# 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:** 5
**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 25, 2008, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/81 "2008-01-25T21:50:32Z")
[QUOTE=Sean Factotum] Michael Stipe joined 10,000 Maniacs onstage for a live recording of “To Sire With Love”. [/QUOTE] I suppose that is the best way to sire someone. 😃 Although that’s more of a duet than just singing backup. ---
**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/82 "2008-01-25T23:09:48Z")
Sandy Denny (Fairport Convention) sang on Led Zepplin’s “The Battle Of Evermore”. Michael McDonald sang on Little Feat’s “Red Streamliner”. Linda Rondstadt sang on their live (Waiting For Columbus) version of “All That You Dream”. Sting did some spoken word stuff on Miles Davis’ “You’re Under Arrest”. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/83 "2008-01-25T23:55:44Z")
Natalie Merchant sings back-up on several of Billy Bragg’s tracks on **Mermaid Avenue Vol 1 & 2**. She also takes the lead on one song per album. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/84 "2008-01-25T23:59:43Z")
Kate Pierson (B-52’s) did backup for REM in Shiny Happy People Paulina Rubio and Julieta Venegas did backup for Coti’s “Nada fue un Error”. As singers they were far more famous, he was known as a composer. ---
**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 26, 2008, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/85 "2008-01-26T00:08:18Z")
[QUOTE=Astroboy14] Toni Tennille sang back ups on Pink Floyd’s [The Wall](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wall). As did Brian Wilson. [/QUOTE] They also sang backup on Elton John’s “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” along with Bruce Johnston. This was before the Captain and Tennille became famous, but Toni Tennille and her husband Daryl Dragon (The Captain) were in demand as session musicians and singers and toured with the Beach Boys for a good length of time. Cher started as a session singer in the early 60’s for Phil Spector. Some of the songs she sang backup vocals on were “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” by the Righteous Brothers, “Da Do Ron Ron” by the Crystals, and The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby.” ---
**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 26, 2008, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/86 "2008-01-26T01:34:30Z")
It’s cheating, but on [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emQbbq0geP8) version of “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her” Mary Chapin Carpenter is backed by Emmylou Harris, Kathy Mattea, Trisha Yearwood, Suzy Bogguss, Patty Loveless and Pam Tillis. ---
**Author:** ![MadPansy64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@MadPansy64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadPansy64)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/87 "2008-01-26T01:49:12Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] It’s cheating, but on [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emQbbq0geP8) version of “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her” Mary Chapin Carpenter is backed by Emmylou Harris, Kathy Mattea, Trisha Yearwood, Suzy Bogguss, Patty Loveless and Pam Tillis. [/QUOTE] It’s a Girl Country Singer Conspiracy! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/88 "2008-01-26T04:49:02Z")
Olivia Newton John was an uncredited but prominent backup singer in John Denver’s “Fly Away.” ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/89 "2008-01-26T04:51:03Z")
Darryl Hall sang backup vocals on INXS’ “Burn For You.” Pepsi and Shirlie (British pop duo) were originally Wham!'s backup singers. Mick Jagger sang backup vocals on Living Colour’s “Glamour Boys.” Chaka Khan sang backup for Steve Winwood on “Higher Love.” Kirsty MacColl sang background vox on Morrissey’s “Interesting Drug.” Chrissie Hynde sang backup on INXS’ “Full Moon, Dirty Hearts.” ---
**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 26, 2008, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/90 "2008-01-26T06:45:34Z")
On Gary U.S. Bonds’ song “This Little Girl,” the musicians were some band from New Jersey called the E Street Band and a guy named Bruce Somethingorother (Stringbean? Greenjeans? I dunno, but they say he was bossy.) sang backup. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/91 "2008-01-26T09:33:35Z")
These are kind of genre-y, but… “Inside out” by Reveille has two versions, one with backing vocals by the lead singer from Cold. “Bring me to Life” by Evanescence has backing vocals by the lead singer of [12 Stones](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12_Stones). “This Mess We’re In” by PJ Harvey borrowed Thom Yorke of Radiohead as did “El President” by Drugstore. “Dice” by Finley Quaye & William Orbit has backing vocals by Beth Orton. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/92 "2008-01-26T14:25:37Z")
I didn’t read through the whole thread to see if this was mentioned, but Michael Stipe from R.E.M. sang backup for Indigo Girls on “Kid Fears”. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/93 "2008-01-26T16:02:37Z")
Paul McCartney did the whispering backup on Donovan’s _Mellow Yellow_. ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/94 "2008-01-26T17:05:47Z")
Don Williams sang backup for Kathy Mattea on **Love At the Five and Dime**. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/95 "2008-01-26T17:18:10Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] I believe you are correct- Marcy Levy and Yvonne Elliman are the only background singers listed for the album. [/QUOTE] Marcy Levy would also gain a somewhat larger degree of fame under the name Marcella Detroit, singing lead on the Shakespear’s Sister track “Stay.” Michael Stipe sure gets around - he also sings backup on Kristin Hersh’s “Your Ghost.” ---
**Author:** ![Ritter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ritter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ritter)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/96 "2008-01-26T23:51:20Z")
A young Marc Bolan does backing vocals on ‘Desdemona’ by John’s Children - a great track from the Nuggets collection. ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/97 "2008-01-27T18:15:49Z")
[QUOTE=Rico] Paul McCartney did the whispering backup on Donovan’s _Mellow Yellow_. [/QUOTE] Listen again, that sounds nothing like McCartney. It was definitely Donovan. ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/98 "2008-01-27T22:55:55Z")
OK, wait a minute… wasn’t **Michael McDonald** considered at one time a member of Steely Dan? I think he was during Pretzel Logic anyway… And as usual **Biffy** beat me to the “Tina Turner on Frank Zappa Albums” response… The high-speed stuff on **Montana** is pretty amazing. ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/99 "2008-01-28T02:29:28Z")
Not so well known, but great Texas artist [Terry Allen](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Allen_(singer)), backing vocals by high profile friend David Byrne, on **Human Remains** , one of my favorite all time records. Highlight: Byrne harmonizing/yelling on “Buck Nekkkkiddd, yeaahhhhh!!!” ---
**Author:** ![BACI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce73a5/32.png) [@BACI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BACI)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861/100 "2008-01-28T03:30:31Z")
David Bowie on Lou Reed’s Satellite of Love Olivia Newton-John on James Reyne’s Hammerhead. And Phil Collins in the background of much John Martyn [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-very-famous-backup-singers/434861.md?page=6)