Top 10 Songs Not Sung by Lead Singers

These are some songs where the lead singers didn't do the lead vocals. However, they may have done backing vocals or a few vocal parts.

But the majority of the song was sung by another member.

1. (Don't Fear) the Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult

   

2. Long Away - Queen

   

   Sung by Brian May. I don't know if he ever took vocal lessons, but he does great in this song.

3. Beth - Kiss

   

   For me, the singing wasn't very good, but it became famous.

4. Box of Rain - Grateful Dead

   

   Most of their songs were sung by Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, or (from 1965-1972) Pigpen. However, the lead vocals are sung by bassist Phil Lesh, who wrote the music. This is unusual for him because, over the next couple of years, he practically shredded his voice by not singing properly.

5. Outlaw - Whitesnake

   

   A very pleasant song from 1979 sung by their guitarist Bernie Marsden - pretty good vocals. I mean, better than some lead singers for other rock bands.

6. I'm in Love with My Car - Queen

   

   This is the first Queen song that pops into my mind when I think of non-Freddie vocal songs.

7. Hijack My Heart - Queen

   

   A great song of Queen sung by Roger Taylor.

8. Little Miss Strange - The Jimi Hendrix Experience

   

   This is one of two songs written and sung by Noel Redding (the bassist) instead of Jimi himself. The other is She's So Fine.

9. Happy - The Rolling Stones

   

10. Before They Make Me Run - The Rolling Stones

    

    Not on top, because even though Keith Richards is not a regular vocalist of the band, he did lead vocals on some songs.

The Newcomers
11. ?

    '39 - Queen

    
12. ?

    Thru and Thru - The Rolling Stones

    
The Contenders

13. Can't You See - The Marshall Tucker Band

    

    Doug Gray is a very good singer. But unfortunately/fortunately, their biggest hit was sung by their lead guitarist Toy Caldwell.

    The beginning of this song is second to none.

14. King of the Kill - Annihilator

    

    Written and entirely sung by guitarist Jeff Waters. One of their most liked songs of the '90s.

15. Remember a Day - Pink Floyd

    

    Sung by Richard Wright. Roger, David, and Barrett were their regular singers, but here Richard sings.

16. No You Don't - The Sweet

    

    Lead vocals by the bassist Steve Priest. One of my favorite songs by this band. Steve Priest really can sing if you ask me. He sang on many songs and he sounds great even on the live videos I watched.

17. Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll - Queen

    

    A song written and sung by drummer Roger Taylor in 1973. He sings it very well - he's even better than some lead singers for other bands in that era. It's a very obscure Queen song on their debut album - a short but very fast song, with pretty heavy sections in the context of the early '70s.

18. Don't Look Back in Anger - Oasis

    

19. You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar, but I Feel Like a Millionaire - Queens of the Stone Age

    

20. Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles

    

    Sung by George Harrison. A year and 205 days after this list was created, a song by The Beatles is added.

21. Hands of Time - Primal Fear

    

    A ballad by a metal band, it is sung by the bassist and the two guitarists. The lead vocalist sings only two short lines: "Time is running, time is running out. Time is running and takes the time away."

    I guess this song was a vocal experiment, but the guys sang it well. However, when the lead singer starts singing his two lines, you know who's the lead singer and why.

22. My Generation - The Sweet

    Lead vocals - Steve Priest, bassist. It's a cover of The Who that's not bad at all.

23. Into the Night - The Sweet

    

    Lead vocals - Andy Scott, guitarist. Not bad at all.

24. Stormrider - Iced Earth

    

25. While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles

    

26. Death of a Clown - The Kinks

    

27. 21 - Annihilator

    

    It was written and entirely sung by guitarist Jeff Waters.