Bands where someone besides the singer and/or the guitarist get all the credit

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It seems like usually the singer and/or the guitarist get all the credit in bands for being the artistic/creative ones who make all the important decisions, the singers because they're right up front and typically create the most obvious way to interpret a band's viewpoint (the lyrics), and the guitarists because they create the most recognizable part of the music. I'm thinking of Morrissey/Johnny Marr in the Smiths or Thom Yorke/Jonny Greenwood in Radiohead, for example. What bands can you think of where someone besides the singer or the guitarist gets the bulk of the artistic credit? The only one I can think of off the top of my head is Don Caballero (Damon Che).

― n/a (Nick A.), Monday, 20 September 2004 14:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Rush.

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 20 September 2004 14:42 (twenty-one years ago)

The band No Doubt. I think the bass player writes most of the songs.

― BlastsOfStatic (BlastsofStatic), Monday, 20 September 2004 14:43 (twenty-one years ago)

(Like 'em or not) the Golden Palominos

― dave225 (Dave225), Monday, 20 September 2004 14:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Surely Gwen still gets the credit though (not the actual songwriting credit on the record, but in the media)?

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 20 September 2004 14:44 (twenty-one years ago)

firehose.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Monday, 20 September 2004 14:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Red Hot Chili Peppers

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 20 September 2004 14:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Teenage Fanclub (or do they all sing the songs they individually write)?

xpost, Jordan : I guess we're considering writing credit ... or are we?

Depeche Mode (sort of)

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Monday, 20 September 2004 14:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Gwen gets the credit cause she is hot, but she don't write that stuff, based on the admittedly very little I know about the band.

― BlastsOfStatic (BlastsofStatic), Monday, 20 September 2004 14:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Dee Dee gets a lot of credit for early Ramones stuff.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 20 September 2004 14:46 (twenty-one years ago)

The Monkees.

― everything, Monday, 20 September 2004 14:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Nick, are we talking actual writing credits or public perception?

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 20 September 2004 14:48 (twenty-one years ago)

PUBLIC and PUBIC PERCEPTION.

― n/a (Nick A.), Monday, 20 September 2004 14:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Rush and the Monkees are good ones so far.

― n/a (Nick A.), Monday, 20 September 2004 14:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Manfred Mann

Greenslade

Lake

Giuffria

― briania (briania), Monday, 20 September 2004 14:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Tortoise.

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 20 September 2004 14:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Obligatory Dave Clark 5 post.

― lawrence kansas (lawrence kansas), Monday, 20 September 2004 14:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Emerson Lake & Palmer (for which i believe emerson got most of the attention)

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Monday, 20 September 2004 15:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Depeche Mode (sort of)

Martin sings, he plays guitar, what more do you need? ;-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 20 September 2004 15:02 (twenty-one years ago)

PUBLIC and PUBIC (sic) PERCEPTION.
After rereading the question, I notice that the aim has changed midway through because you specifically said "artistic credit" at the top of the thread.

In that case, since guitarists and singers are perceived as the "frontmen" (or women) in almost every bands, then we've eliminated about 95% of all possible candidates, including everything on this thread except for maybe the Monkees.

xpost OK, ELP too ... and it does help to consider bands that don't have singers like Tortoise

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Monday, 20 September 2004 15:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Bow Wow Wow

New Edition

Sniff 'n' the Tears

― briania (briania), Monday, 20 September 2004 15:05 (twenty-one years ago)

the specials

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Monday, 20 September 2004 15:07 (twenty-one years ago)

The Left Banke

― briania (briania), Monday, 20 September 2004 15:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Ginger Baker's Air Force

― briania (briania), Monday, 20 September 2004 15:09 (twenty-one years ago)

the ronettes

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Monday, 20 September 2004 15:10 (twenty-one years ago)

the beach boys

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Monday, 20 September 2004 15:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Fleetwood Mac (arguably)

xpost, yeah, Spector more or less owns this thread (when it comes to vocal groups)

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Monday, 20 September 2004 15:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Magma
Ruins
Flying Luttenbachers

OMG BRUTAL PROG

― Free the Bee (ex machina), Monday, 20 September 2004 15:17 (twenty-one years ago)

The Roots.

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 20 September 2004 15:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Umm. Stone Roses?

― coco, Monday, 20 September 2004 15:36 (twenty-one years ago)

The Alan Parsons Project
Iron Maiden (Steve Harris)
Uriah Heep (Ken Hensley)
(Post-Syd) Pink Floyd, although Roger Waters sang the occasional song

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Monday, 20 September 2004 15:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Level 42

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 20 September 2004 15:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Firehose

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 20 September 2004 15:40 (twenty-one years ago)

slash Minutemen

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 20 September 2004 15:40 (twenty-one years ago)

oh oh oh JANES ADDICTION pre-suckage

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 20 September 2004 15:40 (twenty-one years ago)

dirty three

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Monday, 20 September 2004 16:09 (twenty-one years ago)

happy mondays (sort of)

yeah the specials are key so far.

― piscesboy, Monday, 20 September 2004 16:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Metallica - Hetfield and Ulrich are the main creative partnership.

Doesn't the Hives' bassist write all their songs?

― Wooden (Wooden), Monday, 20 September 2004 16:13 (twenty-one years ago)

ooh and dr teeth and the electric mayhem!

― piscesboy, Monday, 20 September 2004 16:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Zappa usually stayed in the background when he was with the Mothers.

― Wooden (Wooden), Monday, 20 September 2004 16:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Zappa was also the guitar player.

And who got all the credit in Janes if it wasn't the singer?

― briania (briania), Monday, 20 September 2004 16:22 (twenty-one years ago)

b-b-but hetfield is the singer!

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Monday, 20 September 2004 16:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Surely Keith Moon gets more credit than Daltrey?

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 20 September 2004 16:24 (twenty-one years ago)

But Townshend trumps both.

― n/a (Nick A.), Monday, 20 September 2004 16:24 (twenty-one years ago)

(x-post)
a-a-and that sure LOOKS like a guitar in hetfield's hands!

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Monday, 20 September 2004 16:25 (twenty-one years ago)

'blah blah blah blah but be-weah
blah blah blah blah blah cay-ah'

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Monday, 20 September 2004 16:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Right, I just meant it's got to be more Townshend/Moon than Townshend/Daltrey.

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 20 September 2004 16:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Earth Wind & Fire! (the kalimba player and the horn section get the credit as far as I can tell)

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Monday, 20 September 2004 16:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Mookieproof, you've passed the audition, and are hereby hired as the vocalist for the totallly kick-ass tribute band The Sandmen.

― briania (briania), Monday, 20 September 2004 16:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Most reggae

― Justin Farrar (Justin Farrar), Monday, 20 September 2004 16:51 (twenty-one years ago)

The Zombies

(and Argent obv.)

― zebedee (zebedee), Monday, 20 September 2004 17:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Red Snapper (the guitarist does get his share of the credits, but I think the bassist and the drummer still dominate over him).

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Monday, 20 September 2004 17:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Most reggae

But reggae bands are mostly led by their singers, no? Ska perhaps would make a better case.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Monday, 20 September 2004 17:44 (twenty-one years ago)

The production of reggae was/is quite diff. from Western pop-rock (which all of you know).

Lee Perry, King Tubby, Augustus Pablo received the artistic credit over almost any singers and guitarists that they worked with. The exceptions would be Marley, Burning Spear among others.

I am not saying no singers and guitarists receive artistic credit but much less than rock music.

Also, would Phil Spector count? He has his own box set!

Joe Meek?

― Justin Farrar (Justin Farrar), Monday, 20 September 2004 18:12 (twenty-one years ago)

jazz to thread

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Monday, 20 September 2004 20:58 (twenty-one years ago)

milli vanilli

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 20 September 2004 21:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Shellac it's all about drums

― Vacillating temp (Vacillating temp), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 02:41 (twenty-one years ago)

obv answer = manic street preachers

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 02:50 (twenty-one years ago)

inspiral carpets

― the surface noise (slight return) (electricsound), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 03:15 (twenty-one years ago)

rothko

(ho ho ho)

― the surface noise (slight return) (electricsound), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 03:16 (twenty-one years ago)

J. Geils Band? Fug if I know.

― Pleasant Plains (Pleasant Plains), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 03:27 (twenty-one years ago)

keane

― the surface noise (slight return) (electricsound), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 03:30 (twenty-one years ago)

(the pianist writes all the songs and doesn't sing)

― the surface noise (slight return) (electricsound), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 03:30 (twenty-one years ago)

WU-TANG (sort of)

― Symplistic (shmuel), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 04:10 (twenty-one years ago)

PRODIGY !?

What does the stupid looking guy do?

Happy Mondays - Bez gets more attention than Shaun.

― Sasha (sgh), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 05:18 (twenty-one years ago)

PRODIGY !?
What does the stupid looking guy do?

Eh, dance, as did Keith Flint before the dreadful day he started singing. Tho' the "stupid looking guy" isn't doing even that anymore, since he was kicked out.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 05:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Okay, well, there we go. I was right.

― Sasha (sgh), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 05:35 (twenty-one years ago)

beatles
genesis
motorhead

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 14:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Don Cab not a great example -- Damon had the EGO, but Ian was at least as important.

Also Firehose fits, but minutemen don't. D. Boon wasn't the songwriter, but he was the heart of the bad (Watt was the brain and Hurley the lungs.)

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 14:49 (twenty-one years ago)

beatles
genesis
motorhead

I don't understand any of these. I guess you're referring to McCartney, Phil Collins, and Lemmy respectively (even though I think Peter Gabriel gets more cred than Phil Collins in Genesis), but even if they didn't play guitar, they were all singers.

― n/a (Nick A.), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 15:09 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, on second thoughts and after reading a bit better the thread, these don't fit totally... but it was more the idea that they were in bands that weren't based on the classic singer/guitarist alchemy !

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 15:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Willie Dixon!!!!

― rob.b, Tuesday, 21 September 2004 22:29 (twenty-one years ago)

jazz def to thread
sepcifically art blakey's jazz messengers.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 22:32 (twenty-one years ago)

D. Boon wasn't the songwriter

pardon? boon and watt were both songwriters and by the end they were pretty much splitting it down the middle.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 22:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Surely Gwen still gets the credit though (not the actual songwriting credit on the record, but in the media)?

Actually, she gets the songwriting credits too, mostly.

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 23:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Shoulda wrote "wasn't the MAIN songwriter".

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Metal scores here because the drummers are often so tricky and dextrous, and get plenty of attention because of it.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Tempted to say Madness, since I feel pianist Mike Barson was a kind of central point of that band (as well as the writer of many of the songs), but it may be that this is just a special-interest thing, and vocalist Suggs was most in the public view.

Also: The Sex Pistols! ;)

― OleM (OleM), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Err ... Glastonbury-friendly live-tastic DJ-led dance troupes to thread -

f/ex Groove Armada, Faithless, Basement Jaxx etc

― darren (darren), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 20:18 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

very tough question!

prodigy and the manics = best suggestions thus far

― Charlie Howard (the sphinx), Thursday, 21 September 2006 14:18 (nineteen years ago)

CBS Orchestra

Max Weinberg 7

― hank (hank s), Thursday, 21 September 2006 14:36 (nineteen years ago)

The Carpenters? The Captain & Tennille?

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Thursday, 21 September 2006 15:49 (nineteen years ago)

5th dimension

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Thursday, 21 September 2006 15:56 (nineteen years ago)

Royalty issues notwithstanding, many people feel that The Band wouldn't and couldn't have been The Band sans any of the original members. This certainly doesn't count as someone other than the singer or guitarist receiving all of the credit, but certainly more credit than so-called side-players from most other bands.

― shorty (shorty), Thursday, 21 September 2006 16:09 (nineteen years ago)

The Secret Machines, unless you happen to have a redhead guitarist fetish (cough).

― Space Gourmand (Haberdager), Thursday, 21 September 2006 16:22 (nineteen years ago)

So what about songwriters circa tin pan alley, or somebody like burt bacharach? From the original post it seems like only the traditional idea of a "band" is being included in the question. But what's interesting to me is the idea of credit before and after the heyday of the traditional rock band. Frank Sinatra, or even Elvis, didn't write the bulk of their material. They do seem to get the bulk of public recognition for the work. Poor songwriter, on the bottom rung.

I guess the two concepts of song and performance/recording are pretty important to this question. Jazz standards, which were mentioned implicitly upthread, are known by particular versions. The use of sampling in the last 20 or so years also makes the idea of credit interesting.

"So yeah, I sampled your voice, you was using it wrong / you made it a hot line, I made it a hot song."

So, for me, it boils down to context for music outside the sphere of of the typical 4-5 piece rock band.

― Udbhav Gupta (udbhav gupta), Thursday, 21 September 2006 16:51 (nineteen years ago)

I cant believe nobody has answered Sparks yet.

― Period period period (Period period period), Thursday, 21 September 2006 17:14 (nineteen years ago)

Backstreet Boys
*N'Sync
Mel & Kim
New Kids On The Block
Take That

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 21 September 2006 18:25 (nineteen years ago)

The Roots is the best answer.

― MRZBW (MRZBW), Thursday, 21 September 2006 18:53 (nineteen years ago)

Every Christian rock band ever.

― M. Agony Von Bontee (M. Agony Von Bontee), Thursday, 21 September 2006 19:08 (nineteen years ago)

nikki sixx always seemed to get a lot of credit for a bass player.

― M@tt He1geson: Real Name, No Gimmicks (Matt Helgeson), Thursday, 21 September 2006 19:26 (nineteen years ago)

primus, kinda.

― M@tt He1geson: Real Name, No Gimmicks (Matt Helgeson), Thursday, 21 September 2006 19:27 (nineteen years ago)

Who do you guys credit in the Monkees? You don't think of singers like Nesmith or Jones?

― Mark (MarkR), Thursday, 21 September 2006 19:47 (nineteen years ago)

Boyce & Hart?

― hank (hank s), Thursday, 21 September 2006 19:48 (nineteen years ago)

Actually I meant Dolenz & Jones.

― Mark (MarkR), Thursday, 21 September 2006 19:49 (nineteen years ago)

I've talked to enough signed musicians to think that the credits on albums are very much a matter of diplomacy. Lots of domineering/stealing ideas from collaborators and retaining sole credit. Arthur Lee of Love apparently did this quite often. Ditto for Cat Stevens.

Same goes for performing credits. Eg. _Union_ by Yes, which, despite a lot of weak material, contained some cool Steve Howe solos. Too bad 90% of them were played by session guitarists.

― Squirrel_Police (Squirrel_Police), Thursday, 21 September 2006 20:24 (nineteen years ago)

Paul Revere and The Raiders

― jim wentworth (wench), Thursday, 21 September 2006 22:58 (nineteen years ago)

Backstreet Boys
*N'Sync
Mel & Kim
New Kids On The Block
Take That

You don't focus on the singers in these bands?

Seems like this question is only interesting if you can find yourself saying about a bass player, drummer, or keyboard player who doesn't sing that it's his or her band. It's very rare. J. Geils Band is a good example. Golden Palaminos.

― Mark (MarkR), Thursday, 21 September 2006 23:39 (nineteen years ago)

Booker T and the Mgs

― Adam S S (Zephery), Friday, 22 September 2006 01:50 (nineteen years ago)

rick wakeman co-arranged cat steven's version of "morning has broken" and totally got screwed on the credit.

― Squirrel_Police (Squirrel_Police), Friday, 22 September 2006 02:43 (nineteen years ago)

Every Christian rock band ever.

lock thread. lock ILM. lock world. myonga wins.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Friday, 22 September 2006 03:13 (nineteen years ago)

one month passes...

iron maiden (steve harris)

― Charlie Howard (the sphinx), Sunday, 19 November 2006 14:58 (eighteen years ago)

It's not a contest but thanks all the same, FCC!

― Monty Von Byonga (Monty Von Byonga), Sunday, 19 November 2006 15:08 (eighteen years ago)

deerhoof

― mr. bribsly (drich), Sunday, 19 November 2006 19:46 (eighteen years ago)

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