# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/21 "2008-01-24T21:51:31Z")
Dolly Parton provided backing vocals for Eric Clapton’s _Lay Down Sally_, and Steven Tyler pitched in on Run DMC’s cover of _Walk This Way_. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/22 "2008-01-24T21:52:50Z")
There’s always been a rumor that porn star Ron Jeremy is in some of the backing choruses of the movie “Jesus Christ Superstar” ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/23 "2008-01-24T22:08:44Z")
Timothy B. Schmid backs up Vince Gill on Gill’s cover of “I Can’t Tell You Why.” Patty Lovelass & Ricky Skaggs sang back up on Gill’s “Go Rest High on The Mountain.” Don Henley backed Trisha Yearwood on “Walkaway Joe.” ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/24 "2008-01-24T22:13:28Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] 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. [/QUOTE] I came in here to mention Rockwell. Damn. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/25 "2008-01-24T22:17:18Z")
[QUOTE=AndyPolley] 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. [/QUOTE] Not that strange, Hoon and Axl Rose are from Layfayette Indiana and are only 5 years different in age. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/26 "2008-01-24T22:21:34Z")
Toni Tennille sang back ups on Pink Floyd’s [The Wall](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wall). As did Brian Wilson. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/27 "2008-01-24T22:22:06Z")
New Kids on the Block sang backup for Tommy Page in “I’ll Be Your Everything.” Mariah Carey used to be a backup singer for Brenda K. Starr. George Michael sang backup for Deon Estus in “Heaven Help Me.” ---
**Author:** ![Tool\_of\_the\_Conspiracy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@Tool\_of\_the\_Conspiracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tool_of_the_Conspiracy)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/28 "2008-01-24T22:30:44Z")
John Lennon sang backup on David Bowie’s “Fame”. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/29 "2008-01-24T22:32:47Z")
[QUOTE=Cluricaun] Not that strange, Hoon and Axl Rose are from Layfayette Indiana and are only 5 years different in age. [/QUOTE] According to Hoon’s [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shannon_Hoon) entry: “In L.A., Hoon befriended his sister Anna’s high school friend, Axl Rose” So there you go, not too weird at all. ---
**Author:** ![stanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@stanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stanger)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/30 "2008-01-24T22:36:58Z")
“Lion In The Winter” by Hoyt Axton (a great song, by the way) had Linda Ronstat on backing vocals. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/31 "2008-01-24T22:45:34Z")
Okay, here’s a really obscure one: in the 1982 song by Frida (formerly of the group ABBA), “I Know There’s Something Going On,” Phil Collins plays drums and sings backup. You can single out his voice if you listen closely. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/32 "2008-01-24T22:59:23Z")
Doesn’t Bowie do some of the backing vocals for Mott The Hoople’s _All the Young Dudes_? ---
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/33 "2008-01-24T23:04:43Z")
Luther Vandross sang backup on David Bowie’s _Young Americans_. It was his big break. ---
**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, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/34 "2008-01-24T23:08:20Z")
A couple of the Beach Boys are very noticeable on Chicago’s “Wishin you Were Here”. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/35 "2008-01-24T23:08:40Z")
Leonard Cohen’s “Don’t Go Home with Your Hard-On” has Bob Dylan (and Allen Ginsburg) in the chorus. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/36 "2008-01-24T23:25:01Z")
Sting on Dire Straits’ “Money For Nothing.” Ray Charles duetted with Billy Joel on “Baby Grand.” Tom Petty’s “Full Moon Fever” album had vocals from some of his fellow Traveling Wilburys: George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, and Roy Orbison. This album has often been referred to as “Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 2” because of this. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/37 "2008-01-25T00:04:57Z")
John Lennon & Paul McCartney sing backup on the Rolling Stones’ “We Love You.” Tina Turner with the Ikettes sing backup on several Frank Zappa songs on the _Over-Nite Sensation_ and _Apostrophe_ albums. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Real\_Thing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@The\_Real\_Thing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Real_Thing)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/38 "2008-01-25T00:38:56Z")
Neil Young’s 1995 album _Mirrorball_ features Pearl Jam as backup band, with Eddie Vedder providing some vocals. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/39 "2008-01-25T00:51:44Z")
Foreigner’s “I Want to Know What Love Is” featured Jennifer Holliday (of the original Dreamgirls fame) singing back vocals. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/40 "2008-01-25T00:57:42Z")
[QUOTE=BMax] Dolly Parton provided backing vocals for Eric Clapton’s _Lay Down Sally_, and Steven Tyler pitched in on Run DMC’s cover of _Walk This Way_. [/QUOTE] Dolly also backed Faith Hill on ‘Breathe’. You can hear her best in the line, “In a way I know my heart is waking up…” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861.md?page=3)