Sheryl Crow only surrounds herself with the best when she makes her music.
Crow is adding the finishing touches to her latest effort, 100 Miles from Memphis, which comes out on July 20. After Rolling Stones’ guitar legend Keith Richards finished working on his band’s Exile on Main Street (1972) reissue, he agreed to give Crow a hand on her album.
Richards participated in the reggae-style song Eye to Eye. This is not that big a surprise as the guitarist’s love of the genre is well known. In fact, he will be releasing Wingless Angels II, a second reggae album, in September.
Justin Timberlake is also on board. He sings background vocals on the song Sign Your Name. That’s a Terence Trent D’Arby song from the 1980s. It was a chance meeting that brought him and Crow together. He happened to be in a studio next door producing music by Jamie Foxx, the actor who played Ray Charles in the film Ray.
Crow recounts: "He happened to be there and he was in the hallway. I’ve always liked him. I played (the song) for him, and when it got to the chorus he’s like, ‘Who’s doing the backgrounds?’ I said ‘We haven’t done them yet,’ and he said, ‘I got it.’ It was all very organic and, man, perfect. People have no idea how talented this guy is."
Sheryl Crow’s new album also has another cover, I Want You Back, by the Jackson 5. Crow was a back-up singer for Michael Jackson on tour in 1988.