Wind (Warren Zevon album)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wind_(Warren_Zevon_album))** > > The Wind is the twelfth and final studio album by American singer-songwriter Warren Zevon. The album was released on August 26, 2003, by Artemis Records. Zevon began recording the album shortly after he was diagnosed with inoperable pleural mesothelioma (a cancer of the lining of the lung), and it was released just two weeks before his death on September 7, 2003. The album was awarded the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album, and "Disorder in the House", performed by Zevon with Bruce S... ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/40 "2021-06-02T16:18:27Z")
> [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > > [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > > > That’s interesting considering that I can think of exactly one Warren Zevon song. I’d heard “Lawyers, Guns, and Money” but I didn’t know that it was his. > > Not “Werewolves of London?” Mick Fleetwood and John McVie played on it. I meant that “Werewolves of London” was the only Zevon song that I knew. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467.md?page=3)