Welcome to Duets Week on theFiver. Originally, we were going to post one top 5 list of duets, but there’s just so damn many good ones. So we’re breaking things down by category.
Rules: We’re trying to avoid schmaltz, so you’ll forgive our lack of “Ebony And Ivory” or the Nate “King” Cole/Natalie Cole version of “Unforgettable.” For the sake of these lists, a band and another artist will be considered a duet, as long as they normally don’t produce together. IE: Queen and David Bowie are eligible; George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic are not. The duetting artists get a green light even if they collaborated for an entire album, but not if they made a career out of it. So you’ll see Alison Krauss and Robert Plant; but not Simon and Garfunkel. Which leaves Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds in a weird gray area. Also, with Glen Miller and His Orchestra and Kool and His Gang — neither are considered duets. Offer void in Utah. May cause rare but serious side effects – consult your physician of leakage persists.
For today’s Top 5, we’re looking for pairings that are often surprising, producing songs that are poignant and memorable.
Top 5 Rootsy-ish Duets
1. “All The Roadrunning,” Mark Knopplher and Emmylou Harris
Knopplher has done well in stepping from the cool shadow of Dire Straits, when he teamed up with country legend Emmylou Harris for the album This Is Us, it produced this ought-to-be classic.
2. “Please Read The Letter,” Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
It was hard narrowing down choices from “Raising Sand,” the collaboration of Plant and Krauss. But “Please Read The Letter” only just edged out such other great tracks as “Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)” and “Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson.”
3. “Carpetbagger,” Jenny Lewis and Elvis Costello
Fun and rowdy, this pairing between Jenny Lewis and Elvis Costello would make a great song to start a fight in your local dive bar.
4. “I See A Darkness,” Johnny Cash and Will Oldham
Cash’s “American” series produced a bevy excellent work at the end of his career. This was originally a song by Oldham (Bonnie “Prince” Billy), who provides backing vocals. To us, this song is a confession of trouble and turmoil, a desperate cry, and a love letter to a friend, all in one.
5. “Fireflies,” Rhett Miller and Rachel Yamagatta
Speaking of desperation, the conversation in this duet between Miller, who only wants his blinding love from Yamagata returned, is off Miller’s album “The Believer.” If you’re heart-broken and drinking, this is your song.
Runners up: “Girl From The North Country,” Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, “Love Hurts (cover),” Emmylous Harris & Elvis Costello. Whaddya think, sirs?
