Interestingly, the program paid lip service to Herb Pederson, who arranged the harmonies. I became aware of Herb when he was mentioned by Dale Britain (Big Sciota on Mojo) who thought that Herb might be the best in the world, and he has a point. Incidentally, Dale's Homecoming is a wonderful album. Just yesterday, I was listening to some Proclaimers' stuff, and once again, was blown away by the harmony, so I was already warmed up for Trio's.I came across Herb again when I started listening, courtesy of John Jorgenson, to The Desert Rose Band. Stunning harmonies there, and again from Herb in Jorgenson's Bluegrass Band.
Going back to the first ever Old Grey Whistle Test, Heads Hands And Feet were on it and I bought their eponymous debut next morning. Pat Donaldson and Jerry Donahue, who along with the guys in HH&F had been the house band at Advision Studios, were actually on HH&F's first album which was shelved when they left to join Sandy Denny in Fotheringay. Albert Lee (Who played on Trio's first album - possibly the second, I don't know, was also asked but declined. ANYWAY, Donahue arranged the backing vocals for HH&F's "Midnight Choir" i.e. anyone who was gigging in London on a studio night. I was blown away by this, but never really knew how good it was until I assembled my current hi fi 4 or 5 years ago. As an aside, I hate
to pish on you hipsters' parade, but vinyl just can't do justice to this stuff. Get a hold of the HH&F albums and listen to the backing vocals , stunning stuff, just stunning.Another graduate of the Joe Meek/HH&F school of harmony is Chas Hodges, long one of my heroes. As well as being a session bass player, a player of guitar, banjo, fiddle and piano, is a fabulous harmonist - check out the harmonies on Chas & Dave's stuff - intricate phrasing which sounds throwaway which in my book equals genius.
So! Let's be having your fave harmony clips and stories.
