I love harmonies.....give me the corniest song and if its got great harmonized vocals i am wet.....


My fav vocal harmonies via Wendy & Lisa (nothing like wendy, lisa, susannah and cole singing together)...Five Star and Fleetwood Mac..

what are your favorites and what would you list as the best demonstration of their vocal harmony prowess...

Mamas and the Papas...not a fan, but they had it.

Prince and himself. Marvin Gaye and himself, too! i feel prince took alot from Gayes vocal layering. Many similarities in their works.

I'm NOT a fan of country music, but I do like the harmonies of The Judds!!!

(There is something unique and nostaligic about it. Not for everyone, I know, but definitely a distinct harmony...)

the jacksons/ jackson 5 - no one beats them

abba - especially on gimme gimme gimme

EDIT: Beach boys! how could i forget, there harmonies are perfect
[Edited 9/23/05 22:38pm]

hellomoto said:

abba and the gibbs for sure.

sufjan stevens and his band, live. my goodness, talk about impressive.

Harmony is what's missing from music today Some of my favorite harmonies come from:

The Delfonics
The Platters
The Mamas and the Papas
5th Dimension

And best of all...The Beach Boys. Brian Wilson was a genius with harmony arrangements!

FLEETWOOD MAC

When Stevie, Lindsey, and Christine are singing together, like on "The Chain."

Oh, and I forgot - of today's acts, Nickel Creeks makes great harmony!

yeah, love Harmony!

Manhattan Transfer...

3121 said:

Stevie's great at layering his voice too. Music of My Mind is all his vocals (or rather there are no credited background vocalists; there are a few cases that sound like there may have been a female background vocalist who he forgot about, but he's surprised me before with his ability to make his voice sound female).

I also dig the Beatles' harmonies (I think i sometimes prefer Paul's harmony vocals to his leads). Listen to "Because" and "Dear Prudence" for their most otherworldy harmonies (Because is three voices, double overdubbed=nine part harmony ).

The who are also pretty good at harmony (tommy can you hear me, their rendition of "barbara ann" on the kids are alright)

Sly & The Family stone-in my mind the absolute gods of group vocals in a pop band both tag-team, harmony, and in terms of having several great lead singers.

Of course there's the beach boys, perhaps the most celebrated harmonies in pop music (their inspiration being the quasi-barbershop do-wop group The Four Freshmen). Some of their better stuff is less well known like Our Prayer/Gee from Smile.

One's also got to give it up for George Clinton's Parliaments

Then there's the obvious choices in the soul world: temptations, impressions, spinners, miracles, supremes etc..)
[Edited 9/23/05 23:36pm]
[Edited 9/23/05 23:37pm]

Peter Paul and Mary
En Vogue

And doesn't Led Zeppelin have some incredible harmonies going on?

Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell together *swoons*

Gotta love Jackson 5 live - anyone heard them sing 'Let It Be' and 'Star Spangled Banner' back in the day? But families don't really count, most brother/sister acts harmonise really well.

Boyz II Men - I love an acappella version of 'Water Runs Dry' I heard them do once.

En Vogue - "Neeeever goona get it never gonna get iiiit"

The Hollies

Prince, MJ & Lenny Kravitz are brilliant harmonising with themselves on record.

Tempts, Four Tops, OJays & Dramatics are primo, but my faves are
Parliament, Parlet, Brides of Funkenstein and Earth Wind & Fire w/ Emotions (love the interweaving of fem vocs), but really, nobody does it better thanLuther.

NOBODY.

Awww.

Do U Lie? by Prince & The Revolution...

Them girls he had back then. Heaven.

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young- love the hormonies from these guys, but as for corn.. i'd say "Teach Your Children"

Since the real old school probably won't play here, i'll at least give props to some of those groups...
The Ink Spots, Lambert, Hendrics & Ross, The Mills Brothers, The Four Freshman, The Hi-Lo's, etc.

A few that I can currently think of...

Steely Dan/Donald Fagen:
Aja
Babylon Sisters
Negative Girl
Pixeleen
Maxine
Walk Between Raindrops

Todd Rundgren:
The Waiting Game
Parallel Lines
Feet Don't Fail Me Now
Mighty Love
All the Children Sing

The Beach Boys:
Don't Worry Baby
The Warmth of the Sun
(maybe not their best examples but I dig the tunes)

King's X:
Difference
Pleiades

Lewis Taylor:
Consider
Cherry Blossom
A Little Bit Tasty
Waves
Lewis III
Electric Ladyland

DeBarge:
All This Love
I Like It
Who's Holding Donna Now?

Take 6:
Biggest Part of Me
Spread Love

...maybe more later.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431
[Edited 9/25/05 18:37pm]

The Chordettes.

Tessa said:

CSN
Grateful Dead (occasionally,anyway)
(early) Chicago

MrTation said:

Near-lethal doses of illict drugs are required.

Prince definitely. It's amazing when you listen to his music by headphones.

Something completely different: Laïs.
Although I'm not a folkfan I love their music. Laïs are great at singing in harmonies! Those girls have heavenly voices.



You can listen to excerpts from their albums here:

http://www.lais.be/conten...al=nl&id=1

alandail said:

Yes, absolutely no contest. Best three part harmony I ever heard.

The way that D'Angelo records his vocals and harmonies is really brilliant.

It's as if the harmonies themselvs serve as another instrument.

To name a few...

Cloudbuster said:

Emphasis, mine. PFJ

I think these are my favorites, both group and/or multi-tracked:


Take 6



The Free Design



Singers Unlimited



Marvin Gaye



Hi Lo's



Temptations




Stevie Wonder




This Dude:


Crosby Stills, Nash & Young


Donald Fagen


Bobby Mcferrin


Todd Rundgren


Chaka Khan


Joni Mitchell


Brian Wilson



Lewis Taylor




...
[Edited 9/26/05 9:42am]

How could I forget The Carpenters? Even if their harmonies were all overdubs, it was gorgeous!