best vocal harmonies in rock

Has anyone mentioned The Mamas & Papas? I take them for granted until one of their songs comes on the radio. They were REALLY good!

Brad Delp, has some of the best vocal harmonies!

 97% of these 50-80’s singers were all “them”
not this current audiovocal, auto tune, computer help vocals tripe!!

  Phil mogg 
 Dave byron.

 30 others!

What about Ambrosia (David Pack as lead and...)?

2nd on Huey Lewis & The News

Tears for Fears (Especially when Oleta Adams performed with them)

Bruce Hornsby/Bonnie Raitt

James Taylor (with anybody)
And one that NOBODY mentioned:
The Guess Who (Road Food was a terrific album! Can someone hand me my cane or walker?)

The thread's heading reads "best vocal harmonies in rock". If we're gonna relax the definition of rock, I'll add the great R & B and Girl Groups of the 1950's and 60's: The Ravens, Billy Ward & The Dominoes, The Clovers, The Drifters, The Platters, The Coasters, The Chantels (their "Maybe" is insanely great, as is Dave Edmunds' cover), The Shirelles, The Crystals, The Ronettes, The Staple Singers, The Persuasions, The Robins, The Swan Silvertones, dozens more. 

Wait! Why no mention of the Modernaires, The Four Freshmen, The Mills Brothers, The Ink Spots, The Meltones, or the Norman Luboff Choir? Oh, I forgot ... different era. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP-AaWNDLc0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74NfBFCx8Hg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS9U75YC-jA&list=RDmS9U75YC-jA&start_radio=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9jc0qNvVQk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88DlBgS28sc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVOYhvQBIyw

The Everly Brothers learned from The Louvin Brothers, John and Paul from Phil and Don. I haven't read through the whole thread, but did see many of the standards. They've probably been mentioned, but I have to say The Beatles were getting really good at 3-part (in the studio, anyway) during the Rubber Soul/Revolver era. The best harmony singing I've heard live (and I saw both The Beach Boys and The Beatles) was that of Jellyfish. Stunningly great!

The Hollies, Joni, The Monkees.

Fleet Foxes

The Be Good Tanyas
The Rosebuds

Before the Eagles before the Beach Boys...before. the Everly bros. There was Bill Monroe’s two part harmonies that set the standard. And no its not rock but its where the everly bros...beatles ..etc.  heard it first.

I agree with most of the suggestions above. Can't believe that Huey Lewis and the News have not been mentioned yet. Absolutely incredible harmonies in their music.

Agree with Simao. CSN and sometimes Y is rock harmony. I think one thing that makes them so good is that each one on their on vocal is extremely talented and then and maybe due to a large part of that they blend together beautifully. I also like the Beach Boys but to me not on the level of CSN and sometimes Y.

Beach Boys song "The Warmth of the Sun"..best group harmony
and the most hypnotizing vocals of all time..takes you to the vaults of musical heaven.

Seriously? CSN has only a few mentions? I mean, those guys define rock harmony. There's no other threeway that even comes close unless it has Ron Jeremy in it.

And Jon Anderson of Yes - when he layers his vocals, is awesome at harmonizing.

I heard the Beach Boys 3 times in person in the 60's, never a problem did I notice.

When I heard Crosby & Nash 40 years ago their vocal blend was amazing.

Sometimes bad monitor systems can really throw off a vocalist.
I have heard questionable live recordings of both the Beach Boys and especially CSN&Y.

at the peak of their powers,csn&y was unequaled.they sounded just as good in person as on recordings.a close second were the beach boys.their recordings were top shelf,but in person ,not quite as impressive.

+ one more for the Jayhawks! One of my favorites.

Indigo Girls, Bon Iver, Barnaby Bright, Kings of Convenience

+ 1 for The Association

Not a big Abba fan but their harmonies were fantastic.

alex chilton and chris bell of Big Star.

The Roches (three sisters) are the best harmonies I've heard. Kind of like the female Everly Brothers with the third sibling harmony. Urban folk and stunning.

Some of my favorite Beatles harmonies are from early performances, such as "This Boy" on the Ed Sullivan Show and
"To Know Her is to Love Her" from Live at the BBC. Great stuff.
And I forgot to mention Peter, Paul and Mary on my list.

Just a reminder, when you talk about Beatles harmony, most of the time you're talking about Lennon, McCartney AND Harrison. The three together were magic.

I meant this thread was a Zombie, you know, back from the dead.
I think I posted to this 5 years ago!

Association, Neville Bros., Miracles, Mamas & Papas, Beach Boys,Simon & Garfunkel, Everlys, Beatles, Byrds, Wilson/Philips (2nd gen. of BB's/M&P's, CS&N (first album).
Also Yes, Zombies, Queen.

Wow! This zombie lives. Some great music here. I watched the Eagles docu that has been around the past few weeks and boy it was a good one. Speaking of Zombies, it was nice to see Joe Walsh back from the dead and with a beautiful young daughter. Good for him. Like a lot of us, he probably would have done things differently if he knew he would live this long.
The Eagles were a crazy band with some huge personalities but they can sing harmony with the best of them with some very unconventional voices.
Has anyone mentioned Grateful Dead? I'm not a DH but I love 'em.
I think the Beach Boys are the gold standard for me. There were more than a few great harmonizers in the 50's and 60's though. Peter Paul am Mary maybe? Not my cup of tea but they sure are popular in New England.

Best hardly known band that is deserving, The Spring Standards. Check them ! Cheers,
Spencer

Oh I guess I missed them on the first page.

and one more that is conspicously missing and among the very best with some great instrumental AND vocal harmonies

Little River Band

The Association-Buckinghams-Cryan Shames

Beach Boys
Everly Brothers
Crosty Stills, Nash Everly Brothers
Pointer Sisters (Rock?)
Friends of Distinction (Rock?)
Association
Poco
New Riders of the Purple Sage

are among my a few of my favorites

And then there is Motown (little mentioned on this site, wonder why, no Motown fans?)

Marvin Gaye and Tami Terrell
The Four Tops
Temptations
Supremes
Martha and the Vandellas

Earth Wind and Fire

I really don't care what the genre, I love listening to groups harmonize.

Yup, it's been said before...... Crosby, Stills, and Nash.

+1 Jayhawks - good call slaw!

PETER AND GORDON

I think it would be appropriate the thread should begin and end with CSN.

Regards,

Beach Boys.

Second best is way back......

Jefferson Airplane/Starship. Vocals are smooth but still have a "rock" edge and bite to them.

Did anyone mention Supertramp?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VePVzbpD1U&feature=related

In order:

1) The Beach Boys - (although always the same sound)

2) The Eagles 9try the opening acapella track to the Long Road out of Eden CD)

3) The Beatles - (so many variations in countless recordings)

I,m setting here with eric clapton playing a LIVE set or close, completely blown away.Closed my eyes and front and center.EC UNPLUGGED on cd. A Usher demo cd has some great sounding vocals also

Pure Prairie League - who could ever forget Amy?

Dixie Chicks (suggested by my wife). Are any of you familiar with the accapella group "The Bobs" (of which no member is really named Bob)? They are very funny at times, quite amazing and will drive you nuts after too many plays in a row.

Slaw's mention of the Jayhawks reminded me to mention "The Reivers" AKA America's great lost rock band. They had some fantastic, albeit quirky, harmonies on each of their records.

Marty

Jawhawks "Tomorrow the Green Grass", " Rainy Day Music"

My Gosh, America didn't get a mention yet!!

From my perspective, no one mentioning Van Halen needs to apologize (and I'm f'ing old). Those high vocal harmonies by bassist Michael Anthony are wonderful and contribute to a signature sound. Don't know if that constitutes a "best" but sure is nice.

great stuff.

but let's hear it about music from _this_ century, too! ;-)

x2 Veruca Salt. Matthew Sweet. Dandy Warhols. Fountains of Wayne....

Lyle Lovett/Rickie Lee Jones on Joshua..., Both Trio Albums: Ronstadt/Parton/Harris, Bruce Cockburn/Lucinda Williams (Isn't That What Friends Are For?), the Streisand/Gibbs album, Mark Knopfler/Emmylou Harris (at times), Linda Ronstadt/Aaron Neville, K.D. Lang/Martino. Admittedly, none of these are long term pairings but the work they occasionally did together was wonderful.

Just some off the wall suggestions to add to the superb obvious choices already given.

Veruca Salt has my favorite female harmony vocals in rock.