Vocalists Who Sang Lead on Big Hits With Different Groups

Cafe Society
1

I’m trying to come up with people who sang lead on hit records for at least two different groups. A few that come to mind:

  1. Mickey Thomas sang lead on ElvinBishop’s" Fooled Around and Fell in Love" and numerous hits for Jefferson Starship.

  2. Sonny Geraci was lead vocalist on Climax’s “Precious and Few” and on the Outsiders’ “Time Won’t Let Me.”

  3. Paul McCartney, of course, sang lead on numrous hits for both the Beatles and Wings.

  4. Paul Rodgers sang for both Free and Bad Company.

I’m not looking for guys who had solo hits, so forget guys like Sting, George Michael, et al. Just guys who sang on big hits as a member of two different groups.

2

There’s always Eric Clapton, who sang for both Cream and Derek & the Dominos, which I believe technically wasn’t just a front for Clapton, as much as he might have wanted it to be.

3

The way I’d heard the story was that Clapton really intended to share vocals with Bobby Whitlock in the Dominos. Obviously, that didn’t quite happen.

Chris Cornell (Soundgarden and Audioslave) would fit the list if you think any of Audioslave’s hits have been big enough.

4

Paul Carrack (Ace, Squeeze, Mike and the Mechanics)
Steve Winwood (Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Blind Faith)

5

I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t, except that maybe they’re not old enough yet. “Like a Stone”, in particular, was huge. For that matter, he sang for Temple of the Dog as well - even though “Hunger Strike” wasn’t what many people would call a ‘big hit’, it’s still played on alternative radio.

Also, there’s Maynard James Keenan (of Tool and A Perfect Circle).

6

That’s true. I know those songs were hits, but I don’t listen to the radio that much, so I can’t really gauge the magnitude.

7

Tony Burrows is listed in the Guinness Book Of Records as having had the most records in the chart at the same time under different names.

He was the lead singer on these records by White Plains - My Baby Loves Lovin’, Edison Lighthouse - Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes), The Pipkins - Gimme Dat Ding, The Brotherhood Of Man - United We Stand - all in 1970 - and First Class - Beach Baby in 1974. None of the singers on any of these records sound even remotely related, but they’re all the same guy!

8

Fishbicycle- Excellent! Just the kind of answer I was looking for.

Hawthorne- I should’ve thought of Paul Carrack! Thanks.

9

Damon Albarn had a big hit in the US with Blur’s Song 2 and later achieved more success with several Gorillaz songs.

10

My favorite obscure rock 'n roller… he also played piano on The Smiths’ eponymous debut album.

11

Wings was basically McCartney’s solo band…

12

Chris Cornel was also frontman for Temple of the Dog, a one shot band/tribute album to Andrew Wood.

13

When the Traveling Wilburys released their first album, it featured lead vocals shared by all five members, each of whom had previously had a career in another group: Tom Petty (of Heartbreakers and solo fame), Roy Orbison, George Harrison (who used to work with that Wings guy), and Jeff Lynne (who was also a Heartbreaker after E.L.O. called it quits). Oh, and some guy called Bob Dylan.

14

Second *AC/DC * frontman Brian Johnson had previously had British hits with Geordie.

PD Heaton of Housemartins later formed Beautiful South. If both bands didn’t have hits in England something is awfully wrong.

15

The leader in this group has to be Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. Not only hits in that group, but hits in other groups (Buffalo Springfield, The Hollies, Crazy Horse), and some solo hits too.

16

Patti Labelle - with the Bluebells and then Labelle

17

Craig Fuller sang Amie when he was in Pure Prairie League, then he was lead singer for Little Feat from 1988 to 1991. Did then release anything that could be called a hit during that time besides Let It Roll? He sang harmony on that.

18

In what is probably a similar vein, Joey Levine sang “Simon Says” for the 1910 Fruitgum Company (top five 1968) and “Yummy Yummy Yummy” for the Ohio Express.

Ron Dante sang hits by the Detergents, the Archies, and the Cuff Links

19

Rob Thomas had hits with Matchbox 20 and Santana (as a guest vocalist).

Rod Stewart had hits with both the Jeff Beck Group (hit albums, at least) and with the Faces.

Steve Marriott had hits with the Small Faces and Humble Pie.

Greg Lake with King Crimson and Emerson Lake and Palmer

And if Wings counts for Paul McCartney, the Plastic Ono Band should count for John Lennon.

20

Joey Levine also sang those millions of words on “Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me)” by Reunion. With only having inhaled once, at the beginning of the record! (not.)