Best BGV performances of all time?

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Snarl 12/8
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Best BGV performances of all time?

Post by Snarl 12/8 » Fri Apr 11, 2014 4:56 pm

Hey,

So, obviously, I just got done watching 20 Feet from Stardom and listening to the CD's I promptly ordered from Amazon after watching it and I'm a little underwhelmed by the background singers featured in the movie's solo offerings. That movie opened my ears to the importance of BG vox in so many of the songs I love (and hate) so dearly. The movie sure puts the song "Sweet Home Alabama" in a new context for me.

So, I thought I'd ask here, what are the best background vox records of all time in y'alls estimation? Specifically in the rock/funk arena. What are the best records that the ladies featured in the movie sing backup (not lead) on?

Thanks so much,
Carl Keil

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Post by vvv » Sat Apr 12, 2014 7:01 am

"Gimme Shelter",
"Tumblin' Dice",
"Walk on the Wild Side",
"Respect",
"Papa Was a Rolling Stone",
"Dance to the Music",
"End of the World As We Know It",
"Eminence Front",
"Rock & Roll Hoochie-Koo",
"Heat Treatment"
"Hungry Heart",
"1999" and "Li'l Red Corvette", etc.,

all come immediately to mind.

And yes, I know they is all old songs.

Also, so much of CSN and CSN&Y, as well as GP & Emmy Lou, the Motown acts ...
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Post by A.David.MacKinnon » Sat Apr 12, 2014 8:03 am

Pretty much everything in the classic soul/r&b era comes to mind.

I'd single out "Bring It On Home To Me" by Sam Cooke because Lou Rawls just kills it on that tune. Also, pretty much all of the Lee Dorsey/Allen Toussaint songs have really great call and response backing vocals.

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Post by Nick Sevilla » Fri Apr 18, 2014 8:37 am

Saying "Most Unexceptional"

Is all over the web.

The horror.... the horror...
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Post by Gregg Juke » Fri Apr 18, 2014 9:16 am

I agree with just about everything listed here so far. In the case of certain groups (Motown, Beatles, Beach Boys), or certain classic records (Gimme Shelter, Dark Side of the Moon), the vox are so integral it's hard to call them "backgrounds." That's why I usually categorize background vox and lead harmonies separately in producing and working with bands live.

But to answer your question, and since I've been in a roots reggae mood for a couple of months, I'll throw Peter and Bunny from the Wailers in there as well. They just blended so well and wrote/sang such perfect back-ups/harmonies. I like the I-Threes just fine, but the original Wailers smoke them (and Bunny, as a lead vocalist, was probably the most "American-sounding" soul singer of all three of them).

About this movie-- I've never heard of it. It sounds great; where is it available, Red Box, Netflix??

GJ
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Post by Snarl 12/8 » Fri Apr 18, 2014 5:40 pm

Gregg Juke wrote: About this movie-- I've never heard of it. It sounds great; where is it available, Red Box, Netflix??
I just streamed it off Netflix, within 15 minutes the rest of my family joined me and we just watched it together. I wasn't intending to watch the whole thing at that time even.

I gotta say, the movie gave me a craving for the drummer, bassist, horn section, percussionist, etc., version of the same movie. All those side "men" might have a compelling story, it seems to me.
Carl Keil

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Post by Scodiddly » Fri Apr 18, 2014 6:38 pm

Snarl 12/8 wrote:I gotta say, the movie gave me a craving for the drummer, bassist, horn section, percussionist, etc., version of the same movie. All those side "men" might have a compelling story, it seems to me.
http://www.standingintheshadowsofmotown.com/ 8)

That being said, the lady who sings backup on Jackson Browne's "Running on Empty" would definitely be in the running.

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Post by Gregg Juke » Sat May 03, 2014 8:23 pm

I just saw "20 feet from Stardom" last night. Carl, how could you be underwhelmed by Lisa Fisher??

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Post by ott0bot » Sat May 03, 2014 11:07 pm

John Oates. end of thread.

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Post by shedshrine » Sun May 04, 2014 6:45 am

I realize ott0bot just ended the thread, and maybe these aren't a match for the hallowed ground of Motown, but two rock tunes that get next level due to some killer background vox in my estimation would be "Knock Me Down" by RHCP and "Lightning Crashes" by Live. I'm sure John Oates would agree.

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Post by vvv » Sun May 04, 2014 7:25 am

Speaking of Lisa Fischer, just saw her on Austin City Limits with Pino Palladino onstage within, ...


... ready?


... Nine Inch Nails.
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Post by ott0bot » Sun May 04, 2014 9:34 am

^^
strange indeed.

I wonder if they feel odd singing the chorus on "Closer"

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Post by Snarl 12/8 » Sun May 04, 2014 4:12 pm

Gregg Juke wrote:I just saw "20 feet from Stardom" last night. Carl, how could you be underwhelmed by Lisa Fisher??

GJ
I was absolutely dazzled by her in the movie, but I found her solo record that I ordered from Amazon kindof unexciting. I was surprised by that.
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Post by shedshrine » Sun May 04, 2014 6:52 pm

Soloed "Gimme Shelter" vox / bgv and lots and lots of silence.

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Post by JGriffin » Tue May 06, 2014 10:41 pm

Lori and Stevie Nicks' backgrounds on "Edge of Seventeen" are fantastic.
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