Hit Songs...........

[Jesse]

........not sung by the (main) lead singer.

Not sure how many there actually are. I was going to do a "Top 10" list, but I could only come up with about 8 instances where a group had a hit song not sung by their main lead singer. Now I'm not talking about a replacement singer. For instance: Brian Howe had several hit songs with Bad Company, but he was their main singer at that point replacing Paul Rodgers. I'm also not counting cool songs not sung by the main guy. If a band stays together long enough they may throw a bone to the bassist or guitar player and let them sing a song that will never be released as a single. Accept has some great songs sung by their bassist Peter Baltes, but none were released as singles and none were hits. I'm also not counting groups with multiple lead singers who have spread it around fairly evenly over their careers: The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Styx, Kiss and The Outlaws don't count because they never really had 1 main singer.

Get it? Got it? Good.

Here's my great hit songs not sung by the lead singer:

Can't You See-Marshall Tucker Band. Sung by Guitarist Toy Caldwell, this is their best known song, but Toy never sang more than about 1 or 2 songs per album.

Stranded-Heart. Nancy Wilson's first hit singing lead for Heart was 1985's "These Dreams". Decent song, but I like this one better. She clearly does not have the pipes of her fat sister Ann, but she's got her own thing going with her quaint, somewhat raspy vocal.

Back On The Road Again-REO Speedwagon. Sung by bassist Bruce Hall, this is the highlight of any REO show IMO. A good rockin' song without Kevin Cronin's whiney vocals.

You Got That Right-Lynyrd Skynyrd. Ok, kind of a cheat here since it is technically a duet, but guitarist Steve Gaines sings the main part.

Tush-ZZ Top. Not sure why Dusty Hill never sang more for them, he's got a much better voice than Billy Gibbons.

Changes-Yes. Possibly my favorite Yes tune, if for no other reason because I don't have to stomach Jon Anderson's pre-pubesant vocal tone. Trevor Rabin was an outstanding vocalist in his own right.

I'm sure there's got to be others, but I can't think of them.

[rtbuck]

Eric Bloom of Blue Oyster Cult sings most of their tunes but their lead guitarist Buck Dharma Rosier sings lead on their biggest hits..."Don't Fear the Reaper" & "Burning For You"

[rtbuck]

Thought of another...Ooh La La by the Faces (instead of Rod Stewart Ronnie Wood sang lead on this one)

[spacel0rd]

Off subject a bit, but a lot of people don't realize that Benjamin Orr of the Cars sang "Let's Go," "Drive," "Moving in Stereo," "Just What I Needed" and Bye, Bye Love."

[spacel0rd]

Happy- Rolling Stones
Beth- Kiss

[Pete]

Have A Cigar by Pink Floyd is sung by Roy Harper.

[spacel0rd]

Nov 19, 2010 10:39:20 GMT -5 Pete said:

Have A Cigar by Pink Floyd is sung by Roy Harper.

I had no effing clue of this.

[hojam]

I know you did not want to include KISS, but I would have to say that because Peter Criss only sang about 1/8th of their tunes in the 70s, "Beth" should be included.

[hojam]

"I Know What I Want" by Cheap Trick features Tom Peterson on lead vocals. This song was a staple & a highlight of many Cheap Trick concerts back in the day....I don't kinow if it still is....

Glenn Hughes sings half the vocals on Deep Purple's "Sail Way".

Tomothy B. Schmidt (sp?) who rarely sings lead with the Eagles, sang "I Can't Tell You Why" and Randy Meisner sang "Take It To The Limit".

Although Frehley's Comet's singles were sung by Ace Frehley, their hit single "It's Over Now" was sung by Tod Howarth.

[Frank]

Nov 19, 2010 17:00:18 GMT -5 hojam said:

"I Know What I Want" by Cheap Trick features Tom Peterson on lead vocals. This song was a staple & a highlight of many Cheap Trick concerts back in the day....I don't kinow if it still is....

Damn good example. I LOVE that song. They do still do it from time to time. But it's not a regular in the set like back in the day.