It was Rockwell’s only hit but everyone remembers it for Jackson’s refrain.
For years the rumor was that Paul McCartney sang “quite rightly” in Donovan’s “Mellow Yellow.” That was debunked finally. But he is among the background musicians who are heard talking and shouting “woo woo” on the song. He added added some bass tracks on the album.
I read somewhere that she also did the haunting “Counter Verse”* on “From Silver Lake” on Jackson Browne’s debut album.
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*(Is there a name for a separate verse being sung between the lines of the original, like “Teach Your Children”?)
A form of contrapuntal, I assume.
You’re very welcome. Mind you, I’ve learned a hell of a lot more from this thread than I’ve contributed to it.
j
Backing vocalists for Donovan’s “Barabajagal” include Suzi Quatro, Madeline Bell and Leslie Duncan.
Eric Clapton provided voices, although not singing, on “Nasal Rententive Calliope Music” by the Mothers of Invention.
Allegedly, Paul McCartney provided the sounds of him chewing on a celery stalk for the Beach Boys’ “Vegetables”. I’ve read it a few times, but can’t confirm it.
That story goes a long way back, and I’ve never seen any reason not to take it at face value.
Lots of great replies to this post – I’m learning a lot! I heard a Lionel Richie song this afternoon, and it reminded me that Kenny Rogers contributed background vocals to “My Love” from Richie’s first album (and, before he hit it big, Richard Marx sang backup on several of Richie’s debut-album songs, too).
Lionel and Kenny were great and longtime pals, of course – that always puts a smile on my face.
Speaking of Richard Marx, on his album Rush Street, Luther Vandross sings backup on the songs “Love Unemotional” and “Keep Coming Back,” while Fee Waybill does the same on “Streets of Pain.”
John Lennon does backups on this
On the P.O.D. song “Goodbye for Now,” Katy Perry is a background singer. She even appeared with the band when they were on The Tonight Show. This was before she became famous, though, so I’m not sure if it qualifies.
Matraca Berg’s Back in the Saddle had Patty Loveless, Suzy Bogguss, Faith Hill, Trisha Yearwood and Martina McBride backing her up
I don’t know if this one qualifies, but in the video to the novelty song “Stutter Rap” by morris Minor & the Majors, Queen’s John Deacon makes an appearance as one of their band members, playing guitar while wearing a blue wig.
The Glass Tiger song “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)” features backup vocals from Bryan Adams toward the end. It would appear that choosing Adams’ regular songwriting partner Jim Vallance to produce the album comes with some pretty sweet bonus benefits!