Did You Know…that some of music’s biggest stars appeared on hit records by other artists before they became famous themselves?
Let’s start with a great story that’s either absolutely true (according to the record producer) or maybe not (according to the piano player).
In 1964, a 15-year-old pianist was sitting in a Hicksville, Long Island recording studio. Session producer “Shadow” Morton was wearing sunglasses and a flowing cape, loudly demanding more purple on the record.
When the nervous young pianist finally asked, “How do I play purple,” the guitarist leaned over and whispered, “Just play louder, kid.”
And that’s how a pre-fame Billy Joel came to play the dramatic piano chords on “Remember (Walking In The Sand)” by The Shangri-Las.
Shadow always insisted Billy was there; Billy’s memory was hazier. Still, Billy is certain of one thing: he never got paid.
By the summer of 1969, Hollies founding member Graham Nash had teamed up with David Crosby and Stephen Stills, and his former group’s chart performance had begun to cool off. Their last US Top 10 had been “Carrie-Anne” two years earlier.
In 1966, four of the five Hollies had recorded with The Everly Brothers, where they met a 19-year-old session pianist named Reggie Dwight.
According to EMI engineer Alan Parsons, The Hollies rarely used keyboards on their rhythm tracks, unless Reggie happened to be around.
Reggie was in the studio on June 25, 1969, when The Hollies recorded “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother.”
It went to all the way to #1 in the UK and #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. Like Billy Joel, Dwight’s contribution was uncredited. Unlike Billy, Reggie was paid £12.
But don’t feel too bad for him. In a year, he’d begin a decades-long run of hits…as Elton John.
And now a couple of quick takes…
In the summer of 1962, Sam Cooke scored a #2 gospel-tinged R&B smash with “Bring It On Home To Me,” featuring an echoing, call-and-response backing vocal from Lou Rawls, several years before Rawls became a star himself.
Jerry Butler’s solo breakthrough — “He Will Break Your Heart” — featured Curtis Mayfield on guitar and backup vocal. Within a year, Mayfield kicked off his own string of hits leading The Impressions and as solo artist.
These are just a few. Which future stars can you think of who first appeared on someone else’s hit?
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