Songs with great harmonies?

[prowla]

I picked up a Doobie Brothers compilation on the weekend (£3 from FOPP), and listened to it today. It occurred to me that the classic "Long Train Running" is a fairly simple song with a pretty easy guitar line and very basic structure, but it makes it because of the vocal harmonies.

I then got to thinking about other songs that are made great mainly because of the harmonies, and came up with "Hotel California" (The Eagles), and then kindof ran out of ideas.

(The next one I thought of was "The Gypsy" by Deep Purple, where a fairly drunk sounding Coverdale and Hughes vye for supremacy and actually work well together in the process. But that's just one of my favourites rather than a mainstream classic.)

Can anybody think of any more songs that would otherwise be fairly mundane, but are totally made by the vocal harmonies?

 

[RickyC6]

The Housemartins - Caravan Of Love.

Cheers
Rich

 

[radiant_veteran]

Paul McCartney / The Frog Chorus - We All Stand Together

I think I've got the wrong idea.

 

[sideshowbob]

Throbbing Gristle, We Hate You (Little Girls).

-- Ian

 

[kasperhauser]

Lonesome Loser by the Little River Band. And Listen to the Music, by the aforementioned Brothers of Doobie.

I personally think "Hotel California" has more going for it than great harmonies, though.

 

[Jonathan Ribee]

Can we include major choral works - Bach et al - or is that cheating?

 

[Cheese]

Can we include major choral works - Bach et al - or is that cheating?

Great suggestion. Cheating or not, we have to mention the choral intro of the St Matthew Passion.

 

[matthewr]

Beach Boys >>>> Everybody Else

 

[Mike Sae]

 

[radiant_veteran]

Danny & The Juniors - At the Hop

 

[kasperhauser]

Beach Boys >>>> Everybody Else

If we're talking about good songs with great harmonies, different ballgame. (In which case Everly Brothers>>>>anyone, including the Boys of Beach).

 

[Joe Hutch]

'He Who Would Valium Take' by Half Man Half Biscuit.

'Timeless Melody' by The La's.

 

[PigletsDad]

Pretty much anything by the Byrds has wonderful harmony singing.

"Eight Miles High", "Bells of Rhymney" or "Feel a Whole Lot Better" are all good starters.

But they are all great songs in there own right, so possibly not what you asking for!

 

[Fretless Eric]

A fair bit of Crowded House and an old favourite, "Echo Beach".

 

[Ian Sampson]

Great suggestion. Cheating or not, we have to mention the choral intro of the St Matthew Passion.

Come on guys,if you want to cheat by including choral works,then Verdi's Va Pensiero wipes the floor with everything else!!!

Best wishes

Ian

 

[prowla]

A fair bit of Crowded House and an old favourite, "Echo Beach".

Doh! How could I forget Crowded House (and the brothers Finn)???

I've also got a Crosby Stills Nash & Young album 4 Way Street.

 

[Paul Mc]

Leave it by Yes.

 

[MichaelC]

And you tried so hard - Gong

 

[manicatel]

Karen Carpenter had such a pure, harmonious voice, imho. Not really my cup of tea, but nice, all the same.
I also agree with the Beach Boys/pet sounds (& smile), Beatles & Crowded House recommendations.
matt

 

[Jonathan Ribee]

A fair bit of Crowded House and an old favourite, "Echo Beach".

Martha and the Muffins.... ...amps now warming up and Metro Music on the deck - TA - I'd forgotten I had that.

J