By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 - 12:56 pm:

OTHER THAN THE OOO'S AND AHH'S IN THE BACKGROUND,SOMETIMES THE PHRASING IS PRETTY GOOD{THE MAD LADS,SHOP AROUND-FOUND LOVE,FOUND LOVE,THE TEMPS,MY BABY,OH I LOVE MY BABY SO,BUT THE MOST UNIQUE BACKGROUND SINGING IS DONE ON THE MIRACLES{I LOVE YOU SECRETLY,WHILE BILLY GRIFFIN IS SAYING,WHEN WE MEET I FEEL GUILTY,THE OTHERS ARE SAYING,I'M FOREVER BLUE CAUSE I CAN'T HAVE YOU FOR MYSELF}COOL BACKGROUND SINGING.WHAT CHA GOT?

By STUBASS (206.135.204.2) on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 - 01:01 pm:

R&B: WHERE DO YOU KEEP COMING UP WITH THIS S#!T...HOWS ABOUT HAROLD MELVIN AND THE BLUE NOTES..."IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME BY NOW???...SMOOTH BACKGROUND VOCALS...LOTSA "OOO'S"!!!...STU

By R&B (138.238.41.215) on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 - 03:29 pm:

HEY STU,YOU KNOW ME,ALWAYS TRYIN TO OPEN UP A CAN OF FUN.NOW LET'S SEE WHAT CAN I COME UP WITH NEXT??????

By Nish (66.119.33.170) on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 - 03:37 pm:

R&B, you had to go and take my first pick! :-) I love the Miracles' background singing in that song.

I love the Originals' harmony in "Just To Keep You Satisfied,"

And my world class favorite from the Miracles' (I NEED SOME) MONEY - "Ching-a-ching-a-poppa!"

By Ralph Terrana (ralph) (209.240.198.62) on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 - 03:37 pm:

I have to say R&B, you're pretty creative. Thanks for all the thought provoking threads.

By Vickie (64.236.243.31) on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 - 03:42 pm:

I am partial to anything The Andantes have done, love those women!! I was so honored when Louvain sang to me over the phone last year..She still sounds great, those voices are ingrained in my heart and soul forever...What would ALL of those wondeful songs be without them...
Another untold wonderful story that needs to be told..The Andantes...

Vickie

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 - 03:45 pm:

Anything that features Nick Ashford and/or Valerie Simpson from the 1960s, that would include the following -
"I Dig You Baby" - Lorraine Ellison's original and Jerry Butler's versions (Valerie w/Melba Moore).
"You're All I Need To Get By" - Marvin & Tammi
"Sunny" - Bobby Hebb
ANYTHING RECORDED BY JAY & THE TECHNIQUES BETWEEN 1967 & 1969!
"Mr. Dream Merchant" - Jerry Butler
"I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" - Dee Dee Warwick
"When Love Slips Away" - Dee Dee Warwick

Honorable Mention - The Sweet Inspirations (who sang on God knows how many recordings!)

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Chancellor of Soul (66.207.40.18) on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 - 03:50 pm:

Definetly Darlene Love and the Blossoms are the
best background or session singers in music history !!!!!

Peace,
Mike Boone
(Chancellor of Soul)

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.116) on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 - 03:53 pm:

Keep 'em coming R&B,
how about Little Esther with The Dominoes and The Deacon moves in on Federal records.
or
The Fantastic Four on 'Ive got to have you' on Ric Tic records.
or
The O'Jays 'Lonely Drifter' on Imperial records
or,
so many mate,Iwould be here all night.
MEL.

By Nish (66.119.33.135) on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 - 04:00 pm:

MEL!!!! "The Deacon Moves In!" I JUST had a listening fixation to that song last night, I played it about 15-20 times consecutively. :-)

In general, I love how Clyde McPhatter's voice kind of leapt out of the Dominoes' harmony (He's extremely prominent in the ending of that very song!), and also, the very rich church harmony on "No Room" is pretty nice, too.

The Whispers' harmony on "It Only Hurts For A Little While" is good, any Five Stairsteps' or Miracles' or Four Tops (+Andantes) harmonies are peerless.

By stephanie (207.221.193.245) on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 - 10:01 pm:

ANYTHING RECORDED BY JAY & THE TECHNIQUES BETWEEN 1967 & 1969>>>>
Kev Go I agree!!!!

Mike Boone the Chancellor of Soul mentioned Darlene Love and the Blossoms. I was going to put anything that Johnny Rivers did in the sixties and then I saw your posting. I guess the
Chancelloress of soul was too late...LOL

NOW - I must say that those girls is it Merry Clayton and someone else? Help me gang who back up Joe Cocker all of the time should be given medals. I have NEVER heard Cocker tour or sing with bad backup I wonder if he hand picks them!!!

I must also say the Sweet Inspirations did the best backup I have ever heard on a record on Suspicious Minds by Elvis I like Elvis but IM sorry in this case its the backgrounds that make this record. Usually on a Four Tops record I give the utmost credit to the guys and Levi but on 7 Rooms of Gloom it goes to the Andantes!!!
WOW Backgrounds are powerful. I know when I hear come see about me by the Supremes my props go to Mary and Flo for making that one a hit. I wish they had released Mother Dear as a single because I liked the backgrounds on those too. Diana has a good lead voice and I know the lead sells the song but in the case of Come See About Me I think its the backgrounds..
Steph

By Eli (151.197.41.21) on Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 12:52 am:

The Flamingos... I only have eyes for you
Dion and the Belmonts... I wonder why
The Trammps/Coasters... Zing went the strings
The Monotones... Book of love
Marvin... Stubborn kind of fellow
The Tymes..So in love
Moonglows..Ten Commandments of love

By padgburyman (195.93.50.9) on Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 01:28 am:

Gladys Knight - Midnight Train to Georgia

By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 10:49 am:

Wow,
I have to say "yeah!" to my North Philly boys the Tymes on "So Much In Love" as well, and The Flamingoes "I Only Have Eyes For You." Here I thought that was only my favorite song, but mhc posted he loved it too on another thread.

How about those Pips on "Midnight Train to Georgia," especially the immortal line "I know you will!"

And the Andantes on all those Four Tops songs; I was busy singing the background to "Ask The Lonely" at the top of my lungs while driving up Woodward, flew right by a Royal Oak cop car and was pulled over.

By LTLFTC (12.210.76.205) on Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 10:56 am:

The background vocal arrangement for The Dells "The Love We Had Stays On my Mind" is really speical - subtle and powerful. The 'frontground' vocal tradeoffs are pretty sweet too.

SteveK

By Common (209.2.55.170) on Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 11:00 am:

Hello everyone,

The background on Irma Thomas' "Time Is On My Side" is powerful & heavenly!


Peace!

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 11:13 am:

Stephanie:
You're right as rain regarding the Johnny Rivers/Blossoms recordings, especially "Poor Side Of Town", "Baby I Need Your Loving" and "Goin' Back To Big Sur" (from his "Realization" album).

The Jay & the Techniques tunes featured Jay Proctor, Valerie Simpson, Nick Ashford & Melba Moore singing their lungs off (favorite tunes - "Apples Peaches Pumpkin Pie"[1967], "Don't Let It Go To Your Head [1968] & "The Singles Game" [1968]). The best marriage of New York City pop & Philly-based soul.

As for Merry Clayton, how about her kick-ass vocals on the Rolling Stones' "Gimmie Shelter." I met her several years ago & she had nothing but great things to say about her years in England, especially the time when Mick Jagger & Joe Cocker were fighting over who was going to get Merry to tour with them (Cocker won).

As for the Andantes - Alan Slutsky's next project should be a film about these unsung heroes of Motown! (Can I get a witness, y'all! ).

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By David Meikle (81.135.50.243) on Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 11:18 am:

"Baby a-go-go" Barbara McNair.

Nice thread R&B

David

By douglasm (68.113.15.28) on Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 11:22 am:

Might I add two. "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by the Tokens, and who ever sang the backup (especially the bass lines) on "Duke Of Earl". Let's throw in the counterplay between the backups and Mel Carter (?) on "Hold Me".

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 11:34 am:

More tunes with great background vocals:

"Love Is Blue/I Can Sing A Rainbow" - Dells

"Do You Wanna Dance" - Bette Midler (w/Cissy Houston & the Waters family)

ANY RECORD FEATURING CISSY HOUSTON AND THE SWEET INSPIRATIONS!

"On The Edge Of A Dream" - Minnie Riperton (w/Deniece Williams & Lani Groves singing backup and Stevie Wonder on piano; from the album - "Perfect Angel").

"Creepin'" - Stevie Wonder (Minnie Riperton sounding so sexy...)

"Have You Seen Her" - Chi-Lites (Eugene, Marshall, Robert & Creadel sounding so angelic, smooth & soulful!).

"Love Makes A Woman" - Barbara Acklin (the Chi-Lites singing backup).

"Let's Play House" - Tony Drake (the Diplomats providing the support).

"Last One Out Is Broken Hearted" - Temptations (from their "Lost & Found" CD; the Tempts AND the Andantes in the background, Paul Williams on lead).

"He'll Be Back" - the Players (actually, the Dells sang backup for the Players' lead vocalist).

"Stoned Soul Picnic" & "Dimension Five" - Fifth Dimension

"The Bells" - Laura Nyro & Labelle (soaring vocals; Laura, Patti, Nona & Sarah giving Freddie Gorman & the Originals a run for the money; MFSB providing the music, Gamble & Huff producing).

ANY RECORD BY THE FRIENDS OF DISTINCTION (Great jazz-flavored soulful backgrounds on all of their records!)

"Spinning Around (I Must Be Falling In Love)" - Main Ingredient

"Stop Look Listen (To Your Heart)" - Stylistics (Russell & Co. with a little help from Thom Bell's friends....)

FINALLY...
"I Only Have Eyes For You" - Flamingos ('nuff said!)

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By R&B (138.238.41.131) on Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 11:41 am:

THANKS GANG,THIS IS SO MUCH FUN AND CHALLENGING BECAUSE ALL I'M TRYING TO DO IS GET YOU TO DO IS THINK ABOUT SOMETHING MUSICALLY THAT MAYBE YOU DIDN'T NOTICE OR HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT IN AWHILE.

By Lynn Bruce (65.60.200.153) on Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 12:11 pm:

Speaking of vocal backgrounds: Once when Richard Pryor had his T.V. show he told the audience that he wanted to get Gladys Knight and the Pips but he didn't have enough money for the whole group.
He then introduced the Pips with out Gladys. He kept saying how sorry he was,but due to budgeting on his show,what could he do. The Pips started singing the backgroud to "Midnight Train to Georgia",going thru all the steps and all the harmony without Gladys. It was one of the funniest skits I've seen on his show as he came out after and thanked the Pips and kept saying how sorry he was but moneys tight.Great humor!!!
Lynn

By STUBASS (206.135.204.2) on Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 12:17 pm:

LYNN: I TOO SAW THAT SHOW...AND YOU'RE RIGHT...IT WAS HILARIOUS!!!...SOMEHOW...I WAS THINKING THAT IT WAS FLIP WILSON...BUT I'M SURE YOU'RE RIGHT...RICHARD PRYOR!!!...STU

By R&B (138.238.41.131) on Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 12:19 pm:

NOW LYNN,THAT'S WHAT I CALL GREAT COMEDY.THANKS FOR SHARING IT.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.85) on Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 12:51 pm:

Great stuff Lynn,

Heres 2 tracks that still blow me away regards great backing,
The Cavaliers
Hold to my Baby on RCA records and apart from the vocals,the horns and the tamborine(spelling?)are something else.

Also for some greatback-up, listen to the superb stomping,Superlatives on there Uptite records cut of 'I Still Love you'.
Mel.

By Nish (66.119.33.170) on Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 03:52 pm:

More -

"Hello Stranger" - The Dells' unique shoo-bop-shoo-bopping makes that song so memorable.
"My Baby-O" by the Five Dollars
"A Heart Like Mine" - Supremes
"Where Or When" by the Flamingos
"Time Takes Care Of Everything" - The Ravens
"Lights Are Low" - El Dorados
"I Do Love You" - Billy Stewart
ANY Skyliners' song.

By bill (195.93.48.156) on Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 04:19 pm:

Yep, a most interesting thread.

Leaving Here by Eddie Holland has those tough backing vocals that are my favourite.

Cheers,

Bill.

By Handsome (170.118.157.133) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 05:33 pm:

For me, The Sweet Inspirations particularly on Aretha Franklin's Drown in my own Tears, I'm Blue, & Sweet Inspiration.
The Andantes, particulary on Ask the Lonely-Four Tops, Love Child-Diana Ross & The Supremes, Ain't that Peculiar-Marvin Gaye.