# Best harmonies by band and song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 15, 2007, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-harmonies-by-band-and-song/419278 "2007-09-15T04:16:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-harmonies-by-band-and-song/419278/21 "2007-09-15T15:00:16Z")
Queen, “The Prophet’s Song”, on _A Night at the Opera_. A kickbutt ostentatious heavy prog-rock anthem with spectacular harmony interspersed throughout. (Why the heck “Bohemian Rhapsody” gets all the airplay instead, I’ll never understand) ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-harmonies-by-band-and-song/419278/22 "2007-09-15T15:08:28Z")
Let’s not overlook the obvious. The Temps, 4 Tops, The Miracles-- also Take 6. Ray, Goodman and Brown (The Moments) have a song called Special Lady that gives me goosebumps. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-harmonies-by-band-and-song/419278/23 "2007-09-15T15:12:53Z")
Excuse me? The **Beach Boys** , on every freaking song they ever recorded. Start with _Surfer Girl_ and _Sloop John B_, then move to _Surf’s Up_. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-harmonies-by-band-and-song/419278/24 "2007-09-15T15:25:59Z")
I think the Moody Blues deserve some mention here. To throw a few songs out, consider “Ride My See Saw” and “Gemini Dream”. ---
**Author:** ![parthenokinesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/cc9497/32.png) [@parthenokinesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parthenokinesis)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-harmonies-by-band-and-song/419278/25 "2007-09-15T15:34:04Z")
One harmony moment that always gives me chills is in R.E.M.'s _It’s The End Of The World As We Know It_, after the third verse, when the repeat the chorus in that minor dirge, before it get’s all happy again. It feels like a glimpse of the real pain underneath some peppy facade and it get me right there. Just beautiful. Also, I like the chorus for Van Halen’s _Dance The Night Away_, though it feels like all facade, so whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-harmonies-by-band-and-song/419278/26 "2007-09-15T15:59:07Z")
The voices of Exene Cervenka and John Doe of the band X sound heavenly together. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-harmonies-by-band-and-song/419278/27 "2007-09-15T17:08:34Z")
Frank Zappa’s Mothers usually had a stable of highly skilled singers. Near the end of _Billy The Mountain_, they go into “A mountain is something you don’t want to fuck with,” and the tight harmonies are just lethal. Several other spots in that album, _Just Another Band From L.A._ are the aural version of watching high wire artists doing backflips. _Trio_, with Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris is pure treasure. _The Pain of Loving You, To Know Him Is To Love Him_, and _Farther Along_ are seminars in vocal harmony. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-harmonies-by-band-and-song/419278/28 "2007-09-15T17:12:51Z")
TLC The Dixie Chicks ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-harmonies-by-band-and-song/419278/29 "2007-09-15T18:33:21Z")
Queen is one of the best, for sure. For single artists, Happy Rhodes is way up there. Queen were very influential to her because of their harmonies. Listen to [this early song](http://wretchawry.com/happy/samples/HappyRhodes_RhodesI13_TheWretchesGoneAwry.mp3) from 1988 (authorized mp3 link). She was all alone in the studio for her first 4 albums, and so did multitudes of overdubs and vocal harmonies with herself. She still does it on just about every song. [This is a new song](http://wretchawry.com/happy/samples/HappyRhodes_FindMe08_Queen.mp3), and it’s all her (in fact, it’s called “Queen”) ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-harmonies-by-band-and-song/419278/30 "2007-09-15T19:34:09Z")
**Eddie From Ohio** are a folk band with some amazing vocalists in the group - there are four of them, and three of them have lead vocals on different tracks. When they put down tracks like _Gravity_ or _The Three Fine Daughters of Farmer Brown_, the lead is nice, the harmonies on the chorus are even better, and then suddenly near the end of the song you realize that they’ve layered in four-part work that’s like a tapestry, the instruments have stopped, and you’re sitting in this valley of sound that’s just unbelievable. The first time I heard “Three Fine Daughters” I didn’t even finish the track – they got through the _a cappella_ section and I just dialed right back to that moment and listened to those fifteen seconds of music over and over. The **Indigo Girls** ’ earlier work had some incredibly dense harmonies, especially their song _Airplane_ where the Banshees (of Siouxsie and the…) join them for the backing vocals. Oh, and some of the better college _a cappella_ groups in the country have graduated alumni who form semi- or professional recording groups. For obvious reasons, the harmonies in these groups are exceptionally tight and well-written. **Da Vinci’s Notebook** has a few songs that deserve recognition here, but if I had to pick one, it would be _Liposuction_. Superfast syllables, moving bass and tenor lines that you can barely keep up with, and funny lyrics that your kid would probably like. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-harmonies-by-band-and-song/419278/31 "2007-09-15T19:42:52Z")
If you’re into vocal harmony, you’re missing a trick if you haven’t listened to [The Nutmegs](http://www.oldies.com/product-view/50182.html). Unfortunately, that collection I linked to doesn’t have their best – Down in Mexico. I can’t find a link to a sample of it. The category of Doo-Wop in general has a great deal of beautiful wonderful vocal harmonies. Check out: [Lee Andrews and the Hearts](http://www.oldies.com/product-view/88272.html), particularly Try the Impossible. [The Moonglows](http://www.oldies.com/product-view/00361G.html) - Most of All. The Zircons - Silver Bells. The Pardons - Diamonds and Pearls. Six Teens - A Casual Look Well, and a whole lot others. ---
**Author:** ![initech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/439d5e/32.png) [@initech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/initech)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-harmonies-by-band-and-song/419278/32 "2007-09-15T19:52:02Z")
I came in to make sure the Beatles’ “Because” got its due (listen to the version on Love for an a capella version), but since I’m here: Almost anything by **Moxy Fruvous** , an obscure (and defunct) Canadian band. Totally worth seeking out. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-harmonies-by-band-and-song/419278/33 "2007-09-15T21:24:13Z")
[QUOTE=bienville] And Susannah Hoffs of The Bangles put out an album with Matthew Sweet called **Under the Covers** on which they covered their favorite songs of the sixties. The vocal harmonies on that album are superb [/QUOTE] Speaking of Matthew Sweet and vocal harmonies, mention must be made of [The Thorns](http://www.amazon.com/Thorns/dp/B000094VMS/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/105-6453067-4059644?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1189890234&sr=1-3), his side project with Pete Droge and Shawn Mullins. And the men of Trip Shakespeare sang background vocals on one of Matthew Sweet’s albums, which was nothing special IMHO, but Trip Shakespeare’s own album [Lulu](http://www.amazon.com/Lulu-Trip-Shakespeare/dp/B000002GJY/ref=sr_1_1/105-6453067-4059644?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1189890896&sr=1-1) may just be the perfect pop-rock album, thanks to its wonderful vocal harmonies among many other reasons. Coincidentally or not, many of my favorite bands have multiple lead vocalists, and such bands (including some already mentioned in this thread) often (though not always) are the ones with the great vocal harmonies. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-harmonies-by-band-and-song/419278/34 "2007-09-15T22:58:02Z")
I can’t believe that no one has brought out Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin brothers band. All these guys did was harmonize. Their lyrical skill were weak, and the music was cheesy, but listen to the vocal on [All the Gold in California](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u4sMGFebQU) or “Wish you were someone I love.” SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-harmonies-by-band-and-song/419278/35 "2007-09-15T23:37:44Z")
[QUOTE=Thudlow Boink] Speaking of Matthew Sweet and vocal harmonies, mention must be made of [The Thorns](http://www.amazon.com/Thorns/dp/B000094VMS/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/105-6453067-4059644?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1189890234&sr=1-3), his side project with Pete Droge and Shawn Mullins. [/QUOTE] I was going to suggest the [Thorns](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16BnveWiDq0), too. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-harmonies-by-band-and-song/419278/36 "2007-09-15T23:52:38Z")
While it is probably “cheezy” to most listeners who don’t like Bluegrass music, the harmonizing of groups such as the Stanley Bros. and THe Country Gentlemen(forerunners of The Seldom Scene) sends chills up my spine. Maybe because I grew up in that period. And the continuation of such harmonies in the early Folk Music world also produced classics which have already been named. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-harmonies-by-band-and-song/419278/37 "2007-09-15T23:59:17Z")
[Surf’s Up](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO_RBFXqbiM) [Sloop John B](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_KY_d9MQv8) [Don’t Worry Baby](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QCZ_bv9aLc&mode=related&search=) [God Only Knows](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb9u0DHuFdQ&mode=related&search=) - Carl singing lead. [God Only Knows](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC_UILNwWrc&mode=related&search=) - Brian singing lead. I will but these guys up against anybody, any style, any time. It’s a pity they are all dead, crazy or assholes now. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2007, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-harmonies-by-band-and-song/419278/38 "2007-09-16T00:02:00Z")
As for individual songs, how about [Seven Bridges Road](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiKbb7-urs0) by **The Eagles**? ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2007, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-harmonies-by-band-and-song/419278/39 "2007-09-16T00:15:43Z")
I’ve really enjoyed some of the YouTube links on this page. I’ve spent the last half hour or so bouncing from live peformance video to live performance video, and it’s now occurred to me that there is a glaring omission in this thread **The Grateful Dead** [Uncle John’s Band](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EoQ3GkH4Zc) [Ripple](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c_H79TWb2Y) ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2007, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-harmonies-by-band-and-song/419278/40 "2007-09-16T00:38:47Z")
[QUOTE=samclem] While it is probably “cheezy” to most listeners who don’t like Bluegrass music, the harmonizing of groups such as the Stanley Bros. and THe Country Gentlemen(forerunners of The Seldom Scene) sends chills up my spine. Maybe because I grew up in that period. And the continuation of such harmonies in the early Folk Music world also produced classics which have already been named. [/QUOTE] OT: We spent the afternoon at a local festival that included lots of bluegrass. Frosty Morning is one to catch if you have a chance. They’re really good. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-harmonies-by-band-and-song/419278.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-harmonies-by-band-and-song/419278.md?page=3)