It’s “Record Relays:” The series that features rare superstar collabs and hits from vinyl, cassette, and CD – and honors the uncredited artists.
In this set of Record Relays…
…Handoffs of superstar collaborations from one artist to the next:
Most include at least one artist with a substantial track record on Billboard’s R&B and soul charts.
Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams
“Without Us”
Those of us who grew up in the 1970s might recognize Mathis and Williams for their No. 1 pop hit, “Too Much, Too Little, Too Late.”
Our younger siblings who grew up in the ‘80s would them more for this theme from TV’s Family Ties. It’s available on a Mathis collaboration CD called That’s What Friends Are For.
Deniece Williams and Stevie Wonder
“That’s How Heartaches Are Made”
Williams sounds great on this 2005 version of a song originally a hit in 1963 for Baby Washington. Wonder offers his impeccable harmonica playing on this track.
Elton John and Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder
“Go On and On”
These three, who hit Number 1 as “Friends” of Dionne Warwick’s, teamed up on this upbeat track, unrelated to Knight’s Top 5 hit with the Pips, “On and On.”
It’s on John’s 1994 Duets collection – and honestly, at five minutes plus… it does go on and on.
Gladys Knight and Dionne Warwick and Patti Labelle
“Superwoman”
When are three not greater than one? As much pleasure as it is to hear these three vocal treasures interpret this Babyface and L.A. Reid and Daryl Simmons composition, it’s Karyn White’s 1989 original that encourages the listener to sing along to the very end. This version is on Knight’s solo CD, Good Woman.
Dionne Warwick and Luther Vandross
“How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye?”
Although he worked behind the scenes on Aretha Franklin’s 1982 R&B and pop hit “Jump to It,” Vandross earned name credit with Warwick on this 1983 single, moving more into the pop spotlight as a top producer and collaborator.
Aretha Franklin and Luther Vandross
“Doctor’s Orders”
Not a remake of the 1975 Carol Douglas disco pop nugget, this is from Aretha’s hideously titled 1991 CD What You See Is What You Sweat. Perhaps because he co-wrote and produced this poppy track, Vandross has more an equal role than some of Franklin’s duet partners.
Aretha Franklin and Clarence Clemons
“Freeway of Love”
It had been more than a decade since Franklin’s prior Top 10 pop hit when this initial single from the 1985 LP Who’s Zoomin’ Who soared to Numbber 3 pop, and Number 1 R&B.
Part of “Freeway’s” appeal was its hyper video, in which the “Big Man” and his sax replicated his appearance on record.
Gary U.S. Bonds and Bruce Springsteen and Clarence Clemons
“This Little Girl”
This Springsteen composition, which featured his backing vocals and Clemons’ sax work, brought Bonds back to the pop Top 20 in 1981 – and deservedly so.
John Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen
“Wasted Days”
The most recent track of this set, from 2022’s Mellencamp collection, Strictly a One-Eyed Jack. It’s a fitting reflection on aging from two of the predominant rock singer-songwriters of the past five decades.
John Mellencamp and Babyface
“Walk Tall”
Babyface provides the production but otherwise stays in the background on this Top 40 adult pop hit for Mellencamp from 2004. It’s from Mellencamp’s Words & Music: John Mellencamp’s Greatest Hits.
Babyface and Kenny G and Mariah Carey
“Every Time I Close My Eyes”
The 1996 Babyface CD The Day features this track, with Carey’s background vocals and Kenny G’s sax work. It hit Number 6 pop and Number 5 R&B.
Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
“One Sweet Day”
What can I say about the longest-running pop No. 1 before “Old Town Road”? I’m sure there are people who feel as burned out by it as I am by “Every Breath You Take.”
I like this song but find it best to listen to about once a year; its vocal intensity and mournful lyrics are hard to take more often.
Black Men United
“U Will Know”
On the other hand, this track I could listen to anytime. Boyz II Men are just one of two dozen acts who contributed to this acoustic-flavored jam from the soundtrack to the movie Jason’s Lyric. It went to Number 5 R&B, and Number 28 pop in 1994.
Vanessa Williams and Brian McKnight
“Love Is”
McKnight, also part of the BMU collaborative, went Top 5 pop and Number 1 AC with this track from the soundtrack to the TV series Beverly Hills 90210.It had to settle for a Number 55 R&B peak. It was the top AC hit of 1993 in Billboard.
Various Artists
“Freedom”
By contrast, Vanessa Williams’ voice is the first of dozens you’ll hear on this track from the movie, Panther. The song, which hit Number 10 R&B, includes TLC, SWV, En Vogue, Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, Aaliyah and Angie Stone, among others. Its message and video are sadly more relevant than ever.
This track is unavailable on Spotify, but you can access it here on YouTube.
Salt ‘n’ Pepa and En Vogue
“Whatta Man”
One of the biggest collaborations between two groups in Hot 100 history, this went to Number 3 pop as well as Number 3 R&B in 1994 and spent about three months in the Top 10. It’s a fun artifact of mid-’90s R&B and pop.
Kirk Franklin and God’s Property Featuring Salt
“Stomp!”
Who would have guessed in 1997 that a gospel song would feature an interpolation of a George Clinton and Funkadelic classic and become an R&B and pop crossover?
This track, featuring Cheryl “Salt” James of Salt ‘n’ Pepa and a reinterpretation of Funkadelic’s “One Nation Under a Groove, was not released as a single, so it wasn’t eligible for the Hot 100. But it did go to Number 1 on R&B Airplay and Number 34 on pop airplay.
Kirk Franklin and Mary J. Blige and Bono and R. Kelly and Crystal Lewis and The Family
“Lean on Me”
This 1998 track did hit Number 79 on the Hot 100 (after the charts began to welcome album tracks). It’s not a remake of the Bill Withers chart-topper. Like “Stomp!,” it made in-roads on R&B radio.
Bono and Marvin Gaye
“Save the Children”
This track from the 1995 tribute collection Inner City Blues: The Music of Marvin Gaye, adds Bono’s vocals to Gaye’s spoken-word recitation originally on 1971’s What’s Going On album. Not available on Spotify, but you can find it here on YouTube:
Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross
“You’re a Special Part of Me”
Gaye was a very successful collaborator, hitting the pop Top 20 with Kim Weston (“It Takes Two”), Tammi Terrell (five classic duets), Mary Wells (twice) and Diana Ross (twice).
This Gaye and Ross duet hit Number 12 in 1973, not long after his “Let’s Get It On” topped the chart.
You can listen to most of these collaborations here:
Which is your favorite?
Which leaves you cold?
Share your thoughts in the comments.
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Your question- When are three not greater than one?
The answer- When it’s Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, and Sting singing “All for Love” and it adds up to a big fat zero.
Thoughts on the songs here that I know-
Whatta Man is a stone cold jam. In an article awhile back on white singers that sounded black, I talked about the song it sort of covers, Linda Lyndell’s “What a Man”, which is also a total banger and deserves any exposure it got from the remake.
“Stomp!” is pretty good. For a Gospel song to be played as much as it was on r&b stations, it does need to be designed to crossover, and this clearly was, but still no small feat. Not so hot take-
“Stomp!” by The Brothers Johnson > “Stomp” by Kirk Franklin and God’s Property Featuring Salt
Growing up in both the 70s and 80s, I was quite familiar with both Mathis/Williams collabs you mentioned. The Family Ties theme is underrated. The secret weapon? The sha la la la at the end. Somehow, I never realized it was those two singing on it and now I can’t unhear it.
“One Sweet Day” is just sort of laying there on the tracks waiting to be struck.
Almost forgot about “Freeway of Love” which would be a criminal omission. For Aretha’s funeral, the procession was led by 100 pink Cadillacs, in reference to this song. A friend of mine was driving one. She got it selling a boatload of Mary Kay cosmetics, which was the same for every other pink Cadillac driver in the procession.