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In praise of harmony vocals and duets

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imaginary friend

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In praise of harmony vocals and duets
« on: April 25, 2020, 10:02:27 PM »
I spent a bit of time this evening listening to some Peter Gabriel, and it began to hit me how much I liked his songs where he brought in guest vocalists to share in the singing. Proper duets like Don't Give Up and Blood Of Eden, along with songs like Games Without Frontiers and Sky Blue, where the guests raised the songs that much higher. I 've also always been enamored of bands that share lead vocal duties among multiple members: The Beatles, The Who, Pink Floyd, Tears For Fears, Alice In Chains, and my latest fave band Amanitas. Anyway, some of all of that is on the way.      :)


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WookieeWarrior

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Re: In praise of harmony vocals and duets
« Reply #1 on: April 25, 2020, 10:42:46 PM »
R.E.M. was unparalleled in this department during the I.R.S. era. Harborcoat, for example, has three melodies going on during the chorus:

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guest532

Re: In praise of harmony vocals and duets
« Reply #2 on: April 25, 2020, 10:58:15 PM »
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an tha

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Re: In praise of harmony vocals and duets
« Reply #3 on: April 26, 2020, 07:59:48 AM »
« Last Edit: April 26, 2020, 08:25:10 AM by an tha »
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Loyal Deserter

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Re: In praise of harmony vocals and duets
« Reply #4 on: April 26, 2020, 11:56:40 AM »
These artists have some truly incredible harmony vocals. 

Firstly, Gillian Welch and her long=term partner David Rawlings, an American folk due specializing in sparse, haunting music.  They worked on the soundtrack for O Brother Where Art Thou.  Gillian voices one of the sirens.  She is one of my favorite songwriters, and he is one of my favorite guitar players.  Every one of their albums is excellent, but The Harrow and the Harvest and Time (The Revelator) are particularly fantastic.
This one has a wonderfully strange harmony at 2:19:
And this is just my favorite song by them:

And then there's Ye Vagabonds, an Irish folk due consisting of two brothers.  The way their voices blend is stunning, and while they do a lot of traditional songs, they write some incredible tunes as well, like this one:
And this one:
And here's Lowlands of Holland, a traditional song:
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imaginary friend

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Re: In praise of harmony vocals and duets
« Reply #5 on: April 27, 2020, 09:26:57 PM »
For me, Grace Slick's best male vocal foil was Marty Balin...but I've always felt that Mickey Thomas got something out of her on this song that she never equalled before or afterwards.

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Pride

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Re: In praise of harmony vocals and duets
« Reply #6 on: April 27, 2020, 11:31:49 PM »
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MPare1966

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Re: In praise of harmony vocals and duets
« Reply #7 on: April 28, 2020, 12:17:24 AM »
Can’t have this thread go on without mentioning what was, arguably, the best prog rock band that featured two lead vocalists. In my early teens (before that Irish band found its way into my life) they were my favorites. I’ve been listening to this particular album, on and off, for 40 years now. My first love, basically.  :)


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imaginary friend

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Re: In praise of harmony vocals and duets
« Reply #8 on: May 04, 2020, 09:43:33 PM »
^ I always liked Hodgson's songs more, but Davies was my fave singer of the two.

...here's some bluegrass-derived sweetness, with just enough astringency to keep it interesting. Yes, that In My Time Of Dying.



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MPare1966

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Re: In praise of harmony vocals and duets
« Reply #9 on: May 04, 2020, 10:18:03 PM »
The Söderberg sisters from Sweden (First Aid Kit) have amazing hamonies.


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imaginary friend

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Re: In praise of harmony vocals and duets
« Reply #10 on: May 06, 2020, 07:25:38 PM »
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Re: In praise of harmony vocals and duets
« Reply #11 on: May 06, 2020, 07:49:47 PM »
The Harmony of CSN can never be topped. Just one example:

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imaginary friend

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Re: In praise of harmony vocals and duets
« Reply #12 on: November 17, 2020, 10:20:03 AM »
I was going to post this in the daily blast thread, but it's better placed here.

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financeguy1

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Re: In praise of harmony vocals and duets
« Reply #13 on: November 18, 2020, 02:11:18 PM »
Interlude - Morrissey and Siouxsie Sioux.

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an tha

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Re: In praise of harmony vocals and duets
« Reply #14 on: November 18, 2020, 02:31:24 PM »
When the greatest of all time has an absolutely gorgeous song and invites the singer from the best band in the world over the last 20 years plus to sing on it then the results are this absolute masterpiece...

I give you Miss Polly Jean Harvey and Mr Thom Yorke.

« Last Edit: November 18, 2020, 02:34:54 PM by an tha »
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