10 Times Rock Musicians Appeared On Other Artists' Albums
2. Stevie Ray Vaughan - Let's Dance (David Bowie)
Ever the man to recognise talent when he saw it, David Bowie instantly picked up on Stevie Ray Vaughan's predilection for playing the most impassioned and electrifying version of the blues since Jimi Hendrix.
In 1982 (before Vaughan was the recognised guitar sensation he would become) Bowie saw the Texas-born guitar player at a music festival in Switzerland and offered him a gig as session musician for his next musical project.
Bowie's album Let's Dance doesn't immediately scream blues rock. With his finger ever on the pulse of music, the Thin White Duke made a record that was a 1980s dance pop classic, oozing with cheery dance beats, '80s sax and synthesiser-driven melodies. But, threading its way throughout the record was the twangy licks of non other than Stevie Ray Vaughan.
His presence wasn't over bearing but neither was it underrepresented; it seemed Bowie knew exactly when to deploy the guitar stylising of Vaughan, with his signature guitar licks punctuating the album at the most opportune moments.
Next time you put on your red shoes and dance the blues, it will be all the more satisfying knowing that you're dancing the blues to one of the greatest guitarists of all time.