Uncredited background singer

Uncredited background vocals are common in music, including popular music, even when the unnamed performer adds significantly to the performance. It is uncommon for background singers to be credited. Usually credit is withheld so as to highlight the performance of the lead artist and sometimes the extra singer simply happened to be in the studio. Unknown background singers may also come to prominence in later remixes or edits.

Significant uncredited background vocals appear in the following songs:

• John Lennon and Paul McCartney perform on the Rolling Stones' "We Love You".^[1]
• Brian Jones on the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine"
• "Roll with Me, Henry" by Etta James includes Richard Berry, author of "Louie Louie", performing the role of "Henry".^[2]
• Sam Cooke's "Bring It On Home to Me" has vocal responses by Lou Rawls matching Cooke word for word and note for note.^[3]
• Mick Jagger performs background vocals on Carly Simon's recording of "You're So Vain", which led to the apparently erroneous theory that the song was about Jagger.^[4]
• Howlin' Wolf sings on Koko Taylor's version of "Wang Dang Doodle", which Wolf had recorded previously.
• Jimmy Reed's wife, Mary "Mama" Reed, sings unison harmony on many of his songs, including two of his biggest hits, "Big Boss Man" and "Bright Lights, Big City".
• Dean Friedman's UK hit "Lucky Stars" features the Denise Marsa.^[5]
• Jonathan Richman's "The Neighbors" features Jody Ross.^[6]
• Andrew Gold's "Never Let Her Slip Away" features harmony vocals from Freddie Mercury.^{[7][8][9][10][11][12]}
• Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me" featured backing vocals by Jermaine Jackson and Michael Jackson.^[13]
• "Bad Blood" by Neil Sedaka features backing vocals by Elton John.^[14]
• Usher's "Superstar" feature vocals from Faith Evans.^[15]
• Paul McCartney can be heard as one of the background revellers on Donovan's 1966 "Mellow Yellow". (Contrary to popular belief, it is not McCartney whispering the "quite rightly" answering lines in the chorus, but rather Donovan himself).^[16]
• Babyface contributed background vocals on "Tears" by The Isley Brothers, a song he penned for them on their 1996 album Mission to Please.
• Mýa performs background vocals on "Get None", the debut single released by singer Tamar Braxton.^[17]
• Joe performed background vocals on SWV's single "Use Your Heart", although he was credited for vocal arrangement and vocal production on the song.^[18]
• Brandy sang background vocals on the remixed version of Luther Vandross' Nights in Harlem, which was remixed by the former's longtime associate Rodney Jerkins.
• Al B. Sure! contributed background vocals to Guy's song "You Can Call Me Crazy". According to producer Teddy Riley, the song was originally planned for Sure!'s debut album In Effect Mode but the song never made the final cut.^[19]
• Mint Condition frontman Stokley Williams performs background vocals on "The Curse Of The Gifted", from Wale's 2013 album The Gifted.^[20]
• Jamie Foxx performs vocals on Ariana Grande's 2015 single "Focus".^[21]
• Eric Roberson performs background vocals on Cam'ron's song "Tomorrow" from his 2002 album, Come Home with Me.^[22]
• Anelia performs vocals on Andrea's 2014 song Най-добрата (Nay-dobrata).^[23]

References