Mix Tape Friday: Guys and Dolls
What better way to kick off date night than with a mix tape of boy/girl duets? A guest vocalist can make or break a song. “Gimme Shelter” is a fantastic song — but Merry Clayton’s vocals turn it into a fan-f*cking-tastic one. A great duet doesn’t necessarily have to pair two perfectly suited voices. Some of the best duets are those that at first make you go “huh?” — such as the pairing of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong in 1956 — but once you hear them singing together, you wonder why they took so long to hook up.
Rolling Stones feat. Merry Clayton: Gimme Shelter
David Bowie feat. Queen Latifah: Fame 90
De La Soul feat. Chaka Khan: All Good
Beyonce feat. Jay-Z: Crazy in Love
Tina Turner feat. Elton John: The Bitch Is Back
Tom Jones feat. The Cardigans: Burning Down the House
Sleater-Kinney + Fred Schneider: Angry Inch
Sonic Youth feat. Chuck D: Kool Thing
Ramones feat. Debbie Harry: Go Lil' Camaro Go
KLF feat. Tammy Wynette: Justified and Ancient
Gabin feat. Dee Dee Bridgewater: Into My Soul
Crusaders feat. Randy Crawford: Street Life
Moby feat. Gwen Stefani: South Side
Debbie Harry + Iggy Pop: Well Did You Evah
Paul Westerberg + Joan Jett: Let's Do It (Let’s Fall in Love)
Otis Redding + Carla Thomas: Tramp
Johnny Cash + June Carter Cash: Jackson
Richard & Linda Thompson: Don’t Renege on Our Love<
Keith Richards feat. Sarah Dash: Make No Mistake
R.E.M. feat. Kate Pierson: Me in Honey
Iggy Pop feat. Kate Pierson: Candy
Ella Fitzgerald + Louis Armstrong: A Foggy Day in London Town
Marvin Gaye + Tammi Terrell: You're All I Need to Get By
Serge Gainsbourg feat. Jane Birkin: Je T'aime Moi Non Plus
What’s your favorite duet?
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Labels: duets, guys and dolls, mix tape, MP3 links are for sampling only and are disabled after two weeks
posted by Cup @ 12:02 AM
44 comments
44 Comments:
The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl: Fairytale of New York
Or Billy Bragg + Kirsty MacColl's "A New England." God, I loved Kirsty MacColl ...
Bruce and John Fogerty, tearing it up on a killer version of Run Through the Jungle. Come to think of it, the version of Thunder Road he did unplugged with Melissa Etheridge is up there, too. Bruce that is; I don't think John Fogerty and Melissa Etheridge have ever covered Thunder Road...
my karaoke duet of choice is 'almost paradise' with the girl from heart and the guy from loverboy.
John Prine and Iris DeMent "Inspite of Ourselves and for a female pairing I love Bonnie Raitt and Sippie Wallace "Women Be Wise"..
Huey Lewis and Gwyneth Paltrow doing "Cruisin'". Who needs Smokey Robinson?
Oh, that's a good question. I'm rather fond of Jackson by Johnny and June, but I'm not sure if I have a favourite.
This is a great playlist, I am currently filling up my library. I love mix tape Fridays, especially the picture you use.
Where in the hell is "Up Where We Belong"???
I like "It's True That We Love One Another" -- The White Stripes + Holly Golightly, though technically I guess you could say it wasn't a duet, as Meg White also sings a little in it.
"Sin City" by Dwight Yoakum and K.D. Lang. Now that is harmonizing.
kd land and roy oribson
And yes, Kristy rocked. Sniff!
OK, now I'm getting feat.- featured.
Also George Michaels and Elton John doing Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me.
Wow, what a list!
Hmmm...my favorite duet? Al Hirt and Ann Margaret singing "Baby It's Cold Outside" comes to mind.
Those Ella and Louie duets are some of the best ever. I gift those CDS as hostess presents.
I like Mick and Bette singin' "Beast of Burden" Totally kicks ass! I'm going to check out all these songs now! Thanks Beth *MWAH!*
John Prine and Bonnie Raitt doing "Angel From Montgomery" by the time Bonnie gets to the line "how the hell can a person go to work in the morning, come home in the evening and still have nothing to say" I'm in tears.
You nailed mine-- "Jackson," by Johnny Cash and June Carter.
Another one that I love, that I'm betting you're fond of too, is "Photograph," by Michael Stipe and Natalie Merchant. Very haunting.
Also: "Baby, You've Got What It Takes," by Brooke Benton and Dinah Washington.
Before I even read you song list I was hoping that Johnny and June Cash tune was going to be on there. Fantastic!
Of course, we shouldn't forget the time-honored classic man/woman duets of The Wet Spots. (Definitely NSFW!!) (Warning for those unfamiliar: This is scathingly nasty stuff, yet funny as hell if you've gotoa perverted sense of humor. So, don't blame me if you visit that site and later find yourself humming their infectious "Do You Take It?")
(Beth, given your history with Mick Jagger and the carrot, I figure you might get a kick out of that band.)
I hear "Me and Honey" over the health club loudspeakers the other day and couldn't stop whistling it the rest of the day. I'm the world's greatest whistler.
MOUNTJOY: I’ve never heard that Bruce Springsteen/Melissa Etheridge duet! Guess what I’ll be surfing for this weekend …
BARISTA BRAT: You are such a child of the 1980s — one of the things I love about you.
HOLLYC: John and Iris made it through the next-to-last round, with their cover of “We’re Not the Jet Set.” Iris is performing in town next week; want to go?
ANANDAMIDE: Who needs Gwyneth? That Huey is a cutie.
ALLISON: So glad you’re enjoying the series! You’d die if you knew how much time I spend putting each one together. The cassette graphic is fun, isn’t it?
SPLOTCHY: Love didn’t lift me up this morning. Don’t you love Holly Golightly??? Points for you!
WRITE PROCRASTINATOR: Damn fine choice, sir. They sound wonderful together, don’t they?
GIFTED TYPIST: I forgot about that k.d./Roy tune! I’ll have to dig it up for the next duets tape. I love that Elton/George Michaels duet, but this was a girl/boy tape. They’re in the folder for the next non-gender-specific duets tape.
BUBS: Have you heard Ray Charles and Betty Carter’s “Baby It’s Cold Outside”? Or Tom Jones and Cerys’ version? That’s just a damn perfect song for dueting, y’know?
MELINDA JUNE: What a perfect hostess gift! I should order a stack. I’ve given many a copy as gifts; that album is always loved.
MELLOWLEE: Mick and Tina singing “State of Shock” at Live Aid (when Mick ripped off her skirt midway through the performance) made it through the early rounds, but got cut to give Keef and Sarah Dash a chance. Let me know what songs you love!
MAT BREWSTER: I had their live version of “Angel from Montgomery” until the very end because this “tape” ran too long. HollyC and I got to see them perform that live one night under the stars; perfection!
JOHNNY YEN: “Photograph” almost made it, but I decided to go for the Kate Pierson two-fer. The boys love Kate. And I love that Brook/Dinah duet!!! Excellent choice, sir.
BLOG PORTLAND: You can never leave off Johnny and June when you’re talking about duets. Those two will also be the king and queen.
BLOWING SHIT UP WITH GAS: I’ll check it out this weekend when I’m away from the office. I’m sure I’ll love it!
GRANT MILLER: Maybe I should put together a Grant Miller Whistles tape. We could make hundreds!
Maybe most people already know this, but the album that "Jackson" is from, Carryin' On With Johnny Cash & June Carter, is faaaaannntastic.
I love "Jackson", but "Fast Boat To Sydney", "Oh, What A Good Thing We Had" and "You'll Be Alright" are equally great.
Another excellent mix Beth, you're really populating my iTunes lately!
If I Had You - Etta Jones & Charles Brown
Under Pressure - David Bowie & Queen
Do I Make Myself Clear - Etta James & Sugar Pie DeSanto
Another great list, Beth. I appreciate all the time you put into putting these lists together. :)
Every good secret agent needs his theme music
I'm such a dork, but it's still "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" by Elton John and Kiki Dee. It was my favorite song as a kid and I still love it. I came across a video on YouTube where Toni Tennille sang it with John Travolta. Oh, the fantastically hilarious horror.
I also love "The Core" by Eric Clapton and that girl who sings with him, whose name I can never remember. And I'm too lazy to go get the CD right now.
Off the top of my head...
Prince and Rosie Gaines: "Nothing Compares 2 U".
Oh, and Lita Ford and Ozzy had one that just slays me.
"They sound wonderful together, don’t they?"
It's rare to hear two voices weave that way.
I love your mix tapes. I fuckin' love em' bethy.
I also think we've hit a point in our friendship where I can be very honest with you about something.
I am a diehard bahbra duet queen. anything with neil diamond or that beegee queen and I'm in heaven.
one of my bff's, a big spanish queen loves her duets as much as I do. our favorite. come on, you know this one.... you don't bring me flowers anymore. the ish, who gets to play barbra.
It's hard to beat Fairytale of New York imo. And perhaps they don't always fall strictly into the duet category, but I am a sucker for the boy-girl harmonies of the New Pornographers and Belle and Sebastian, and also my new favourites - John-Rae and the River.
The first duet I ever thought of was Kikki Dee and Elton John singing "Don't Go Breaking My Heart". I may have even seen them sing it on American Bandstand. Actually, I think I liked it because my Mom did.
I love all the duets (John and Olivia)from Grease. Love the Cruisin duet (Gwynneth and Huey). I think thought my all time favorite (because I love the harmony) is Shania Twain and Bryan White singing "From This Moment On".
How's about "We Are the World"? J/K I should be beaten for that one. Hmmmmm....my favorite would have to be..."Movin' Right Along" Kermit the Frog and Foozie Bear. And now I want to see the Muppet Movie. Exit the Artful Dodger stage left.
Gotta love the all-out sexual tension of guy/girl duets.
Not that I'm bragging, but I think it's cool I already have quite a few of these. Dig your taste in music.
Or have I said that already?
PS - If you ever run across Cat Power's remake of "How Can I Tell You?" PLEASE let me know. Looks like it's unavailable at present, aside from brief snippets on an awful jewelry commercial.
SPLOTCHY: You earn cool points once again for mentioning Carryin' On With Johnny Cash & June Carter. I went with the better-known “Jackson” because I figured folks would get excited to see it. Yes, I play to my crowd.
DALE: Believe me, “Under Pressure” will be there when I do the boys-only duets tape. God, that song gets me pumped up. Saw Bowie perform it live a few years ago. He had a bass player who was rocking that Me'shell Ndgegocello look — and she nailed the Freddie Mercury vocals. Good choices with the Ettas; I love everything that comes out of those remarkable mouths.
ZED: I have so much fun putting these mix tapes together! I spend about a week on each one. I am nerd, hear me roar.
THE OE: Because who will know when the secret agent is coming if his theme music ain’t playing?
BECKEYE: Loving “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” is not a sign of dorkdom, but rather proof of extremely discriminating taste. And it’s a helluva lot of fun to sing along. “The Core”: Was it Yvonne Ellman or Marcy Levy? I could Google it … but I’m a bit too lazy, too.
CHELENE: Hell, Prince and anyone is a damn good duet. Now, Ozzy ………
WRITE PROCRASTINATOR: In my fantasy world, our voices weave together that well.
JEWGIRL: Oh, I love me some Barbra, doll — but I prefer the Barbra/Kristofferson duets from A Star Is Born. It’s embarrassing how much I love that movie and soundtrack.
BARBARA: It was very hard for me to leave off New Pornographers, especially since I think their harmonies are among the very best of the indie world. I need to check out John Rae and the River; wonder if anything’s on eMusic.
DJ ANDI: You just can’t go wrong with “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.” I may get my office mates to sing along with me today. And Grease! I didn’t even think about exploring that MP3 folder; thanks for the reminder.
ARTFUL DODGER: Get thee to Tenacious S’ blog today! She has a Kermit/Fozzie video uploaded that should be viewed again and again and again.
NEW AND USED RECORDS: That’s what makes ‘em so good.
THIRD WORST POET: I’ve been searching for that Cat Power cover since last Christmas. You’re the first on the contact list when I find it. Since we’re both so f*cking cool and all.
Great topic! After going through several duets in my head, I chose Shirley Goodman and Jesus Alvarez of Shirley and Company on "Shame, Shame, Shame".
It would have to be Prince and Sheena Easton with U Got The Look. Super sexy.
I have always liked the Hope Sandoval duet with the guy she was banging for awhile in the Jesus and Mary Chain. The song was called Forever Always.
Too many great duets to name. If I had to pick it would be Ella and Louie. At present, I'm kind of hooked on Aleks Syntek and Ana Toroja's "Duele el Amor". Of late, there's a lot of Souad Massi coming out of the iPod and I don't dare try to name the songs or the man as I don't know Arabic.
As a quick aside, have you seen Avenue Q? They've got very cute song called "Mixed Tape". When you make it to New York, it's worth seeing the show.
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