One of my favorite guest appearances that isn't widely known is Paul McCartney on Steve Miller's 'My Dark Hour' recorded in 1969. McCartney contributed back up vocals and played some mean bass and drums on the track. Miller later took the groove and used it for the basis of 'Fly Like an Eagle'. Put Paul on lead vocals and I could hear this fitting into 'The White Album'.

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I've always liked, "My Dark Hour," it's really interesting to hear the original take and context of the riff that would be the backbone for, "Fly Like and Eagle."

Here are a couple that I put more under the, "Most UNLIKELY guest appearance," category:

Saxon with ELTON JOHN on Piano...

Party Till U Puke
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Northern Lady
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The story goes that they were recording at the same studio complex and after talking with the guys in Saxon Elton decided that he wanted to play on their album.

James Taylor's little bit of smooth background vocals make Steve Winwood's "Back In The High Life Again" a much prettier song that if he wasn't on the track.
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How about Orson Welles on a Manowar song?

"Defender"

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Good one. I've heard that track many times and never recognized that Taylor was on there. Now it seems beautifully obvious.

A lot of people don't know that James Hetfield sang backup vocals on Danzig's self-titled debut album, most notably on "Twist of Cain".

Speaking of James Taylor, check out the ridiculously overqualified background singers on this song: (Try not to let the out of sync video throw you off too much)


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Mick Jagger on Carly Simon's "You're So Vain". It's one song where, if someone didn't point it out to you that he's on there, you might not notice...and after you did realize it, you never hear it the same way again.

Maynard James Keenan on "Know Your Enemy" from Rage Against The Machine.

Toni Tenille of Captain and Tenille sang on Pink Floyd The Wall.

Now that you mention it I can totally hear his vocals in my head on that one.

Michael Stipe on 10,000 Maniacs' A Campfire Song. Great folksy song.

Roger Daltrey contributing backup vocals to Joe Strummer's "Global a Go-Go"

Phil Collins on drums:
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Say what you want about the man, he's one of the greatest drummers ever.

It's good to be James Taylor. Here's another stunner with Art Garfunkel.

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David Gilmour's recent 'On an Island' featured David Crosby & Graham Nash on background vocals.

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Thom York doing lead vocals on PJ Harvey's "The Mess We're In".

Could pass for a great OK Computer-era Radiohead song.

I'll let Jimmy Page say it then.

Phil Collins was a decent drummer.... but one of THE GREATEST DRUMMERS EVER?!?! You're beyond high.


ANYWAY my vote has gotta go to GEORGE HARRISON's soulful guitar licks on Cheech and Chong's "Basketball Jones"...

I always liked Sting's part on "Money For Nothing" by Dire Straits.

Huey Lewis on "Women Wine and Song" by Umphrey's McGee (the band I pimp to everyone)
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Neil Fallon of Clutch made an appearance on the classic Mastodon track Sea Beast.

Benmont Tench (TP & the Heartbreakers), plays keyboards on Amy Grant's Lead Me On (1988).

Keep an eye out for Sara (Nickel Creek) Watkins' solo album this April on which Ben plays keys.

Helen Reddy sings background vocals on "True Confessions" on Gene Simmons' 1978 solo album.