I nominate Johnny Cash and Joe Strummer singing a duet cover of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" with Tom Morello on guitar.

I'm old enough to have seen Janis Joplin sing with Kenneth Threadgill. Always thought that a curious combo.

I always thought the duo Robert Plant and Alison Krause was incredible. Just not two people I would have ever thought about putting together. A second melding of talent was the “We Are the World” recording. I saw a video of the evening of the recording and the talent in that room was incredible. There were a few duets in that recording that on the surface made no sense, but never underestimate the vision of Quincy Jones.

Early 00s Eminem collab with  Elton John considering all the controversy surrounding Eminem at the time.

 

Edited February 20, 20251 yr by Hashtag

Rodgers and Hammerstein

 

Karyn White and Chris Isaak.

I saw them do Suspicious Minds, Wicked Game, Secret Rendezvous, Amazing Grace, Power of Love and Possession in a bar in Taos, New Mexico on Friday night, 13 March 1998.

It was impromptu. Those were the songs they both knew and agreed to sing together. Only instrument was an acoustic guitar played by Isaak. Isaak tried to get White sing Abba's  Dancing Queen, She said she knew it, but didn't think she could sing it well. 

Willie Nelson and Ray Charles.

Aerosmith and RUN DMC was very unexpected at the time. 

6 hours ago, lemonandaturd said:

Willie Nelson and Ray Charles.

That’s what I was going to say.  Seven Spanish Angel’s 

The traveling wilbury's. Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty. 

On 2/20/2025 at 7:07 AM, Itsamystery said:

I always thought the duo Robert Plant and Alison Krause was incredible. Just not two people I would have ever thought about putting together. A second melding of talent was the “We Are the World” recording. I saw a video of the evening of the recording and the talent in that room was incredible. There were a few duets in that recording that on the surface made no sense, but never underestimate the vision of Quincy Jones.

I've seen Plant & Kraus together in concert twice. Crazy mix. Definitely my vibe.

I think Lisa Fischer with the Rolling Stones singing Gimme Shelter is my favorites concert song ever.

Not sure I have a favorite off-beat duet. There have been some great ones. Willie and Johnny Cash have both done quite a few with others that I like.

When Michael Bolton does When a Man Loves a Woman, it just doesn’t get more magical than that…

Willie has worked with a lot of different folks. I like this one he did with Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, covering Queen & Bowie:

 

Nine Inch Nails and Johnny Cash collaborating on "Hurt" 🤘

1 hour ago, LonghornChris said:

Nine Inch Nails and Johnny Cash collaborating on "Hurt" 🤘

No member of Nine Inch Nails performed on Cash's cover of "Hurt."  The only input from NIN was Reznor allowing the cover to be made, despite having reservations about it being gimmicky.  He loved the finished product, btw. 

A couple of members of Tom Petty and Heartbreakers did back up Cash on that cover. 

Cash also covered "Personal Jesus."

I don’t know if it’s the best or most unexpected, but I always enjoy the Bing Crosby/ David Bowie collaboration of Peace On Earth/ Little Drummer Boy around Christmas. 
 

Don’t know why. Has the right feels. 

Nothing compares to you by Chris Cornell was unexpected. I’m biased. He could sing the phone book and I’d buy it. Temple of the dog with him and EV had some jams. 
 

Rosemary Clooney has a cool cover of “on the road again” by Willie.