Monday, July 22, 2013

Best Background Vocals




Having just seen 20 Feet From Stardom, I began to think about what are the best background vocals I remember. The Pips in Midnight Train to Georgia equal Gladys if not surpass her.

What are some of your favorite background vocals?
Posted by at
Labels:

21 comments:

Brian Busby said...

To my mind, nothing beats Merry Clayton's vocals on the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter".

12:56 PM
Cap'n Bob said...

The backups on Aretha Franklin's version of "I Say a Little Prayer For You."

The Grease Band on Joe Cocker's version of "A Little Help From My Friends."

1:00 PM
pattinase (abbott) said...

There was a whole lot about Merry Clayton in the movie.

1:18 PM
le0pard13 said...

I second Brian's selection of Merry Clayton's vocal on 'Gimme Shelter'. I'd add:

Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich backing for the Neil Diamond song they produced, 'Cherry, Cherry'. There's no drum beat in the song -- the rhythm was kept solely by their handclaps. It was Ellie herself that invented the background arrangement for Cherry, Cherry, and it’s her voice in the chorus that initially drew me in. Still does.

1:24 PM
Anonymous said...

Merrie Clayton, as previously noted. Her voice on "Gimme Shelter" absolutely makes that song!

I love all that info about "Cherry, Cherry" which is my favorite Neil Diamond song.

Deb

1:55 PM
Anonymous said...

That reminds me of one of my favorite bits. On a summer variety show some years ago they had The Pips without Gladys Knight. They called them "and the Pips" and did "Midnight Train to Georgia" - but only their part.

It was pretty funny.


Of course Darlene Love (with & without The BLossoms) did a tremendous amount of backup singing. I love Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris on Warren Zevon's "Excitable Boy." In fact, Emmylou on anything is great.

The London Bach Choir on "You Can't Always Get What You Want." (Of course, ditto about Merry Clayton's duet on "Gimme Shelter.")

But above all of those I'd put Lou Rawls on Sam Cooke's "Bring It on Home to Me."


Jeff M.

2:32 PM
Anonymous said...

OK, my mistake. It was Jennifer Warnes with Linda on "Excitable Boy" rather than Emmylou.


Jeff M.

2:35 PM
Erik Donald France said...

Yep as above, Merry Clayton on "Gimme Shelter" is up there. Mick Jagger on "You're So Vain."
Haha ;->

3:20 PM
Chris said...

As primarily a fan of rock music, I love how the backing vocals can really define a band's sound. Like old Van Halen -- their harmonies (or "man choir" as we refer to it in my own band) are so identifiable as to make it as signature to their sound as Eddie's guitar playing. Same with my old KISS records -- you can pick out each member's voice and where they fit in the overall sound, and I love that. Fleetwood Mac? Yes!

So it's never a good sign when that changes, when it becomes apparent that bands really aren't working together in the studio at the same time because those individual parts are no longer there, and the lead singer is doing ALL the vocal parts in the studio, or session musicians are covering the parts. Sure sign of things ending.

4:40 PM
Peter Rozovsky said...

I don't know who sings them, but I've always liked the background singing on Mott the Hoople's "Golden Age of Rock and Roll."

5:14 PM
pattinase (abbott) said...

Wow. A new one for me, Pete. WIll have to check it out on youtube.

5:42 PM
Peter Rozovsky said...

My comment sent me to YouTube as well. I am listening to Mott the Hoople's first album, but I have been unable to find a clip of the album version of "Golden Age of Rock and Roll." Let me see what I can come up with.

5:52 PM
Peter Rozovsky said...

Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-3ndXJZUUY

5:57 PM
pattinase (abbott) said...

I have never heard that song before, Pete. Wonder where I was. Love the cover, too.

6:51 PM
pattinase (abbott) said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
6:51 PM
pattinase (abbott) said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
6:51 PM
George said...

There's some pretty good background singing on Jackson Brown's fine album, RUNNING ON EMPTY. We're hoping to see 20 FEET FROM STARDOM this weekend.

7:23 PM
Peter Rozovsky said...

You were probably right where I am now: in Philadelphia. Alejandro Escovedo, whose music I also like, does a good cover version of the song available on YouTube.

7:38 PM
Todd Mason said...

Rod Argent and Chris White in the Zombies did some beautiful work behind Colin Blunstone. The multiple-lead harmony bands ranging from the Weavers to the Roches to the Beach Boys to the Byrds and the Band to, of course, Lambert, Hendricks and Ross (and, later, Bavan). And, of course, the Staples family...

8:23 PM
Peter Rozovsky said...

Todd, nice choice on the Band. I'm guessing you had "Acadian Driftwood" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" in mind, but the also contribute amiably sloppy vocals to "Apple Sucking Tree" on The Basement Tapes.

8:40 PM
Cap'n Bob said...

Duke of Earl, too.

1:45 PM

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)