I'll try again ! Jerry - you're mention of the bantam reminded me of Jake Thackeray 's Bantam Cock - Very Funny and definately NOT politically correct !
When I was involved with Fools Gold , we did straight three part harmony , with all sorts of instrumental backing ! I had always 'had a go' at harmonies in choruses sometimes even getting away with it . With the Gold , it was a different ball game as the other two members had been singing harmony for EVER ! In rehearsal there would be a cry of " WHOA !! You're on MY note there" - OK , whats the melody note ? YOUR Harmany is what ? OK , the chord means I want something like X to fit . - Sounds long winded , but as we all three had portable tape recorders , we had an aural reminder of each rehearsal , so it was easy for me to memorise the harmony I needed . A steep learning curve , but it DID work , and there were a lot worse semi pro groups on the local scene .