# Great harmonies in song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 23, 2019, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-harmonies-in-song/837504 "2019-07-23T16:32:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2019, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-harmonies-in-song/837504/61 "2019-07-25T17:21:27Z")
**Loves Me Like A Rock - The Dixie Hummingbirds** [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5TY_hbcb74E/hqdefault.jpg "Dixie Hummingbirds, Loves Me Like A Rock") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TY_hbcb74E) ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-harmonies-in-song/837504/62 "2019-07-26T19:20:34Z")
A couple of +1s > [@Chefguy](#): > > [Another real oldie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8of3uhG1tCI) by the Andrews Sisters. - and I’ll have a [Rum and Coca cola](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGxL2uNr7bk) with that, thank you. and > [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > …Gary Louris and Mark Olson’s voices together always had a special magic, just like Gram Parsons’ and Emmylou Harris’: > > [We’ll Sweep Out The Ashes In The Morning](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjteYWNr-zI) > > [Love Hurts](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ivVJzGgcq0)… Oh Lordy, yes. Gillian Welch described it as Emmylou “wrapping her voice around” that of Parsons. Beautifully described. [Here’s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMM3UVLEjY4) another gem. j ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-harmonies-in-song/837504/63 "2019-07-26T19:39:35Z")
Wilson Phillips did a pretty fair job on [Hold On](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIbXvaE39wM), though I think some of that is studio production. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-harmonies-in-song/837504/64 "2019-07-26T22:40:04Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > A couple of +1s > > - and I’ll have a [Rum and Coca cola](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGxL2uNr7bk) with that, thank you. > > and > > Oh Lordy, yes. Gillian Welch described it as Emmylou “wrapping her voice around” that of Parsons. Beautifully described. [Here’s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMM3UVLEjY4) another gem. > > j Indeed, beautifully described. Emmylou Harris has proved time and time again that she’s the best duet partner you can ever imagine (heck, she’s virtually on every third record I own, and these are all \*good \*records with the coolest cats), but it never again gelled like between her and Gram. An exceptional duo. ---
**Author:** ![HyacinthBucket](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hyacinthbucket/32/3063_2.png) [@HyacinthBucket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HyacinthBucket)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-harmonies-in-song/837504/65 "2019-07-28T01:10:02Z")
Nothing wrong with a bit of eye candy to go with the music. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/p2MwnHpLV48/hqdefault.jpg "Hvorostovsky & Kaufmann - Pearl Fishers duet") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2MwnHpLV48) ---
**Author:** ![Long\_Time\_First\_Time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@Long\_Time\_First\_Time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Long_Time_First_Time)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-harmonies-in-song/837504/66 "2019-07-28T01:15:03Z")
Girlyman has great harmonies. Particularly like St. Peter’s Bones ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-harmonies-in-song/837504/67 "2019-07-28T01:47:35Z")
If you have not heard it, please take a moment and enjoy Bring Me Little Water Sylvie by **Sweet Honey in the Rock**. [Link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUcMZpIRRNM) mmm ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-harmonies-in-song/837504/68 "2019-08-01T16:24:00Z")
Thanks mmm! I saw Sweet Honey live 28 years ago and was blown away. Here’s a link to another one of their songs: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/eIBOXiJ43Hg/maxresdefault.jpg "Freedom Suite [a.k.a. Civil Rights Medley] : Oh Freedom, Come and Go with Me to That Land, I'm...") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIBOXiJ43Hg) ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-harmonies-in-song/837504/69 "2019-08-01T19:25:22Z")
Just about anything by The Statler Brothers. [Years Ago](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyWd6aXUYGI) [Do You Know You Are My Sunshine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNxt9S7IuHM) Their cover of [Oh Baby Mine (I Get So Lonely)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4e-LUdqpnk) [Flowers on the Wall](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg1di8sGxWc) and like 50 more. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-harmonies-in-song/837504/70 "2019-08-01T20:09:12Z")
Music from “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” [Down To The River To Pray](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fztz_Vr9uHk), Alison Krauss [Man Of Constant Sorrow](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOSB5krk9VE), Soggy Bottom Boys ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-harmonies-in-song/837504/71 "2019-08-02T01:39:29Z")
[I Only Have Eyes For You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_urvud-Oi0), the Flamingos version, has harmonies that are unusual, even puzzling (in the voices and the background music.) It sounds to me, maybe not quite non-tonal, but with really complex, hard-to-decipher harmonies. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-harmonies-in-song/837504/72 "2019-08-02T01:48:24Z")
Also, most of the songs by a band called Stars have impressive harmonies. Many of their songs are duets between their two lead singers. [Fluorescent Light](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXX0Q3wnX54) and [Fixed](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwR1_sX-s9E) are two examples (in the latter, mostly near the end.) ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-harmonies-in-song/837504/73 "2019-08-02T10:58:07Z")
Bee Gees - Too much Heaven How deep is your love [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/XpqqjU7u5Yc/maxresdefault.jpg "Bee Gees - How Deep Is Your Love (Official Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpqqjU7u5Yc) ---
**Author:** ![CelticKnot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celticknot/32/3392_2.png) [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-harmonies-in-song/837504/74 "2019-08-02T12:51:20Z")
Styx. **Bullitt** listed _Lady_ by the Little River Band, and I immediately thought of _Lady_ by Styx. And at least half of their hits. ---
**Author:** ![Periwinkle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Periwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Periwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2019, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-harmonies-in-song/837504/75 "2019-08-03T19:35:54Z")
I love collaborations between Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton and EmmyLou Harris. The Christmas carol “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem” is lovely. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IqI4lKG2P1Q/hqdefault.jpg "Emmylou Harris - Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqI4lKG2P1Q) Here’s an old favorite, “Still the One” by Orleans [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/S5aMMRes2u4/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGH8gHSgTMA8=&rs=AOn4CLCdyWGBLXmoSywxKIugeLD5tcaYvA "Orleans - Still The One (Lyrics)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5aMMRes2u4) My husband likes the jazz group The Yellowjackets, and I’ve always loved this collaboration they did with the gospel group Take 6. “Revelation”. I have told him after I’m gone to play this song and if I don’t sit up and start snapping my fingers, it’s safe to put me in the ground. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Fm2fSZ2Zuuk/hqdefault.jpg "Revelation / Yellowjackets with Take6") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm2fSZ2Zuuk) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stafford_cripps/32/7167_2.png) [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stafford_Cripps)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2019, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-harmonies-in-song/837504/76 "2019-08-03T20:56:28Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > “If I Fell” - Beatles I might have suggested “I Should Have Known Better” off that album, but only last night, after years of listening to it, did I notice that it doesn’t actually have harmony on it. Instead I’ll offer the haunting “I’ll Be Back”. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stafford_cripps/32/7167_2.png) [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stafford_Cripps)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2019, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-harmonies-in-song/837504/77 "2019-08-03T21:09:38Z")
Couple of bands I’ve seen live at small gigs: [Wire and Wool](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hybGDbASi9M&list=PLr6wm58toWjoBZaXdhVf4mVc3iQ90KLnG&index=10) and [The Cadbury Sisters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQle9IRf2Lo). ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2019, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-harmonies-in-song/837504/78 "2019-08-03T21:37:41Z")
It’s only one minute, but I think that the Beach Boys are underrepresented in this thread, and I’ve always found this track otherworldly: [Our Prayer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=af45mDKHc4A) ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2019, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-harmonies-in-song/837504/79 "2019-08-04T01:35:48Z")
Another otherworldly sound: “Mystere des Voix Bulgares” and other Bulgarian women’s folk choirs This one is actually called “Cosmic Voices” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/UsDtmdWFBxU/maxresdefault.jpg "Cosmic Voices from Bulgaria & Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra - Zaspalo e Chelebiiche") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsDtmdWFBxU) One of my favorite pieces of theirs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_WKm7B-kPK4 A signature piece: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/XqsxVz9zzpE/hqdefault.jpg "Bulgarian Voices Angelite - Pilentze Pee (Пиленце Пее)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqsxVz9zzpE) ---
**Author:** ![Taesahnim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taesahnim/32/84_2.png) [@Taesahnim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taesahnim)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2019, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-harmonies-in-song/837504/80 "2019-08-04T16:18:20Z")
The Bangles had their moments. [Manic Monday.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbJ6Jsy0JfY) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-harmonies-in-song/837504.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-harmonies-in-song/837504.md?page=5)