What's your favorite Luke guest spot?

[roburado]

A friend of mine compiled a CD he entitled "...featuring Michael McDonald" with some of MMcD's great performances on backing vocals. Some of the songs were surprises. Kind of like, "What? He sang on that?" Then, you listen to it, and you say, "Oh yeah! I never noticed that." Some of it was just obscure. Most of the songs are great though.

What are some of your favorite Luke moments on other people's hit recordings (i.e., not a Toto, Los Lobotomys, etc. recording)? It doesn't even have to be a solo, maybe just a great song he did on rhythm guitar. Kind of a, "he played on that?!?" kind of thing. Looking to make a little "...featuring Steve Lukather" playlist for the iPod.

 

[Ali]

Randy Crawford's "You Might Need Somebody"

Just an awesome and iconic solo and not what you'd expect Luke to be playing. He must only have been in his late teens too.

Also:

Boz Scaggs Breakdown Dead Ahead...an all time classic track
Chicago's 25 or 6 to 4 (the '86 version)...I just love this version and Luke is at his 80s era best
Derek Sherinian's Mata Hari....beautifully understated
Don Henley's Dirty Laundry...classic riff and solo
Jon Anderson's Top Of The World (The Glass Bead Game)...th etrack is basically Toto with JA on vocals and is AWESOME
Peter Cetera's Living In The Limelight...pure 80s reverb and delay and an on fire Luke
Richard Marx's Playing With Fire...as above
Todd Rungdren and Friends' Tiny Demons....so emotive!
Hellraiser from the Bat Head Soup tribute with Joe Lynn Turner on vocals. I prefer Luke's version to the original!!!

 

[roburado]

Thanks for the suggestions. Anyone else?

 

[robelinda2]

Olivia Newton-John- Physical

All of Luke's work on Derek Sherinian's cd's ( including the awesome track where Malmsteen and Zakk Wylde trade solos- WOAH!)

Richard Marx's cd's have heaps of great Luke

 

[DrKev]

I'll add another vote for Derek Sherinian's 'Mata Hari', and also Trilok Gurtu's 'Seven Brings Return' which is equally breath taking but also features some very tasty clean rhythm work from Luke. Definitely a favourite of mine. Speaking of clean rhythm work, I do like some of Luke's little licks in Jackson's 'Billie Jean'.

 

[roburado]

Thanks.

I've been compiling this mix with some friends who are non-guitar players. So, it's been more of a "mainstream" pop/rock mix. I haven't gone out there and done one that's an all-out Luke guitar showcase. I agree that Mata Hari and the other Sherinian stuff is great. I'm probably going to make my own Luke mix that includes some of that stuff. So far, I enjoy what I've got, which includes the following (not sure if I have the order right).

"Beat It" - Michael Jackson
"Stand Back" - Stevie Nicks
"Gimme the Goods" - Boz Scaggs
"I Gotta Try" - Michael McDonald
"Baby, Come to Me" - Patti Austin
"Human Nature" - Michael Jackson
"Dirty Laundry" - Don Henley
"We're In This Love Together" - Al Jarreau
"I Keep Forgettin'" - Michael McDonald
"I Love L.A." - Randy Newman
"Physical" - Olivia Newton-John
"Talk To Ya Later" - The Tubes
"Forever Man" - Eric Clapton
"She's A Beauty" - The Tubes
"25 or 6 to 4" - Chicago
"What's Going On" - Joe Cocker

I think that's everything, but there's room for more, I think.

 

[Eilif]

"Voices"
Dream Police
Cheap Trick

 

[Ali]

Commercial stuff, and repeating a few recommendations:

Days Like This- Asia
Breakdown Dead Ahead- Boz Scaggs (this is compulsory, not an option!!!)
Secrets In The Dark- Eric Martin (was Luke's choice to replace Bobby in Toto, get a glimpse with this...)
Stairway To Heaven- Far Coropration (Bobby and Luke amongst others)
Saved My Life- Fee Waybill
Sea Of Mercy- John Wetton
Top Of The World - Jon Anderson (seriously....this is STUNNING)
Running With The Night - Lionel Ritchie
Living In The Limelight - Peter Cetera
You Might Need Somebody - Randy Crawford
Playing With Fire - Richard Marx

 

[Eilif]

Amen!

Top Of The World - Jon Anderson (seriously....this is STUNNING)

 

[Knox]

Ali,

We should do a comprehensive "featuring Luke" sessions CD/MP3 set sometime.....

 

[Ali]

Sounds like a plan....but it will change every single hour!

 

[Knox]

LOL m8! I was being sarcastic! We already have a fairly comprehensive Luke collection don't you agree!

 

[thisispastrami]

man this is awesome!! thanks for the playlist guys, i really enjoyed em ;p

 

[Knox]

Ali or myself can give you about 12 CDs packed with Luke session stuff.........the list is long and distinguished, a bit like my joh.................er

 

[tristan]

He did a great song on one of trilok gurtu's album...a blues with nacim and glenn hughes and in incredible pink floyd cover on a tribute album...

 

[Knox]

Thats right! Heard them both! The Pink Floyd cover is superb!

 

[Ali]

LOL m8! I was being sarcastic! We already have a fairly comprehensive Luke collection don't you agree!

Yes, but try fitting them on one CD

Think we must have enough for about 40 CDS by now!!!

 

[Ali]

Luke's done covers of both Comfortably Numb and Shine On You Crazy Diamond. The latter, in particular, is stunning.

 

[bovinehost]

I find it very disturbing, and I'm hoping Luke will, too, that none of you have mentioned the work he did with Cheryl Ladd.

 

[Big Poppa]

not to mention olivia newton john