While listening to a Michael Jackson song the other day, I started thinking about this subject, and about writing again. It's been awhile since I've blogged on music. No excuses. Anyway, the idea of this subject "Surprising Guest Musicians" is geared towards artists that contribute to a song on another group or artists song without it being a duet or collaboration... just dropping in ... laying down some tracks and gettin' out. The song that got me thinking about this is: Michael Jackson's "Beat It" with Eddie Van Halen playing the lead break, which really stands out and gives the song punch.
Next up would have to be a song by David Bowie "Let's Dance" with Stevie Ray Vaughan. The two first met at 1982 Montreux Jazz Festival and talked for hours. Bowie says he hadn't been so taken by a guitar player since Jeff Beck. And months later Bowie contacted SRV and the result is "Let's Dance".
Of course, there is the story of a friend of George Harrison's that finally accepts an invite to the studio. The Beatle's were at a tough period and oddly the inclusion of this non-Beatle had them trying a little harder and being a little nicer. The result was The Beatle's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" with Eric Clapton playing beautiful lead guitar.
Glen Campbell and Leon Russell were both members of Los Angeles' famed "Wrecking Crew". That's Leon's piano on Bobby "Boris" Pickett's "Monster Mash," The Crystals' "Da Doo Ron Ron," The Marketts' "Out of Limits," Badfinger's "Day After Day" and The Byrds' "Mr. Tambourine Man." Glen's guitar can be heard on Frank Sinatra's "Strangers in the Night," The Monkees' "Mary, Mary," The First Edition's "What Condition My Condition Was In," and Elvis' "Viva Las Vegas". The Beach Boys' "Help Me Rhonda" with Glen Campbell and Leon Russell is one big hit we can say for certain they both played on.
Though he was never a session man per se, Stephen Stills sat in on lots of songs over the years, mostly with friends. His biggest hits as a sideman are Ringo Starr's "It Don't Come Easy," on which he played piano, and the ultra smooth lament Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" with Stephen Stills, on which he picked the acoustic guitar (with the help of Booker T. and the MGs, no less).
There are many many more. But I'll leave it at that and for now and whet your appetite.
Here's a link to a FunTrivia game if you want to try.
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