Which line-up had the best harmonies? (and other harmony-related questions)

[groupie2686]

What line-up do you think had the best harmonies? In a way, I think their best harmonies were with the original line-up. Don's and Randy's voices blended together very well, as did Glenn's and Bernie's. Their "my daddy was a handsome devil" a cappella bit is just gorgeous. To their credit, they were very good at replicating the sound with the different replacements over the years; their harmonies sounded beautiful in HFO. In other concerts in later years, however, I didn't think they were quite up to par with their earlier sound.

On a side note, I was listening to the HFO second night and in The Best of My Love, the higher voice sounded so much like Randy I could have sworn it was him, if I didn't know it wasn't. I assume it was Timothy, but their voices sound different to me. Was it another band member singing in falsetto? Also, did Timothy take over singing with Glenn in the second verse of Take It Easy? I know that was Randy's part, but it didn't sound like Timothy in the HFO version.

[Derk]

I agree that the original band had the "magical " sound. They were great throughout but that original sound was something special. I think Randy's ability to compliment the others, come in strong and then back off added some real uniqueness to their sound. I'm 54 this year, and maybe part of my fondness of the original 4, then 5, was the Greatest Hits Volume 1 cassette that my family burned through many time driving up into Canada. I have always thought their sound was great, even after Bernie and Randy left, but If I have to vote, I'd say the original 4.
On an off-topic subject, my In-laws just handed over their tickets to the 5/24 Spokane show as they had other plans they could not get out of. So personally I am thankful that Don got sick as this will be my first time ever to hear them live. I had tickets to the HOE a few years back and I had to give them away to a family member as I was ill, I really regret not getting to see Glenn before he passed.

[Ive always been a dreamer]

We have had similar discussions on the board numerous times and I can't pick a favorite vocal lineup of the band while Glenn was alive. I loved them all for different reasons.

[groupie2686]

My apologies, Dreamer, I didn't realize this had already been discussed. Feel free to merge or delete this thread, then.

[Ive always been a dreamer]

My apologies, Dreamer, I didn't realize this had already been discussed. Feel free to merge or delete this thread, then.

Groupie, my apologies for the delayed response, but this thread is fine as it is. There are several threads that are similar, but each has a little different twist on it. However, what I really meant to say is that with one of the Eagles signatures being their awesome harmonies, the topic, understandably, comes up often in board discussions.

Now, I seem to be the only one who feels this way, but I want to come to the defense of the harmonies of the later renditions of the band. I don't think the band abandoned their harmonies at all in later years. To me, Hotel California, The Long Run, and Long Road Out of Eden albums all had incredible harmonizing on them. I don't believe the band lost anything eitherr in terms of quantity or quality.

[YoungEaglesFan]

Groupie, my apologies for the delayed response, but this thread is fine as it is. There are several threads that are similar, but each has a little different twist on it. However, what I really meant to say is that with one of the Eagles signatures being their awesome harmonies, the topic, understandably, comes up often in board discussions.

Now, I seem to be the only one who feels this way, but I want to come to the defense of the harmonies of the later renditions of the band. I don't think the band abandoned their harmonies at all in later years. To me, Hotel California, The Long Run, and Long Road Out of Eden albums all had incredible harmonizing on them. I don't believe the band lost anything eitherr in terms of quantity or quality.

I feel that the harmonies are exceptional on Hotel California as well. I don’t think that on a practical level the band missed out on Bernie. The long run I feel wasn’t as good because although the harmonies are still fantastic, they seem less “full” and more of Glenn, Don, and Timothy doing all the work. I feel Timothy was a downgrade not because Timothy isn’t good, but I told Randy in a extremely high regard vocally. His type of voice is just hard to replicate. I don’t think Timothy made them necessarily worse, rather just less like the “Eagles sound”. Randy’s range and smoothness I think worked well with Glenn. Timothy it seems has worked better with Don vocally. I do think timothy was probably going to be the singer whose voice would age better. He was great on LROOE, and his harmonies on WITW are spectacular. I think he is a great aging act voice. Definitely a major asset to the band in the recent years

[Freypower]

I agree with both the last two posts, but when it comes down to it I had to choose the original four. Randy was a far superior singer than Joe & Bernie's harmonies more distinctive than Tim's.

[Delilah]

I agree that the original band had the "magical " sound. They were great throughout but that original sound was something special. I think Randy's ability to compliment the others, come in strong and then back off added some real uniqueness to their sound. I'm 54 this year, and maybe part of my fondness of the original 4, then 5, was the Greatest Hits Volume 1 cassette that my family burned through many time driving up into Canada. I have always thought their sound was great, even after Bernie and Randy left, but If I have to vote, I'd say the original 4.
On an off-topic subject, my In-laws just handed over their tickets to the 5/24 Spokane show as they had other plans they could not get out of. So personally I am thankful that Don got sick as this will be my first time ever to hear them live. I had tickets to the HOE a few years back and I had to give them away to a family member as I was ill, I really regret not getting to see Glenn before he passed.

Nice post, Derk. I especially agree with the bolded part, which I have seen expressed numerous times outside this board. Enjoy the concert!

Now, I seem to be the only one who feels this way, but I want to come to the defense of the harmonies of the later renditions of the band. I don't think the band abandoned their harmonies at all in later years. To me, Hotel California, The Long Run, and Long Road Out of Eden albums all had incredible harmonizing on them. I don't believe the band lost anything eitherr in terms of quantity or quality.

If you’re referring to my post, I didn’t say the band abandoned their harmonies; in fact I said they had nice harmonies later as well. It doesn’t seem the band emphasized the harmony stacking like they did in the earlier albums. Hotel California has some beautiful harmonies but the vocal arrangements had a bit of a different approach (and there’s nothing wrong with that).

I believe the harmony sound changed when Bernie left. Felder even said so in his book and that affected how the vocals were arranged. But they still had Randy at that point, and his voice added a particular flavor to the songs that helped give the band that Eagles sound. As others have said, after Randy left the band seemed to go to 3-part (and even 2-part) harmonies which is fine, but that didn’t distinguish them much from other bands who also had nice vocal harmonies. There is an exception here and there, like with Seven Bridges Road. Also, Waiting in the Weeds, which has a really lovely 2-part harmony with Don and Timothy that stands out from the rest of the later output, IMO.

[Freypower]

Nice post, Derk. I especially agree with the bolded part, which I have seen expressed numerous times outside this board. Enjoy the concert!



If you’re referring to my post, I didn’t say the band abandoned their harmonies; in fact I said they had nice harmonies later as well. It doesn’t seem the band emphasized the harmony stacking like they did in the earlier albums. Hotel California has some beautiful harmonies but the vocal arrangements had a bit of a different approach (and there’s nothing wrong with that).

I believe the harmony sound changed when Bernie left. Felder even said so in his book and that affected how the vocals were arranged. But they still had Randy at that point, and his voice added a particular flavor to the songs that helped give the band that Eagles sound. As others have said, after Randy left the band seemed to go to 3-part (and even 2-part) harmonies which is fine, but that didn’t distinguish them much from other bands who also had nice vocal harmonies. There is an exception here and there, like with Seven Bridges Road. Also, Waiting in the Weeds, which has a really lovely 2-part harmony with Don and Timothy that stands out from the rest of the later output, IMO.

I have had to explain this before. Glenn does sing harmony on WITW. He sings the lowest part.

[YoungEaglesFan]

I have had to explain this before. Glenn does sing harmony on WITW. He sings the lowest part.

I find him the hardest to hear on that song by a lot. Is his part quieter on purpose or just by the nature of the harmony?