Which musical duo or group has the best harmonies ever?

[mvd]

I'm going with Simon and Garfunkel.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Crosby and Nash

[Liberal Veteran]

54. I second that.

CSN had great harmony.

[Mistress Quickly]

2. ABBA

LOL!!!

Really-

Doobie Brothers and Allman Brothers

[mvd]

13. I do love ABBA, though

:hi:

[zbird]

3. Bee Gees are right up there too.

Simon and Garfunkel are definitely at the top of my list also.

[bif]

4. The Association.

.

[Richardo]

34. Second the Association...

I loved those guys' harmonies. 6-part!

[Dees]

74. My second choice.

their harmonies in "No Fair at All" are just incredible. Saw them live years ago. Harmony was just as good on stage as in the studio.

[Skittles]

5. I have to add the Everly Brothers

and the backup chicks on BE MY BABY.

[ElementaryPenguin]

6. The Beatles

For me - no one ever sounded better together than Lennon and McCartney - and Harrison did an excellent job on their 3 part harmonies.

[mvd]

16. Beatles would be my #2

And The Indigo Girls are up there. Lots of good ones have been mentioned.

[Loonman]

7. Queen

Beatles, too.

[Skittles]

18. ooh, Queen

gotta do the fandango

[XNASA]

8. The Beach Boys

Have a listen to "Surf's Up" and tell me if I'm wrong.

After the BB, I'm gonna say XTC, although most of the harmonies are Andy Partridge singing overdubbed harmony with himself, but Moulding's not bad.

[Westegg]

42. Yep, Beach Boys

"Pet Sounds" and my bootleg copy of "Smile" are chock-full of heart-melting harmonies. "Let Him Run Wild" is a glorious song too. And so many others. Brian Wilson---man, how I dig that warped genius...

[no name no slogan]

69. Definately the Beach Boys

The vocals-only tracks in the "Pet Sounds" box are phenominal. Definately the greatest rock-n-roll record ever made-- bar NONE.

After them, I'd say CSNY, especially on Deja Vu. Another phenominal record, IMHO.

[beawr]

76. Bob Dylan sez the Beach Boys (n/t)

And so do I

[tridim]

9. Emmet Otter's Jug Band

(aka Jim Henson and Frank Oz) and The Beach Boys

[fudge stripe cookays]

25. "Are we gonna have some mashed potatoes?"

I always loved this special.

[starroute]

10. Jan and Dean

Well . . . maybe not technically the very best, but I'd certainly vote for "most fun."

[ablbodyed]

11. The Mamas and the Papas....

and Mama Cass gives a whole NEW slant on choaking your chicken.

[trof]

12. 4 Freshmen

[Dookus]

14. gotta be Beach Boys

seriously.

[hrd2imagin]

15. The Eagles on "Seven Bridges Road"

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

17. The Roche Sisters have

some of the strangest (in a good way) harmonies.

[Westegg]

43. Roches rock!

I chose the Beach Boys for best harmonies but yeah, the Roches' harmonies bring goosebumps. "Quitting Time"---now THERE'S a beautiful song.

[ronnykmarshall]

19. The 5th Dimension

[arwalden]

20. Starland Vocal Band

[proud patriot]

21. Got to give props to the Dixie Chicks

:hi:

[mvd]

22. Good choice!

They are one I wouldn't have thought of. :hi:

[fudge stripe cookays]

23. The Pursuit of Happiness!

I love those guys-- kinda like if a van carrying AC-DC and a van carrying ABBA crashed into each other.

[Badger1]

24. Parsons & Harris

Have to go with Gram Parsons & Emmy Lou Harris

30. they get my vote too

or at least for the most heartbreaking harmonies. Love Hurts for example.

Lennon & McCartney are at the top also

[A-Schwarzenegger]

26. Patience & Prudence

Got along without ya
before I met ya
gonna get along
without ya now
uh-huh
uh-huh
gonna get along
without ya now

[nini]

27. Boys to Men

OR the Temptations..

Boys to Men were great - didn't even need music

[mvd]

33. Temptations would be up there with..

Simon and Garfunkel, Beatles, Beach Boys, Indigo Girls, etc. I'm glad you mentioned them! Boyz II Men have good harmonies, too - way better than those of 'N Sync, BSB, and 98 Degrees.

[Mandomaniac]

28. Bluegrass Rules!

Mountain Heart is pretty killer when it comes to the 3-part...

Ricky Scagg's group, Kentucky Thunder also. Pretty bomb.

[morningglory]

32. There you go, Mando!

Doyle Lawson and quicksilver and many other BG groups no home should be without.

[tridim]

57. Nickel Creek

has some killer harmonies.

[proud patriot]

77. Nickel Creek is a great choice

:thumbsup:

[OneBlueSky]

29. Beach Boys . . . without question . . .

Brian Wilson's arrangements and the guys' voices combined into something very special . . . I can't think of anyone who's matched those harmonies . . .

[BigDaddyLove]

31. Simon and Garfunkel....

I agree.

[JitterbugPerfume]

37. RIghteous Brothers

[bubblesby2002]

45. That's what I was going to say

But you beat me to it. Unchained Melody is one of the all time greats

[Mrs. Venation]

35. Alison Kraus and Union Station

Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton
Brooks and Dunn
Diamond Rio
The Dixie Chicks

Emmylou Harris did a bluegrass album many years ago, called "Roses In The Snow." It is superb; wonderful harmony on virtually every track. IMHO it is her best release.

[Richardo]

52. Second Alison!

Angel's voice, for my money. Fiddles like a maniac, to boot!

:loveya:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

68. I like the unconventional twist

that a lot of Alison/Union Station tunes take harmonically speaking. Very refreshing!

[ET Awful]

36. I couldn't pick a "best"

Simon & Garfunkel
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Peter, Paul and Mary
The Mamas and the Papas

There's a lot of others too (many bluegrass bands, etc.)

[NightTrain]

38. Everly Brothers, Flamingos, Temptations, Manhattan Transfer...

...to name but a few of my all-time favorites.

[salinen]

39. It's a Beautiful Day

Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks

[geniph]

40. Someone has to say Heart

it might as well be me, since they're local gals made good.

(I'm very partial to Simon & Garfunkel and CSNY also, but someone had to give some props to Ann and Nancy.)

[Mobius]

41. BEE GEES

come on! that was easy!

[Snow]

44. Anonymous Four, followed closely by

Tallis Scholars......
but Simon & Garfunkel are pretty doggone good, too - would've been even better if they'd had a bass!

[Drifter]

46. Manhatten Transfer

These guys (and gals) are great.

My favorite is "The Offbeat of Avenues"

Cheers
Drifter

[TrogL]

49. Damn, beat me to it

'Birdland'

[Kellanved]

47. The Comedian Harmonists

Probably not the best, but my favourite. It's a little unfair, as the recordings are too old to really be compared to newer groups.


http://users.crocker.com/~lwm/WandS.mp3

from this page (:shrug:)
http://users.crocker.com/~lwm/testdex.html


http://www.comedian-harmonists.net/

[Karenina]

48. "Best" is a silly concept

as one cannot compare apples to pomegranates.

ALL OF THE ABOVE, and add TAKE 6 for musical sophistication.

[mvd]

50. I'm not saying it isn't subjective

But since we all do have our own ideas of best, it's fine IMO.

[scottcsmith]

51. My choices

1) ABBA. Laugh all you want, but Agnetha and Frida sound great together.

2) B52s. Kate and Cindy. 'Nuff said.

3) The Beach Boys. Brian Wilson + harmony = Classic pop.

I may be in the minority, but I also enjoyed Alice in Chains and the harmonies of Layne and Jerry Cantrell.

[SOteric]

53. Iso and the Bobs

[CO Liberal]

55. The Fleetwoods

Especially on "Mr. Blue" and "Come Softly To Me".

[Bertha Venation]

56. many

Bobby McFerrin, for one. ;)

Alison Krauss and Union Station

The Carpenters

S&G

America

Kansas

[Whitacre D_WI]

58. The Carter Family.

Period. End of discussion.

[lpbk2713]

79. Agreed............. Momma Maybelle's girls.

Anita Carter was particularly gifted.

[beyurslf]

59. Boyz 2 Men

[GoddessOfGuinness]

67. They are fabulous...

I played a gig with them once. I had no idea what they sang, so I assumed by their name that they were some kind of hip-hop group. They reminded me of "Doo-Wop" style of singing...their harmonies were so tight. Besides that, they were so nice to us! Success clearly hadn't gone to their heads, and they treated their back-ups with the utmost respect. Great guys! :-)

[Fenris]

60. Some people are going to beat me up for saying this

But I say it's the Byrds.

So sue me. David Crosby has a fucking amazing voice.

[Richardo]

63. Pretty amazing no one has said CSN&Y....

but they'd be in MY top 5.

(BTW: Viva San Marcos!)

[geniph]

65. I did.

and I loved the Byrds, too. Also the Hollies, Manassas, Buffalo Springfield...I guess I'm just a fan of CSNY and their other groups.

[Richardo]

66. Missed that, geniph - kudos!

:thumbsup:

[Zomby Woof]

71. ya damn hippie freaknik!

;-)

[jimbo fett]

61. Spice Girls!

NOT!!!

(girl power)

[KansDem]

62. Mills Brothers

I particularly like their "I'll Be Around"

[AngryAmish]

64. X

[Zomby Woof]

70. Sweet Honey In The Rock

As a group.

I can go with S&G for duo. I love 'em.

[Susang]

72. Kate and Anne McGarrigle

Closely followed by Richard & Linda Thompson and their son Teddy Thompson.

[non sociopath skin]

83. Yes, I'd go with the McGarrigles..

.. some of their harmonies are quiter other-worldly.

The Skin

[Dees]

73. Beach Boys

As Brian Wilson once said.."it's the sound I hear from God".
I'm a believer. Listen to "Sunflower" or "Surf's Up".

[NashVegas]

75. B-52s!

"Roam, if you want to"

[mantis49]

78. Simon and Garfunkel

Righteous Brothers
Statler Brothers
Everly Brothers

On edit: Mamas and Papas

[Susang]

80. Alternative answers (BTW-How come nobody said the Mamas & the Papas?)

Guster (they are freakin' fantastic!)
The Sugarcubes
X
Shakespeare's Sister
The Who
The Pogues (with Shane McGowan)
Prefab Sprout

[kath]

81. Simon and Gar, for sure!

[beevul]

82. Best harmonies ever..

Musical harmonies or vocal harmonies?

Simon and Garfunkel. Beach Boys. Jan and Dean. The Eagles. Mamas & the Papas

On the heavier side...

Journey. Boston.




Edited to add Mamas & the Papas because I agree.

[Dr Fate]

84. Louvin Bros, Beach Boys, Everly Bros, Beatles, Byrds...

George & Tammy...

[montana_hazeleyes]

85. The Chi-Lites

".Oh Girl,' 'Have You Seen her"