Ask Billboard: Eminem’s Multi-Chart Domination

Ask Billboard is updated every Friday. As always, submit your questions about Billboard charts, sales and airplay, as well as general music musings, to askbb@billboard.com. Please include your first and last name, as well as your city, state and country, if outside the U.S.

LOTS OF ‘LOVE’

Dear Gary,

When I accessed billboard.com’s two-part article and subsequent reader letters).

A complete list of uncredited artists would be almost impossible, but here are a few more:

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• Gail Mitchell

David Bowie, “Fame” (1975)

John Lennon contributes the “fame, fame, fame …” vocals near the end of the two-week Hot 100-topping song.

Samantha Sang, “Emotion” (1978)

Barry Gibb sings backup on this No. 3 Hot 100 ballad. His trademark falsetto is so prominent that this song could easily be mistaken for a Bee Gees recording.

Steve Martin, “King Tut” (1978)

This No. 17 novelty Hot 100 hit included backup from the Toot Uncommons … aka, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Speaking of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, two singles from the group in 1980 featured uncredited vocalists: Linda Ronstadt on “An American Dream” and Nicolette Larson on “Make a Little Magic.”

Pink Floyd, “The Wall” (album) (1979)

Most people might not know that Toni Tennille of Captain & Tennille fame sings backup on this classic recording, which led the Billboard 200 for 15 weeks.

Bruce Willis, “Respect Yourself” (1987)

This No. 5-peaking remake on the Hot 100 of the Staple Singers’ chestnut may not have been as big a hit without the vocal stylings of the late June Pointer.

(I’ll probably think of more after I send this e-mail …)

Thanks again for starting this discussion,

Blair Buchta
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Hi Gary,

Regarding more uncredited artists on memorable hits, here some from the ’80s and early ’90s that come to mind:

Paul Simon, “Graceland” (1986)

Despite stopping at No. 81 on the Hot 100, the song won the 1987 Record of the Year Grammy Award and the album of the same name won Album of the Year honors. The title track features the Everly Brothers on backing vocals and the set’s “Under African Skies” showcases Linda Ronstadt.

Peter Gabriel, “In Your Eyes”

Famed African singer Youssou N’Dour contributes vocals to this twice-charting Hot 100 song (No. 26, 1986, No. 41, 1989).

Steve Winwood, “Back in the High Life” (1987)

After Chaka Khan sang backup on Winwood’s 1986 Hot 100 No. 1 “Higher Love,” James Taylor added his voice to this No. 13-peaking single, which topped Adult Contemporary for three weeks. Joni Mitchell and Carole King, incidentally, sang on Taylor’s No. 31 hit “Long Ago and Far Away” in 1971 and his then-wife Carly Simon added harmonies to his No. 5 “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)” (with David Sanborn on saxophone) in 1975 and the No. 22 “Shower the People” in 1976. David Crosby and Graham Nash, meanwhile, helped out on Taylor’s “Mexico” (No. 49, 1975).

Phil Collins, “I Wish It Would Rain Down” (1990)

Eric Clapton plays guitar on this No. 4 Hot 100 smash. David Crosby’s vocals round out the previous single from “…But Seriously,” the No. 1 “Another Day in Paradise,” and Babyface produced and sang on Collins’ 1998 remake of Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors.”

Deee-Lite, “Groove Is in the Heart” (1990)

This fun song features funk pioneer Bootsy Collins on vocals, as well as rapping from Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest. The track reached No. 4 on the Hot 100.

Take care,

Pablo Nelson
Berkeley, California