By fayette (64.12.97.7) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 03:34 pm:

can you name a group male and female that
in your opinion had the most harmony on
background vocals.

i say,
male-temptations
female-envogue

By JoeR (170.148.92.53) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 03:43 pm:

It's probably me but your question seems a little vague. Can you be more specific?

My answer would encompass so many groups:

CHANNELS ; )
CADILLACS
TEENAGERS
CHANTELS (they can still "s-a-n-g!")
TEMPTATIONS
MIRACLES

Just to name a few.

JoeR - http://mypages.netopia.com/channels

By Greg C. (166.84.225.91) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 03:44 pm:

male/female-The Sylvers Their harmony was tight and intricate.

By JoeR (170.148.92.53) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 03:49 pm:

Greg C. -

I see where you went LOL

Then I'd have to say TAKE 6.

JoeR - http://mypages.netopia.com/channels

By Ritchie (62.254.0.9) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 03:55 pm:

Male - the Spinners (who else would I say?!)

Female - the Andantes.

By Vickie (64.236.243.31) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 04:11 pm:

Ritchie - ditto..

Andantes all the way!!!!

Vickie

By boynextdoor (65.238.140.80) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 04:16 pm:

Male group-Spinners/Temptations
Female group-70's Supremes/Three Degrees

By the way, to all girl group fans of the 60's, the new cd by The Pixies Three (all original members) is great with the harmonies/backrounds and strong leads. "40 years.....and Counting".

By BankHouseDave (195.93.50.9) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 04:19 pm:

Vickie, I'm with you, the Andantes were pehomenal

By BankHouseDave (195.93.50.9) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 04:20 pm:

What's more, they were occasionally phenomenal

By stephanie (64.63.221.75) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 05:02 pm:

I would say the Chiffons
Pointer Sisters
Switch
as much as I like Flo and Mary I think the Vandellas had some tight harmonies and those harmonies were crucial being behind Martha to make those songs hits.
Heat Wave
Quicksand
Nowhere to Run ...think about it
Stephanie

By Eli (151.197.38.28) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 05:05 pm:

As I have mentioned in other threads,
The Stylistics, Blue Magic, The Blue Notes, did not sing their own background parts in the studio as their voices just did not blend properly for studio applications.
Even the Spinners had their parts doubled by the Sweeties.
The male studio vocalists were Phil Hurtt, Ron Tyson, Carl Helm and Buny Sigler and always doubled by the Sweeties.
Studio vocals are an art form and should only be handeled by professionals who know what they are doing.
If you were to hear the Stylistics first and yet unreleased album, you will hear what I am talking about.

By JoeR (170.148.92.53) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 05:11 pm:

I mentioned the CHANNELS because they had a unique style in 1956. When other groups were "ooing" and "ah-ing" behind the lead vocals' verse, background singers, Eddie Daulphin, Billy Morris and Larry Hampden would sing the verse in three part harmony while bass singer Clifton Wright threw his bass in and out. Earl would bring his lead on the bridge of the song.

Examples would be 'The Closer You Are', 'Flames In My Heart', and 'That's My Desire'.

JoeR - http://mypages.netopia.com/channels

By Fury13 (209.69.165.10) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 05:16 pm:

You're right about that JoeR. I've always marveled at what an awesome, emotion-packed record "The Closer You Are" is. Love that soaring falsetto too.

By JoeR (170.148.92.53) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 05:20 pm:

ELI!

This is my first time reading up on the background vocals done by The Stylistics, Blue Magic and The Blue Notes. Thanks for posting that up again. I'm in awe that these voices I heard on the radio were from different singers.

I've heard David Ruffin make mention that it's hard to find a group to have the right (harmony) blend in reference with he and Eddie Kendricks singing with Darryl Hall & John Oates. I guess finding the right blend in the studio is just as important as the recording engineer working on the project. I've taken for granted the work vocalists put into a recording session.

JoeR - http://mypages.netopia.com/channels

By medusa9e (66.73.9.242) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 08:11 pm:

There used 2 B a Male Group called "The New Holidays", Of Course the "Temps"
O'Jays
Brenda & Tabulations
Dramatics
Enchantment
VanDellas
Fantastic Four
Take 6
There R 2 many 2 count

By Vickie (205.188.209.38) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 01:32 am:

This was on another thread,,but I can't find it..who are the voices behind Elvis on "Suspicous Minds"?


Vickie

By Scratcher (65.134.147.185) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 03:09 pm:

The Intruders
The original O'Jays (when they were a quintet)
The Classic Temptations
The original Impressions (when they were a quintet)
The Mad Lads
The Superbs
The Chi-lites when Red (the bass) sang with them
The Masqueraders
The Jive Five

By Tone Def (151.197.40.29) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 03:17 pm:

Vickie.its the Jordanaires and the Sweet Inspirations.

By TonyRussi (68.18.230.25) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 03:28 pm:

The original Supremes had great harmony as did the original Martha Reeves & the Vandellas(Rosalind Ashford & Annette Stirling).The Crystals& the Ronettes had great harmony.The Miracles & the Temptations & THE ORIGINALS all had good harmony.I am speaking of the original hit making groups.The Orlons also had great harmony.

By fayette (152.163.188.68) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 03:48 pm:

mr eli
did the members of stylistics and blue magic
ever do their background vocals

By stephanie (64.63.221.236) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 06:09 pm:

Toni
Please dont get mad at me for saying this but I think the Orlons had good harmony but they sounded so juvenile to me.....what made me listen to their records was the arrangements and the wonderful bass of Steve Caldwell (OH NO)......
I like Dont Hang Up but I prefer South Street and that drum..........I think the music made the Orlons but that is my opinion.
Stephanie I would hate to think of what those songs would sound like without Steve Caldwell in the back giving them some pep.

By Nish (216.148.246.134) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 11:24 pm:

The Miracles had a round harmony that kind of "enveloped" Smokey's voice, Temptations (top to bottom awesome), Originals, The Whispers, the Flamingos, the Channels, the Chantels, the Andantes, the Moonglows, the Dominoes and the Ravens.

By fayette (152.163.188.68) on Saturday, March 15, 2003 - 08:19 am:

what about today's background vocals like
nelly and destiny child etc