# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/41 "2021-06-02T16:44:30Z")
> [@TCMF-2L](#): > > The song **Shipbuilding** was a minor hit for **Robert Wyatt**. The lyrics, co-production and backing vocals were by **Elvis Costello**. Somewhat famously, at least back in the early 80s, Costello was trying to play the song during a concert & the crowd was talking over him, and he stopped the song to yell at them. Back to the topic, Costello produced Squeeze’s “East Side Story” back in the day and sang backup on two songs. ---
**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, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/42 "2021-06-02T17:13:48Z")
I want to suggest Eddie Money’s “Take Me Home Tonight,” with backup vocals by Ronnie Spector; but I don’t know the relative fame levels of the two at the time the song was released. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/43 "2021-06-02T17:27:15Z")
“Dan Fogelberg”? Well, that won for _most unlikely rock star name…_ but a friend played us “Part of the Plan” and it was the first song our band practiced. (I’m pretty sure we started our first concert with that, too…) Maybe it was the background vocals by Graham Nash and David Crosby, or the solo by Joe Walsh… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/w5x9_vsrKZo/maxresdefault.jpg "Dan Fogelberg, "Part of the Plan"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5x9_vsrKZo) Wow, found [an Eagles cover of this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVurcKMCqwM) where Joe Walsh gets to do lead vocals. And repeat his great guitar solo! . Oh, and Graham Nash and David Crosby also did vocals on Jackson Browne’s first album. You can really hear them on “Doctor My Eyes”. … I picture Graham and Dave wandering Laurel Canyon: “Hey, anybody need some backup vocals?” ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/44 "2021-06-02T17:43:07Z")
I have nothing to contribute, but I gotta say I’m digging this thread! I never knew this about so many of these songs. Songs and singers I really love! ---
**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 2, 2021, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/45 "2021-06-02T18:03:26Z")
Here’s one of Zevon’s best songs. “Desperadoes Under the Eaves.” The background vocalists are Carl Wilson from the Beach Boys, Jackson Browne and JD Souther. The ending harmonies are amazing. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZTHuHup3Cfs/maxresdefault.jpg "Desperados Under the Eaves") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTHuHup3Cfs) ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/46 "2021-06-02T18:18:21Z")
Obligatory SCTV link (re: **bordelond** ’s post): [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4JLbhEUE_5U/hqdefault.jpg "SCTV 3 Gerry Todd and Michael McDonald") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JLbhEUE_5U) ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/47 "2021-06-02T18:25:21Z")
I just realized that **Linda Ronstadt’s** backing band in the early 70’s would fit into this thread. You know… **The Eagles** (Frey, Henley, Meisner, and Leadon left, at her encouragement, to start the band) ---
**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, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/48 "2021-06-02T18:30:28Z")
> [@peccavi](#): > > I just realized that **Linda Ronstadt’s** backing band in the early 70’s would fit into this thread. You know… I think one thing we can gather from this thread is that the LA rock scene of the seventies was an incestuous bunch. ---
**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, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/49 "2021-06-02T18:34:25Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I think one thing we can gather from this thread is that the LA rock scene of the seventies was an incestuous bunch. Definitely. Glenn Frey and J.D. Souther were living in an apartment building at one point, in which Jackson Browne was their downstairs neighbor; Frey had commented that he learned a lot about songwriting by listening to Browne through the floor. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/50 "2021-06-02T18:34:29Z")
Ronnie Hawkins was backed up by artists who later formed the groups Crowbar and The Band. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/51 "2021-06-02T18:42:31Z")
Sheryl Crow started out as a back-up singer before her personal career took off. She sang back-up on several Michael Jackson songs. I don’t know if Crow is more famous than Jackson but she’s certainly famous for somebody who was singing back-up vocals. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/52 "2021-06-02T19:03:52Z")
Katey Sagal was a backup singer before becoming an actress. According to Wikipedia, she backed up Bob Dylan, Etta James, Tanya Tucker, and (most notably) Bette Midler. It’s not completely clear whether she was on any recordings with those artists, or just live performances. Her page does mention recordings with Gene Simmons and Olivia Newton-John. A little digging might turn up more. > **[Katey Sagal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katey_Sagal)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > Catherine Louise "Katey" Sagal (/səˈɡɑːl/; born January 19, 1954) is an American actress and singer. She is known for playing Peggy Bundy on Married... with Children (1987–1997), Leela on Futurama (1999–2003, 2008–2013, 2023), Cate Hennessy on 8 Simple Rules (2002–2005), Gemma Teller Morrow on the FX series Sons of Anarchy (2008–2014), for which she won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama in 2011, Dr. Jones on Shame... ---
**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, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/53 "2021-06-02T19:12:20Z")
I don’t know about in America (and I’m not claiming I’m speaking for the UK either) but for me **Neil Finn** of **Split Enz** and **Crowded House** has more songs I can name. **Neil Finn** sang background vocals on **Sheryl Crow** ’s **Everyday Is A Winding Road.** TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/54 "2021-06-02T20:27:20Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Rockwell’s “Somebody’s Watching Me” had Michael Jackson and Jermaine Jackson on backup. > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > First thing I thought of when I saw the thread title. That one has to be the weirdest. Michael was an ultra-mega-superstar. Jermaine was a fairly big star in his own right. No one had ever heard of Rockwell. It was the debut single from his debut album. He used the name Rockwell, and cut his first record deal in secret, because he didn’t want to be accused of nepotism. (His father was Berry Gordy.) He wanted to achieve success on his own merit. But, apparently, having two Jacksons in the background didn’t count. 😁 ---
**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, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/55 "2021-06-02T20:38:20Z")
> [@TCMF-2L](#): > > I don’t know about in America (and I’m not claiming I’m speaking for the UK either) but for me **Neil Finn** of **Split Enz** and **Crowded House** has more songs I can name. Both of those bands made it onto the charts here in the U.S. (and Finn is now a member of Fleetwood Mac, of course), but at least in the States, by the time that “Everyday is a Winding Road” was released, Crow was likely more famous. In New Zealand, I have no doubt that it’s the reverse. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/56 "2021-06-02T20:40:06Z")
Great song! I’m a huge WZ fan. But I’m teensy bit bugged (and embarrassed about it) that it’s really Gower Street, not Avenue. There’s a story that he ducked out on his bill from that hotel by crawling out a window. Later, when he had a career and money, he tried to go back and pay the bill, but they’d only accept a signed album. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/57 "2021-06-02T21:05:21Z")
Liza Minnelli did background vocals on “Teenage Lament '74” by Alice Cooper. Cooper was a big rocker at the time but I think total famewise Minnelli had him beat. [Teenage Lament '74 - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lM5xDg_RCo) ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/58 "2021-06-02T21:15:04Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > [@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. Not to take anything away from Brian May, I think that Steve Howe is more accomplished at flamenco-style playing. I could see them inviting him to spice the recording up. On lead guitar, Brian May is at least Steve Howe’s equal. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/59 "2021-06-02T21:15:06Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Paul McCartney has done this many times, often uncredited or under a pseudonym… I always thought it was kind of cool that the last name he used, _“Ramon”_, went back to the 1960 Silver Beatle days and he used it later as a song title (“Ram On”). ---
**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, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467/60 "2021-06-02T21:17:08Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > I always thought it was kind of cool that the last name he used, _“Ramon”_ , went back to the 1960 Silver Beatle days and he used it later as a song title (“Ram On”). And of course the Ramones named themselves after that moniker. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-where-the-backup-singers-are-more-famous-than-the-lead/943467.md?page=4)