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[Pasta Cheif]

That's right, 'Smile' should have been and very well could have been way bigger than Pet Sounds. Yet, Sunflower from 1970 has to be one of The BB's most overlooked works. I love that album all the way through, but it never gets the credit as the earlier 64-66 material.
   Anyhow, still it seems no one could pass the Beatles anyway. They were in a class all by themselves.  

I love those old Brooklyn songs, but then I heard them all the time growing up in NY and NJ

same here.

"joisey" boy

[Sondra]

(not counting the Dylan contribution which was also substantial)

Isn't that a bit of an understatement? I mean, I know we're not talking about Bob, but "was also substantial" doesn't quite cut it I think.

 

[Beatlemaniac64]

Don't get me wrong, I love the Beach Boys and think that their harmonising is great, but the Beatles' harmonies and voices touch me the most. I think that their voices couldn't go together more perfectly than they do, and I especially think that's true with John and Paul's voices. And those three part harmonies are fantastic. People who cover their songs just can't do it to make that special sound, but I'm sure this is true with the Beach Boys as well.

[alexis]

I think this is still on topic, sorry if off a bit but ...

I always have the hardest time picking out George's harmonies. I figure it's either because I'm bad at hearing middle harmonies, or George Martin mixed him really low volume, or it was so perfect that it blended in to sound like it was part of J or P's voice.

Anybody have any thoughts on that? I've been a bit frustrated for a LONG time because I can't hear him well!

[Mairi]

Have you seen professionals trying to do Beatles harmonies and succeed then?

Yes.

[fendertele]

i always thought georges and john voice was kinda similiar so i also have problems picking Georges voice out

[harihead]

I think it's partly because John and George's vocals disappear into each other that you get that unique "Beatles" sound. They really do have a similar sound, which is strange, because I think they sound unique as a lead vocalist.

One fun bit for me is watching John clown around with "I'm Down" at the Shea Stadium concert. He deliberately goofs his harmony, once singing it a full octave down, and other times forgetting to sing at all. So you can hear what George is singing because John is in happy land!

[Sondra]

Yes.

How about an example. I'd like to hear it. I'm not quite sure what the standards you're going by are, but Beatles harmonies are something very unique to that band so I'm actually very curious to hear how others actually did capture it. No sarcasm is inteneded here. I hope that's clear.

[Mairi]

Oh, you didn't come off as sarcastic. Don't worry about that, that's my department. Hehe.

Examples... well, there's the obvious tribute bands. I saw Abbey Road and they did the harmonies very well, especially those on Paperback Writer. My only complaint is that the accents were off.

Other than that, I tend to keep company with a lot of professional musicians (not like, world-famous of anything, but it is how they make their living) and we have the occasional jam session. They seem to pull off the Beatles harmonies quite well.

[alexis]

I think it's partly because John and George's vocals disappear into each other that you get that unique "Beatles" sound. They really do have a similar sound, which is strange, because I think they sound unique as a lead vocalist.

One fun bit for me is watching John clown around with "I'm Down" at the Shea Stadium concert. He deliberately goofs his harmony, once singing it a full octave down, and other times forgetting to sing at all. So you can hear what George is singing because John is in happy land!

Hi HH - This is one of my favorite things to watch/listen to also! I love it, first of all because they're having so much fun, and also because like you said it is almost like a clinic in their harmonies because of the way that John drops in and out.

[v8]

The Beatles, all the way.

No doubt in my mind. I muchhhh preferr the beatles. *luff <3<3<3*

Isn't that a bit of an understatement? I mean, I know we're not talking about Bob, but "was also substantial" doesn't quite cut it I think.

 

wasn't meant to demean Mr. Zimmerman. I've been a major Dylan devotee since 1965. We were talking about harmonies, not the lyrical superiority of the man from Hibbing.

[Hello Goodbye]

....But The Beach Boys had that unique classic sound that no-one can touch!

There's something very special about "sibling harmony."  The Everly Brothers is another example.

Love Phil and Don...(no accident Paul mentioned them in "Let 'Em In")

best harmonizing (IMO) belong to Beach Boys, Everly Bros. and Hollies.

[Mairi]

The Mamas and the Papas were also very good.