'Better On the Other Side'
has me thinking of others . . .

'Night Shift' by The Commodores (for Marvin Gaye)
'Missing You' by Diana Ross (For Marvin Gaye)
'I'll Be Missing You by Puffy, Faith, et al. (for Biggie Smalls)

SUPRMAN said:

"Night Shift" was not only about Marvin, but Jackie Wilson also.

You can also add "Silky Soul" from Maze to the list.

'Candle in The Wind' Elton John (Marilyn Monroe and Princess Diana)
'Empty Garden' - Elton John (John Lennon)

GONE TOO SOON by Michael Jackson (Ryan White)

One Tree Hill by U2 (Gregg Carroll and Victor Jara[Chilean folk singer-Wikipedia])

"Say" - The Creatures (tribute to Billy Mackenzie of the Assoicates)

Ten Tribute Songs to Rockers
October 23, 2007 by KF Raizor Recommend (2)Single pageFont SizePost a comment
More topicsThe Day the Music Died | Tribute Songs | Tribute Band | Janis Joplin
Paying Homage to Departed Rock and Rollers

When famous people pass away, tributes tend to pour in. When rock and roll singers die, their peers honor them in song. Here are ten outstanding songs created from the pain of losing an esteemed rock performer.

All Those Years Ago - George Harrison (written by George Harrison, 1981, album


Somewhere in England)

While some people put out tribute records to make money (look at the number of tribute songs that flooded the market after Elvis' death), Harrison had a personal stake in John Lennon's murder. Harrison wrapped his respects to ("You point the way to the truth when you say 'all you need is love'") and anger about ("Now we're left cold and sad by someone, the devil's best friend, someone who offended all") his fellow Beatle's death in a happy rhythm, almost as if the music celebrated Lennon's life as the lyrics mourned his passing.

American Pie - Don McLean (written by Don McLean, 1972, album American Pie)

A young newspaper delivery boy saw the headlines about an Iowa plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, and Richie Valens and grew up to write one of the great classics of the 1970s, and one of the best tribute songs ever.

Crazy Eyes - Poco (written by Richie Furay, 1973, album Crazy Eyes)

If Gram Parsons were alive today he could not get airplay on country radio because his music was way TC (Too Country). Poco, the pioneer band of country rock (they were singing about a "just a little magic in the country music we're singing" long before the Eagles even dreamed of takin' it easy), knows who paved the way for country rock. Their last album with Richie Furay as a band member not only included a Parsons song ("Brass Buttons") but this nine-minute tribute to Parsons' music and death at the way-too-young age of 26.

Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny) - Elton John (written by Elton John & Bernie Taupin, 1983, album Jump Up!)
As with millions of others, Elton grew up idolizing the Beatles. He became a part of Lennon's life in the mid-70s, singing back-up on Lennon's 1974 hit "Whatever Gets You Thru the Nite." Lennon returned the favor and sang back-up on Elton's version of "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds."


Lennon's last performance on stage was at an Elton John concert (the live recording of "I Saw Her Standing There," the B-side of "Philadelphia Freedom," is that appearance). Through his pain, Elton articulated what so many people felt upon hearing about Lennon's 1980 murder: "it's funny how one insect can damage so much grain."

Nightshift - Commodores (written by Clyde Orange, 1984, album Nightshift)

Two great soul singers who died within three months of each other are memorialized in this post-Lionel Richie gem from the Commodores. Marvin Gaye, who was shot to death by his father one day short of his 45th birthday in March 1984, is eulogized first, complete with a nod to Gaye's great song "What's Going On." Jackie Wilson, who died from complications of a stroke and heart attack in January 1984, is the subject of the second verse with a mention of "Higher and Higher."

Of Missing Persons - Jackson Browne (written by Jackson Browne, 1980, album Hold Out)

The death of Little Feat singer/songwriter/slide guitarist Lowell George left Browne, a close friend, "speechless in D.C." Browne addressed the song's lyrics to George's daughter, Inara, who was four years old at the time of George's death.

Old Friend - Waylon Jennings (written by Waylon Jennings, 1976, Are You Ready for the Country)

What's a country singer doing on the rock list? Waylon Jennings was a member of Buddy Holly's touring band in February 1959. In fact, he gave his seat on the plane to the J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson because Richardson was suffering from the flu. For years Jennings was haunted by his final words to Holly, which he only alluded to in this song ("I saw you laugh at me and fly away"). He finally addressed it in the VH-1 Behind the Music on "The Day the Music Died:" he and Holly - good-naturedly - yelled insults at one another. Holly said he hoped the bus Jennings was taking would freeze up, to which Jennings replied, "Yeah? Well, I hope your ol' plane crashes."

Porcelain Monkey - Warren Zevon (written by Warren Zevon, 2000, album Life'll Kill Ya)

There may soon be more songs about Elvis than the total number of songs Elvis recorded in his life. Some are sad ("The King is Gone"), some are funny ("Elvis Was a Narc"), but only Warren Zevon could be both somber ("left behind by the latest trends, eating fried chicken with his regicidal friends") and comical ("he traded it in for a night in Las Vegas and his face on velveteen") at the same time.

Reflections - Charlie Daniels Band (written by Charlie Daniels, 1979, album Million Mile Reflections)

The first two verses recall the deaths of Elvis and Janis Joplin, while the last verse is a personal and painful memorial to Daniels' good friend, Ronnie Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd: "And Ronnie, my buddy, above all the rest, I miss you the most and I love you the best."

Rock and Roll Heaven - Righteous Brothers (written by Alan O'Day and John Stevenson, 1973, album Give It to the People)

It's hard to believe that Mr. "Undercover Angel" was responsible for this song. (He also wrote Helen Reddy's eerie "Angie Baby," the song about the "crazy girl with a secret lover.") The song has been remade a number of times, but the best-remembered version is the Righteous Brothers' 1973 top ten smash that mentioned artists from Janis Joplin to Bobby Darin.
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