Strong Female Backup Singers

Music
1

I love to hear strong female backup singers on tracks like Kate Bush backing Peter Gabriel on Don’t Give Up or Yonnick Etienne on Roxy Music’s Avalon.

I also recently discovered Unmarked Road by Doug MacLeod with an amazing strong crystal clear female that is so soulfully pure it’ll bring a tear to your eye.

Anyone know of any other songs like this where a female vocal can sometimes overshadow the main vocalist?

2

Stevie Nicks and Don Henley - Leather and Lace

Phil Collins and Marylin Martin - Separate Lives

Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty - Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around

Aretha Franklin and George Michael - I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)

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3

Great Gig in the Sky from Dark Side Of The Moon probably warrants a mention!

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4

Merry Clayton on Gimme Shelter

5
  • I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That) Meatloaf and Lorraine Crosby
  • Fairytale of New York The Pogues and Kirsty McCall (how different it would this have been if Cait O’Riordan had sung?)
  • Don’t Go Breaking My Heart Elton John and Kiki Dee
  • Woman In Chains Tears For Fears and Oleta Adams
  • Empire State of Mind Jay-Z and Alicia Keys
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6

Merry Clayton on recording the original Gimme Shelter. Wonderful!
https://youtu.be/ChONufP0FEs

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7

Agreed. As the story goes, the physical strain of that session resulted in her having a miscarriage. Crazy stuff.

8

First thing that came to my mind. Let’s give her credit, this was Clare Torry.

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9

Joe Satriani and Grace Potter - Cortez the Killer

10

Great track

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11

Anything Ninet Tayeb does with Steven Wilson. Some of her contributions aren’t exactly ‘back up’, more like duets, but strong contributions nonetheless. Had the privilege of seeing her with him a couple years back. Powerful.

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12

John Mellencamp and Pat Peterson covering Like a Rolling Stone on the Bob Dylan The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration, also released as a B side on his single release of Pop Singer.

14

Good one, she’s incredible!

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15

I really like Oleta Adams, especially the Hearts & Flowers album.

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16

Joe Jackson & Elaine Caswell:

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17

Thanks, I’ve always liked Woman in Chains but I’ve not really looked into Oleta’s own work. I’ll change that now.

18

@Kevin_Owen, what album are you referring to? I don’t see it in her discog nor any performance credits?

19

I think it’s Moving On (1995) and reference to You Need to Be Loved.

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20

Sorry, It’s the Circle of One album. Hearts and Flowers is Joan Armatrading, another exceptional album.

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21

Talking Heads - The Great Curve
Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter

If you want strong female vocals generally, check out Hands Off Gretel.