Earlier this month, music super group Superheavy released their debut album. Superheavy features five different musicians from diverse music field. This all-star line-up includes Sir Mick Jagger, Slumdog Millionaire composer A.R. Rahman, Reggae artist Damian Marley, Eurythmics co-founder David A. Stewart and British soul singer Joss Stone. While listening to their debut album, it reminded me about 10 other fantastic collaborations that people should have in their MP3 players.
- Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word-Ray Charles & Elton John, Genius Loves Company, 2004
For his final studio album, The Genius selected a group of elite artists that he wanted to perform with one final time. One of these talented musicians was Sir Elton John. Together Charles and the British Piano Man collaborated on John’s classic “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word.” This is a great duet because of John’s powerful vocals, Charles’ phrasing of the lyrics and the orchestrations that appeared throughout the song. This is truly a master class performance.
- How Do You Keep the Music Playing-Tony Bennett & Aretha Franklin, Duets II, 2011
Speaking of master class performances, I mentioned in an earlier blog post that the collaboration between the Legendary Crooner and the Queen of Soul was a true highlight of Mr. Bennett’s latest album. Between the soft background music and the music icons’ vocal arrangement, this was a match made in recording industry heaven. For my number three entry, let’s travel back to the late 1990s where two titanic music divas collaborated for the first time on an Academy Award-winning song.
- When You Believe-Whitney Houston & Mariah Carey, The Prince of Egypt Soundtrack, 1998
This song still gives me goose bumps every time I hear it on my iPod. The collaboration between two of the 1990s top female recording artists is incredible because this was when Houston still had her powerful voice and that they promoted a united front against the tabloids that constantly harassed them. In addition to Houston and Carey’s impeccable voices, also look out for a gospel choir that is featured near the song’s ending.
- It Takes Two-Rod Stewart & Tina Turner, Vagabond Heart, 1990
In this charged-up duet between Turner and Stewart, both rock legends give it all they got and then some. Both of these vocalists were named in Rolling Stone’s “Top 100 Greatest Singers” and this song proves why they were selected by the critics to be in that elite gathering. If you watch the music video on YouTube, you can see that their on-camera chemistry was such as sexy as their vocal collaboration. (One word of warning on watching the video-the video is a karaoke version so I suggest listening to a preview on iTunes while watching the video).
- Riding With the King-B.B. King & Eric Clapton, Riding With the King, 2000
In 2000, the legendary British rocker joined forces with the King of the Blues to produce one of the best collaboration albums of the 2000s. The title track shows incredible vocals and astonishing guitar playing from these heavyweight legends. This song has great lyrics and terrific call-and-response from Clapton and King that makes the title track catchy. In addition, look for a mini-monologue from King in the near end of the song.
- State of Shock-Michael Jackson & Mick Jagger, Victory, 1984
What happens when the King of Pop teams up with one of the rock’s greatest frontman of all time? You get “State of Shock!” In the Jacksons’ 1984 album, Victory, Michael Jackson and Mick Jagger delivered their first and sadly only duet together. When you combine Jagger’s vocal swagger, Jackson’s authoritative voice and an incredible backing instrumental music provided by the Jacksons, you get this incredible collaboration.
- I Saw Her Standing There-Jerry Lee Lewis & Little Richard, Last Man Standing, 2006
The Founding Fathers of Rock and Roll came together in 2006 for an explosive cover of a Beatles classic. This collaboration shows both rock pianists’ musicality and their signature vocals (Lewis’ baritone voice and Richard’s high woos). I hope that the current chart toppers listen to this duet because this cover represents the stuff legends are made of.
- Into You-Gloria Estefan & Stevie Wonder, Unwrapped, 2003
It is always risky bringing two different singers of two different music genres together. The collaboration could be a big hit or the worst train wreck music listeners could have listened to. But when the Queen of Latin Pop joined forces with one of the most beloved performers of all time to record “Into You” for her Unwrapped album…it was a huge hit. The song was able to weave Estefan’s seductive voice with Wonder’s impeccable vocals and harmonica playing.
- Smooth- Santana & Rob Thomas, Supernatural, 1999
One of the best collaborations that I remembered listening to while was in elementary school was the Grammy-winning collaboration between Santana and Matchbox Twenty’s lead singer Rob Thomas. This song highlighted Carlos Santana’s phenomenal guitar playing and Thomas’ impeccable vocals.
- “One”-Mary J. Blige & U2, The Breakthrough, 2006
When Mary J. Blige released her incredible album The Breakthrough, she collaborated with U2 on their classic song “One.” This collaboration perfectly fuses together rock with R&B. I give credit to U2 for letting Mary J. Blige take over the vocals as they play the backing music in the background. This song delivers an important message about unity and to have Bono and Mary J. Blige sing about it together near the end of the song brings this collaboration to a whole new level.
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