Female barbershop(?) music?
July 20, 2017 8:27 AM Subscribe
I like female vocal music with close harmonies such as the Andrews sisters, Wilson Phillips, and Abba. Who else will I like? Any and all genres, any and all time periods. Thank you!
Anonymous 4! Four-part female vocal group, used to be primarily medieval music but they've branched out in recent years into shape note/American hymnal type stuff, which I really really like. The albums Gloryland, American Angels and the recent civil war-era one are really good.
One of my favourites from Gloryland.
posted by terretu at 8:31 AM on July 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
One of my favourites from Gloryland.
posted by terretu at 8:31 AM on July 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
(I should add that I'm not religious in any way and most of what they sing is sacred music, but the harmonies are absolutely fantastic and their recordings are more about vocal performance than they are about religion.)
posted by terretu at 8:32 AM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by terretu at 8:32 AM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I also see you listed ABBA, which means you're not limiting your options to exclusively female vocalists, so along similar lines let me also recommend The Real Group, a mixed-gender a cappella quintet from Sweden.
posted by Faint of Butt at 8:35 AM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Faint of Butt at 8:35 AM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
First Aid Kit!
posted by padraigin at 8:40 AM on July 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by padraigin at 8:40 AM on July 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Red Molly! I saw them, they do a great live show.
posted by jessamyn at 8:41 AM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by jessamyn at 8:41 AM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Aw, heck. I'll also give a plug for my friends' band: Misbehavin' Maidens. Nerdy, dirty, feminist filk. Not safe for work.
posted by Faint of Butt at 8:46 AM on July 20, 2017
posted by Faint of Butt at 8:46 AM on July 20, 2017
The Sant Andreu Jazz Band's rendition of How High the Moon is brilliant.
I think you'll also like the Boswell Sisters.
posted by mammoth at 8:47 AM on July 20, 2017
I think you'll also like the Boswell Sisters.
posted by mammoth at 8:47 AM on July 20, 2017
Top of mind, The Chordettes! Famous for Lollipop and Mr. Sandman, but have so much more in their catalog. The Mcgarrigle sisters. The Be Good Tanyas. There's an excellent bluegrass compilation out there called "O, Sister" with some great stuff on it.
posted by pazazygeek at 8:47 AM on July 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by pazazygeek at 8:47 AM on July 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Delerium!
Ambient music with a variety of female vocalists. Here's one featuring The Mediæval Bæbes . And even the songs featuring 1 vocalist generally have multipart harmonies.
posted by A hidden well at 8:51 AM on July 20, 2017
Ambient music with a variety of female vocalists. Here's one featuring The Mediæval Bæbes . And even the songs featuring 1 vocalist generally have multipart harmonies.
posted by A hidden well at 8:51 AM on July 20, 2017
The Kossoy Sisters - they're best known for the version of I'll Fly Away that was featured on-screen in O Brother, Where Art Thou but the whole album is wonderful.
posted by Funeral march of an old jawbone at 8:53 AM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Funeral march of an old jawbone at 8:53 AM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
You may like the Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins album Rabbit Fur Coat.
posted by misskaz at 8:53 AM on July 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by misskaz at 8:53 AM on July 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Rising Appalachia. I especially love their song "Across the Blue Ridge Mountains"
posted by Sassyfras at 8:54 AM on July 20, 2017
posted by Sassyfras at 8:54 AM on July 20, 2017
Indigo Girls
posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:01 AM on July 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:01 AM on July 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
The good lovelies!
(Folk rock)
(Bonus points: Canadian folk rock)
posted by St. Peepsburg at 9:04 AM on July 20, 2017
(Folk rock)
(Bonus points: Canadian folk rock)
posted by St. Peepsburg at 9:04 AM on July 20, 2017
For something a little different, try The Roches, example 1; example 2.
posted by gudrun at 9:06 AM on July 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by gudrun at 9:06 AM on July 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Off the top of my head...
Wang Dang Doodle, by the LaDell Sisters is pretty darn catchy (not to be confused with the excellent and famous song with the same title by the Pointer Sisters).
The Staple Singers are absolutely amazing (like ABBA, there are male vocals in there, but it's 3 to 1 in favor of the women, so I'm including them). Seriously, I love them so much.
I'm sure there's other funk groups that should be coming to mind, but Stargard is great (their hit Which Way is Up is super catchy, and was the theme of a Richard Pryor movie with the same name -- it also has one of the best bass lines ever).
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 9:15 AM on July 20, 2017
Wang Dang Doodle, by the LaDell Sisters is pretty darn catchy (not to be confused with the excellent and famous song with the same title by the Pointer Sisters).
The Staple Singers are absolutely amazing (like ABBA, there are male vocals in there, but it's 3 to 1 in favor of the women, so I'm including them). Seriously, I love them so much.
I'm sure there's other funk groups that should be coming to mind, but Stargard is great (their hit Which Way is Up is super catchy, and was the theme of a Richard Pryor movie with the same name -- it also has one of the best bass lines ever).
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 9:15 AM on July 20, 2017
The Queen Sisters Band
The Secret Sisters
posted by FergieBelle at 9:27 AM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
The Secret Sisters
posted by FergieBelle at 9:27 AM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
How about the Pointer Sisters? I always loved them.
posted by MovableBookLady at 9:32 AM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by MovableBookLady at 9:32 AM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh yeah, there's some great 60s girl groups with close harmonies! But you usually have to find them on a compilation, because a lot of them never released more than a few singles. Fortunately, there are some great girl group compilations out there, like Girls in the Garage, Girls with Guitars, and Destroy That Boy!.
Some choice personal favorites:
Kim and Grim
The She's
Goldie and the Gingerbreads
The Models (who sound like they recorded their song at the bottom of a well)
The She Trinity (their bass player was Pauline Moran, who went on to play Miss Lemon in Poirot!)
(I originally included this song by Denise and Co., but I realized there isn't any close harmony in it -- whoops).
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 9:45 AM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Some choice personal favorites:
Kim and Grim
The She's
Goldie and the Gingerbreads
The Models (who sound like they recorded their song at the bottom of a well)
The She Trinity (their bass player was Pauline Moran, who went on to play Miss Lemon in Poirot!)
(I originally included this song by Denise and Co., but I realized there isn't any close harmony in it -- whoops).
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 9:45 AM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Le Mystere des voix Bulgares, the Bulgarian Women's Choir.
And if ABBA, then Manhattan Transfer.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 9:54 AM on July 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
And if ABBA, then Manhattan Transfer.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 9:54 AM on July 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
The term 'Sweet Adelines' might help you in your searching. It's the female variant of 'Barbershop Quartets'.
posted by PorcineWithMe at 10:07 AM on July 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by PorcineWithMe at 10:07 AM on July 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Sisters Katrina and Nerissa Nields had a great folk band with really cool harmonies. Try their live rendition of So Lonesome I could cry for a flavor
posted by rmless at 10:32 AM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by rmless at 10:32 AM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Haim! I think of them as the Wilson Phillips of our current time. Start with "Falling"
posted by sestaaak at 10:39 AM on July 20, 2017
posted by sestaaak at 10:39 AM on July 20, 2017
The Wailin' Jennys (more Canadian folk!)
posted by somanyamys at 10:42 AM on July 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by somanyamys at 10:42 AM on July 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Oh my! You'll love The Henry Girls! They also record as The Henry Sisters.
posted by workerant at 10:45 AM on July 20, 2017
posted by workerant at 10:45 AM on July 20, 2017
Triplettes of Belleville soundtrack has a lot of female harmonies.
Dolly, Linda and Emmylou have recorded a lot together
The Dixie Chicks have some nice harmonies
The "O Brother, Where Art Thou" soundtrack has some nice stuff.
The Lennon Sisters
posted by MexicanYenta at 10:47 AM on July 20, 2017
Dolly, Linda and Emmylou have recorded a lot together
The Dixie Chicks have some nice harmonies
The "O Brother, Where Art Thou" soundtrack has some nice stuff.
The Lennon Sisters
posted by MexicanYenta at 10:47 AM on July 20, 2017
2nding Indigo Girls. Their songs have beautiful harmonies and are really fun to sing along to.
posted by TheLateGreatAbrahamLincoln at 10:47 AM on July 20, 2017
posted by TheLateGreatAbrahamLincoln at 10:47 AM on July 20, 2017
Response by poster: These are all fantastic, thank you!
I have that Kossoy sisters CD with "I'll Fly Away"; Irene was the wife of Tony Saletan, whom I grew up with on PBS.
Enjoyed Manhattan Transfer, too. Gotta seriously start looking into 60s girl groups.
Keep the suggestions coming!
posted by Melismata at 10:48 AM on July 20, 2017
I have that Kossoy sisters CD with "I'll Fly Away"; Irene was the wife of Tony Saletan, whom I grew up with on PBS.
Enjoyed Manhattan Transfer, too. Gotta seriously start looking into 60s girl groups.
Keep the suggestions coming!
posted by Melismata at 10:48 AM on July 20, 2017
Oh man, how has no one mentioned The Wild Reeds yet? Get on it, y'all!
posted by rachaelfaith at 10:57 AM on July 20, 2017
posted by rachaelfaith at 10:57 AM on July 20, 2017
For Christmas The Roches Christmas Album
Erato, Call Your Girlfriend
posted by BoscosMom at 12:29 PM on July 20, 2017
Erato, Call Your Girlfriend
posted by BoscosMom at 12:29 PM on July 20, 2017
Why not go back to the source, the organization for female barbershop singing in the US, the Sweet Adelines? Their youtube channel is here, they have lots of videos of recent choruses in competition.
Also: yay for female barbershop! (I'm in a female barbershop choir). It's so much fun and (IMVHO) sounds awesome! :)
posted by low_horrible_immoral at 12:45 PM on July 20, 2017
Also: yay for female barbershop! (I'm in a female barbershop choir). It's so much fun and (IMVHO) sounds awesome! :)
posted by low_horrible_immoral at 12:45 PM on July 20, 2017
En Vogue! (I'd link but I'm at work.) They even actually did a cover of the Andrews Sisters Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. (A more R&B leaning one, but the harmonies were there.)
posted by BlueBear at 12:55 PM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by BlueBear at 12:55 PM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Just thought of the Ditty Bops. Love them! They have a folksy style, with ukuleles and dulcimers.
posted by BlueBear at 1:00 PM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by BlueBear at 1:00 PM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Also came here to recommend En Vogue. Man whatever happened to them?
posted by Brittanie at 1:56 PM on July 20, 2017
posted by Brittanie at 1:56 PM on July 20, 2017
The Like (last album more so than any others)
The Bangles
posted by ApathyGirl at 2:29 PM on July 20, 2017
The Bangles
posted by ApathyGirl at 2:29 PM on July 20, 2017
Speaking of Call Your Girlfriend - Lennon and Maisy might be something you like. Also Hard Times (come again no more) and Ho Hey.
posted by you must supply a verb at 3:07 PM on July 20, 2017
posted by you must supply a verb at 3:07 PM on July 20, 2017
The dezurick sisters
posted by WeekendJen at 4:01 PM on July 20, 2017
posted by WeekendJen at 4:01 PM on July 20, 2017
The Chenille Sisters are fabulous and silly - try Regretting what I said
2nding Wailin' Jennys and the McGarrigle Sisters - I recently heard a French-language folk song performed by the McGarrigle sisters which I loved but I can't recall the name of it, so here's something else.
Ma Muse, maybe.
Female barbershop is totally a thing - that's just one thing that came up when I googled "female barbershop."
I love close harmonies so I'll be digging through the goldmine that is this thread. Thanks for posting!
posted by bunderful at 7:42 PM on July 20, 2017
2nding Wailin' Jennys and the McGarrigle Sisters - I recently heard a French-language folk song performed by the McGarrigle sisters which I loved but I can't recall the name of it, so here's something else.
Ma Muse, maybe.
Female barbershop is totally a thing - that's just one thing that came up when I googled "female barbershop."
I love close harmonies so I'll be digging through the goldmine that is this thread. Thanks for posting!
posted by bunderful at 7:42 PM on July 20, 2017
Rose Melberg writes close harmonies a lot, both in her solo work (e.g., “Homemade Ship”) as well as in the many bands she’s been in (The Softies, Brave Irene, Knife Pleats, etc.).
posted by D.C. at 12:19 AM on July 21, 2017
posted by D.C. at 12:19 AM on July 21, 2017
Response by poster: Love all this, again thank you! Haven't started looking much at the above yet (yay weekend!), but are there any standouts in the classical genre too?
posted by Melismata at 10:22 AM on July 21, 2017
posted by Melismata at 10:22 AM on July 21, 2017
I'm really bad with definitions. Hope this counts as close harmony but the 60's girl group The Teardops are a deeply underrated group:
1. I Love You
2. You Won't Be There
posted by ihaveyourfoot at 6:07 AM on July 24, 2017
1. I Love You
2. You Won't Be There
posted by ihaveyourfoot at 6:07 AM on July 24, 2017
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posted by Faint of Butt at 8:30 AM on July 20, 2017 [4 favorites]