As a Hall & Oates nut, this song will always be in my Top 5 H&O songs. Not only do you get Daryl & John but you have the amazing “Buy 2, get a 3rd free” special offer of the voice and sweet guitar of Todd Rundgren.
So, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to post a video of your favourite guest appearance with a band or solo artist. Extra points for the guest not being named (as here) in the artist title.
Let’s have an old fashioned Word/Afterword Blog Friday night video-fest.
And, ah one………
World Party ‘Private Revolution’ with an uncredited Sinead O’Connor.
Excellent start, Uncle. Love it.
Sinead crops up on one of my favourite Real World label choons too:
And Naid again with Real World kingpin, Peter Gabriel. Their voices mesh together perfectly.
And here’s a very young Sinéad O’Connor (before “Nothing Compares 2 U”) accompanying Christy Moore on “The Mad Lady and Me” (she doesn’t come in until about 0:49).
All sorts of wonderful people here, embellishing a fab performance:
Wings +, if I remember?
Indeed – Wings plus Chieftains and others!
Not really a household name but I love this as much for the backing vocals as the song.
Calexico: Beneath The City Of Dreams. Backing vocals by Gaby Moreno (sigh)
See what you mean. Lush.
I love that H&O track for all the reasons you give and the album it comes from, Do It For Love, is often overlooked I think and a late period goodie from them
Agreed. And even though the song is a cover (The New Radicals) it fits them like a glove.
Aztec Camera – Good Morning Britain
With Mick Jones, a brilliant track.
Oh, shout! A brilliant song.
Mick Jones guesting again, this time on the B side of ‘Pump It Up.’
Not strictly within the remit of the OP but I adore this, Todd and Daryl and The Last Ride.
Allowed because it is the single greatest ever video. I love the build up where Daryl is insisting he HAS to sing the line:
“Horizons east and skylines west”
Probably the best episode of Live from Daryl’s house (even though it’s from Todd’s!)
Definitely.
Joyous and magnificent. Who let that mote in here?
I was talking to Twang Jr about this cracker yesterday. Who other than Sandy Denny could have duked it out with Robert Plant in his time?
Amazing how easy it is to forget this track amongst the fireworks of the rest of the album. Great choice.
Best track on the album, IMHO…..closely followed by Levee….
Any love for the Najma Akhtar version on the Page ‘n’ Plant show?
Gorgeous
This is a bit of a cheat as the whole album is one giant collaboration, but here is a beautiful track from 1 Giant Leap, a couple of the collaborators are credited, others aren’t, some I recognise , but others I have no idea. However, they are all terrific and around 4.20 Eddi Reader makes an appearance and we all know her, right.
The title, ‘Time’ is somewhat misleading, on the album the track is a little different as all of the spoken sections are missing and it is just called ‘Daphne’
Tremendous. I ❤️ Eddi
Great idea for a thread,
This is the first one that sprang to mind, ‘My Wife Thinks You’re Dead’ by the peerless Junior Brown. A guy who plays, sounds and dresses like it’s still 1958. He writes glorious tongue in cheek lyrics and is accompanied here by Jimmie Lee Vaughan.
Another Junior Brown fan! I thought I was alone! He’s fantastic. Must be the official video though, which is hilarious.
That he is @Twang. ‘Highway Patrol’ was my in, many years ago.
I can’t sing so I don’t sing. Almost ever. I will, though, drawl along to this one at a good volume when alone in the car.
When I was heavily into new country in the 90s there was a feature about new exciting artists in Time mag and Nick Lowe recommended him heavily so I checked him out. Big fan ever since. Who else has a song called “My baby don’t dance to nothin’ but Ernest Tubb”?
I think I saw a review of one his albums in Q Magazine of all things with a photo of him on his guitar-steel. How could anyone not want to hear him play that?
Of course, you and I know he’s extremely Afterword-friendly given that he’s the lad playing over the credits to ‘Better Call Saul’
Thusly,
@Beezer @Twang new one on me. Thanks.
Here’s Ol’ Tom Waits with a track from “Rain Dogs”.
And who’s that on guitar? Why, tis none other than our old friend, Lord Keith Richards of Dartford!
And let’s have a special hurrah for Anders Petersen’s brilliant cover photo for “Rain Dogs”. Hurrah!
Wow, hadn’t heard that in years, and I forgot it was Keef.
Two of my favourite 1980s artists together – The Alarm and Ian McNabb from the Icicle Works covering Keep on Rockin’ In The Free World…marvellous!
Epic.
Drunky fella Shane McGowan with those nice JAMC lads.
I would normally avoid anything JAMC but that’s really nice.
“Three artists one song” it says on the tin. Frank, Mick and Paul. Great song. “I’m a punk, I’m a black man” it goes- Which is fitting.
Good stuff.
Killing Joke’s Youth was very taken with Pink Floyd backing singer Durga McGroom & gave her the classic ‘I can make you a star’ line.
Blue Pearl’s big hit was Naked in the Rain, but this song has David Gilmour & Richard Wright on it, in a video directed by Storm Thorgerson.
Love it. Great to Rick’s chunky organ again.
My favourite Lou Reed song with a completely uncredited spoken word bit by Bruce Springsteen. I remember as a kid thinking “that sounds like Bruce”, then years later discovering it was. Go me!
Then a couple of years later he popped up on Graham Parker’s excellent The Up Escalator too.
I knew the Parker one but not the Lou Reed one (not surprisingly. I have avoided him since he turned up in London, at The Who’s Charlton gig, with his hair bleach blond and black swastikas dyed in it. I’m sure it was some existentialist protest but he just looked like a pretentious knob.)
This is a guilty pleasure cos as a rule I don’t like U2 but the Pavarotti lifts this track into the stratosphere. Eno is an added extra guest but its all about The Voice
Spot on.
Is there any song anywhere that isn’t going to be better for Tracey Thorn singing it rather than Paul Weller?
As much as I love that, the version with Weller singing is better.
Agreed. Both versions brilliant but Paul Weller’s version is the best.
I could listen to TT sing the phone book.
Manic Street Preachers & Nina Persson – You’re Love Alone Is Not Enough
(mentioned as “featuring on the album, but no credit on the single)
Terrific song.
Let’s also remember them singing with the splendid Nina Hoss (you might recognise her from “Homeland”).
Sandie Shaw featuring The Smiths – I Don’t Owe You Anything
which I think is better than the Morrissey version.
I’d forgotten that. Certainly better than the Moz version.
Sax smoothie Dave Koz smarms all over the Tower of Power classic – but thankfully Michael McDonald’s on hand with the soulfulness:
MM saves the day – not for the first time.
Ian McNabb crops up in this Mike Scott solo video.
He was playing bass with him in 1997.
Good song!
Johnny Marrs guitar playing transforms this lovely song by Billy Bragg.
Lovely.
No prizes for guessing the guest guitarist here……..
If you haven’t figured out before, the sublime outro from about 4 mins makes it obvious.
That’s a gorgeous track – haven’t heard it in ages but loved it when it came out.
Not heard that before – beautiful.
More guest appearances by Bruce –
He joined Rosanne Cash for her cover of Sea Of Heartbreak on her album The List – it’s gorgeous and here it is –
Years earlier he had joined John Prine on Take A Look At My Heart, form Prime’s album – Missing Years:
Perfect, both of ’em.
Kristin Hersh with wotsisname from REM.
Your Ghost
Sounds just like an REM song – a good thing.
This is quite tidy too, the Indigo Girls with added Stipey.
Or here is R.E.M. with added Patti Smith
Or, harder to find, REM with Natalie Merchant, when the press were fed the line they were courting.
Here’s the late Vic Chesnutt singing his beautiful song “Guilty by Association”. And who’s that joining in at after 2:06? Why, ’tis our old friend Stipey again!
Did you know that stipe is another word for the stem of a mushroom?
Here he is again, helping this chorus come alive.
Thanks Moose.
I’ve been thinking about this album recently, the only one of his I have. It’s on cassette so I’ll try Spotify.
It’s his best, I think, and contains some things (Cindy of a Thosand Lives for example) that are totally unlike anything else he’s done.
“Robin Hood and his merry men are never never coming home again”
Found it on Spotify and gave it a whirl. Yep, still sounds fab and yes it is unlike anything he’s done before . Some lovely, moving and funny songs and a bit less of the ranting.
Yes, I love “Don’t Try This At Home”. I think it’s a consistently strong album, musically and lyrically. Every time I see Billy Bragg live, I hope he’s going to do lots and lots of tracks from that record. But he never does. This is probably because most of the songs on it have a bigger, fuller, more produced sound with a band, and Bragg can’t really reproduce that, just thrashing away on a solo electric guitar. Pity.
Funnily enough there’s a pretty good, and relatively recent, live version of Cindy on that there YT. I think BB is ambivalent about that period because his people were trying to turn him into a sort of pop star and he’s a bit embarrassed to have played along with that.
I think that, notwithstanding his words about bombs, we’re probably only 2-3 years out from there being a Billy Bragg Prom.
Everything happens eventually.
“Your Ghost” was my first thought. Last time I saw Kristin live she brought the singer who’d been the support for the evening back to do the Stipe part, and every now and then you could see him just break into a big grin as it dawned on him whose place he was filling.
Anyway, let’s spin it round and have Kristin guesting (uncredited I think) on “The Ghost of the Girl in the Well” by the Willard Grant Conspiracy.
Here’s Stipey again and it’s another collaboration from the wonderful ‘1 Giant Leap’ album. This also features the fabulous Asha Bhosle and Whirimako Black [amongst others]. This is one of Stipes best, lyrically and vocally and the rest of the track is equally as good [although it’s a video/film version which is different from the album version]
Not sure why this reply ended up down here – Oh, well
Thanks Lemonhope, that was something special and really put electronic duo 1 Giant Leap on the map for me. I must explore further.
Their guest are top notch!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1_Giant_Leap_(album)
Interesting guys! Here is an interview about their epic project.
https://www.soundonsound.com/people/1-giant-leap
When Warren Zevon was on his last knockings, a cast of friends helped him record his final album “The Wind”.
On this track Prison Grove we can hear Ry Cooder on slide guitar and a backing chorus featuring Billy Bob Thornton, Bruce Springsteen, David Lindley, Jackson Brown and T-Bone Burnett.
Let’s remember the rhythm section on “Werewolves of London” is peak Mac period Mick Fleetwood and John McVie!
Good shout, sir.
And don’t forget the Hindu Love Gods project – Wazza fronting a Stipeless REM.
It’s a terrific album but Keep Me In Your Heart just slays me.
One of my favourites. Robbie Robertson has his nice song completely elevated by The Blue Nile’s Paul Buchanan.
The joyous Jole Blon with Gary U.S Bonds assisted by The E Street Band and Bruce Springsteen.
Here’s one from an album i’ve not listened to in a while (I shall change that tonight)…..
‘Til Tuesday / At The Other End Of The Telescope – featuring a certain Declan McManus on backing vocals (and I if I recall correctly a co-writing credit)
Lovely song. Another new one on me.
You probably recognise the voice of Aimee Mann – this was the group she fronted before going solo. Three excellent albums – this track being from the last (and most polished) “Everything’s Different Now”.
My personal favourite is the middle album “Welcome Home”
Another Aimee Mann one…this time with Rush!
Terrible video. I think Geddy has had a haircut. Song makes me feel a bit sad though.
One of fave Rush songs and I’d forgotten Aimee was on it. The essence of the OP, captured perfectly.
Big Man!
For their return in 1997 Echo & The Bunnymen assured a Top 10 spot by enlisting Liam Gallagher on backing vocals. In truth he adds very little, but my god what a glorious comeback single it is:
As you say, Big Gob adds little but it is a glorious song.
Talking of glorious, Paul Buchanan again.
Richard Thompson gets spiced up Cajun style by Jo-El Sonnier. David Sanborn et al.
Terrific!
Agnes Mirren guitar and Humphray de Etchingham bass on John Kirkpatrick’s Jump at the Sun..
All Stewart’s Love Chronicles had some other curiously named pseudonyms on it.
And more Jackie… this time with Ralph McTell
Great to hear some Jackie.
The backing vocals on Randy Newman’s Rider in the Rain were by the Eagles.
Looking for that, I found this wonderfully laid-back treat from 1983. I love the way Randy calls Linda and Ry up on stage as though this was the most ordinary thing in the world. Perhaps it was for him?
Gorgeous in every way.
Guest vocalist Leonard Cohen on this one by Was (Not Was).
(Elvis’s Rolls Royce)
I have never warmed to Leonard’s voice but this works!
Jennifer Warnes did the all Leonard covers album, Famous Blue raincoat. But needed an extra voice on one cut…..
Always loved her voice.
Nils Lofgren joined here by one of his two regular employers. Bruce Springsteen. Has anyone ever heard of him?
‘Valentine’. Sentimental as all get out. And all the better for it.
Oh, @Beezer, you just got me. I had forgotten how much I adored this when it came out. Thanks.
And Bongo on the drums!
You’re welcome, bonny lad!
Linda Ronstadt guests on loads of records, including Neil Young, Warren Zevon, The Eagles, Randy Newman.
My favourite is the most understated track on Paul Simon’s Graceland, Under African Skies. She brings beauty and sunshine.
Great choice. Linda’s voice is so perfect for this.
Jazz drummer Chico Hamilton once made an album for Stax, called The Master. The backing band? Little Feat minus Richie Hayward.
Nice groove.
Steve Howe shows off a bit on a couple of Les Paul’s hits of yesteryear, then Les picks up a guitar, plugs in and they jam a bit.
Good stuff.
Douglas Adams’ birthday treat.
Invited up onstage with Pink Floyd in 1994.
Fab, although I’m a bit seasick now.
It’s possible that the person with the camera had been drinking.
“Ask a glass of water” etc
Can’t help but feel Billy Preston added something to this one from the HJHs.
https://youtu.be/od5JD5t41uA
Billy added something to everything he touched. Good choice.
How about veteran synth-pop cyborg and light-aircraft mangler Gary Numan guesting on “My Machines” from math-rock titans Battles.
Saw them doing this live with big screens on either side of the stage that they were projecting Numan’s head onto, which – coupled with the ever-compelling John Stanier beating the spit out of his drumkit – made for a serious spectacle.
Well that was a bit odd. Within a couple of hours of posting that (and having not really given them a lot of thought for a couple of years at least) I get an email from the Battles mailing list announcing a new album in October 🙂
Blimey.
If you want the absolute total and utter living shit sung out of something, dial 1-900 CHAPPO.
Great video featuring Mike in terrible 80s red specs and Rog in some S & M scenario.
Great song.