What vocal harmonies tug at YOUR heartstrings? Let us know below, and check out our video of the Top 10 A Cappella Performances That Give Us Chills - ruclips.net/video/tgxyaY-5T2k/видео.html
I posted my list - focusing on sibling harmonies - below. Note that The Ronettes' "Be My Baby" - their vocals with Phil Spector's Wall of Sound production - was the great inspiration to Brian Wilson for his developing studio skills. Wilson wrote "Don't Worry Baby" for Ronnie, though Spector turned it down.
@@DanielByers-qf9qi That is so interesting. I read about that, but they did not give all your detail. I wonder, did you ever hear that Roger Miller ) of Dang Me, and other songs) invented the multitrack feature? I do not how it could be true, since Phil Spector is obviously employing something very like.
I felt the same way until I found an acapella group called Home Free. Their harmonies have given me new hope. Their beatboxer is also amazingly skilled.
Not just talent. Many of these recording have double tracked vocals where the singer sings the part multiple times and overlays the takes to create a fuller sound and cancel out imperfections. And All of these singers sang the parts over and over to find their best version. Singers use what technology they have to get the results they want. It’s not always purely talent or strictly the truth.
@@tombiby5892 yes and no. The truly best ones sounded just as good live as their recording. And your point about they tried multiple versions and then worked on the best? That, my friend, is called practice. Great sounds always come from hard work.
@@davidskiff3083 You're right. George Martin said that he didn't use double-tracking with Barry Gibb because his voice was so on pitch it wasn't needed.
A lot of bands used multi tracking for effects. Queen was talented, never used synths until 1980. But Bohrap, vocal overlays to create a chorus sound. That's talent to even come up with that and to work to record overlays. I don't think it's cheating. It's art..
I’m sad that I missed the 60s, grateful that I missed the 70s (sorry, ABBA makes me cringe) and I was too young to do anymore than longingly watch MTV. I am not sure why there are not more modern songs on this. I get the feeling this list was made by a Boomer. Harmonies are still strong in music, but not on the charts as much.
Simon and Garfunkel's "Scarborough Fair/ Canticle" is a harmonic masterpiece that outshines "Sounds of Silence" in the evocative harmony department. The melancholy minor chord harmonies transform the traditional toung-in-cheek courting song into a sad longing piece interweaving with the tragic anti-war message of Simon's "Canticle".
I think part of it is the background music. The Fifth Dimension usually had big orchestral backup. Most on the list had a simpler background music allowing the vocals to be front and center. All on the list had vocals front and center with the instruments supporting rather than often overpowering them.
I was saddened that missing were the masters of harmony, Peter, Paul & Mary. So often folk singers are overlooked but if you listen to their vocalizations you can tell were so many of the greats listed here learned it from.
Peter, Paul, and Mary deserve a spot on this list, especially for their live performance of "Early Morning Rain" from 1966. There are many others, but this one stands out.
I’m so glad that the Everly Brothers were acknowledged as the best there was. Everyone, from the Beatles to Simon and Garfunkel, have always said that they tried to emulate their harmonies.
The Hollies! The band which made harmonies famous in Swinging London. When it came to pop harmonies, Allan Clarke wrote the book. Listen to Carrie-Anne, Bus Stop, Sorry Suzanne, On a Carousel, Stop Stop Stop, Look Through Any Window and weep that you left them out. Any lists about harmonies MUST have The Hollies in the top five.
@@spinflux Thank you for answering. I didn't put all of the songs up or I'd still be writing today. I could have put almost every song from every album so I picked out my favourites from when I was a teenager. 👍
The Hollies even post Graham Nash had such great completeness. "He ain't heavy (He's my brother)" was the song that make me purchase their greatest hits and it did NOT disappoint. Great Comment.
None better at harmonies than the Everly Brothers and this is evidenced by the indebtedness so many contempories and later artists attributed to them. That version of the song shown was performed live. No manipulation of the sound - what you heard on vinyl you got on stage. Magical.
💜 I ABSOLUTELY LOVED CASS ELLIOT 💜 HER VOICE WAS SO BEAUTIFUL, AS SHE WAS TOO! IT WAS ALWAYS SO UPSETTING TO ME GROWING UP. THE HORRIBLE THINGS SAID ABOUT CASS ELLIOT'S WEIGHT. IT SADLY OVERSHADOWED HER AMAZING MUSICAL TALENT. IT WAS DISGUSTING THE WAY CASS WAS TREATED & TALKED ABOUT 😢 MAY YOU REST IN HEAVEN WITH THE ANGEL'S. YOU SANG JUST LIKE THEM BEAUTIFUL LADY! REST IN PEACE CASS 🕊🙏🏼🕊🎶🎼🎶💜💜💜
@@mjwestfall86 That was a lie concocted by the media of the day. You should have been able to find that out by a quick Google search before you posted.
Judith Durham of the Seekers had one of the most beautiful voices ever! So powerful! It's a testament to the talent of the three guys in that group, that they were able to keep up with her. I don't think they ever had a bad harmony, ever.
Absolutely. Judith Durham is one of two singers whose very voice can bring tears to my eyes. Her rendition of "Danny Boy" never fails to pierce me. The other singer, by the way, is Patsy Cline.
Crosby and Stills could harmonize with any random guys off the street and make this list. Ive been listening to a lot of csn lately and just now realized how important he is to their sound Crosby, too, but his harmony really stands out more when you factor in his time with the Byrds
Whenever our oldest son was a baby, we could put on Wilson Phillips, and he would stop crying. Almost instantly. Their music was especially appreciated on long car drives. 😊
@@sandrasanders706 it's funny, that was the one song that came to mind when I saw the title of this video. I was deeply saddened that Chicago wasn't represented, but especially for them missing that song in particular.
I still, and always will, miss Karen. I was 7 when my sister would take me for fun times driving in her baby blue Comet. She introduced me to The Carpenters. We would turn up the column as loud as we could and sing to the top of our lungs. Those are still some of the best memories from my childhood. My sister died a few years ago. Listening to The Carpenters makes me sad and happy at the same time. There were 4 siblings, I was the youngest by a lot. All three have passed and I stand alone. I'm happy that the songs play on.
Bridget, thank you for sharing your beautiful memories with us…so sorry for your losses…it’s hard to stand alone….however, I bet your siblings are all around you giving you kisses….
@@peaches911 whenever I hear her sing I think of suicide and eating disorders. When I was a kid it was widely rumored that she committed suicide. Later I heard she died of a long-term eating disorder.
@@PJwithheart I never heard that . I heard that she starved to death then later learned that it was from an eating disorder. So little was known about eating disorders back then. It makes me sad to think how we lost such a beautiful person. I will always miss her. The Carpenters were a part of the soundtrack of my youth
@@ricklee5845 , nope. They were Air Force "brats" who formed the group while living in London, England. If you read America Revisited by author John Corbett, like I did, you might know something about their beginnings, history and careers. Just saying.
@@C.O.G. I'll certainly revisit this research again, I appreciate you pointing it out. I was right with America being tremendously popular in Germany though because I lived there at the time.
Honorable mentions: We Five for “You Were on my Mind,” The Association for “Cherish” (in spite of the intonation), The Vogues for “Five O’clock World,” and Linda Ronstadt for “When Will I Be Loved?” (among many others…)
Fleetwood Mac is one of the greatest. The Chain and the entire Rumours album are gold. Bohemian Rhapsody, Freddie's voice was incredible. Love the Carpenters to this day. This entire list makes me want to make a new music list. Loved this❣️ Thank you😊
In the early days I wore out several tapes and albums of Rumours from just having them play non-stop. CD and digital saved me a fortune. One of just a handful of albums without a single bad song on it.
"Nights on Broadway" is my favorite. pretty much straight up rock-n-roll, with their harmonies, the falsettos they came to be known for, before the disco.
The layered harmonies of the Carpenters! They had such a totally different sound than anyone else. So beautiful, and Karen Carpenter had such an "Angel Voice"!!!
'Mama' Cass Elliot, Judith Durham and Karen Carpenter were three of the greatest possible voices in 60s-70s music. Glad all three are represented here.
Seriously, since you're covering this era too, to not have Scarborough Fair on this list is near criminal ! That is one of the most intricate harmonies I have ever heard ! Sound Of Silence and Bridge Over Troubled Water don't begin to show how much Simon and Garfunkel can harmonize ! To just hear 1 line of it at the end is ridiculous !
At the very end of the list, we saw a hint at one of the greatest harmonies of all time, Scarborough Fair/Canticle, featuring Simon and Garfunkel and Andy Williams. This song, sung live on the Andy Williams show, demonstrated how three talented singers from different generations, could come together and harmonize, while singing two songs at the same time. This is the way music was meant to be. Talented artist coming together to mesmerize an adoring audience. No special effects, no electronic wizardry just singing.
Gotta cast my vote for the Doobie Brothers. Incredible harmonies on The Captain and Me, Spirit, Toulouse Street, and even later on with What a Fool Believes. Several great singers in that band.
I had the pleasure of playing music with Don Everly. My band was playing a small venue in Central City, KY when he walked up and asked if he could sing with us. Of course we said yes. He sang Cathy's Clown, Dream, and a few from other artists. None of us had the pipes of Phil, but we did our best to harmonize. We let him sing as long as he wanted and it was a great time. He was a real gentleman.
@@smartalek180 I count one track on each I dislike. Still an EXCELLENT record - I can count the number of albums I liked EVERY track on with my thumbs - and I don't need both.
Judith Durham had the voice of an angel and IMHO the BEST female voice of all time. I actually received a reply to a comment on You Tube from Judith. RIP to an OUTSTANDING singer.
@@lorannamoody7011 I say well deserved State Funeral! "I'll Never Find Another You" is definitely one of my favorite song of all time! I am 60 years old from Jamaica West Indies. RIP, Ms. Durham.
I was glad to see the Everly Brothers acknowledged. When I think of exquisite harmonies, I think of Don and Phil. They were pioneers in the early years of rock & roll and they inspired many of the upcoming bands of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. I listen to them all the time.
What a beautiful voice that girl had so melodious , soft and clear and....how do you derscribe that voice. So sad that she died. I have them on CD as album
A little known fact is that this song was written as the last resource, because the author was going to be laid off that day if he couldn’t produce a song that was worth recording. So he started the song with the first phrase “talking to myself, and feeling old“, and when I’m from there because he was depressed about losing his job.
About damn time that the Carpenters got some love!!! Richard and Karen were the masters of layering vocals and harmonies! This list wouldn’t be complete without them!
Not a fan of the Carpenters music, but Karen was an absolute prodigy both musically and vocally; How she isn't consistently named one of the greatest musicians of all time is beyond me.
Dude! Love that song! Been selling it to others for years. I tell folks it has the best bridge of any song I know. "Haven't you noticed the days ...". Magical.
The Beach Boys Sloop John B has been awarded the greatest acolade ever given to a harmony based song... it is now a traditional part of the repertory of Welsh male voice choirs!
Linda Ronstadt, EmmyLou Harris and Dolly Parton put out few albums and their harmony is absolutely angelic. It gives me goosebumps and carries my thoughts far, far away.
People used to grow up with church harmonies in their ears. Not so much now, but you can hear it in everything from folk and rock to pop. Thanks for this - as a folkie I have many more to add, but the more important thing is to just plain sing. Enjoy making music and harmony!
Yes, that has to be taken into account. Those old hymns were lovely, and I’m sure they influenced the music of the 50’s - 70’s. Nowadays, they have ‘praise choruses’ , which are barely musical at all. And most children don’t go to church anyway.
Church harmonies show up in R & B, and MOTOWN. Gladys Knight, Aretha, Whitney Houston all grew up singing in church. I used to work with a person who went to HS and church with Gladys Knight.
Good list. Here are some of my favorites. • Lying Eyes - Eagles • How Deep Is Your Love - Bee Gees • In My Room - Beach Boys • Let's Pretend - The Raspberries • Eleanor Rigby - The Beatles • I'm Not In Love - 10cc • Homeward Bound - Simon & Garfunkel • Daisy Jane - America • Never My Love - The Association • Carry On - Crosby Stills & Nash • Monday, Monday - Mamas & The Papas • After The Love Is Gone - Earth, Wind & Fire • Josie - Steely Dan • Solitaire - The Carpenters • You Make Me Feel Brand New - The Stylistics • Jar Of Hearts - Christina Perry • Summer Breeze - Seals & Crofts • Wishing You Were Here - Chicago • Leaving On A Jet Plane - Peter, Paul & Mary • Bring It On Home - Sam Cooke
Great list, but where's The Association? And to be honest, you could easily fill up a Top 50 with The Beach Boys, Crosby Still and Nash, and The Everly Brothers alone.
Correct, the Association is the greatest harmonizing group of all time. Look at their number of hits and how high they charted for starters, in the midst of what was being played back then. Real music fans and students know this.
What about the band Yes? Their harmonies between Jon Anderson and Chris Squire were amazing. I would have thought you could have included some Prog Rock musicians as well especially since this genre has the most talented performers ever.
Gotta agree that Prog Rock bands are grossly ignored: The Moody Blues (3 part harmonies), Supertramp, ELP, the list is long. Many, many incredible songs with spine-tingling vocal harmonies.
I guess they could have added I've seen all good people, but as much as I love ALL of them, most folks don't know much of their stuff. Personally, I'd add Onward, off Tormato, but only us heads know it. 👍
Great list! My #1 pick would be The BeeGees “Too Much Heaven”. Absolutely beautiful harmony & togetherness! They were almost always spot on, even when they sang acapella during an interview or all 3 around 1 mike on stage. So natural.
The most chill-inducing harmonies from the Carpenters came from their song "Goodbye to Love", the closing 1:30 is just long "Ahhh's" going from chord to chord, then the fuzz guitar (Richard's idea) making it the OG power ballad. The overdubbed harmony at the close of Brewer & Shipley's "One Toke Over the Line" is pretty nice, too. The Bee Gees' music often gets pushed aside because disco, but their vocals were pretty amazing. From the in-your-face energy of "Stayin' Alive" to the nuanced "How Deep Is Your Love?", they blended so beautifully (as should be the case with siblings).
The thing about the Bee Gees that I don't think can be said about too many others is they sounded just as good, if not better, sitting on an interview couch, or standing together at one microphone singing their beautiful harmonies. They cannot be beaten in my mind.
Agreed. They had the advantage of being brothers and were singing together during childhood. I wonder what the Everly Brothers would have sounded like with a third brother!.
If I Fell the Beatles. The harmony is not only great, but it's the seamless trade off between the lead and background vocal that most people do not even realize is happening
This is like an epiphany for me as a Bee Gee fan . You named my 2 favorite songs of theirs. Also those 2 songs made my life. My girlfriend broke up with me & I was miserable so I left Bee Gee Gold On her doorstep & told her to Play “To Love Somebody” & “ I Can’t See Nobody.” Well she took me back & 5 kids & 43 years of marriage later we are still together !😀
The picks were all spot on. One of my favorites has always been "That Boy" by the Beatles. It's one of their earliest recordings. The first time I heard "Because" it reminded me of that earlier tune. Another favorite of mine is the harmony of CSN..."Wasted on the Way". Like "Helplessly Hoping", the harmonies are flawless.
One thing that made all of these performers great? They worked their ąsses off. The Everly Brothers started as young teens and practiced like fiends for years to perfect their wonderful sound. Simon and Garfunkel took inspiration from them and they, too worked for years to polish their perfect harmonies. We are the beneficiaries.
and neither *The Hollies* but CSNY +The Byrds yes even THE EAGLES ARE THERE(?) How about "I Can't Let Go*, *BUS STOP* , "The Air That I Breathe(?)" 🤷🏻♀️ ohmygosh the more time it pass S, the less recognition they achieve
not this type. I mean, those are just like "mmm, mmm, bom ba bom" etc. i think this top is about singing in perfect harmony and not really doing harmonies. Totally different POVs
Interesting fact about that particular Billie Joel song is that all the harmonies were sung by Joel himself. Thanks to technological advances of the 1980s, Billie Joel (born in the Bronx, by the way) found a way to sing every aspect of the song - lead vocals and all the harmonies as well as the finger-snapping - all by himself.
Very thoughtful narration. For the Everly Brothers I personally would have chosen their lesser hit, DON'T BLAME ME. For Crosby, Stills... I'd have chosen Suite Judy Blue Eyes.
The Hollies (ANY song) need to be on this list, along with the Electric Light Orchestra (check out Ticket to the Moon, beautiful, moving, polyphonic song). And while Thank You for the Music by ABBA is a great song, it doesn't contain their most evocative harmonies; check out Knowing Me, Knowing You, What's the Name of the Game, and my fav: Baby You Owe Me One. Other notables would include Herman's Hermits (No Milk Today, Baby Can't You Hear My Heartbeat), The Zombies (Time of the Season), and many of the songs on Linda Ronstadt's Simple Dreams album. Also: Little River Band, Steve Miller Band, Indigo Girls, Peter and Gordon, the Drifters,... okay, so we need like, the top 500 list of goose-bumply harmonies!!!
Great artists. From those you listed I'd say my favorites for harmony are Xanadu (ELO/ONJ), Angel Eyes or Eagle by Abba, Different Drum L Ronstadt, Reminiscing or Night Owls by LRB and I don't know if it counts as harmony if it's an extra dub of your voice, but In The Wintertime by Steve Miller is gorgeous and I've loved it since I first heard it in the mid-80's.
@@rogerhuggettjr.7675 I can't believe I forgot Angel Eyes by ABBA - that has always been one of my favs! Takes me back to summers by the pool 🙂 And the whole Xanadu LP is a fav also. Too bad the movie was such a turd lol!
I had a band together for 13 years. 2 Rehearsals every week Rehearsal 1, was just to perfect the vocal harmonies and the 2nd, to work the band into the arrangement. A lot of work and dedication to be sure. The band never made it professionally but gave each singer and musician years of fond memories and good times. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
So true. As corny as it may sound, “ We’ve Only Just Begun” was the song my high school girlfriend and I considered our special song. We are still dear friends over fifty years later.
How could The Lettermen not be on this list? I grew up listening to The Lettermen because of my parents. I learned to appreciate harmony because of the trio. And these days, I prefer singing harmony over melody, and I have The Lettermen’s many amazing songs to thank.
What vocal harmonies tug at YOUR heartstrings? Let us know below, and check out our video of the Top 10 A Cappella Performances That Give Us Chills - ruclips.net/video/tgxyaY-5T2k/видео.html
Billy Joel, Longest Time , anything from the Four Seasons Agree with your choices as well.
I posted my list - focusing on sibling harmonies - below. Note that The Ronettes' "Be My Baby" - their vocals with Phil Spector's Wall of Sound production - was the great inspiration to Brian Wilson for his developing studio skills. Wilson wrote "Don't Worry Baby" for Ronnie, though Spector turned it down.
Too bad we couldn’t enjoy the harmonies,too chopped up and too much talk!😵💫😖
Apparently you have NEVER heard of Pentatonix (especially their version of Say Something) or Collabro, or Home Free.
@@DanielByers-qf9qi That is so interesting. I read about that, but they did not give all your detail. I wonder, did you ever hear that Roger Miller ) of Dang Me, and other songs) invented the multitrack feature? I do not how it could be true, since Phil Spector is obviously employing something very like.
You’ll notice there’s not a recent group in the bunch. This list is a perfect example of what’s missing in modern music.
I felt the same way until I found an acapella group called Home Free. Their harmonies have given me new hope. Their beatboxer is also amazingly skilled.
may I recommend the duo Hello Sunday, for a modern music duo with fantastic harmonies.
Oh, let us not even _begin_ to list everything missing from modern music. We'll be here for days.
@@alexw2519same here, I felt that wet until I listened to pentatonix. Their harmonies are amazing and fit so well together
was about to shout you down with White Winter Hymnal but it’s 16 years old!
And ALL of these without auto-tune. Just talent
❤
Not just talent. Many of these recording have double tracked vocals where the singer sings the part multiple times and overlays the takes to create a fuller sound and cancel out imperfections. And All of these singers sang the parts over and over to find their best version. Singers use what technology they have to get the results they want. It’s not always purely talent or strictly the truth.
@@tombiby5892 yes and no. The truly best ones sounded just as good live as their recording. And your point about they tried multiple versions and then worked on the best? That, my friend, is called practice. Great sounds always come from hard work.
@@davidskiff3083 You're right. George Martin said that he didn't use double-tracking with Barry Gibb because his voice was so on pitch it wasn't needed.
A lot of bands used multi tracking for effects. Queen was talented, never used synths until 1980. But Bohrap, vocal overlays to create a chorus sound. That's talent to even come up with that and to work to record overlays. I don't think it's cheating. It's art..
I'm glad I was born in the era where all this music was made! 60's, 70's 80's etc.
Yes it was a wonderful time
And, like me, old enough to appreciate other great word and songsmiths of the previous decades I suppose. Sammy Cahn etc?!?
I'm old, but don't mind it much
ME 2
I’m sad that I missed the 60s, grateful that I missed the 70s (sorry, ABBA makes me cringe) and I was too young to do anymore than longingly watch MTV. I am not sure why there are not more modern songs on this. I get the feeling this list was made by a Boomer. Harmonies are still strong in music, but not on the charts as much.
This video is 95% talk and 5% chills, with frustratingly limited opportunity to appreciate the harmonies.
That's RUclips content matching for you … ;)
Amen!
They’ll get a copyright strike 🤷♀️
This channel is 100% computer schlock and harder lose than a tattoo.
I think so
No Association? They did 6-part harmonies. Cherish. Never My Love. Windy. Everything that Touches You. No Fair at All. Requiem for the Masses.
Totally agree!!! And imagine to my surprise that while in a club in Belgrade, Serbia in 2007, a Serbian band belted out "Windy" in perfect harmony!"
The Association are one of the best harmonizing groups in pop history.
Good call on that. "Never My Love" should have earned a position on this list.
I can see Colony Six getting overlooked as they were not so well-known, but overlooking The Association is a noticeable blunder.
Absolutely!
Simon and Garfunkel's "Scarborough Fair/ Canticle" is a harmonic masterpiece that outshines "Sounds of Silence" in the evocative harmony department. The melancholy minor chord harmonies transform the traditional toung-in-cheek courting song into a sad longing piece interweaving with the tragic anti-war message of Simon's "Canticle".
I agree 👍. 🇵🇪
Agreed!!!
And America as well as Bookends belong in that mix.
I love the version that also includes Andy Williams.
You’re right. Scarborough fair is superior
How can the fifth dimension Age of Aquarius not be on the list? The harmonies grab me and put me right back as a young kid.
I always stack The Cowsills' "Hair" after it on my little RCA 45 player.
GREAT thought and addition!
I was about to mention the same thing, where's the Fifth Dimension? Some really great vocals there too.
really, really!! Fifth Dimension!!! Yes! And putting Abba ahead of the Beatles in terms of harmony?????????? Huh?
They released it as a two-song medley with Let The Sun Shine from Hair.
Karen Carpenter's voice was so mellow and warm. She was my idol in my 'tween and early teenaged years. I still love hearing her music even now.
Age Of Aquarius by The Fifth Dimension...beautifully written and harmonized by that group.
Up and away in my beautiful balloon....another song of theirs with incredible soaring harmonies.
I think part of it is the background music. The Fifth Dimension usually had big orchestral backup. Most on the list had a simpler background music allowing the vocals to be front and center. All on the list had vocals front and center with the instruments supporting rather than often overpowering them.
To be clear, it's from the musical Hair, and was written by Galt McDermott and Gerome Ragni and James Rado
Also, "Sweet Blindness" is one of my favorites.
Agreed... KDM
Trio - Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, is a sad omission from this selection.
Trio! Yes, the hauntingly beautiful voices of the best, most soulful country divas of their day. Don't forget them.
My favorite album of all time
DEFINITELY!
True
My God, yes!❤
I was saddened that missing were the masters of harmony, Peter, Paul & Mary. So often folk singers are overlooked but if you listen to their vocalizations you can tell were so many of the greats listed here learned it from.
this!
They were there.
I came here to say this!
I agree with your pick and would also add the Kingston Trio, Chad Mitchell trio, the Highwaymen, and the Brothers Four.
I remember them playing on the radio!!
Peter, Paul, and Mary deserve a spot on this list, especially for their live performance of "Early Morning Rain" from 1966. There are many others, but this one stands out.
Early Morning Rain was my parents' favorite song... and they were folk musicians as well.
Outstanding performance- gave Gordon LIghtfoot his break into the music world.
"Nights in White Satin" by the Moody Blues never fails to bring goosebumps.
Ikr!!!
Yes!!! The very comment i was searching for..
Agree. The Moodies have a lot of songs with great harmonies. Over 50 years later I still listen to the "core 7" regularly. Timeless classics.
always overlooked are The Moodies..
And to think they never made it in the Music Hall of Fame is just SAD!!!
I’m so glad that the Everly Brothers were acknowledged as the best there was. Everyone, from the Beatles to Simon and Garfunkel, have always said that they tried to emulate their harmonies.
It wasn't noted that Extreme used Everly style harmonies for More Than Words, something the band acknowledged years ago.
Nope. Good influencers but what came after was better. Think of an old Datsun from the 70s and new Altima. Great improvement
I like the Everly Brothers, but IMO not the best ever.
Bangles often blew them away, 4 Tops, Association....
@@jonnuanez7183😅
The Hollies!
The band which made harmonies famous in Swinging London.
When it came to pop harmonies, Allan Clarke wrote the book. Listen to Carrie-Anne, Bus Stop, Sorry Suzanne, On a Carousel, Stop Stop Stop, Look Through Any Window and weep that you left them out.
Any lists about harmonies MUST have The Hollies in the top five.
The Beatles :- Please don't wear red (can't remember the actual title off hand) but stunning harmony 😉
Yes It Is@@therodski1
How could you not list The Air That I Breathe?
(I’m not thru the whole video yet.)
@@spinflux Thank you for answering.
I didn't put all of the songs up or I'd still be writing today. I could have put almost every song from every album so I picked out my favourites from when I was a teenager. 👍
@@therodski1 The song is 'Yes it is'.
I love the harmonies in "Never My Love" by, The Association, and "The Air That I Breathe" by, The Hollies. They make me swoon!
The Hollies even post Graham Nash had such great completeness. "He ain't heavy (He's my brother)" was the song that make me purchase their greatest hits and it did NOT disappoint. Great Comment.
The Hollies harmonies always resonated in my heart.
The Association did a lot of great harmony songs, and should be somewhere on this list.
"Cherish" IMO was a hair ahead of "Never My Love".
California dreamin' has got to be the ultimate pick here.The Mamas and the Papas really nailed it with this harmonic masterpiece in 1967.
Try to sing this song without the harmony lines. Very hard to do. That is what makes it number one for me.
I love listening to it on vinyl!✌️
I thought it was gunna be #1
For me, it's "....young girls, that come into the canyon...." absolutely brings tears to me eyes years later.
It holds up like few other songs of the 60s. It is timeless. It will still be played many decades from now.
None better at harmonies than the Everly Brothers and this is evidenced by the indebtedness so many contempories and later artists attributed to them. That version of the song shown was performed live. No manipulation of the sound - what you heard on vinyl you got on stage. Magical.
My thought exactly. I imagine every group on here would offer homage to the Everlys for their own goals in harmonies indicated here.
The Mamas and The Papas will forever have my heart!! They had harmonies to DIE for!!
And great tunes, and clever lyrics
Indeed- The Seekers listed here did a great version of California Dreaming too (worth looking up on YT)
@@garrywallace1007 Judith's voice is insane. It's a once-in-a-generation voice.
"California Dreamin'" holds up as well as any song from the 60s. My guess is that it will still be played in another 50 years.
Their tv appearances are absolute cringe to watch. So fake and campy.
Def the Mamas and the Papas. But without Cass, that group would never had made it. She was the voice behind all that harmony.
And John fought mightily to keep her out of the band because of her weight.🙄 Thankfully the other 3 won out.
@@sandtats I heard that too, didn’t think she fit in. Little did he realize…..
Mama Cass had one of the greatest voices in the history of popular music x
💜 I ABSOLUTELY LOVED CASS ELLIOT 💜 HER VOICE WAS SO BEAUTIFUL, AS SHE WAS TOO! IT WAS ALWAYS SO UPSETTING TO ME GROWING UP. THE HORRIBLE THINGS SAID ABOUT CASS ELLIOT'S WEIGHT. IT SADLY OVERSHADOWED HER AMAZING MUSICAL TALENT.
IT WAS DISGUSTING THE WAY CASS WAS TREATED & TALKED ABOUT 😢 MAY YOU REST IN HEAVEN WITH THE ANGEL'S. YOU SANG JUST LIKE THEM BEAUTIFUL LADY! REST IN PEACE CASS 🕊🙏🏼🕊🎶🎼🎶💜💜💜
She choked on a ham sandwhich
@@mjwestfall86 That was a lie concocted by the media of the day. You should have been able to find that out by a quick Google search before you posted.
@mjwestfall86
Nope, perpetuating a myth there, you've never heard of google?
@@mjwestfall86 no she didn't .
Judith Durham of the Seekers had one of the most beautiful voices ever! So powerful! It's a testament to the talent of the three guys in that group, that they were able to keep up with her. I don't think they ever had a bad harmony, ever.
Would have liked to hear Judith D and Cass E do a harmony 😀
@@therodski1I bet that would've sounded amazing!
Absolutely. Judith Durham is one of two singers whose very voice can bring tears to my eyes. Her rendition of "Danny Boy" never fails to pierce me. The other singer, by the way, is Patsy Cline.
I totally agree with you, she had the most wonderful evocative voice.
I completely agree! There’s something so utterly pure about it. I get chills down my spine whenever I listen to her.
I’ll add Seals and Crofts. They harmonized in a way that always makes me feel like I’m in a dream. So ethereal!
AWESOME!!! I LOVE SEALS AND CROFT. I agree. They were one of the best, best, best.
Yes, and sometimes you have to think twice about who is singing which part. It makes it fun. 🙂
I came here to add Seals and Crofts too. They blended their voices into one voice
Summer Breeze!
@@danaday945 I used to play it on repeat as a young girl. It was the first song where I felt transported. Still love it!
Crosby, Stills and Nash can bring tears to your eyes.
My favorite - I must have seen them in every incarnation 25 times.
Agreed, best is "Guinnevere"
Crosby and Stills could harmonize with any random guys off the street and make this list.
Ive been listening to a lot of csn lately and just now realized how important he is to their sound
Crosby, too, but his harmony really stands out more when you factor in his time with the Byrds
How important Stills is, that is
I love that #20 Wilson Phillips are the children of #7 Beach Boys and #2 Mamas & the Papas.
W
I love that it is one of their lesser known songs. Sooo cool.
I was thinking the exact same thing when they showed Wilson Phillips.
Whenever our oldest son was a baby, we could put on Wilson Phillips, and he would stop crying. Almost instantly. Their music was especially appreciated on long car drives. 😊
That just proves that sometimes it's in the blood.
I agree with the first place, however, I think you missed mentioning the group "Chicago" which has songs with wonderful harmonies. ❤
Wishing You were Here with the Beach Boys...exquisite vocals!!
What goes up, must come down, spinning wheel got to go round. Now I have an earworm in my head.
Chicago is one of my favorite bands. The song “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” , has my favorite background vocals.
@@marykay1636 I prefered their early harder rocking period, "South California Purples" and "I'm A Man" for examples.
@@sandrasanders706 it's funny, that was the one song that came to mind when I saw the title of this video. I was deeply saddened that Chicago wasn't represented, but especially for them missing that song in particular.
I still, and always will, miss Karen. I was 7 when my sister would take me for fun times driving in her baby blue Comet. She introduced me to The Carpenters. We would turn up the column as loud as we could and sing to the top of our lungs. Those are still some of the best memories from my childhood. My sister died a few years ago. Listening to The Carpenters makes me sad and happy at the same time. There were 4 siblings, I was the youngest by a lot. All three have passed and I stand alone. I'm happy that the songs play on.
Bridget, thank you for sharing your beautiful memories with us…so sorry for your losses…it’s hard to stand alone….however, I bet your siblings are all around you giving you kisses….
@@LHTGRNEYES Thank you!
Music can be the background of our lives.
TBS, (Poco, Eagles) talks about how audiences like their more recent songs, but they Love the old stuff. 💟
@@morgan72359 The oldies are like an old friend. It can take me right back to a happy time.
I loved how the Little River Band harmony was spot on.❤
Little River Band, Their live shows were amazing, I saw them twice Anchorage Alaska and once in Rockwall Texas.
the mamas and the papas have some of the best harmonies i've ever heard! one of my favourite bands
Mine too!!
The mamas and the papas never once performed California Dreaming LIVE. They lip synced even on Ed Sullivan. They were a studio creation.
@@TombCat fair enough, but the recording is perfection. #1 on my list.
The band simply called Yes had song with incredible harmonies too! “Roundabout” and “owner of a Lonely Heart” come to mind.
Turn Of The Century and Wonderous Stories were both very beautiful and melodic tunes.
Oh YES they should be here
“I've Seen All Good People" is a perfect example of the layered vocal mastery Yes had in abundance.
"Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there"
Virtually every YES song has incredible harmony.
The Association deserves to be on this list.
Yes and The Lettermen had some great harmonies too.
The Association singing "Cherish" always gives me the chills and brings back happy memories!
Never My Love - beautiful...
So glad to see the Carpenters recognized! RIP Karen, you will forever be remembered!
I cannot listen to The Carpenters without crying. RIP Karen!
@@ScottLuvsRenFaires I feel the same way. Superstar, Rainy Days and Mondays, Solitaire, Masquerade, and Crescent Noon reduce me to tears.
@@peaches911 whenever I hear her sing I think of suicide and eating disorders. When I was a kid it was widely rumored that she committed suicide. Later I heard she died of a long-term eating disorder.
@@PJwithheart I never heard that . I heard that she starved to death then later learned that it was from an eating disorder. So little was known about eating disorders back then. It makes me sad to think how we lost such a beautiful person. I will always miss her. The Carpenters were a part of the soundtrack of my youth
America has great harmonies, & they are still touring. The Doobie brothers also are amazing, Steely Dan should be here.
I was really hoping to see steely dan
America is the absolute best, in my mind. I'm the biggest America fan in Tennessee.
@@C.O.G. They were Army brats living in Germany when they started. No wonder they were so popular in Germany.
@@ricklee5845 , nope. They were Air Force "brats" who formed the group while living in London, England. If you read America Revisited by author John Corbett, like I did, you might know something about their beginnings, history and careers. Just saying.
@@C.O.G. I'll certainly revisit this research again, I appreciate you pointing it out.
I was right with America being tremendously popular in Germany though because I lived there at the time.
Honorable mentions: We Five for “You Were on my Mind,” The Association for “Cherish” (in spite of the intonation), The Vogues for “Five O’clock World,” and Linda Ronstadt for “When Will I Be Loved?” (among many others…)
I loved We Five! The Seekers had some good harmony.
Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville with I don't know much!
Fleetwood Mac is one of the greatest. The Chain and the entire Rumours album are gold. Bohemian Rhapsody, Freddie's voice was incredible. Love the Carpenters to this day. This entire list makes me want to make a new music list. Loved this❣️ Thank you😊
In the early days I wore out several tapes and albums of Rumours from just having them play non-stop. CD and digital saved me a fortune. One of just a handful of albums without a single bad song on it.
And newsflash: Freddie Mercury Sang all the vocals on Bohemian Rhapsody, not the band Members. 😂
The Bee Gees "To Love Somebody" is one of my favorite songs ever. But the Mamas and the Papas work was phenomenal, too!
For the Bee Gees, I would have picked "New York Mining Disaster." Now that's exceptionally haunting!
@@starrymarimusic "Tragedy"
Bee Gees ‘Too much Heaven’ would be one of my Tops. Great choices thanks
I was waiting for too much heaven at #1. That can’t be beat
Yes Too Much Heaven.. no matter what you listen to it on.. no tighter harmonies you'll find..
"Nights on Broadway" is my favorite.
pretty much straight up rock-n-roll, with their harmonies, the falsettos they came to be known for, before the disco.
Or Lonley Days or NY Mining Disaster.
Every Bee Gees song could be on this list, but yeah, "Too Much Heaven" is a masterpiece.
My very first concert 1966 in Oregon was the Mamas and the Papas. It was $1.98 a ticket.😅
Ur still alive
@@mikesmithson6805
🤣. AND KICKING
You are Lucky to witness that era!❤😊 thank you for sharing @kathrynmolesa1641
I am so jealous ! I would've loved to have seen them ! Lucky you ! Tell me you still have the ticket stub ?
@@sherrytarrer3275
I wish, but I still have my Beatles trading cards.
The layered harmonies of the Carpenters! They had such a totally different sound than anyone else. So beautiful, and Karen Carpenter had such an "Angel Voice"!!!
There was her voice and ... He played the music, while she drummed.
And they overdubbed harmonies to 32 voices! She had a three-octave range, even though the hits featured her low range.
'Mama' Cass Elliot, Judith Durham and Karen Carpenter were three of the greatest possible voices in 60s-70s music. Glad all three are represented here.
Yeah, there’s nothing quite like familial harmonizing on multiple tracks. Wish ppl still made real music!
@@pianomanslcand she had perfect pitch. Not all that common unfortunately.
The Hollies should be in this group.
They're not?? Then I probably won't bother watching the whole video because how can you not include The Hollies??
No freaking doubt.
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother.... and All I Need Is the Air That I Breathe...
Seriously, since you're covering this era too, to not have Scarborough Fair on this list is near criminal ! That is one of the most intricate
harmonies I have ever heard ! Sound Of Silence and Bridge Over Troubled Water don't begin to show how much Simon and Garfunkel can harmonize ! To just hear 1 line of it at the end is ridiculous !
At the very end of the list, we saw a hint at one of the greatest harmonies of all time, Scarborough Fair/Canticle, featuring Simon and Garfunkel and Andy Williams. This song, sung live on the Andy Williams show, demonstrated how three talented singers from different generations, could come together and harmonize, while singing two songs at the same time. This is the way music was meant to be. Talented artist coming together to mesmerize an adoring audience. No special effects, no electronic wizardry just singing.
I found it on RUclips...you are so right!!!
You're correct. Truly great vocalists are great at any age.
Thank you for the recommendation! After listening to them, I wholeheartedly agree with your statement.
Back when musicians had real talent.
I miss the hosted variety shows like Andy Williams, Sonny and Cher, The Mandrells, and dozens of others.
Gotta cast my vote for the Doobie Brothers. Incredible harmonies on The Captain and Me, Spirit, Toulouse Street, and even later on with What a Fool Believes. Several great singers in that band.
I had the pleasure of playing music with Don Everly. My band was playing a small venue in Central City, KY when he walked up and asked if he could sing with us. Of course we said yes. He sang Cathy's Clown, Dream, and a few from other artists.
None of us had the pipes of Phil, but we did our best to harmonize. We let him sing as long as he wanted and it was a great time. He was a real gentleman.
That’s awesome.
Beautiful.
The two songs that I would have added to this list is, Kansas - Dust in the Wind, and Kansas - Carry on Wayward Son.
Finally! Wayward Son! How has no one mentioned that yet?
I totally agree with Carry on Wayward Son by Kansas. Killer harmonies that always give me goose bumps!
I was getting near the end and started to worry that The Everly Brothers would be overlooked! Glad to see them at the top!
RIP Judith Durham, bless you and a thousand thanks.
Indeed!
Amen
Yes! One of the brightest stars in popular music history. I've always adored her golden voice.
California Dreamin'...one of the best songs ever...I catch myself singing it nearly every day doing chores...
The entire Fleetwood Mac rumors album is full of certified bangers.
Amen to that!
Great album, but I liked their "White" album right before it better.
@@bricefleckenstein9666 You are both right -- they are both masterworks.
Not a wasted track on either album.
@@smartalek180 I count one track on each I dislike.
Still an EXCELLENT record - I can count the number of albums I liked EVERY track on with my thumbs - and I don't need both.
So many harmonies.........Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Beatles, Air Supply, The Who, Yes.........music is so wonderful and endless.
John and Pete's backing vocals in The Who are SO overlooked. Any live version of Tommy really highlights them
As a teenager from the 60s -What a wonderful trip down memory lane, beautiful harmony and lyrics.💐
Glad you enjoyed it
I love the 60s and 70s music. Damn good talent. I only wish music was like that today. Today's music is garbage. I'm old school, well I'm an old lady
Judith Durham had the voice of an angel and IMHO the BEST female voice of all time. I actually received a reply to a comment on You Tube from Judith. RIP to an OUTSTANDING singer.
Yes! Australia gave her a state funeral.
@@lorannamoody7011 I say well deserved State Funeral! "I'll Never Find Another You" is definitely one of my favorite song of all time! I am 60 years old from Jamaica West Indies. RIP, Ms. Durham.
An angel who has returned home.
I was glad to see the Everly Brothers acknowledged. When I think of exquisite harmonies, I think of Don and Phil. They were pioneers in the early years of rock & roll and they inspired many of the upcoming bands of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. I listen to them all the time.
I echo the above comment Nobody like the Everly Brothers their harmony was unbeatable!
I'm a harmony freak and the Everlys are one of my faves. And they did it before a lot of the technology came along.
Rainy Days and Mondays… the melancholy anthem of my youth. RIP Karen Carpenter 😢
What a beautiful voice that girl had so melodious , soft and clear and....how do you derscribe that voice. So sad that she died. I have them on CD as album
A little known fact is that this song was written as the last resource, because the author was going to be laid off that day if he couldn’t produce a song that was worth recording. So he started the song with the first phrase “talking to myself, and feeling old“, and when I’m from there because he was depressed about losing his job.
About damn time that the Carpenters got some love!!! Richard and Karen were the masters of layering vocals and harmonies! This list wouldn’t be complete without them!
I will never stop missing Karen Carpenter and Cass Elliot. Outstanding talents, gone far too soon.
And they should have been much higher up!
Not a fan of the Carpenters music, but Karen was an absolute prodigy both musically and vocally; How she isn't consistently named one of the greatest musicians of all time is beyond me.
Harmonie?! not so much it was 99% Karen
My mom's favorite song was I never promised you a rose garden by Karen. Mine was Bless the beast and the children and the movie .
In Spanish, "Eres tú (It's you)" of Mocedades really gives you chills.
If ANY song gives you goosebumps it has to be "HUMMINGBIRD" by Seals and Crofts. Listen it soar at the end. Incredible and beautiful
Dude! Love that song! Been selling it to others for years. I tell folks it has the best bridge of any song I know. "Haven't you noticed the days ...". Magical.
They had really beautiful harmonies. I played their Greatest Hits until I wore it out!
ABBA has amazing harmonies
They could fill half of the top 20
Scarborough Fair for the win.
Love the Canticle part on this!!
Have you ever heard the Queensryche version of this? It's absolutely phenomenal, so lush and Geoff Tate's baritone is perfect!
@@buttkrusher another favourite of mine is the AURORA's one.
The Boxer is great.
Agreed!!
Too much commentary, too little music
true
But that's the point of Ms. Mojo videos
Totally agree. Some of the best parts of the songs were cut off by talk.
Possibly a “fair use” copyright requirement.
Because if they play the songs long enough they get slapped by RUclips
The Beach Boys Sloop John B has been awarded the greatest acolade ever given to a harmony based song... it is now a traditional part of the repertory of Welsh male voice choirs!
That's great to hear, it was the first song that came to mind when I saw the title of this video.
You inspired me to go looking for Sloop John B and found the Fisherman's Friends singing it acapella and they sound great.
Heroes and Villains has great harmony.
yes love that song
"The Sound of Silence" never fails to give me chills, and I've even sung it in my school choir.
And Disturbed's cover is awesome
@@madonnahood3381 Absolutely!
And the original acoustic version is wonderful.
That album. “3am…” is amazing.
@@madonnahood3381And the Pentatonix version. ❤
@@madonnahood3381dare I say better than the original...
Linda Ronstadt, EmmyLou Harris and Dolly Parton put out few albums and their harmony is absolutely angelic. It gives me goosebumps and carries my thoughts far, far away.
The 1960s was definitely the best decade of pop music. ❤✌️
Anybody here ever heard of the LIMELIGHTERS amazing harmonies they were kingston trios main competition in the 1960's beautiful 3 part harmony
People used to grow up with church harmonies in their ears. Not so much now, but you can hear it in everything from folk and rock to pop. Thanks for this - as a folkie I have many more to add, but the more important thing is to just plain sing. Enjoy making music and harmony!
Yes, that has to be taken into account. Those old hymns were lovely, and I’m sure they influenced the music of the 50’s - 70’s. Nowadays, they have ‘praise choruses’ , which are barely musical at all. And most children don’t go to church anyway.
Church harmonies show up in R & B, and MOTOWN. Gladys Knight, Aretha, Whitney Houston all grew up singing in church. I used to work with a person who went to HS and church with Gladys Knight.
Pure harmonies, no artificial enhancement.
Did anybody see the man looking at the woman in the Simon and Garfunkel performance.... So much love and passion in the eye!!
Good list. Here are some of my favorites.
• Lying Eyes - Eagles
• How Deep Is Your Love - Bee Gees
• In My Room - Beach Boys
• Let's Pretend - The Raspberries
• Eleanor Rigby - The Beatles
• I'm Not In Love - 10cc
• Homeward Bound - Simon & Garfunkel
• Daisy Jane - America
• Never My Love - The Association
• Carry On - Crosby Stills & Nash
• Monday, Monday - Mamas & The Papas
• After The Love Is Gone - Earth, Wind & Fire
• Josie - Steely Dan
• Solitaire - The Carpenters
• You Make Me Feel Brand New - The Stylistics
• Jar Of Hearts - Christina Perry
• Summer Breeze - Seals & Crofts
• Wishing You Were Here - Chicago
• Leaving On A Jet Plane - Peter, Paul & Mary
• Bring It On Home - Sam Cooke
I love Lying Eyes. In my youth, I used to go to a bar with my friends and we sang it over and over.
The buoys?
Great list!
Aussie group Zoot did a rock cover of Eleanor Rigby. One of the very few Beatles’ covers I really liked.
Peter, Paul & Mary deserve a spot!
Leaving On An Airplane gets a spot. John Denver and Mama Cass had a nice cover of it on tv.
You betcha. Saw them 5 times over a 40 year span, starting in 1964, my senior year in high school. Great harmony every time.
What about The Brothers Four?????
I agree. They were the first group that made me love harmony when I saw them on television.
Nah, Peter was a child molester and ruined it for the other two!
"Never My Love" by the Association. And I prefer Dave Clark Fives "Because" over the Beatles. "Suite Judy Blue Eyes" has CSN's best harmonies.
Because by The Beatles is a completely a different song. Do agree that Dave Clark Five Because is a great one too though.
Add "Cherish" to the list from The Association!
The lack of The Association on this list is a huge miss. Same for The Hollies.
@@DanEdelen nod, Hollies and the Searchers.
And speaking of Suite Judy, she was one of the best singers and musicians of the 60s. My favorite of her songs is The Coming of the Roads.
Chad and Jeremy's "Summer Song" is one of my favorites.
Great list, but where's The Association? And to be honest, you could easily fill up a Top 50 with The Beach Boys, Crosby Still and Nash, and The Everly Brothers alone.
Never My Love is brilliant, for starters.
Nope I disagree...
Yes! Requiem Aeternum!
@@deborahbarrett2385Yes, I agree!
Correct, the Association is the greatest harmonizing group of all time. Look at their number of hits and how high they charted for starters, in the midst of what was being played back then. Real music fans and students know this.
What about the band Yes? Their harmonies between Jon Anderson and Chris Squire were amazing. I would have thought you could have included some Prog Rock musicians as well especially since this genre has the most talented performers ever.
Gotta agree that Prog Rock bands are grossly ignored: The Moody Blues (3 part harmonies), Supertramp, ELP, the list is long. Many, many incredible songs with spine-tingling vocal harmonies.
I guess they could have added I've seen all good people, but as much as I love ALL of them, most folks don't know much of their stuff. Personally, I'd add Onward, off Tormato, but only us heads know it. 👍
Yes to Yes!
I was wondering if they would make it but then I wasn’t sure which song.
Roundabout
Was just listening to Dave Mason's "We Just Disagree" and thinking how amazing the harmonies were.
Great list! My #1 pick would be The BeeGees “Too Much Heaven”. Absolutely beautiful harmony & togetherness! They were almost always spot on, even when they sang acapella during an interview or all 3 around 1 mike on stage. So natural.
Peter, Paul and Mary!
I was sad that Peter Paul and Mary did not make the list. I think I will have to leave on a jet plane and go to Honah Lee (to visit Puff, of course) 😉
I have made up a Playlist with PP&M, the Limelighters, and others. It is fun listening.
YES!!!
@@mcgarryplace ... 😂😂😂 ...
I see what you did there! 👍😎
@@mcgarryplace... 😂😂😂
I see what you did there!
👀👍😎
The most chill-inducing harmonies from the Carpenters came from their song "Goodbye to Love", the closing 1:30 is just long "Ahhh's" going from chord to chord, then the fuzz guitar (Richard's idea) making it the OG power ballad.
The overdubbed harmony at the close of Brewer & Shipley's "One Toke Over the Line" is pretty nice, too.
The Bee Gees' music often gets pushed aside because disco, but their vocals were pretty amazing. From the in-your-face energy of "Stayin' Alive" to the nuanced "How Deep Is Your Love?", they blended so beautifully (as should be the case with siblings).
Bee Gees "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" absolutely kills it.
Very well stated.
The thing about the Bee Gees that I don't think can be said about too many others is they sounded just as good, if not better, sitting on an interview couch, or standing together at one microphone singing their beautiful harmonies. They cannot be beaten in my mind.
Agree! Really miss them!
Agreed. They had the advantage of being brothers and were singing together during childhood. I wonder what the Everly Brothers would have sounded like with a third brother!.
Well said, totally agree! Love them, always have always will. Not only did they sing beautifully they were also song writing geniuses. ❤️❤️❤️👏👏👏👍🏼
You’re missing Little River Band. They had GREAT harmonies.
I totally agree with you. I just love their early stuff simple but great Harmonies
When I hear the word harmony, the Bee Gees come to my mind.
Sound of silence when sung by Simon & Garfunkel in a dark room puts me into a kind of meditative state
when it comes to harmonies , there is no better
If I Fell the Beatles. The harmony is not only great, but it's the seamless trade off between the lead and background vocal that most people do not even realize is happening
What about Nowhere Man?
There were so many deserving acts. I think they limited themselves to just one representation per act and not necessarily the best one.
Beatles should be: I’ve Just Seen a Face and Baby’s in Black
Love all of those but I had been hoping for This Boy. Just WOW.
Every Beatles song!
This is like an epiphany for me as a Bee Gee fan . You named my 2 favorite songs of theirs. Also those 2 songs made my life. My girlfriend broke up with me & I was miserable so I left Bee Gee Gold On her doorstep & told her to Play “To Love Somebody” & “ I Can’t See Nobody.”
Well she took me back & 5 kids & 43 years of marriage later we are still together !😀
That’s a truly wonderful story.
Congratulations.
❤ SO SWEET! WHAT A BEAUTIFUL LOVE STORY 😊❤️ BLESS YOU, YOUR WIFE & FAMILY 😇🙏🏼❤️
Bravo friend awesome story......to love somebody is unreal song
I love happy endings!!
If you are a BeeGees fan, then do you remember their song, Fanny? Talk about harmonies in that song! Wow!
The picks were all spot on. One of my favorites has always been "That Boy" by the Beatles. It's one of their earliest recordings. The first time I heard "Because" it reminded me of that earlier tune. Another favorite of mine is the harmony of CSN..."Wasted on the Way". Like "Helplessly Hoping", the harmonies are flawless.
One thing that made all of these performers great? They worked their ąsses off. The Everly Brothers started as young teens and practiced like fiends for years to perfect their wonderful sound. Simon and Garfunkel took inspiration from them and they, too worked for years to polish their perfect harmonies. We are the beneficiaries.
I'm surprised the Association didn't make the list.
Yes I agree Cherish
and neither *The Hollies* but CSNY +The Byrds yes even THE EAGLES ARE THERE(?) How about "I Can't Let Go*, *BUS STOP* , "The Air That I Breathe(?)" 🤷🏻♀️ ohmygosh the more time it pass S, the less recognition they achieve
100% Agreed
Windy , along comes Mary !
Excellent point! ❤
This is a great list, but you missed, what is IMO the best harmony song. Billy Joel's "For The Longest Time".
not this type. I mean, those are just like "mmm, mmm, bom ba bom" etc. i think this top is about singing in perfect harmony and not really doing harmonies. Totally different POVs
Yes!
Interesting fact about that particular Billie Joel song is that all the harmonies were sung by Joel himself. Thanks to technological advances of the 1980s, Billie Joel (born in the Bronx, by the way) found a way to sing every aspect of the song - lead vocals and all the harmonies as well as the finger-snapping - all by himself.
Oh yes!!
@@martincruz8319 He really is amazing!
Very thoughtful narration. For the Everly Brothers I personally would have chosen their lesser hit, DON'T BLAME ME. For Crosby, Stills... I'd have chosen Suite Judy Blue Eyes.
Devoted to You -- perfect. Watch the Everly's sing it. They love it.
Seven Bridges Road has always given me goosebumps.
me too that version is stunning
The Hollies (ANY song) need to be on this list, along with the Electric Light Orchestra (check out Ticket to the Moon, beautiful, moving, polyphonic song). And while Thank You for the Music by ABBA is a great song, it doesn't contain their most evocative harmonies; check out Knowing Me, Knowing You, What's the Name of the Game, and my fav: Baby You Owe Me One. Other notables would include Herman's Hermits (No Milk Today, Baby Can't You Hear My Heartbeat), The Zombies (Time of the Season), and many of the songs on Linda Ronstadt's Simple Dreams album. Also: Little River Band, Steve Miller Band, Indigo Girls, Peter and Gordon, the Drifters,... okay, so we need like, the top 500 list of goose-bumply harmonies!!!
You can’t pick just one Zombies song just like you can’t pick one Turtles song, they’re all stellar.
Love ELO 💝
THANK YOU for mentioning No Milk Today by Herman's Hermits. I swear that song made such an impression on me, I still sing it at 73!
Great artists. From those you listed I'd say my favorites for harmony are Xanadu (ELO/ONJ), Angel Eyes or Eagle by Abba, Different Drum L Ronstadt, Reminiscing or Night Owls by LRB and I don't know if it counts as harmony if it's an extra dub of your voice, but In The Wintertime by Steve Miller is gorgeous and I've loved it since I first heard it in the mid-80's.
@@rogerhuggettjr.7675 I can't believe I forgot Angel Eyes by ABBA - that has always been one of my favs! Takes me back to summers by the pool 🙂 And the whole Xanadu LP is a fav also. Too bad the movie was such a turd lol!
Fernando by Abba is one of my favorite harmonies.
The Spanish version, same with Chiquitita by Abba
I would have gone with Abba’s “SOS” myself!
Just about every ABBA song. Those two women in particular were perfect together
@@snickpickle coming from folk music they definitely had a marvelous sense for harmonies.
Abba did great harmony. Poco has been left out. Harmony was thier thing. Also Gram Parsons andand his female discovery, EmmyLou.
I had a band together for 13 years. 2 Rehearsals every week Rehearsal 1, was just to perfect the vocal harmonies and the 2nd, to work the band into the arrangement. A lot of work and dedication to be sure. The band never made it professionally but gave each singer and musician years of fond memories and good times. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Abba's harmonies are my guilty pleasure!
Why be guilty? It's good and we all know it.
They should have a had Heart in there. The harmonies the Willson sisters had were phenomenal. The Doobie Brothers had some too.
Karen Carpenter 😪
She had the Gift!
She still blesses generations later.
RIP!
So true.
As corny as it may sound, “ We’ve Only Just Begun” was the song my high school girlfriend and I considered our special song.
We are still dear friends over fifty years later.
Karen Carpenter was the best female pop singer ever. No one can compare to her.
She became another sad statistic of a narcissistic mother.
There are harmonies that literally bring me to tears
How could The Lettermen not be on this list? I grew up listening to The Lettermen because of my parents.
I learned to appreciate harmony because of the trio. And these days, I prefer singing harmony over melody, and I have The Lettermen’s many amazing songs to thank.
And I believe the Beach Boys copied the Lettermen's close harmonies to create their inimitable sound
@@zs1dfr Wow! I didn’t know that.
The Sounds Of Silence definitely a good pick. Mama's nd Papas definitley. All Phil and DonEverly's harmonies were beautiful.
You have to include the Cowsills their vocals are magical.
Cowsills harmony is magic.
The flower girl song!
I was thinking the same thing! The Cowsills. Nobody harmonizes like family.
I agree, "Indian Lake" was not only a gem, but also so positive and uplifting in it's corny way.
The rain the park and other things, I love all the different background harmonies