Yes, It’s the Jethro Cell / Soft Tull collaboration the world has been crying out for, as Ian Anderson and Marc Almond combine on Lord of Misrule. It does sound rather like they recorded it in different rooms, possibly without reference to what the other one was bringing to the party, but YouTube also boasts a video of Almond joining Ian Anderson’s Jethro Tull onstage at the Royal Albert Hall in 2013 for a rattle through Locomotive Breath, so it could well be that they’re old pals.
You’re unlikely recording partners are of course more than welcome in the comments.
(1 person who cannot sing) + (1 person who cannot sing) = No one who can sing for toffee.
Well I thought that was rather lovely, but Marc Almond can do no wrong in my book (and I absolutely love his voice).
They’ve been old pals for years. I saw them in St. Albans Cathedral a few years ago murdering “Say hello say goodbye” or whatever it’s called. MA could never carry a tune in a bucket but Ian is playing flute better than ever. Gig funded by IA and all proceeds to the building fund so fair play. Funny to see them with a small youth club style PA though, which was still too loud for the acoustics. Great night though. Twang Jr’s first ever gig, by the by.
Harsh! If you want perfect pitch and perfection from vocalists look elsewhere, but the older I get the more I realise what an amazing band Soft Cell were (I took ’em for granted in their heyday)- and Marc CAN sing -and he means it Maaaaann!
This is a cracking tune:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-7m-9EIuTs
Sorry, I was being picky above. As a big Tull fan I have to acknowledge that Ian’s voice is shot to hell, and as a great admirer of Marc’s chutzpah and vim, I have to acknowledge that his pitching can be somewhat erratic. I’ve been to see both artists live in the last 18 months, and enjoyed both greatly, for different reasons. With Ian I find myself holding my head to one side to try to catch more than every eighth word of the lyric, and with Marc I find myself wincing rather too frequently for comfort, but hey, neither have ever pretended to be doing Glyndebourne.
Props to him for reviving the Days of Pearly Spencer. Cracking tune.
Unexpected combinations?
Australian avant garde, jazzy, improvising trio The Necks meet the mighty Underworld.
Born Skippy?
David Lynch and Swedish Queen of the Broken Heart Lykke Li.
I am in no way a Marc Almond or Ian Anderson fan or listener, but I thought that was rather lovely.
Thanks @gatz
I must admit I hadn’t been expecting anyone to actually enjoy it, but you’re welcome!
The KLF and miss Tammy Wynette must be a deserving case, when it comes to odd recording combinations. Completely bonkers but it worked very well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPjggN-KByI
Dolly’s done another dance collaboration:
Bowie and Bing must rank as unexpected, to give a festive example. Pa ram pam pam pam.
https://youtu.be/n9kfdEyV3RQ
Dusty and PSB
Try as I might, I think I’m still massively allergic to flute.
Some combinations looked disastrous on paper…
Sassy, green-haired, eccentric pop princess and veteran crooner
Noodly Norwegian jazzer and Early Music vocal ensemble
Kooky Hollywood actress and experimental guitar picker
Paul Simon’s wife and a Hollywood comedy star who is not so funny any moe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXi8C1TvuG8
But in reality all of them worked a treat. And sold rather a lot of albums too.
On a similar note I saw, on a Cherry Red mailout today, that not only have Luke Haines and Peter Buck collaborated on an album, they’re heading out on tour next year.
But on unusual collaborations, what about Kate Bush doing a track with Prince…and then drafting Lenny Henry in on additional vocals!
Just don’t mention R*lf H*rris…
Brilliant version by Sandie Shaw and The Smiths which is better than the original in my opinion.
Lou Reed and Metallica … nah, it didn’t really work
1986… a forgotten Hard Rock band and a bunch of hippity-hoppers wearing big gold chains and tracksuits join forces for one single
Aerosmith and Run DMC’s collaboration worked out well for both of them.
Too right. Nee bugger this side of the Atlantic even knew who the ‘Smith were prior to that.
“Who’s that bloke in the Run DMC video who looks a bit like Ian Astbury?”
I genuinely thought they (Aerosmith) were actors for the video, pretending to be a generic rock band.
Bloody civilians.
Nick Cave & Kylie Minogue
The only common link was they were both Australian
Steve Hackett and Richie Havens. I think Havens toured with Genesis in their early years. Hackett collaborated with Havens on his second, and pretty ace, solo album, Please Don’t Touch.
I’ve ignored solo Hackett for years, but I recently saw him on tour, and then got involved in his back catalogue. Feel like I’ve discovered a hidden vault of lost prog. classics. Some wonderful stuff.
I didn’t think very much of that song, but it’s nice to know he chose to work with Richie Havens, who had one of my favourite voices of all.
Steve Perry and Eels