'Life in a Northern Town' (and other great tour-mate collaborations)

noledawg Wed, Mar 19, 2008 at 06:45 PM EST

I have a handful I've been fortunate to see ... one that really sicks out is in the mid-90s, Bruce Hornsby was touring behind his first solo album and opening for Bonnie Raitt, and he came out to play piano on "I Can't Make You Love Me," which he did on her album. Pretty darn cool.

Also, they weren't tour partners, but last time Coldplay was in Atlanta, where I live, Michael Stipe came out and did Nightswimming with Chris Martin on keyboards.

Finally, Brian Johnson, the lead singer of AC/DC lives near Tampa and he'll make occasional cameo appearances at shows there. I've been lucky to see him do "Highway to Hell" with Billy Joel and "You Shook Me All Night Long" with, get this, Melissa Etheridge. Both performances blew the roof off the Ice Palace.

AMayo1 Wed, Mar 19, 2008 at 02:32 PM EST

Several years back Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Honrsby, Jackson Brown and Shawn Colvin went on tour together as a band. It is still the most amazing concert I have ever seen. You could tell they enjoyed being up there and that they were having fun.

Broadway Baby Wed, Mar 19, 2008 at 02:26 PM EST

It must of been sometime around 1984 - I saw Adam Ant with Robbie Kreiger from the Doors of all people 'jam' Hello, I Love You. I was sure it was going to give me some credibility and was finally going to stop my big brother from making fun of my love for all things Ant. It did not.

Mavis Wed, Mar 19, 2008 at 12:51 PM EST

They weren't touring together, but Bruce Springsteen came on stage with u2 and sang "People Get Ready" in Philly! Totally awesome!

Hi Wed, Mar 19, 2008 at 12:33 PM EST

Makes me want to hear the original. Sometimes twang is a bad thing.

Wed, Mar 19, 2008 at 11:39 AM EST

Excellent timing on this! I went ot see Bon Jovi last week, with Daughtry opening for them. Chris Daughtry duetted with Jon on Blaze of Glory. Gave me goosbumps!

cookiemac Wed, Mar 19, 2008 at 10:41 AM EST

thanks for posting this! I've been looking for this since i've seen it on CMT. I keep telling my wife how good it is, but havn't been able to show her. (She didn't think it existed) Awesome harmonies

Heather Wed, Mar 19, 2008 at 09:54 AM EST

Part of what makes this collab so good is that they all know how to harmonize. (Plus Kristian Bush gets a solo! Yay!) And I'm with everyone else - I want to be able to buy this, it's that good. At least it's playing on CMT.

JoeC Wed, Mar 19, 2008 at 08:51 AM EST

Elton John and Billy Joel toured a few times together during the 90's. It was cool to hear Elton sing 'New York State of Mind' while Billy sang 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road'. Very good.

reb Wed, Mar 19, 2008 at 07:02 AM EST

About 20 years ago I saw Roddy Frame from Aztec Camera join The Waterboys to cover Purple Rain. That was an amazing thing. Big Audio Dynamite was on that bill too, for their first live show ever. It was a good day.

davidsask Wed, Mar 19, 2008 at 01:31 AM EST

I get mad when they keep releasing great live songs like this and irreplaceable and not putting them to cd quality. Your fans want that!

patrick Tue, Mar 18, 2008 at 08:46 PM EST

I know this will date me, but in the early '80's. I saw Christopher Cross and America do an instrumental version of the Beatles "You Can't Say that"... incredible

patrick Tue, Mar 18, 2008 at 08:45 PM EST

I know this will date me, but in the early '80's. I saw Christopher Cross and America do an instrumental version of the Beatles "You Can't Say that"... incredible

Edward The Uppity Tue, Mar 18, 2008 at 06:35 PM EST

Nana Mouskouri and Heino covering "Welcome To The Jungle". It was amazing.

Dave Tue, Mar 18, 2008 at 06:00 PM EST

Lyle Lovett and Sting doing "Long Tall Texan" about 10-12 years back. That was cool.

Diana Tue, Mar 18, 2008 at 05:40 PM EST

I just watched that 3 times...amazing!

Crichton Tue, Mar 18, 2008 at 05:31 PM EST

That was brilliant!! I would say that the Dixie Chicks and Joan Osborne performing "Am I the Only One (Who's Ever Felt This Way)" in concert was fantastic!

CARRIEROCKS Tue, Mar 18, 2008 at 05:19 PM EST

This was good- but you should check out Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban's recent cover of Stop Draggin My Heart Around, by Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty. IT is fantastic!

here it is: enjoy!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=X61aWyATcFE

Susi Tue, Mar 18, 2008 at 04:24 PM EST

It's reassuring to know that there still are some recording artists out there who can sing and play instruments well, unlike the subject of your post yesterday.

Ben Tue, Mar 18, 2008 at 04:17 PM EST

Stevie Nicks and Sheryl Crow doing Strong Enough on tour was good. Like listening to a mother and daughter croon together...

missdona Tue, Mar 18, 2008 at 04:03 PM EST

Pearl Jam w/ Ben Harper, Daughter at the Garden in 2003

And Pearl Jam w/ John Popper playing the bridge of Evenflow on the harmonica at Randall's Island in 1996. It was really a moment.

Rachel K Tue, Mar 18, 2008 at 03:51 PM EST

That was so fantastic - WOW from me too!

Stephanie T. Tue, Mar 18, 2008 at 03:21 PM EST

No Doubt and Reel Big Fish doing the Beatles "Obla Dee Obla Da" during one of No Doubts earliest concerts.

Kira Tue, Mar 18, 2008 at 03:10 PM EST

Years ago, Death Cab for Cutie and the Dismemberment Plan toured together and called it the "Death and Dismemberment" tour...which was awesome since both bands are indie puppie dogs.

movcritic Tue, Mar 18, 2008 at 02:52 PM EST

OK, forgive me for gushing for a moment but -- wow. First of all, that's one of my favorite songs from the '80s (no clear reason why, no specific memory attached to it, I just love the song). And it never occurred to me how good it would sound as a country song. Now, if Sugarland would just record and release it, I'd be thrilled.

Onto your question: Anytime the Indigo Girls tour with someone, they do a killer group sing at the end. Among the highlights: "Closer to Fine" (a staple, I realize) with the Dixie Chicks and Ben Folds at an Honor the Earth benefit in Charlotte, N.C., in October of 2003. Just awesome. And they teamed up with Girlyman for a beautiful version of "Finlandia," which is included on their "Rarities" disc.

runjuliet Tue, Mar 18, 2008 at 02:50 PM EST

Ben Folds and Rufus Wainwright singing Wham's "Careless Whisper" on the Guster/Folds/Rufus tour of '04.