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http://rocksoff.org/cgi-bin/messageboard/YaBB.pl GENERAL >> MAIN BOARD >> Who's the best rock and roll background vocalist? http://rocksoff.org/cgi-bin/messageboard/YaBB.pl?num=1287696167 Message started by real wild child on Oct 21^st, 2010 at 4:22pm

Title: Who's the best rock and roll background vocalist?
Post by real wild child on Oct 21^st, 2010 at 4:22pm

Listening to the early Stones recording 64-67 I notice again the great background vocals Keith did.In my opinion he had a better voice than Mick.Now I love his Jack Daniel's voice but those harmonies Keith did are priceless,so the question is who's the best rock and roll background vocalist? Michael Anthony? Roger Taylor? Duff Mckagan? Pete Townshend? :wtf3

Title: Re: Who's the best rock and roll background vocali
Post by Gazza on Oct 21^st, 2010 at 4:35pm

Bowie.

Title: Re: Who's the best rock and roll background vocali
Post by uncleson on Oct 21^st, 2010 at 5:03pm

Keith.

Title: Re: Who's the best rock and roll background vocali
Post by The Wick on Oct 21^st, 2010 at 5:09pm

Matt Clifford

Title: Re: Who's the best rock and roll background vocali
Post by mojoman on Oct 21^st, 2010 at 5:18pm

Linda McCartney

Title: Re: Who's the best rock and roll background vocali
Post by Heart Of Stone on Oct 21^st, 2010 at 5:27pm

The Sweet Inspirations-Elvis.
Enthwistle & Townshend-Who.
Bowie (on his own recordings, listen to Golden Years)
The Worst-Yoko Ono.

Title: Re: Who's the best rock and roll background vocali
Post by Paranoid Android on Oct 21^st, 2010 at 5:32pm

Lennon and McCartney worked so well together when supporting the other.
Bowie...though, really comes to mind...working w/ Queen...Lou Reed...Bing Crosby and Tin Machine...and others...
very distinctive and noticable w/o being in your face
Mick Jones also...wonderful as Strummer took the leads

EDIT: I should have added Bowie to the list of entertainers he has done back up for......Gazza...Scary Monsters...excellent citing.

Title: Re: Who's the best rock and roll background vocali
Post by Gazza on Oct 21^st, 2010 at 5:33pm

Heart Of Stone wrote on Oct 21^st, 2010 at 5:27pm:

The Sweet Inspirations-Elvis.
Enthwistle & Townshend-Who.
Bowie (on his own recordings, listen to Golden Years)
The Worst-Yoko Ono.

You're spot on about Bowie on his own recordings, although the entire Scary Monsters album would be the one I'd choose to highlight.

Title: Re: Who's the best rock and roll background vocali
Post by uncleson on Oct 21^st, 2010 at 5:38pm

I also enjoy Dave Davies' vocals.

Title: Re: Who's the best rock and roll background vocali
Post by Joey on Oct 21^st, 2010 at 5:42pm

" Linda McCartney "

!!!!!!!

Title: Re: Who's the best rock and roll background vocali
Post by left shoe shuffle on Oct 21^st, 2010 at 6:15pm

Love me some harmony/background vox...

Aside from 'Exile' Keef and a few others mentioned above:
Rick Danko, Levon Helm and Richard Manuel (The Band) - stellar support to whomever was singing lead.
Billy Bremner, Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe (Rockpile) - see ^.
Steve Van Zandt - a beautifully awful howl.
Howie Epstein - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers still miss his subtlety. RIP.
Stan Lynch - another great Heartbreaker voice gone missing.
Bruce Foxton - as essential to The Jam's vocal sound as Paul Weller, imo.
Noel Gallagher - nice counterpoint to Liam's whine.
Anthony Crawford - killer high harmonies with Neil Young's International Harvesters and Neil's most recent road band.
Buddy Miller - great player and singer, he shone with Emmylou Harris & Spyboy. Not too shabby on his own or with wife Julie, either.
Emmylou - 'nuff said.

Title: Re: Who's the best rock and roll background vocali
Post by Starbuck on Oct 21^st, 2010 at 10:48pm

i would second shoey's vote for emmylou harris....i've been spinning me some iris dement lately, and her range is so high she could break a wine glass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_xrghp_G30

matthew sweet's own back up vox on his "girlfriend" album, IMHO, are the best back up vox i've ever heard on a rock album. wall o sound. wall. o. sound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrzvOEcizRo

Title: Re: Who's the best rock and roll background vocali
Post by Mel Belli on Oct 21^st, 2010 at 10:56pm

No love for Mike Mills?

Title: Re: Who's the best rock and roll background vocali
Post by gimmekeef on Oct 22^nd, 2010 at 8:03am

There are many great ones...but hands down the worst was Donna Godchaux with the Dead...freakin brutal...I stay away from any Dead soundboards from her era for sanity's sake.

Title: Re: Who's the best rock and roll background vocali
Post by mojoman on Oct 22^nd, 2010 at 8:22am

gimmekeef wrote on Oct 22^nd, 2010 at 8:03am:

There are many great ones...but hands down the worst was Donna Godchaux with the Dead...freakin brutal...I stay away from any Dead soundboards from her era for sanity's sake.

caterwauling........still the 72-74 years are amazing.......its mostly instrumental. was listening to 10/19/73 the other night and that just is about as good as it gets

Title: Re: Who's the best rock and roll background vocali
Post by andrews27 on Oct 22^nd, 2010 at 8:23am

After Keith - Parsons & Hillman / Hillman & Parsons

Title: Re: Who's the best rock and roll background vocali
Post by Paranoid Android on Oct 22^nd, 2010 at 7:31pm

gimmekeef wrote on Oct 22^nd, 2010 at 8:03am:

There are many great ones...but hands down the worst was Donna Godchaux with the Dead...freakin brutal...I stay away from any Dead soundboards from her era for sanity's sake.

I almost posted the same thing...Many-a-Scarlet Fires were totally ruined by her...or at least the jammin' transitions...

Title: Re: Who's the best rock and roll background vocali
Post by Zack on Oct 23^rd, 2010 at 6:40am

Sixteen replies and no Beach Boys? :Youmakeagrownmancrylikejoey

(Amen on Donna Jean)

Title: Re: Who's the best rock and roll background vocali
Post by Heart Of Stone on Oct 23^rd, 2010 at 6:45am

The Hollies & CSN&Y come to mind for vocals.

Title: Re: Who's the best rock and roll background vocali
Post by gimmekeef on Oct 27^th, 2010 at 8:51am

Beach Boys had some great harmony but I though Mamas and Poppas kicked it up even further.

Title: Re: Who's the best rock and roll background vocali
Post by steel driving hammer on Oct 27^th, 2010 at 9:06am

Bernard and Blondie.