I have been wondering why people have been saying Alex Band did the song "Why Don't You And I" with Santana, when I knew it was Chad Kroeger (because that's the version on the CD).  But, those who say it's Alex Band (Calling lead singer), you are also correct.  

The radio stations I listen to are still playing the version with Chad Kroeger though... ???  I just heard the Alex Band version today and, you can tell a difference, just not much of one.


From Launch:

Nickelback's record label has released a statement explaining why it wouldn't let Chad Kroeger appear on the new Santana single, even though he's on Santana's album. Kroeger wrote and sang on "Why Don't You & I" for Santana's Shaman, which appeared on Arista Records. But when it came time to release the song as a single, Roadrunner Records nixed Kroeger's participation, and Santana--at Kroeger's recommendation—replaced him with Alex Band from the group the Calling.

In its statement, Roadrunner said, "The agreement between Arista and Roadrunner was for Chad Kroeger to perform on the Santana album Shaman. There was no intention from the beginning for the song to be a single between the two labels, thus the resulting new vocal performance (by Band) which was arranged by Arista."


Nickelback will release a new album in late September, and Roadrunner felt that having Kroeger appear on a high-profile single during the summer might compromise the excitement over new Nickelback music in the fall.


Carlos Santana is disappointed, but he tells LAUNCH he understands the situation--and he also faces similar issues. "I have restrictions for how many albums I can work with,” says Santana. “I love to work with everybody, man, but I also have restrictions. So I try not to abuse it, because I do respect the company I work with, and they also respect the fact that I'm not gonna abuse it. However, they're not gonna stop me. They're just gonna limit me by not doing as many. So I try to make it count."

Another Article:

Carlos Santana says that record company politics kept Nickelback's Chad Kroeger from appearing on the single version of the song "Why Don't You & I."

Kroeger is featured with Carlos on the version of the song that appears on Santana's latest album, Shaman. However, when the decision was made to release the song as a single, Nickleback's record company, RoadRunner Records, wouldn't give Santana permission. The song was subsequently recut for the single release with Alex Band from the Calling, who also appears in the accompanying video.


Santana tells LAUNCH there are no hard feelings about the change. "Chad was not able to be released, given the green light from his company,” Santana says. “He wanted to, and he fought for it--in fact, he's the one that fought to get Alex, because (Kroeger's) company was not cooperative to let him be (on) the single, like it is on the CD. But I'm still grateful, you know? I mean, I understand that everyone has restrictions."

A spokesperson for Roadrunner declined to comment.


This is not an uncommon situation in the music industry. While record labels often give their artists permission to appear on other performers' albums, the labels will sometimes balk at allowing those tracks to be used as singles. They fear overexposure and feel that, if the song's a hit, it could use up a radio and/or MTV "slot" that the guest artist might have gotten for their own recording.


Most recently, Sheryl Crow and her label, Interscope, would not let Kid Rock release their duet, "Picture," which is on his 2001 album Cocky. They relented after a new version, with Nashville singer Allison Moorer, became a country hit and started to cross over to the pop chart.


Nickelback's new album will be released September 23.

Roadrunner is notorious for doing this.