# Songs with very famous backup singers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 24, 2008, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861 "2008-01-24T20:37:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/1 "2008-01-24T20:37:33Z")
In memory of John Stewart (“Gold” with backup singer Stevie Nicks) My daughter and I were listing some of these songs the other night, and I thought it would make an interesting thread, so here it is. A few examples to start the ball rolling: Games Without Frontiers (Kate Bush) Bad Blood (Elton John) Money For Nothing (Sting) ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/2 "2008-01-24T20:41:03Z")
Aaliyah sang behind Notorious BIG on “One More Chance.” ---
**Author:** ![Octalcode](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Octalcode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octalcode)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/3 "2008-01-24T20:43:02Z")
You’re so Vain (Mick Jagger) Walk Away Renee (Steven Tyler) ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/4 "2008-01-24T20:43:03Z")
How about some 80s? 🆒 **Rockwell** (1980s two hit wonder with “Someone’s Watching Me” and “Obscene Phone Caller”) has **Michael Jackson** singing backup on both songs. **Stevie Wonder** ’s 1980s hit “Part Time Love” had **Luther Vandross** on backup. **Glass Tiger** ’s one hit “Don’t Forget Me When I’m Gone” featured **Bryan Adams** showing some Canadian solidarity. As did **Rush** ’s “Time Stand Still,” featuring **Aimee Mann** of 'Til Tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/5 "2008-01-24T20:43:57Z")
Most or all of the Eagles played and sang on Randy Newman’s album Little Criminals, which included his hit Short People. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/6 "2008-01-24T20:44:00Z")
[QUOTE=Octalcode] Walk Away Renee (Steven Tyler) [/QUOTE] He does sing a verse himself in one version, but Tyler backed up Pink on “Misery.” ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/7 "2008-01-24T20:46:46Z")
“Galileo” by the Indigo Girls features Jackson Browne on backing vocals. Their song “Kid Fears” features Michael Stipe, but he’s more prominent than backup vocals. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/8 "2008-01-24T21:09:47Z")
Katey Sagal (best known as Kate Bundy and the voice of Leela on **Futurama** ) started as a backup singer, for Bette Midler and [others](http://www.bundyology.com/ks.html): > [@](#): > > Some specific examples of her back-up work: > On Gene Simmons’ 1978 album “Gene Simmons” (the Kiss bassist) she’s credited as “Kate Sagall” > On Molly Hatchet’s 1981 album “Take no Prisoners” she’s credited as “Katy Sagal” > On Bette Midler’s 1983 album “No Frills”, she’s credited as “Katie Sagal” for the song “Soda and a Souvenir” > On Olivia Newton-John’s 1985 album “Soul Kiss” John Lennon sang backup on Elton John’s version of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/9 "2008-01-24T21:09:54Z")
Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold” had Linda Ronstadt on backing vocals. ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/10 "2008-01-24T21:14:36Z")
Phil Collins sings backup on the Eric Clapton song “Bad Love” (and is also the drummer), and also sings backup on the David Crosby song “Hero.” ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_Clock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Shot\_Clock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_Clock)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/11 "2008-01-24T21:17:26Z")
Ronnie Spector famously added vocals to Eddie Money’s Take Me Home Tonight. How’s 'bout David Crosby showing up on Hold My Hand by Hootie and the Blowfish. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/12 "2008-01-24T21:18:07Z")
Magnet & Steel- Stevie Nicks Sentimental Lady- Christine McVie ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/13 "2008-01-24T21:30:16Z")
I wouldn’t consider her a backup singer, but Ellen Foley sang the female vocals on Meatloaf’s “Paradise By The Dashboard Light.” She went on to later, greater (?) fame as the public defender in the first few seasons of “Night Court”. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/14 "2008-01-24T21:38:13Z")
Lou Rawls can easily be heard in Sam Cooke’s “Bring it on Home to Me.” Linda Ronstadt backs up Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in “American Dream.” ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/15 "2008-01-24T21:45:01Z")
The Big Bopper on Johnny Preston’s “Running Bear”, which he also wrote. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/16 "2008-01-24T21:45:37Z")
On “If I had a Million Dollars” by **Barenaked Ladies** , there are back-up vocals sung by several Canadian musicians and friends of the band including **[Moxy Fruvous](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moxy_Fr%C3%BCvous)**, and **[Rheostatics](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rheostatics)**. ---
**Author:** ![AndyPolley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@AndyPolley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyPolley)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/17 "2008-01-24T21:46:19Z")
Blind Melon’s **Shannon Hoon** was a strange choice to sing back-up on the Guns & Roses hit “Don’t You Cry.” I suppose we could debate the famous-ness of Hoon, but there ya go. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/18 "2008-01-24T21:47:08Z")
Olivia Newton John backed John Denver on “Fly Away.” ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/19 "2008-01-24T21:48:46Z")
[QUOTE=astorian] Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold” had Linda Ronstadt on backing vocals. [/QUOTE] _And_ James Taylor, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/20 "2008-01-24T21:50:22Z")
Jimmy Buffett, among others, sang backup of the Eagles’ “The Greeks Don’t Want No Freaks.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861.md?page=2)