When rock stars come collectively and collaborate, they’ll create one thing really memorable. That’s the case for each entry in our listing of the 30 Greatest Duets in Rock History.

In many instances, a male/feminine dynamic turned out to be the right mixture. Ozzy Osbourne and Lita Ford, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Ann Wilson and Mike Reno and Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty are simply a few of the many examples of reverse genders uniting to make a powerful tune.

Other traditional duets noticed artists crossing style boundaries to create groundbreaking materials, like Aerosmith teaming up with Run DMC and Anthrax becoming a member of forces with Public Enemy.

Then there are the duets that noticed generational acts working side-by-side, like Queen and David Bowie’s timeless observe “Under Pressure,” or Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder coming collectively on Temple of the Dog’s “Hunger Strike.”

These memorable combos and extra may be discovered beneath in our rating of the 30 Greatest Duets in Rock History.

30. Bryan Adams and Tina Turner, “It’s Only Love”
When Bryan Adams reached out to Tina Turner a couple of collaboration, the Canadian singer was uncertain what sort of response he would get. Turner was again in the highlight due to her comeback album Private Dancer, making her one of many largest stars in the world as soon as extra. To Adams’ delight, she embraced “It’s Only Love” and agreed to report her half whereas she was in Vancouver. “I remember when she left the studio… I looked back into the control room, and I saw the engineers just sort of stood there and I went in and said, ‘I hope you got that on tape,’” Adams later recalled.. “And they all sort of looked at me and said ‘Yeah, we got it.’ It was almost like a tornado had come through the studio and just blown everything apart. It was one of the best moments for me ever recording, for sure.”

29. U2 and Green Day, “The Saints Are Coming”
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans in 2005, U2 and Green Day got here collectively and lined “The Saints Are Coming.” With lyrics about clouds and floods, the tune – which was initially launched by Scottish punk band the Skids in 1979 – felt acceptable for the second. “The Saints Are Coming” quickly become an anthem of resilience, because the New Orleans Saints NFL workforce adopted it as their theme tune. U2 and Green Day memorably carried out the tune in 2006 when the Superdome – which had been closely broken through the hurricane and was additionally used to shelter residents – reopened and hosted Monday Night Football.

28. Ann Wilson and Mike Reno, “Almost Paradise”
Songwriter Dean Pritchard was tasked with creating tunes for the 1984 movie Footloose. He determined to work with all kinds of collaborators, together with Eric Carmen, greatest often known as the frontman of the Raspberries. Together, the lads created the movie’s love theme, “Almost Paradise,” however they wanted the precise male-female mixture to convey the observe to life. Enter Heart frontwoman Ann Wilson and Loverboy lead singer Mike Reno. Together, the vocalists’ intertwined their voices in a hovering, heartfelt ode to romance. “It was the first of its kind,” Wilson later recalled to Songfacts. “It was at the very dawning of the bombastic ballad era. I just think it was a great song. A killer song.”

27. Alice Cooper and Donovan, “Billion Dollar Babies”
It’s the duet the world didn’t comprehend it wanted: Alice Cooper, the king of shock rock, becoming a member of forces with “Mellow Yellow” crooner Donovan. Impressively, the unlikely pairing works to perfection, thanks largely to the dynamic between Donovan’s falsetto and Coopers demonic growl. “Power bands in Britain had already learned that to have a singer in a power rock outfit, you need a singer who can go into falsetto. That’s why you’ve got Robert Plant in Zeppelin, Jon Anderson with Yes. They have to raise their voices into the high range,” Donovan defined to Songfacts. “Chris Squire of Yes, who was a friend at the time, I said, ‘Why is it?’ And he said, ‘Well, it’s very easy. If you want your voice to be heard, you’ve got to climb above the guitars in the mid-range, or else you won’t even hear the vocal.’ And it’s true.” “Billion Dollar Babies” turned the title observe to Cooper’s sixth studio album, and ultimately turned one in all his hottest singles.

26. Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston, “It Takes Two”
One of probably the most well-known soul duets in historical past is “It Takes Two” by Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston. Released in 1966, the observe instantly turned a success due to its upbeat, romantic theme and infectious refrain. Interestingly, Gaye and Weston by no means carried out the tune collectively – she’d left Motown by the point the one was launched and the 2 by no means reunited onstage. Still, “It Takes Two” stands as a testomony to their pure chemistry collectively. The tune would later be lined by a variety of artists, together with Rod Stewart and Tina Turner in 1990.

25. Earth Wind & Fire and the Emotions, “Boogie Wonderland”
Soul group the Emotions linked with Maurice White in the mid-’70s. The Earth, Wind & Fire chief produced a number of of their albums and developed a fruitful working relationship with the band. So, when Earth, Wind & Fire hit the studio to report their 1979 single “Boogie Wonderland,” the Emotions had been invited to contribute vocals. The result’s dancefloor perfection, however in contrast to lots of the period’s disco hits, “Boogie Wonderland”’s material was surprisingly darkish. “It’s not a happy song at all,” songwriter Allee Willis defined in 2008. “It’s really about someone on the brink of self destruction who goes to these clubs to try and find more, but is at least aware of the fact that if there’s something like true love, that is something that could kind of drag them out of the abyss.”

24. Lita Ford and Ozzy Osbourne, “Close My Eyes Forever”
It was a collaboration that was by no means supposed to occur. In the ‘80s, Ozzy Osbourne and former Runaway Lita Ford were friends, thanks largely to Ford’s supervisor, Sharon Osbourne. One night time the rockers had been consuming and throwing round tune concepts, after they unexpectedly got here up with a success. “Close My Eyes Forever” is a hauntingly catchy energy ballad, with Ford and Osbourne’s distinctive vocals every taking turns in the highlight. The single reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the best charting tune in each of the singers’ respective solo careers.

23. Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson, “Say Say Say”
Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson teamed up for 3 totally different duos in the ‘80s, but our favorite of the bunch is “Say Say Say.” The track features hallmarks of both men’s distinctive musical abilities – McCartney’s clean pop supply and penchant for melody, mixed with Jackson’s soulful and emotive vocals. George Martin produced the observe, including additional depth to the tune with funky horns and a driving bass line.

22. John Mellencamp and Me’Shell Ndegeocello, “Wild Night”
In 1994, John Mellencamp and Me’Shell Ndegeocello had been linked through a mutual good friend. The two had little in frequent – Mellencamp was the weathered rock veteran, whereas Ndegeocello was a soul singer beginning her profession. Surprisingly, they clicked, and their chemistry shone by means of on their cowl of Van Morrison’s “Wild Night.” The tune turned a success, peaking at No. 4 of the Billboard Hot 100 and stays Mellencamp’s closing Top 10 hit.

21. Graham Nash and Joni Mitchell, “Our House”
The model of “Our House” that the majority followers are accustomed to was recorded by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and included in their 1970 LP Deja Vu. But this lesser-known model featured Graham Nash, who wrote the tune, dueting with the lady who impressed it, Joni Mitchell. The two had been a pair on the time, and Nash was struck by a remarkably regular day amidst the rock stars’ usually chaotic lives. “I thought, ‘What an ordinary moment,’” Nash later recalled. “Here I am lighting the fire for my old lady and she’s putting flowers in this vase that she just bought. And I sat down at Joan’s piano and an hour later, ‘Our House’ was written.” The Nash and Mitchell duet was an early demo of the tune and wasn’t formally launched till the Deja Vu fiftieth anniversary version in 2021.

20. Elton John and Kiki Dee, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”
Inspired by the well-known Motown duets of the ‘60s, Elton John and Kiki Dee decided to try their hand at a male/female duet of their own. Naturally, John handled most of the song’s building, however he enlisted Bernie Taupin for lyrical inspiration. The songwriter responded with the road “Don’t go breaking my heart,” a refrain he known as “simplistic without being overly trite.” Equal elements catchy and campy, the tune struck a chord with listeners all over the place. “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” hit No. 1 in eight totally different international locations, together with the U.Ok. and America.

19. Prince and Sheena Easton, “U Got the Look”
The largest hit from Prince’s 1987 album Sign o’ the Times was really a duet – not that you could possibly inform from the liner notes. Scottish singer Sheena Easton is closely featured on the observe, and in its music video, but didn’t obtain credit score for her involvement. The cause, in addition to a Prince energy play, may come all the way down to how far alongside the tune was by the point Easton bought concerned. “‘U Got The Look’ was a track he’d basically finished for himself,” Easton defined to the Windy City Times in 2012. “It was just a Prince track. He said, ‘Do you want to just come in and sing some backup vocals on the choruses?’ So, I went into the studio, and because I didn’t know I was singing against him, I was all over the place – and he said he kind of liked that, so he expanded it into a duet.” Regardless of credit, there’s no denying the tune’s catchiness. “U Got the Look” reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and marked one other triumph in Prince’s prolific profession.

18. U2 and BB King, “When Love Comes to Town”
Long earlier than they turned one of many largest bands on the planet, U2 was a gaggle of Irish lads who had been smitten with the blues. Among the artists they admired was B.B. King, the massively influential blues guitarist and singer. In 1987, U2 caught one in all King’s performances in Dublin and met him backstage after the present. The musicians struck up a mutual admiration and ultimately collaborated on the observe “When Love Comes to Town.” U2 do an admirable job maintaining with the blues legend on the observe, however King’s distinctive wail and masterful guitar enjoying rule the day. Released on 1988’s Rattle and Hum, “When Love Comes to Town” stays an incomparable a part of U2’s catalog.

17. Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, “Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing”
In the ‘60s, Motown perfected their duet formula by combining songwriting craftsmanship with distinctive vocal talents. None proved to be a better musical pairing than Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. The duo teamed for several timeless tracks, including 1968’s “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing.” A heartfelt ballad celebrating pure love, the tune hit No. 1 on the R&B chart and No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Spoiler alert: It’s not the one Gaye/Terrell duet to earn a spot on our listing.

16. Anthrax and Public Enemy, “Bring the Noise”
When hip-hop group Public Enemy burst on the scene in late ‘80s, they found an unlikely fan in Scott Ian. Though their genres were totally different, the Anthrax guitarist recognized that Chuck D and Flavor Flav delivered aggression and condemnation of authorities in the way that many metal acts did. When Public Enemy name-dropped Anthrax on their 1988 single “Bring the Noise,” Ian came up with the idea to cover the track. He recorded a demo of the instrumental and sent it to Chuck D, who was reluctant to the idea at first. He eventually warmed up and gave his blessing to the new version. Released in 1991, the Anthrax rendition of “Bring the Noise” featured vocals lifted from the original masters (a painstaking process at the time). The song became a hit and brought both groups to new audiences. Public Enemy and Anthrax even launched a joint tour together in the wake of the single’s success.

15. Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, “Girl from the North Country”
Two people icons got here collectively on 1969’s “Girl From the North Country.” Bob Dylan had lengthy been a fan of Johnny Cash, and when the 2 lastly met he was excited to find the Man in Black was additionally keen on his work. As it turned out, Johnny Cash repeatedly listened to Dylan’s 1963 LP The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, which featured the unique model of “Girl From the North Country.” So when the 2 musicians bought collectively throughout periods for Dylan’s Nashville Skyline album, it was a pure option to re-record. Dylan delivered his vocals in folk-crooner trend, which properly contrasted Cash’s deep nation twang.

14. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, “Please Read the Letter”
Robert Plant initially launched “Please Read the Letter” on his 1988 album with Jimmy Page, Walking Into Clarksdale. The tune was revisited in 2007 when the previous Led Zeppelin frontman joined forces with nation singer Alison Krauss. Together, the duo reshaped “Please Read the Letter” a craving bluegrass tune, chronicling the tip of a relationship. Plant later stated the tune “hadn’t reached its true potential” till he and Krauss collaborated on it. The observe went on to win Record of the Year on the 2009 Grammy Awards.

13. Eddie Money and Ronnie Spector, “Take Me Home Tonight”
When songwriters Mick Leeson and Peter Vale offered Eddie Money with the tune “Take Me Home Tonight,” the singer was drawn to the road “Just like Ronnie said … ‘Be my little baby,‘” interpolating the Ronettes’ 1963 hit “Be My Baby.” After agreeing to report the tune, Money known as Ronnie Spector – who at this level had retired from music – and insisted she sing on the observe. “He called me and said, ‘Ronnie, I need your help with this. It needs you to be on it,’” Spector later recalled. “I said, ‘Baby, I don’t do that anymore,’ but he was insistent.” The mixture proved good. “Take Me Home Tonight” reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and gave Money the highest-charting single of his profession. It additionally spurred a comeback for Spector, who returned to recording and performing as soon as extra.

12. Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush, “Don’t Give Up”
Few artists may go toe-to-toe with Peter Gabriel in phrases of expertise and creative creativity – Kate Bush is one in all them. The acclaimed songstress joined forces with the previous Genesis frontman on his 1986 single “Don’t Give Up.” The transferring tune provided each singers the possibility to show their emotive model of vocals. “The sensitive treatment Kate gave our give-and-take on that song was gratifying, because it’s not just a song about a woman supporting a man in a demanding relationship,” Gabriel defined to Spin in 1986. “Without a climate of self-esteem, it’s impossible to function.”

11. Stevie Nicks and Don Henley, “Leather and Lace”
Stevie Nicks initially wrote “Leather and Lace” for Waylon Jennings to sing together with his spouse, Jessi. However by the point he was able to report it, the couple had break up up. Meanwhile, Nicks, who labored on the tune with the Eagles’ Don Henley, felt a private obligation to the tune. (*30*) she defined in the liner notes to her TimeSpace compilation album. “It’s probably the hardest thing in the world to do because it falls out of your hands and into the hands of the world, which tends to want you to not be able to handle it.” Nicks opted to report the tune with Henley, with whom she was on-and-off romantically concerned with. “Leather and Lace” became a Top 10 hit, and Nicks later described it as “one of the most special love songs that I would ever write.”

10. Bill Withers and Grover Washington Jr., “Just the Two of Us”
Not a duet in the conventional sense, 1980’s “Just the Two of Us” was a collaboration between saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. and vocalist Bill Withers. It was Washington who penned the tune alongside producer Ralph MacDonald, who took the track to Withers in hopes of getting the singer onboard. Withers agreed, but he changed some of the lyrics to better suit his style. On the tune, each man gets his time to shine – Withers’ smooth vocals weave the narrative, while Washington’s soulful solos add to the romantic mood. “Just the Two of Us” became a huge success, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song.

9. The Pogues and Kristy MacColl, “Fairytale of New York”
It took more than two years for “Fairytale of New York” to come together. Initially, Jem Finer, the Pogues’ banjo player, wrote the song about a sailor missing his wife at Christmas. Finer’s own wife told him the concept was corny and instead suggested he focus on a couple struggling during the holiday season. Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan then added his own spin, combining new lyrics with Finer’s to create the final version of the song. Still, the back-and-forth nature of “Fairytale of New York” required a female voice to balance MacGowan’s. That’s when the Pogues called on singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl to contribute to the tune. The resulting duet has become one of the most beloved modern Christmas songs.

8. Simon & Garfunkel, “The Sound of Silence”
We easily could’ve littered this list with an assortment of songs from Simon & Garfunkel, given their place as one of the most celebrated duos in rock history. Instead, we opted to show some restraint and simply pick our favorite. “The Sound of Silence” was originally released on Simon & Garfunkel’s 1964 debut album, but got little attention. It wasn’t until the tune was reworked and released as the title track from their 1966 LP that it became a hit. With somber emotional resonance and gorgeous interweaving of vocal harmonies, “The Sound of Silence” turned a benchmark in the historical past of folks rock, in addition to Simon & Garfunkel’s first No. 1 single.

7. Temple of the Dog, “Hunger Strike”
Eddie Vedder had solely been in Seattle for a handful of days when he discovered himself in the studio with a number of of the town’s rising grunge stars. Soundgarden was engaged on a venture with the previous members of Mother Love Bone, the group which preceded Pearl Jam. Vedder was initially simply there to look at the session earlier than rehearsing together with his new band, however inspiration struck as he noticed Chris Cornell. “About two-thirds of the way through, he was having to cut off the one line, and start the other,” Vedder later recalled. “I’m not now, and certainly wasn’t then, self-assured or cocky, but I could hear what he was trying to do, so I walked up to the mic — which I’m really surprised I did — and sang the other part.” “We got through a couple choruses of him doing that and suddenly the light bulb came on in my head, this guy’s voice is amazing for these low parts,” Cornell confirmed. “History wrote itself after that, that became the single.” With two of grunge’s foremost voices main the best way, “Hunger Strike” turned a strong image of the period. It reached No. 4 on the Mainstream Rock chart and helped propel Temple of the Dog to platinum gross sales.

6. Sonny and Cher, “I Got You Babe”
“I Got You Babe” is actually a polarizing observe, with some adoring the ode to like, whereas others dismissing it as flowery dribble. If you didn’t assume a lot of the tune the primary time you heard it, you’re not alone. Cher wasn’t initially a fan the primary time Sonny Bono performed her the tune. “Sonny woke me up in the middle of the night to come in where the piano was, in the living room, and sing it,” she recalled to Billboard. “And I didn’t like it and just said, ‘OK, I’ll sing it and then I’m going back to bed.’” Of course, “I Got You Babe” turned Sonny and Cher’s largest hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and turning into a popular culture phenomenon.

5. Led Zeppelin and Sandy Denny, “Battle of Evermore”
In the historical past of Led Zeppelin, the band solely as soon as introduced in a visitor vocalist. That can be Sandy Denny, singer in the British people group Bridgeport Convention, who was featured on Led Zep’s 1971 tune “The Battle of Evermore.” Inspired by Scottish historical past, in addition to J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, Robert Plant created a folksy, medieval-styled tune that addressed the conflict between good and evil. Plant’s voice would function the tune’s narrator, whereas Denny represented a city crier. “For me to sing with Sandy Denny was nice. We had been all the time good associates with that interval of Fairport Convention,” Plant recalled to Uncut journal in 1995. “Sandy and I were friends, and it was the most obvious thing to ask her to sing on ‘The Battle of Evermore’. If it suffered from naivete and tweeness—I was only 23—it makes up for it in the cohesion of the voices and the playing.”

4. Queen and David Bowie, “Under Pressure”
One of the most iconic duets in rock history almost didn’t happen. When David Bowie and Queen got together, the legendary musicians took a “let’s see what happens” strategy. Gradually, the tune began to take form, particularly as soon as John Deacon delivered the now-famous bass half. Bowie endorsed an avant-garde strategy to lyrics, ultimately discovering the the route for “People on Streets” (because the tune was initially known as. While Freddie Mercury acquiesced to a lot of Bowie’s creative concepts, he didn’t change his vocal strategy. As a consequence, the Queen frontman delivers his strains in his distinctive operatic method, whereas Bowie provides extra of a baritone growl. That dynamic is an enormous a part of what makes “Under Pressure” work, as each singers lean into what they’re good at, somewhat than making an attempt to outdo the opposite. Though a dispute over the ultimate combine threatened to maintain “Under Pressure” on the shelf, it was launched in October 1981. It has been one in all rock’s most celebrated duets ever since.

3. Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around”
Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty already had a mutual respect for one another because the ‘80s dawned. The Fleetwood Mac songstress originally wanted Petty to produce her debut solo effort, but the job eventually went to Jimmy Iovine. Instead, Petty gave Nicks a song he’d written known as “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.” “I wasn’t used to doing other people’s songs, so I didn’t really like the idea at first, but I loved Tom Petty, so I agreed to try,” Nicks later recalled. “So we went into the studio and sang it stay, collectively. I used to be fully entranced, and I immediately fell into love with the tune. Duets had been the issues I beloved probably the most… possibly this was a second starting. And we might sing like nobody else, and no one else would ever sing like us.”

2. Aerosmith and Run DMC, “Walk This Way”
In terms of cultural impact, few duets hold a candle to Aerosmith and Run DMC joining forces on “Walk This Way.” In the mid-’80s, rap was still seen as a Black genre, with few predicting it could ever cross into the mainstream. Still, “Walk This Way”’s power wasn’t one-sided. Yes, it brought Run DMC to audiences who were otherwise unaware of the trio, and opened doors for rap in general, but it also reinvigorated Aerosmith. The group had fallen out of the limelight for several years, but the duet sparked a mainstream comeback.

1. Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”
It’s regarded as one of the greatest songs ever recorded, an uplifting pop classic about the power of love. Yet, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” wasn’t originally conceived as a duet. When Motown songwriters Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson initially gave the tune to Tammi Terrell, she was going to record it on her own. “After Tammi recorded her vocal, the producers determined the one can be stronger as a duet,” Paul Riser, Motown’s musical arranger and trombonist, later recalled. “Months earlier, Marvin had a hit with Kim Weston on ‘It Takes Two.’ So Marvin was added to Tammi’s record to help its odds on the charts. Marvin was amazing. He overdubbed his vocal so it wrapped around hers, as if the two of them were in love, singing to each other in the studio.” Generations of listeners have since been swept up by “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” The single was a No. 1 hit and 1999 it was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame.