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10.29pm
9 June 2020
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Among the Beatles, especially in their early recordings, whenever one of them sang lead vocals, backing vocals were usually performed by two of the others. When Paul sang lead, John and George backed him up. With John, it was Paul and George backing him up, whereas Paul and John did backing vocals when George (or Ringo) sang lead.
The Beatles had three strong singers in J, P and G. Their voices blended well, but as backing vocalists, I think Paul and John made the best combination. Among my favorites are “What Goes On ,” “With A Little Help From My Friends ,” and “I’m Happy Just To Dance With You .”
What do you all think?
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The Hole Got Fixed, Von BonteeGRANDFATHER: Why do you always use your left hand?
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12.14am
26 January 2017
Offline The best is John singing lead on Sexy Sadie with the background “Sexy Sadie she’s the latests and the greatest of them all… oooooh woooo ooooh”
I think Paul and George have slightly cleaner and precise vocals, whereas John has the most character. Not to say Paul and George can’t bring the soul or the emotion, I just think John has an extremely unique expression, in the way Dylan does.
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12.36am
24 June 2019
Offline I find that George’s voice is the most prevalent in backing vocals. John and Paul seem to blend better.
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4.09am
26 January 2017
Offline George’s harmonies are almost invisible. Often the counterplay between John and Paul is the easiest to hear, George completes their three part harmony so cleverly in ways that often go unnoticed
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6.22am
14 June 2016
Offline sir walter raleigh said
The best is John singing lead on Sexy Sadie with the background “Sexy Sadie she’s the latests and the greatest of them all… oooooh woooo ooooh”I think Paul and George have slightly cleaner and precise vocals, whereas John has the most character. Not to say Paul and George can’t bring the soul or the emotion, I just think John has an extremely unique expression, in the way Dylan does.
I really think John is one of the best vocalists of all time because he’s equally amazing during lead and harmony. His harmonies are really something else. The “loving yooooooooooooou” at the end of It’s Only Love, which I’m listening to right now, is like a dagger to my heart in how effective it is.
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6.06am
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27 November 2016
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My favourite is John and George together. Fantastic sound they got together – Paperback Writer , Another Girl , etc… Too bad it wasn’t a particularly common thing, now that I think about it. 
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6.20am
14 June 2016
Offline The Hole Got Fixed said
My favourite is John and George together. Fantastic sound they got together – Paperback Writer , Another Girl , etc… Too bad it wasn’t a particularly common thing, now that I think about it.
If I Needed Someone is a good collaboration.
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6.22am
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27 November 2016
Offline Oh yes, that might be one if my favourite tracks in terms of backing vocals! Good thinking.
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1.13pm
28 April 2020
Offline I always loved Paul and George’s backing vocals on ‘Help !’
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7 November 2010
Offline sir walter raleigh said
George’s harmonies are almost invisible. Often the counterplay between John and Paul is the easiest to hear, George completes their three part harmony so cleverly in ways that often go unnoticed
Couldn’t agree more! John and Paul give the highs and lows, George blends it all together perfectly. His part usually goes unnoticed because it was so cleverly written and well performed.
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5.42pm
14 June 2016
Offline alittlebitolder said
I always loved Paul and George’s backing vocals on ‘Help !’
The Night Before has excellent harmonising too.
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6.16pm
26 January 2017
Offline Timothy said
alittlebitolder said
I always loved Paul and George’s backing vocals on ‘Help !’
The Night Before has excellent harmonising too.
as well as an amazing lead performance from Paul.
George and John blended together so well. Here There And Everywhere : case and point.
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8.46pm
9 June 2020
Offline sir walter raleigh said
George’s harmonies are almost invisible. Often the counterplay between John and Paul is the easiest to hear, George completes their three part harmony so cleverly in ways that often go unnoticed
Agree. George’s job of singing the middle “invisible” harmony was not an easy one. By itself, the middle part is not easy to sing. It takes extreme concentration not to be thrown off by the other harmonies, especially if you are sharing one mic. Imagine singing the middle part of “Because “!
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PAUL: Well, don't be daft, I've got to.
GRANDFATHER: And I take a left-handed view of life, I've got to.
10.03am
14 June 2016
Offline alittlebitolder said
I always loved Paul and George’s backing vocals on ‘Help !’
You stole mine. Those are probably my favorite backing vocal moments in all of the Beatles’ catalog.
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4.10pm
14 June 2022
Offline One of my favorite : Paul and George’s backing vocals in I’m Only Sleeping : I love the part when Paul’s voice joins John’s voice : “Keepin’ an eye on the world going by my window”.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps : the voices of Paul and George together.
I really like the backing vocals of John and Paul in I’m Happy Just To Dance With You too.
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1 May 2011
Online The backing vocals to ‘Here, There And Everywhere ‘ are some of the most beautifully mesmerising in music. Paul’s vocal is one of the best he’s ever done but what John and George do makes it a fight with the ears on where to concentrate.
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