To all the duets I've loved before...

Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson. Ann Wilson and Mike Reno. Phil Collins and ... just about everyone. Like it or not, the '80s might be the ultimate decade of the duet.

But what were the best -- and worst -- duets of the 80s? That's right, time to build another list in anticipation of a future podcast.

As always, here are some guidelines. The artists don't need to be '80s artists per se, though that would help in their "greatness" -- but the song itself needs have been released in the decade. Feel free to add bonus points if it plays a significant role in another '80s phenomenon (a movie soundtrack, landmark concert, TV show, etc.) For the "worst-of" list, consider the cheese factor. And I personally will take points off for remakes of songs from earlier decades.

Here are some to consider...

FIVE GREAT DUETS OF THE 80s:

Almost Paradise (Ann Wilson and Mike Reno):  The prom theme for everyone who graduated high school in the mid-80s and love theme for "Footloose." [video]

Separate Lives (Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin): Haunting, poignant and it never gets old -- unlike the movie -- "White Nights" -- in which it appears. [video]

Don't Give Up (Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush): A contender for the top spot thanks the pedigree of the two singers and the fantastically simple video by Godley & Creme.

Under Pressure (Freddie Mercury and David Bowie): Tainted for a decade when Vanilla Ice sampled it for "Ice Ice Baby," this song has the No. 31 spot on VH-1's list of 100 Greatest Songs of the 80s. [video]

Close My Eyes Forever (Lita Ford and Ozzy Osbourne): Ah-ha. Tripped you up with a hard-rock entry. See if you can tell Lita apart from Ozzy in the video.

FIVE DREADFUL DUETS OF THE 80s:

Ebony and Ivory (Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney): "Side by side on my pee-yano!" [video]

The Girl Is Mine (Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson): "I'm a lover, not a fighter." Yeah, we know, Michael. That's what freaks us out. [video]

State of Shock (Mick Jagger and Tina Turner): "State of Denial" is more like it. Easily one of the most painful songs of the 80s. [video]

Dancing in the Streets (David Bowie and Mick Jagger): Recorded for Live Aid, so I feel a little bad putting it on this list. Allegedly, their first choice was to cover "One Love." Bob Marley just got lucky, I guess. [video]

To All The Girls I've Loved Before (Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson): Words simply fail me at this point. [video]

OK, gang, time to fill in the blanks. Help us compile the best and worst.

Comments

[Jonathan]

Islands in the Stream - Kenny Rodgers and Dolly Parton - 1983 - This song was #1 for two weeks and was named best country duets of all time by CMT in 2005. You know you know the words!!
Come on sing along! - ". . . how could we be wrong?"

[Tonianne]

Some of my favorites:
This is Not America - David Bowie/Pet Metheny
I Knew You Were Waiting - George Michael/Tina Turner
You're A Friend of Mine - Jackson Browne/Clarence Clemmons
On My Own - Patti LaBelle/Michael McDonald
Under Pressure - Queen/David Bowie
Stop Draggin' My Heart Around - Stevie Nicks/Tom Petty
Leather and Lace - Stevie Nicks/Don Henley
Walk This Way - Aerosmith/Run DMC

And the truly stinky:
(I've Had) The Time of My Life - Jennifer Warne/Bill Medley
Tonight I Celebrate My Love - Peabo Bryson/Roberta Flack

[Old Fat Bald Chick Magnet]

So far I haven't seen anything that wouldn't make me hit the button on my radio, if I still listened to the radio.

Hey, here's one: "Streets of Bakersfield" by Dwight Yoakam and Buck Owens. Circa '87 or so.

[jane]

J'adore "What Have I Done to Deserve This" -- Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield. Dusty can do no wrong.

And speaking of the Pet Shop Boys I would be remiss if I didn't mention a personal favorite -- their duet with Liza Minelli on the Sondheim classic "Losing My Mind," which charted in the UK in '89. Yes, it's totally an acquired taste and I will probably be the only one who digs it.

Duets that are off-the-chart cheesy (but that sing along with anyway. Shut up.):
"After All" -- Peter Cetera & Cher
"Nobody Loves Me Like You Do" -- Jermaine Jackson & Whitney Houston
"Don't Know Much" -- Aaron Neville & Linda Ronstadt

Also must second Tonianne with "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around."

[Gary]

How about "Guilty" by Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb (1980). I think we know which list it goes on....

[Spears]

Sean loves "Guilty" by the way.

And you know, I neglected to put one truly fun one on the list: "Don't Fight It" with Kenny Loggins and Steve Perry.

[Marissa]

Fun Boy Three with Bananarama ~ "It Ain't What Ya Do (It's the Way that you do it)"

"Cool Places" ~ Sparks with Jane Wiedlin

Mick Jagger orginally did "State of Shock" with The Jacksons on their 9184 "Torture" album. I owned it.

[Marissa]

uh, that's 1984 "Torture" -- margarita at lunch. oopsy.

[Marissa]

"Suddenly" - Olivia Newton-John and Cliff Richard

"Next Time I fall in Love" ~ Amy Grant & Peter Cetera

"Endless Love" ~ Lionel Richie and Diana Ross

[Greg Jones]

How about Phil Collins and Phillip Bailey: Easy Lover?
Definitely on the best list.

[jane]

"U Got the Look" -- Prince & Sheena Easton

"Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" -- Aretha Franklin & Annie Lennox (Girl Power!)

I am a bit sad that "Did You Evah" by Debbie Harry & Iggy Pop was from 1991, as that's a bit of wacky genius.

[Spears]

"Sometimes Love Ain't Enough" (Patty Smyth and Don Henley) didn't make the cut either. It was '92.

[Ray]

Just my $.o2...

The Good
---------
"Under Pressure" - Freddie Mercury & David Bowie
"Pancho & Lefty" Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard
"Crying" Roy Orbison & K.D. Lang
"Say Say Say" - Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson (better video than song)
"Baby Come to Me" - Patty Austin & James Ingram
"Walk This Way" - RUN DMC & Aerosmith
"Leather and Lace" - Stevie Nicks & Don Henley
"Suddenly" - Olivia Newton-John and Cliff Richard
"Next Time I fall in Love" - Amy Grant & Peter Cetera

The OK
------
"Almost Paradise" - Ann Wilson & Mike Reno
"Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer" - Kim Carnes & Kenny Rogers
"On My Own" - Patti La Belle & Michael McDonald
"To All The Girls I've Loved Before" - Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson
"Tonight I Celebrate My Love for You" - Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack
"Separate Lives" - Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin
"Stop Dragging My Heart Around" - Tom Petty & Stevie Nicks

The Bad
-------
"Don't Know Much" Linda Ronstadt feat. Aaron Neville
"Islands in the stream" - Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton
"Ebony & Ivory" - Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder
"Endless Love" - Lionel Richie & Diana Ross
"The Girl Is Mine" - Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
"Yah Mo B There" - Michael McDonald & James Ingram
"Dancing in the Streets" - David Bowie & Mick Jagger
"Up Where We Belong" - Joe Cocker" & Jennifer Warnes

[Tom]

"It's Only Love"-Bryan Adams w/Tina Turner, great tune

"Fly Away"-John Denver w/Olivia Newton-John, though a 70's song still pretty good

"All of Me"-Julio Iglesias w/Diana Ross, total cheese

What do you think sir?

[Marissa]

AWESOME! "When Love Comes to Town" ~ U2/BB King

Meh "It's Only Love" ~ Tina Turner/Bryan Adams

Cheeseball "Somewhere out There" ~ Linda Ronstadt/James Ingram

Stinky Cheese "With You I'm Born Again" ~ Billy Preston/Syreeta

UBER Cheeseball "Till I Loved You" ~ Done Johnson/Babs Streisand

Ultimately Cheesy Deluxe "When The Rain Begins to Fall" ~ Germaine Jackson/Pia Zadora

[Marissa]

...and because I know you all love video or audio to accompany the lists, but I'm too disorganized to put it all in one comment:

Don and Babs:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16QcRHc3978

Pia and Germaine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsN5kZIsleo

Billy and Syreeta: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncFv75oCoYY

...and the bestest for last. BB King and U2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th1kQER770M

[Mary Danger]

Have we forgotten David Bowie and Bing Crosby singing "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy," on the 1982 RCA 45rpm (originally performed in 1977.) Who hasn't Bowie performed with? m.

[sjdrj]

I would swap "Almost Paradise" and "The Girl is Mine." Just sayin'.

[Bassnote]

My Secret Place - Joni Mitchell & Peter Gabriel
Snakes & Ladders - Joni Mitchell & Don Henley
Don't Fight It - Kenny Loggins & Steve Perry
Put A Little Love In Your Heart - Al Green & Annie Lennox
Tonight - David Bowie & Tina Turner
Dancing In The Street - David Bowie & Mick Jagger
Run - Eric Clapton & Tina Turner
Surrender To Me - Ann Wilson & Robin Zander
You're A Friend Of Mine (worst list) - Clarence Clemmons & Jackson Browne
Tom's Diner - DNA & Suzanne Vega
We've Got Tonight - Kenny Rogers & Sheena Easton
Yah Mo Be There - Michael McDonald & James Ingram
Xanadu - Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra
Fairytale of New York - The Pogues & Kristy McColl
U Got The Look - Prince & Sheena Easton

[Marissa]

Here's one that I'd never heard before, but I'm sure someone in the vast 80s nation has.

Moonlight Shadow ~ Mike Oldfield/Maggie Reilly ... Mike Oldfield is responsible for Tubular Bells. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bOLkPbPCbk

"Her Town Too" ~ James Taylor/JD Souther
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbnR6BrSQC4

and did you know UB40 with Chrissie Hynde did a Dusty Springfield cover of "Breakfast in Bed?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKG3ykRMGiI
*strip me of points, Steve.

[Christopher]

Damn! Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting was a few years too late, or they may be the ultimate bad.

[Bassnote]

I know I repeated some that had been posted already, but that's what I get for not reading carefully.

[jane]

"Tom's Diner."

Biggest earwig in the history of earwigs.

I just read the title and it starts. Running through my head on constant loop. Not budging for anything. Regardless of how hard I try.

"Do do do do, do do do do
Do do do do, do do do do

I am sitting in the morning
At the diner on the corner..."

[Tonianne]

Oops - I forgot "Money for Nothing" by Dire Straits and Sting.

For whatever reason, I never really thought of "Fairytale of New York" as a duet. But now that Bassnote suggested it, it is without a doubt at the top of my favorites list

[Sherrie]

Baby Grand- Billy Joel and Ray Charles

Soulful, good stuff from the 1986 album "The Bridge". There was another BJ duet with Cyndi Lauper on that same album, called "Code of Silence" that is great as well. What affliction is this that all I can think of is Billy Joel songs?

[Marissa]

Sherrie, BJ-itis?

[Ian from Down Under]

1: The Young Ones and Cliff Richard - Living Doll. Comedy singing at it's best

2: John Waite and Allison Krauss - Missing You. Thanks for introducing us to this S.I.T.E.

3: INXS and Jimmy Barnes - Good Times
Aussie rock at it's best

4: Candy Dulfer and Dave Stewart - Lily Was Here
Great instrumental duet

5: Falco and Brigitte Nielson - Body Next to Body.
Worst duet ever

[Ian from Down Under]

Tonianne,
wouldn't Sting's involvement in Money For Nothing be merely as a backing vocalist singing "Money for Nothing" to the tune of "Don't Stand So Close To Me"?

[Ian from Down Under]

Sorry I meant that he sang "I want my MTV" to the tune of "Don't stand so close to me". It has been a long day.

[Ian from Down Under]

My usual country music suggestion,

John Denver & Placido Domingo - Perhaps Love

[jane]

To quote Ian...."5: Falco and Brigitte Nielson - Body Next to Body.
Worst duet ever"

I've not heard this, nor do I ever care to. But I daresay that your comment about 'worst duet ever' is not mere hyperbole and is in fact complete and utter truth.

*shudder*

[Marissa]

I'm sadistic.
You know you want to click the link to Falco and Brigitte.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xH8Wqdb4U0

[Emily]

Would Time Stands Still by Rush (Aimee Mann on backing vocals) count?? I love that.

What about Good Times by Michael Hutchence and Inxs with Jimmy Barnes. That is awesome.

Most of the readers/listeners won't know this but Aussies probably will:

Communication by John Farnham and Dannielle Gaha. (It was our version of Just Say No to Drugs!)It came out in 1989. It was pretty good for an "issues" single.

What about We've Got Tonight (1983) by Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton. Depending on how you feel it could be on both lists. I admit to liking it!

[Ian from Down Under]

Hey Riss, There are some great reasons for Youtube - this song is not one of them. I don't know why I even posted this song. I really am truly sorry everybody.

[Marissa]

Hey Emily! I considered putting "We've got Tonight" on my list, but it was originally done by Bob Segar in 1978. And Steve threatened being doinked points (but I think this is more like "WHose Line is it Anyway" and the points don't matter).
I had already added, "Breakfast in Bed" cover by UB40 and Chrissie Hynde. I can't handle a double doinking from Steve.

Ian, it's okay. Seriously, I tossed Pia Zadora and Germaine Jackson up for UBER cheese and gave the video link. That, I must declare, is THE absolute worst video and duet. Dudes buzzing around on mopeds in the desert trying to look badass? I don't think so!

[Ian from Down Under]

Yeah but Riss, I thought that Pia Zadora was cute at some stage in my misguided youth so I just blanked your suggestion of that song right out.

[Ian from Down Under]

One more from the prolific duetsters of the 80's
UB40 and Chrissie Hynde - I Got You Babe.

[chase]

Another vote for "Cool Places" with Sparks with Jane Wiedlin, great tune.

[Bluedog]

I LOVED "Yah Mo B There" by Michael McDonald and James Ingram. "Islands In The Stream" I could have done without.

What about "Diamonds" by Janet Jackson and Herb Alpert?

[Bassnote]

Shakin' The Tree - Youssou N'dour & Peter Gabriel
Excellent Birds - Laurie Anderson & Peter Gabriel
Kiss - Art Of Noise & Tom Jones
Don't Box Me In - Stan Ridgeway & Stewart Copeland
Field Work - Ryuichi Sakamoto & Thomas Dolby
This Old Heart Of Mine - Rod Stewart & Ronald Isley
Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer - Kenny Rogers & Kim Carnes

[jane]

*kicking self in tuchus*

Duh. How could I have neglected to mention Sir Tom and the Art of Noise. Bad fan! Bad fan!

However, I TOTALLY deserve to be punished for not being the first to mention "Don't Box Me In." I may be sent to the Stewart Copeland Fan Club penalty box for that offense. "Don't Box Me In" is totally at the top of my list of duets/collaborations.

[Walter Cox]

"Don't Box Me In". Ugh. If I'm ever in the position to torture prisoners, I'll be using that.

[Clark]

GOOD: "Say Say Say" Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney. At least it was good until it was overplayed to death (that means it was good for about a week).

BAD: I love Prince but "Arms of Orion" with Sheena Easton from the Batman album is in the top 5 of the worst songs he ever did.

[jane]

Walter, I say this with all respect and affection and prefaced with the "nothing personal" disclaimer... pfffffffffft. ;-)

[John]

How about a duet within a band. "Haven't we been here before" (Styx) Tommy Shaw and Dennis DeYoung from Mr. Roboto. Great tune. Can't believe Spiro missed that one.

[kerri d]

Late again, but hey I suggested Rick Astley late and it got an honorable mention for happiest song so here goes:
Don't care that it's a remake - my #1 fave duet is George Michael/Aretha "Knew You Were Waiting" (it's only been mentioned once & I don't want it getting neglected)
Also I need to put in a third vote for the INXS/Jimmy Barns cut, if that counts as a duet?

[Marissa]

Wow Kerri! You get kudos for reading other comments and taking count.
Both of your suggestions are great duets. No doubt about it. The Barnes/INXS collaboration definitely counts.

My Top Five Faves:
1. Bowie/Queen ~ Under Pressure
2. U2 and BB King ~ When Love Comes to Town
3. Aretha/Annie ~ Sisters are Doin' It For Themselves
4. George/Aretha ~ I Knew You Were Waiting
5. INXS/Barnes ~ Good Times

My Top Five Cheese List:
1. Pia/Germaine ~ When the Rain Begins to Fall
2. Don/Babs ~ Till I Loved You
3. Barry/Babs ~ Guilty
4. Billy/Syreeta ~ With You I'm Born Again
5. McCartney/Jackson ~ The Girl is Mine