- Eric Burdon & War: Eric Burdon rose to fame in the early to mid-1960s as the lead singer of the British Invasion band, The Animals (House of the Rising Sun, It’s My Life…). And though their sound was solidly rooted in rhythm and blues, few could have forecast his re-emergence in 1970, fronting the California Funk band, War. Their classic, “Spill the Wine” was an unprecedented stew of funk, psychedelia, and beat poetry. Over fifty years later, it still defies categorization.
- Bing Crosby & David Bowie: The contrast between 1940s Crooner, Bing Crosby, and 70s Glam Rocker, David Bowie couldn’t have been more dramatic, and it remains unclear who thought their collaboration might be a good idea. Even less likely, was the selection of a children’s Christmas song as the vehicle for their duet. None the less, their medley of Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth created a memorable moment, when two iconic artists from differing generations came together in a completely unexpected way. Crosby would pass away in the weeks that followed their session.
- Carly Simon & Mick Jagger: Though Jagger’s backup vocals on the Simon classic, “You’re So Vain” aren’t substantial, they are memorable. And given his iconic counterculture status during the 1971 recording, his participation as a backup singer for the Pop Chanteuse seemed highly unlikely.
- Michael Jackson & Eddie Van Halen: Despite the huge success of the Jackson 5, Michael’s four solo projects for the Motown label were far less celebrated. That all changed in 1979, as Jackson switched to the Epic label, and worked with Producer, Quincy Jones, on his breakthrough album, “Off the Wall”. It was Jones who suggested the inclusion of a “rocker” for the follow-up album, and when they approached Eddie Van Halen, he happily jumped in. The resulting, “Beat It” sold over 8 million singles, while the “Thriller” album went on to sell over 50 million units, making this one of the most successful songs of all-time.
- Aerosmith & Run DMC: It’s hard to remember that there was once a time when the Rock and Hip-Hop worlds didn’t substantially intersect, but this was the song that most prominently broke down that barrier. At the time of it’s release, such a collaboration was unthinkable, but within a few short years, the air waves were filled with rap/rock tunes.
- Johnny Cash & Rick Rubin: Rick Rubin made his name in the 1980s, as the cofounder of Def Jam Records, and as a Producer of Hip-Hop artists like LL Cool J, the Beastie Boys and Run DMC. Later in the decade he went on to produce numerous Hard Rock / Heavy Metal bands as well. But it was his collaboration with the legendary Country artist, Johnny Cash that ultimately caught everyone off guard. While it may have seemed like a mismatch on paper, the records they created indicate otherwise.
- Stevie Nicks & Prince: On the heels of the wildly successful Fleetwood Mac album, “Rumours”, Stevie Nicks launched her solo career in 1981 with the multi-platinum album, “Bella Donna”. And as she prepared for her follow-up record (1983s “Wild at Heart”), she found inspiration in the form of the Prince classic, “Little Red Corvette”. Borrowing from both the melody and sound, she created the foundation of her hit single, “Stand Back”. Though it was a marked change from her grittier rock/folk sound, it proved to be equally successful. In acknowledgement of her source material, she split the songwriter credits with Prince, and even managed to get him to play some keyboards on the track.
- Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole: On the surface, there is nothing unusual about a father-daughter duet, especially when both are successful artists, but what makes this collaboration so unique is that it took place 25 years after the father’s death. Natalie Cole was only 15 years old when her father, Nat King Cole passed away from lung cancer (1965), but thanks to the marvels of modern technology, their duet on “Unforgettable” resulted in the 1991 Grammys for Song, Record and Album of the Year.
- Kanye West, Rihanna & Paul McCartney: This unlikely partnership (i.e. FourFive Seconds) began as a songwriting collaboration between West and McCartney, and further evolved with West’s involvement in the production of Rihanna’s album. Though a bit of a departure for all three artists, it proved to be highly successful. Ironically, many younger fans had no idea who Paul McCartney was.
- Lil NAS X & Billy Ray Cyrus: The melding of Country music with Rap music hasn’t necessarily been a winning combination, so there wasn’t much reason to believe that a little-known rapper, and a largely forgotten country singer would do much to change that. But “Old Town Road” went on to become one of the most successful singles of all time.
Posts Tagged ‘Stevie Nicks’
10 Surprising Collaborations
Posted in Entertainment/Music/Sports, tagged Aerosmith, Billy Ray Cyrus, Bing Crosby, Carly Simon, collaborations, David Bowie, Eddie Van Halen, Eric Burdon, Johnny Cash, Kanye West, Lil NAS X, Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole, Paul McCartney, Prince, Rick Rubin, Rihanna, Run DMC, Stevie Nicks, War on April 13, 2023| Leave a Comment »
10 Surprising Albums
Posted in Entertainment/Music/Sports, Lists, tagged 1984, A Momentary Lapse of Reason, AC/DC, Achtung Baby, Back in Black, Black Sabbath, Bon Scott, Boston, Brian Johnson, David Gilmour, Fleetwood Mac, Gregg Rolie, Heaven and Hell, Infinity, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, John Entwistle, Journey, Led Zeppelin, Lindsey Buckingham, Michael Jackson, Neal Schon, Off the Wall, Ozzy Osbourne, Pink Floyd, Roger Waters, Ronnie James Dio, Sharon Osbourne, Stevie Nicks, The New Yardbirds, The Yardbirds, Third Stage, Thriller, Tom Scholz, U2, Van Halen on January 25, 2015| Leave a Comment »
1. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin: Originally hired as a bassist for the popular English band, “The Yardbirds”, Jimmy Page eventually came to share guitar duties with the legendary Jeff Beck. But as the group began to unravel, Page attempted to put together a new lineup, and tour as, “The New Yardbirds”. Allegedly, John Entwistle of “The Who” joked that this new band was going to go down like a lead balloon, so when the original band members forbade Page to use the Yardbirds name, “Led Zeppelin” was born. Despite the bumpy transition, Led Zeppelin’s debut album was an immediate success, and went on to become a rock classic.
2. Achtung Baby – U2: From the band’s debut album, “Boy” (released in 1980) until their classic 1987 release, “The Joshua Tree”, U2 had experienced a steady rise in both artistic and commercial success. It wasn’t until the release of their 1988 documentary, “Rattle and Hum”, that the band received its first notable criticism, with some describing it as, “bombastic” and “overly pretentious”. Disillusioned by the music industry in general, and bored with what had become their signature sound, the group’s 1991 album, “Achtung Baby” was a radical departure in almost every way.
3. Off the Wall – Michael Jackson: The Jackson Five’s departure from Motown records in 1975 seemed to mark the end of an era. Though the group continued to tour and release records, their popularity steadily dwindled. Because Michael was the main songwriter, and focal point of the band, there was no reason to believe that a new solo record would do much to change that trend. But the 1979 release of the album, “Off the Wall” set off a new era of stardom for the singer that eventually eclipsed everything that had come before it. An artistic leap forward, it laid the foundation for the phenomenal “Thriller” album, which was released just a few years later, and went on to become the biggest selling album of all time.
4. 1984 – Van Halen: The years that followed the band’s spectacular 1978 debut release, “Van Halen”, found the group steadily touring and recording. And though it would be difficult to argue their ongoing success, it was hard not to notice the progressively declining quality of their albums. Despite its commercial success, longtime fans couldn’t help but be dismayed by the remake filled album, “Diver Down” from 1982. Given those factors, there was no reason to expect the stunning return to form that “1984” represented. On many levels it was the band’s most successful album.
5. A Momentary Lapse of Reason – Pink Floyd: For long time fans, it didn’t seem possible to make a legitimate Pink Floyd record without founding member Roger Waters. But guitarist David Gilmour and company did just that with this 1987 release. Though not necessarily ranked with their best work, this album was highly successful, and proved to be a credible addition to the bands enduring legacy.
6. Fleetwood Mac (1975) – Fleetwood Mac: By the time that Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks arrived, “Fleetwood Mac” had already been a band for almost a decade, and had released nine albums. But the addition of these two distinctive artists radically changed the chemistry within the group, and propelled them to a whole new level of popularity. This album not only topped the chart, it sold over 5 million copies, and produced three big radio hits (i.e. Rhiannon, Over My Head, and Say You Love Me). More importantly, it set the stage for the group’s next album, “Rumours”, which went on to be one of the biggest selling albums of all time.
7. Infinity – Journey: Originally formed in 1973, the band was made up of veteran players from the San Francisco bay area; including Santana alum Gregg Rolie and Neal Schon. But after the groups first three albums failed to consistently connect with a sizeable audience, their record company recommended a change in direction, including the incorporation of another vocalist. This shift from a jazz/rock to pop/rock style, and the addition of Steve Perry’s striking vocals, proved to be a winning combination, as their 1978 release, “Infinity” went on to achieve platinum status, and set off a string of highly successful albums.
8. Back in Black – AC/DC: The death of lead singer, Bon Scott, seemed to signal the end for Australian rock outfit AC/DC. His charisma, and distinctive growl, were at the heart of the band’s sound, and looked to be irreplaceable. At that time, few could have anticipated the emergence of new singer Brian Johnson, and the release of what is arguably the bands most complete album.
9. Third Stage – Boston: Though not considered to be on a par with the band’s first two albums (i.e. 1976’s “Boston” and 1978’s “Don’t Look Back”), this album is notable for the eight year span that preceded it’s 1986 release. Multiple law suits, and techno-wiz/guitarist/producer Tom Scholz’s constant tinkering, led to the delay. Despite the gap, this album did manage to continue the bands string of multi-platinum success.
10. Heaven and Hell – Black Sabbath: Considering that Ozzy Osbourne was the face, the voice, and ultimately the stage persona of the band, it seemed unlikely that the group could be successful without him. But when his rampant drug & alcohol abuse caused the band to “fire” him in 1979, they decided to regroup with former Rainbow vocalist Ronnie James Dio. Surprisingly, this new lineup reinvigorated the band’s music, and was well-received by die hard Sabbath fans. It’s interesting to note that it was the daughter of the band’s manager, Don Arden who recommended Dio as Ozzy’s replacement, and that years later she (Sharon Arden) became Mrs. Ozzy Osbourne.
Bjcorbin's Blog 
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2018)
Posted in Commentaries, Opinions, tagged America, Bad Company, Black Sabbath, Blind Faith, Boston, Chaka Khan, Cheap Trick, Deep Purple, Def Leppard, Devo, Doobie Brothers, Foreigner, Janet Jackson, John Prine, Journey, MC5, Radiohead, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Ronnie James Dio, Steve Winwood, Stevie Nicks, Styx, The Cure, The Guess Who, The Scorpions, The Zombies, Todd Rundgren, Traffic on October 11, 2018| 3 Comments »
OK, so I’m not losing sleep over who gets into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but the latest batch of nominee’s reminded me of how haphazard this process can be. This year voters get to pick from a wide variety of artists, which includes overlooked bands like The Zombies and MC5, singer/songwriters like Todd Rundgren and John Prine, genre pioneers like Kraftwork, and Rage Against the Machine, 80’s phenoms like The Cure and Devo, dancefloor divas like Chaka Khan, and Janet Jackson, or popular favorites like LLCoolJ, Stevie Nicks and Def Leppard. It’s not that I have a big issue with any of these artists, it’s that there are so many other deserving candidates who seem to have been forgotten. USA Today ran an article in recent days naming what they considered to be artists that were “snubbed” (e.g. Blink-182, Bone Thugs N-Harmony, Jane’s Addiction?), and while they did name a few I hadn’t thought of (e.g. Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, Snopp Dogg, Kate Bush), they left off what I considered to be the more obvious choices. Four groups that jump to my mind are the Doobie Brothers, Boston, America, and The Guess Who. Each one of those bands produced at least a half dozen classic songs that are still being played on the radio 40+ years later. Their credentials are far superior to many of the other artists who are already in the hall.
In many cases, members of popular bands are also enshrined for their individual careers (e.g. Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, John Lennon…). Along those lines, I believe that a singer like Paul Rodgers should be admitted for his work in bands like Free, Bad Company, The Firm, and Queen. Similarly, Sammy Hagar (Montrose, Van Halen, solo career), Ronnie James Dio (Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio) and Steve Winwood (Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Blind Faith) should qualify for their stellar careers. With bands like Journey and Cheap Trick already recognized, it’s hard to understand the exclusion of bands like Foreigner and Styx. Similarly, if Deep Purple was worthy, so is Bad Company, and if Bon Jovi belongs, so do The Scorpions. I don’t mind newer acts like Radiohead being nominated, but I don’t want to see some of these classic acts forgotten. If you need further proof for the artists I mentioned, listen to the following:
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