Besides the “Who Sings It?” CDs I created from the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s (the last of which I’ll post around the winter holidays…
I created one more series to convert MP3 versions from my vinyl, cassette and CD collection.
This series collected superstar collaborations: some, major hits; others, obscure album cuts. Not all selections involve credited performances to both artists.
In this collection, I give the uncredited players their due.
Originally, I titled the series “Round Robin.”
As I thought about sharing the collections, I realized that metaphor doesn’t quite work – the final track of each CD does not hark back to the first.
So, let’s call them Record Relays instead:
One artist handing off to another.
Here’s a look at Volume One, with where each track can be found on vinyl or CD.
Track 1:
The KLF and Tammy Wynette
“Justified and Ancient.”
Top 40 didn’t get weirder – or more fabulous in 1992 than this dance collaboration, which gave the country legend her biggest pop hit (yep, bigger than “Stand by Your Man”).
Track 2:
Tammy Wynette and Elton John
“A Woman’s Needs.”
Found on both Wynette’s final studio album and John’s 1994 Duets collection, this country/pop ballad features a nicely restrained Elton vocal.
Track 3:
Elton John and Eric Clapton
“Runaway Train.”
Not the same composition as the Soul Asylum hit, this track is from Elton’s 1992 album, The One. I wonder whether this collaboration inspired Elton to record Duets.
Track 4:
Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney
“Something (Live).”
This version of the Beatles’ chart-topping George Harrison composition is from the 2002 Concert for George CD. It’s lovably hammy in its acoustic ukulele beginning before a more straightforward electric conclusion.
Track 5:
Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
“What’s That You’re Doing?”
OK, let’s stipulate that a 6-minute-plus running time is too long for most pop songs. This 1982 track from the Tug of War CD is still a solidly funky sound that wouldn’t embarrass McCartney the way “The Girl Is Mine” did that year.
Track 6:
Stevie Wonder and Don Henley
“Nobody Else in the World but You.”
No credit for Stevie on this track from Henley’s 2000 CD “Inside Job,” but his participation significantly ups the funk factor.
Track 7:
Stevie Nicks and Don Henley
“Leather and Lace.”
Not knowing anything in late ’81 about their romantic history, I just remember thinking it was a sweet duet. I know now that it was written for Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter, which makes perfect sense.
Track 8:
Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty
“Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.”
I don’t know whether Nicks or her record label felt insecure about her solo potential, since her first two releases from 1981’s Bella Donna were collaborations. But both went Top 10 and set the album up for two more Top 40 hits.
Track 9:
Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne
“I Won’t Back Down.”
Like the Henley/Wonder collab, this only credits the lead artist. Lynne’s presence here is more discreet. But you can hear Lynne more clearly than on follow-up co-writes “Runnin’ Down a Dream” or “Free Fallin’.”
Track 10:
ELO and Olivia Newton-John
“Xanadu.”
Despite the woodenness of lead actor Michael Beck, both Newton-John and Gene Kelly made this movie oddly charming to me. This title track casts ONJ as ELO’s lead singer, a neat concept.
Track 11:
Olivia Newton-John and Elton John, “The Rumour.”
Had this track been released in 1975 rather than 1988, it would have been a smash. As it is, it fizzled at No. 62 in the U.S. and No. 85 in the U.K. Too bad: I really liked her vocal performance.
Track 12:
Elton John and Mary J. Blige
“I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues.”
This 2001 live version of the 1984 Elton classic can be found on his collection One Night Only. Elton generously lets Mary take the first verse, and she threatens to steal the song. Elton hams it up, but it works.
Track 13:
Mary J. Blige and Aretha Franklin
“Don’t Waste Your Time.”
This duet comes from Blige’s 1999 CD Mary. It’s far from the strongest track on that CD, but I do like its girlfriend energy.
Track 14:
Aretha Franklin and George Michael
“I Knew You Were Waiting (for Me).”
Some people say this duet pales compared with Aretha’s earlier chart-topper, “Respect.” Yeah, but what doesn’t? More to the point, how do you listen to these two exquisite voices and not – well – respect the performances involved?
Track 15:
George Michael and Lisa Stansfield
“These Are the Days of Our Lives.”
The Freddie Mercury/Queen tribute collection Five Live features this endearing rendition of Queen’s 1991 track – it’s not available on Spotify. You can see the Wembley Arena performance on Youtube.
Track 16:
Lisa Stansfield and Babyface
Dream Away.”
This so-so David Foster-Diane Warren production was released in 1994, when it seemed like every other hit featured Babyface’s vocals, production, or both. It’s on the soundtrack to the movie flop The Pagemaster.
Track 17:
Quincy Jones, Tamia and Babyface
“Slow Jams.”
Babyface works better in this R&B Top 20 hit from the CD “Q’s Jook Joint.” Spotify also credits the group Portrait and soul man Barry White, although the single I’m familiar with does not.
Quincy Jones, Ray Charles and Chaka Khan
“I’ll Be Good to You.”
The 1989 remake of the Brothers Johnson 1976 hit overheats in its attempt to sound up-to-date in the new jack swing era, but Charles and Khan are both clearly having fun.
Here’s your Spotify roundup of most of the tracks:
Which is your favorite?
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Can’t sleep so let’s see what Chuck is up to. Ah, clever idea on the handoffs. And if I had any hope of falling back asleep anytime soon, fat chance of that happening now that I’ve seen Round Robin. (Not sure if that pun was intended or not. Still kind of groggy.) That’s a new classic.
Wish I could take credit for that picture, but that’s our mad maestro at work.
Great idea, Chuck. This list could go on forever.
It’s like Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon but for musical collaborations. Very impressive (and frankly daunting from my perspective).
Nice series kickoff!
Led off by a fun if not perplexing record by The KLF and Tammy, which has to be one of the most unusual artist colabs ever.
All the way up to number 11… and why not?
Nice idea and throws up a lot of lesser known versions. This time around I know all the artists but about half of the songs. Though there’s a number of them that I’ve not heard that version.
Of the ones I know, Justified And Ancient is the standout.
If you wanted to extend the relay back past The KLF you could have Extreme Noise Terror – who sound exactly like the name suggests. Its an uncompromising collaboration from the 1992 Brit Awards which they used to announce their departure from the music industry.
https://youtu.be/NtqW7MB5Dmo?feature=shared
My favorite is Justified and Ancient as well. Just a wonderful banger to hear. Second place would be Xanadu, the movie that Michael Beck claimed killed his film career. Apparently he didn’t realize his lack of charisma and acting chops were the real reasons why.
And if you told me that one of my favorites from 1976 would be remade 13 years later by Quincy Jones, Ray Charles and Chaka Khan, I would’ve laughed it off during our Bicentennial Year.
This was a lovely rabbit hole to dive into Thanks, Chuck!
Chuck handles the baton way better than the American men’s 4x100m relay team from this past Olympics.