best vocal harmonies in rock


What r'n'r artists (or records) feature great vocal harmonies? To keep the list more manageable, let's stay with the post doo-wop period. Brian Wilson/Beach Boys, Todd Rundgren/Utopia and Lindsey Buckingham/Fleetwood Mac -among others- all qualify in my book. Who do you like?

Marty
martykl
the zombies, the beau brummels, the fortunes and the incomparible mamas and papas
Fleet Foxes, Built To Spill, Phosphorescent, Grizzly Bear, Panda Bear, Pixies, Sleater-Kinney...
Not all, but some Grateful Dead. These guys could go from sublime to ridiculous as far as harmony goes but when they were good they were very good.
In that its now Beatlemania 2009, just reminding everyone that theirs are certainly quite golden and part of some of the best pop/rock music ever...still.
Trip Shakespeare. If you don't have "Across the Universe", go hunt down a copy. There's a reason why they have (had) a passionate cult following.
Theunderlyingtheme;
'
If you're suggesting that Queen didn't deliver the goods onstage,'

You have just answered your own question.
Alice in Chains harmonies pretty much defines their sound and are outstanding IMHO.

Toad the Wet Sprocket also has some of my favorite harmonizing in rock vocals.
Lyle Lovett/Rickie Lee Jones on Joshua..., Both Trio Albums: Ronstadt/Parton/Harris, Bruce Cockburn/Lucinda Williams (Isn't That What Friends Are For?), the Streisand/Gibbs album, Mark Knopfler/Emmylou Harris (at times), Linda Ronstadt/Aaron Neville, K.D. Lang/Martino. Admittedly, none of these are long term pairings but the work they occasionally did together was wonderful.

Just some off the wall suggestions to add to the superb obvious choices already given.
great stuff.

but let's hear it about music from _this_ century, too! ;-)

x2 Veruca Salt. Matthew Sweet. Dandy Warhols. Fountains of Wayne....
From my perspective, no one mentioning Van Halen needs to apologize (and I'm f'ing old). Those high vocal harmonies by bassist Michael Anthony are wonderful and contribute to a signature sound. Don't know if that constitutes a "best" but sure is nice.
Slaw's mention of the Jayhawks reminded me to mention "The Reivers" AKA America's great lost rock band. They had some fantastic, albeit quirky, harmonies on each of their records.

Marty
Dixie Chicks (suggested by my wife). Are any of you familiar with the accapella group "The Bobs" (of which no member is really named Bob)? They are very funny at times, quite amazing and will drive you nuts after too many plays in a row.
I,m setting here with eric clapton playing a LIVE set or close, completely blown away.Closed my eyes and front and center.EC UNPLUGGED on cd. A Usher demo cd has some great sounding vocals also
In order:

1) The Beach Boys - (although always the same sound)

2) The Eagles 9try the opening acapella track to the Long Road out of Eden CD)

3) The Beatles - (so many variations in countless recordings)
Did anyone mention Supertramp?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VePVzbpD1U&feature=related
Jefferson Airplane/Starship. Vocals are smooth but still have a "rock" edge and bite to them.
I think it would be appropriate the thread should begin and end with CSN.

Regards,
Beach Boys
Everly Brothers
Crosty Stills, Nash Everly Brothers
Pointer Sisters (Rock?)
Friends of Distinction (Rock?)
Association
Poco
New Riders of the Purple Sage

are among my a few of my favorites

And then there is Motown (little mentioned on this site, wonder why, no Motown fans?)

Marvin Gaye and Tami Terrell
The Four Tops
Temptations
Supremes
Martha and the Vandellas

Earth Wind and Fire

I really don't care what the genre, I love listening to groups harmonize.
and one more that is conspicously missing and among the very best with some great instrumental AND vocal harmonies

Little River Band
Best hardly known band that is deserving, The Spring Standards. Check them ! Cheers,
Spencer
Wow! This zombie lives. Some great music here. I watched the Eagles docu that has been around the past few weeks and boy it was a good one. Speaking of Zombies, it was nice to see Joe Walsh back from the dead and with a beautiful young daughter. Good for him. Like a lot of us, he probably would have done things differently if he knew he would live this long.
The Eagles were a crazy band with some huge personalities but they can sing harmony with the best of them with some very unconventional voices.
Has anyone mentioned Grateful Dead? I'm not a DH but I love 'em.
I think the Beach Boys are the gold standard for me. There were more than a few great harmonizers in the 50's and 60's though. Peter Paul am Mary maybe? Not my cup of tea but they sure are popular in New England.
Association, Neville Bros., Miracles, Mamas & Papas, Beach Boys,Simon & Garfunkel, Everlys, Beatles, Byrds, Wilson/Philips (2nd gen. of BB's/M&P's, CS&N (first album).
Also Yes, Zombies, Queen.
I meant this thread was a Zombie, you know, back from the dead.
I think I posted to this 5 years ago!
Just a reminder, when you talk about Beatles harmony, most of the time you're talking about Lennon, McCartney AND Harrison. The three together were magic.
Some of my favorite Beatles harmonies are from early performances, such as "This Boy" on the Ed Sullivan Show and
"To Know Her is to Love Her" from Live at the BBC. Great stuff.
And I forgot to mention Peter, Paul and Mary on my list.
The Roches (three sisters) are the best harmonies I've heard. Kind of like the female Everly Brothers with the third sibling harmony. Urban folk and stunning.
at the peak of their powers,csn&y was unequaled.they sounded just as good in person as on recordings.a close second were the beach boys.their recordings were top shelf,but in person ,not quite as impressive.