Neil Sedaka’s “Bad Blood” features Elton John as an uncredited – but clearly recognizable – backup singer.
Roy Orbison’s “A Black and White Night” may have had the most impressive line up of backing vocalists ever.
From Wikipedia: “Male background vocals and some guitars were provided by Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Jackson Browne, JD Souther and Steven Soles. Female background vocalists were k.d. lang, Jennifer Warnes and Bonnie Raitt.”
During “Dream Baby” hearing (and watching) lang, Warnes and Raitt doing the “sha-la-la’s” sent shivers up my spine.
Highly recommended!
Don Henley 's “I Will Not Go Quietly” has W. Axl Rose (of Guns n Roses) doing backup.
Assuming you’re asking about Rockwell: no. But, he is the son of Motown founder Berry Gordy.
Ah, I must have dimly remembered a connection between the two, but not that one. Thanks.
When Carly Simon performed on Saturday Night Live, Chevy Chase sang the chorus and banged the cowbell. Also, she did not perform live, but pre-recorded her performance.
Jack White was the backup singer on Danger! High Voltage by Electric Six. (Though the Wiki page doesn’t use the term “backup”; it says he was the “secondary Falsetto lead vocals” on the track.)
Patti Smith appears on Blue Oyster Cult’s “The Revenge of Vera Gemini.” She also wrote lyrics for about a half dozen (I’m guessing) of their songs, including that one.
Madonna is the backup singer on Peter Cetera’s Scheherezade from his 1988 album, One More Story.
Well, second is almost first.
It’s notable backup!
And Guns & Roses has a song called Don’t Cry that Blind Melon lead singer, the late Shannon Hoon, sang on. (Aside: Shannon Hoon’s daughter and I have a mutual friend)
Cyndi Lauper sang backup on Code of Silence by Billy Joel. He appeared singing backup on her song Maybe He’ll Know.
Weird Al Yankovic sings backup on the song Time by Ben Folds.
I remember when infectious grooves came out, a big deal was made about Ozzy doing backup vocals. But i was really just him screaming ‘Therapy’ over and over if I recall.
Steve Miller’s “My Dark Hour” has Paul McCartney (as Paul Ramon) on backing vocals along with bass, guitar and drums.
Elton John also singson John Lennon’s Whatever Get You Through The Night. (and plays piano)
As a recent purveyor of the Yacht Rock channel, I can verify Michael McDonald must sing backup on 1/3 of the songs they play.
The background singers and musicians of Cheech and Chong’s “Basketball Jones” included George Harrison, Carole King, Billy Preston, Darlene Love, and Michelle Phillips.
God damn it. I knew I should have checked more closely.
Please forgive me, but I really liked “Basketball Jones”
David Letterman is the guy yelling “Hit Somebody” in the Warren Zevon 'hockey song’
Liz Phair is a credited backup singer on Sheryl Crow’s “Soak Up the Sun.” She happened to be recording in the same studio that day and had shown up early. She was invited to sing on the recording and agreed.