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votes
Vocal Harmonies Playlist
I have always enjoyed songs with rich vocal harmonies and structure. Last night I decided to make a playlist that collects the best ones that I've heard. Unfortunately, I realized I don't actually know that many off the top of my head.
Please, share your songs with me.
The playlist I have so far is here (spotify link).
Oh, baby... my time to shine!
IMO you can't get better vocal harmonies than A Capella, 50s-60s Pop/Doo-Wop and Barbershop
A Capella
Pentatonix (the hot shit right now) - Live version that shows just how insanely talented they are
Moxy Früvous (in/famous local Toronto/Canadian band) - Their most famous song
Rockapella - Dat Nostalgia!
Bobby McFerrin (Polyphonic harmonizing with himself!) - My personal favorite
50s-60s Pop & Doo-Wop
The Crew-Cuts (another Canadian group)- Sh-Boom
The Drifters - Under the Boardwalk
The Tokens - The Lion Sleeps Tonight
The Mamas & The Papas - California Dreaming
Bobby Day - Rockin’ Robin
Jackson 5 - ABC
Let's be honest, pretty much every group of that era can harmonize and I could easily list 100+ here... Best Ofs, Box Sets, Collections and Greatest Hits compilation albums are a great place to start if you're unfamiliar with those decades/genres. I grew up listening to them thanks to my Mom's obsession with "Golden Oldies" collections and 10+ hour car rides through the Rockies of BC (often to visit @deimos and his family).
Barbershop
Buffalo Bills (featured in The Music Man 1962) - A classic
Barbershop Harmony Society has a huge catalog of amazing modern competitive barbershop. Some of my favorites from them: Forefront ft. Mike Row (of Dirty Jobs), Newfangled Four - Hello, My Baby through the Ages
Random Favorites
Fleet Foxes (who you got already but are so damn good they deserve being mentioned again!), First Aid Kit, Extreme - More Than Words, Mr. Big - To Be With You, Mumford & Sons (overplayed I know, but still), Boyz II Men and pretty much every 90's Boy Band.
A Capella you forgot The Flying Pickets and Da Vinci's Notebook! Although technically Da Vinci's Notebook is more like the Weird Al of a capella. ;)
Oooo, doo-wop is a great choice.
Oh man, you've got the vox hookup! I will never understand how Bobby McFerrin manages to be so talented.
Thanks!
No prob man. Can’t wait to see your playlist when it’s done!
And yeah Bobby McFerrin is honestly one of my all time favourites. He brings so much joy to the World through the medium of music and knows how to work a crowd like nobody else on the planet.
Ahhh, another genre we've missed is old bluegrass numbers, e.g.:
And the best thing that's ever been played, Doc & Merle Watson's take on Rock, Salt and Nails
The Dells - Oh What A Night (1969 version) - they originally recorded this song in the '50s with a doo-wop vibe but this remake from '69 is super soulful.
Laura Nyro and LaBelle - You've Really Got A Hold On Me - LaBelle's backing vocals on this one slay me every time, not to mention when Patti starts wailing at 1:30.
Frank Zappa - Uncle Remus - FZ is not everyone's cup of tea, but the backing vocals here from Tina Turner and the Ikettes are incredible.
I considered dropping a link to FZ's Anything on the doo-wop link, but it's really all about that sax solo :p
The Novi Singers, a polish jazz/funk outfit from the 70's, deserve a mention.
In a similar vein Rare Silk had some astounding jazz tunes centered around vocal harmonies.
It may be a bit cliche, but the list really wouldn't be complete without the Beach Boys. I'd pick A Day in the Life of a Tree for a long slow build
Oh man, how did I forget the beach boys
Brand New - Limousine (Won't blame you if you don't listen to this because of the Lacey stuff.)
Goodie Mob - Soul Food Not the whole thing, but the hook is some delicious soulful harmony.
Lauryn Hill - Lost Ones Beautiful hook and chorus harmonies.
Great on you for already having White Winter Hymnal and Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space, by the way.
Folk Road Show is awesome for this, and I'd love to find more like them!
Come Closer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkRnwd993xw) on the LP Gold is a great example and great song!
Oooh... they have a very Fleet Foxes feel. I love it! Thanks for giving me something to listen to while I wade through the sea of invites. :)
Glad to hear it! I'll have to look into Fleet Foxes! I know I've heard of them, but I don't think I've really explored their music.
I can't recommend too many, so I'll just recommend one that I think is a little different! Caroline Shaw's Partita for 8 Voices won the Pulitzer Prize back in 2013, and I'm sure that you can tell why. It's a capella like nothing you've heard before... I do hope that you like it!