# Your Favorite Backup Singers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 22, 2012, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-backup-singers/641817 "2012-11-22T08:56:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pine_Fresh_Scent)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-backup-singers/641817/1 "2012-11-22T08:56:37Z")
Two of my favorites: [Lynn Mabry and Edna Holt](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIW4skg3Ceo) from the Talking Heads’ “Stop Making Sense” tour. They’re having a blast and really enhance the performance. I would watch them make sandwiches. Maybe this isn’t a pure backup role here, but [Mavis Staples](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjCw3-YTffo) blows me away in this version of The Band’s “The Weight”. Her father “Pops” does a wonderful job too, but Mavis gives me chills every time I watch it. What a beautiful performance. Who are your favorites? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-backup-singers/641817/2 "2012-11-22T13:00:24Z")
The Pips ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-backup-singers/641817/3 "2012-11-22T13:00:56Z")
Any particular Pip? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-backup-singers/641817/4 "2012-11-22T13:20:45Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Any particular Pip? Nope, all of them. Basically because when they’re backing up, Gladys Knight is singing. Also the Golddiggers. You don’t even have to listen to them. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-backup-singers/641817/5 "2012-11-22T13:23:48Z")
You’ve stumped me. Who did the Golddiggers back up? There were the Solid Gold Dancers, and similarly the Fly Girls, who you definitely had no need to listen to. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-backup-singers/641817/6 "2012-11-22T13:25:24Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > You’ve stumped me. Who did the Golddiggers back up? There were the Solid Gold Dancers, and similarly the Fly Girls, who you definitely had no need to listen to. Dean Martin and the[Golddiggers](http://www.originalgolddiggers.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-backup-singers/641817/7 "2012-11-22T13:34:19Z")
They sang? I thought they were around to keep him on his feet or from staggering too far off his mark. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-backup-singers/641817/8 "2012-11-22T13:40:24Z")
It was a multi-faceted job. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-backup-singers/641817/9 "2012-11-22T13:41:41Z")
Art Garfunkel. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-backup-singers/641817/10 "2012-11-22T14:19:16Z")
The Vandellas. No reason, just an awesome name. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-backup-singers/641817/11 "2012-11-22T15:21:23Z")
Meg White ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-backup-singers/641817/12 "2012-11-22T15:51:35Z")
[The Three Degrees](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Three_Degrees). ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-backup-singers/641817/13 "2012-11-22T17:52:58Z")
Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan AKA The Turtles AKA Flo and Eddie. Everything from bubblegum pop to Zappa. The Trio Bulgarkia. Especially on Kate Bush songs like Rocket’s Tale. But what defines a “backup singer”? Was Claire Tory one on “The Great Gig In The Sky”? ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-backup-singers/641817/14 "2012-11-22T18:13:28Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan AKA The Turtles AKA Flo and Eddie. Everything from bubblegum pop to Zappa. Also my favorite _lead_ singers since the late 60’s. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-backup-singers/641817/15 "2012-11-22T20:28:18Z")
Another vote for the Pips. [Midnight Train to Georgia](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9xIlHsbbBk) is the ultimate backup singers song. Great moments . . . Gladys : I’ll be with him Pips : I know you will! and . . . Gladys : He kept dreamin’ someday he’d be a star Pips: a superstar but he didn’t get far The Pips are so important to this song that their parts are included in [the lyrics](http://www.metrolyrics.com/midnight-train-to-georgia-lyrics-gladys-knight-and-the-pips.html). ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-backup-singers/641817/16 "2012-11-22T21:25:58Z")
Cherilyn Sarkisian. Sang backup on _Be My Baby_ and _You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling_ among many other Spector classics. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-backup-singers/641817/17 "2012-11-22T21:27:08Z")
There was a Roy Orbison concert that used to show up a lot on PBS pledge drives. They got some serious talent together that night. Singing backup were Bonnie Raitt, k. d. lang, and Jennifer Warnes. For a single song, I’ve always liked [Family Restaurant](http://www.myspace.com/unclebonsaimusic/music/songs/family-restaurant-52737316) by Uncle Bonsai. It’s an amusing little ditty, as many Bonsai songs are, but the backup parts give it a faux-operatic seriousness which just makes it all that much funnier. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-backup-singers/641817/18 "2012-11-22T21:36:51Z")
Lisa Hannigan, though this is [more of a duet](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8EAzjuelF8). Also, Chrissi Poland from Scissor Sisters. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2012, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-backup-singers/641817/19 "2012-11-22T22:30:05Z")
I didn’t learn until recently that Telma Hopkins, who also backed up Tony Orlando, was one of the backup singers on “Theme From Shaft” by Issac Hayes. “They say this cat Shaft’s a bad mutha–” “Shut your mouth!” ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-backup-singers/641817/20 "2012-11-22T22:34:10Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Cherilyn Sarkisian. Sang backup on _Be My Baby_ and _You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling_ among many other Spector classics. Cute. That’s **Cher**. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-backup-singers/641817.md?page=2)