# Recommend songs featuring stand-out drumming **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 11, 2008, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-songs-featuring-stand-out-drumming/448902 "2008-05-11T08:44:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-songs-featuring-stand-out-drumming/448902/1 "2008-05-11T08:44:31Z")
I finally shelled out for some decent earbuds for my ipod. The biggest improvement is in the sound of the drums so I decided to make a playlist of songs that feature really good drumming. Not being a drummer though I’d appreciate some input from anyone but especially drummers; **what songs do you feel are rockin’ and also feature awesome drumming?** Right now I have a list consisting of some **Tool, Rush, Led Zeppelin, Pennywise** , and I’m going to pick up _Live at Leeds_ after reading about it in that other thread I’m too lazy to link to right now. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-songs-featuring-stand-out-drumming/448902/2 "2008-05-11T08:52:23Z")
Iron Butterfly In A Godda Da Vida Crank it to 11. Enjoy. ETA: Just thought of another Tusk by fleetwood Mac ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-songs-featuring-stand-out-drumming/448902/3 "2008-05-11T08:56:56Z")
Really not my style of music, but I have to admit that Dave Grohl (guest drummer for this particular song) really ties Queens of the Stone Age’s [No one knows](http://youtube.com/watch?v=YnyRUzgqj7k) together. You can just feel how heavily he’s hitting those drums! ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-songs-featuring-stand-out-drumming/448902/4 "2008-05-11T08:58:40Z")
[QUOTE=Rick] Iron Butterfly In A Godda Da Vida Crank it to 11. Enjoy. [/QUOTE] That’ll fit perfectly thanks. I came back in because after doing some searching through previous threads on drumming I’m surprised that Iain Paice of Deep Purple is so highly regarded. I used to listen to my father’s DP albums all the time when I was a kid, but I focused almost entirely on the guitars (guess what song I learned first). I’ll definitely have to re-visit them. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-songs-featuring-stand-out-drumming/448902/5 "2008-05-11T08:59:29Z")
[QUOTE=HongKongFooey] **what songs do you feel are rockin’ and also feature awesome drumming?** [/QUOTE] For something rockin’, I’d recommend the track _Easy Money_ by **King Crimson**. It features not one but two awesome percussionists: **Bill Bruford** and **Jamie Muir**. ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-songs-featuring-stand-out-drumming/448902/6 "2008-05-11T10:51:29Z")
I always found the drumming (Taylor Hawkins, IIRC) in Foo Fighters’ “Everlong” to be good. I also enjoyed Lori Barbero’s drumming in songs on the Babes in Toyland album _Fontanelle_. Finally, while I’ve never hard anyone call it good, I always find myself focusing on the drumming in The Surfari’s “Wipeout”-- it’s really basic, really fast, and really holds the song together. ---
**Author:** ![Bergomum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/34f0e0/32.png) [@Bergomum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bergomum)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-songs-featuring-stand-out-drumming/448902/7 "2008-05-11T11:27:58Z")
Probably not the era of ‘rockin’ that you’re looking for, but I find **Cher - _Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves_** has some particularly artful drumming. At least, enough that I looked up the drummer’s name and forget it right after, which is more than I usually do, so I guess it meets the ‘stand-out’ criterion. Not because of loudness or quantity, but there’s a quality in the timing and accentuation that makes you want to _listen_ to each beat of the drums, because of the drums. Skimming through the collection, there’s also good, prominent drumming in **Slade - _Far, Far Away_** , **Average White Band - _Pick Up The Pieces_** , **Three Dog Night - _Mama Told Me Not To Come_** , **Wilson Pickett - _Land Of A Thousand Dances_**. Also, while we’re talking about fast, overcaffeinated drumming, try **Tracey Ullman - _Breakaway_**. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-songs-featuring-stand-out-drumming/448902/8 "2008-05-11T11:44:17Z")
Not rocking but one of my all time favourite bits of drumming is the rolling jazzy backbeat on the **Mountain Goats** _New Monster Avenue_ from 2006’s _Get Lonely_. Lots of beautifully produced tones that sound so good through good headphones. ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-songs-featuring-stand-out-drumming/448902/9 "2008-05-11T12:17:29Z")
**Aja** by _Steely Dan_ features the excellent work of drummer **Steve Gadd** who also provides the distinct percussive backbone of \*Paul Simon’s \* **50 Ways to Leave Your Lover**. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-songs-featuring-stand-out-drumming/448902/10 "2008-05-11T12:26:46Z")
“Ronin” from _The Last Samurai_ soundtrack. (You didn’t actually specify what KIND of drumming. 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-songs-featuring-stand-out-drumming/448902/11 "2008-05-11T12:53:34Z")
Peter Gabriel - ‘The Rhythm of the Heat’ from the album ‘Security’ Off your beaten track, (but isn’t that why one asks for recommendations?) - Benny Goodman - ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’ from the album ‘Live at Carnegie Hall’ Gene Krupa is at his swingingest. Tony Williams Trio - ‘This Here’ from the album ‘Young at Heart’ Some of the most forceful, driving jazz drumming you’ll here. I’ll try to think of specific songs, but Kenny Clarke and Art Blakey are two of the best jazz drummers of the be-bop school and I recommend them highly. ---
**Author:** ![percussion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@percussion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percussion)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-songs-featuring-stand-out-drumming/448902/12 "2008-05-11T13:19:54Z")
Steely Dan - Aja and The Royal Scam anything Toto put out before 1991 Paul Simon - Rhythm of the Saints All of the Police albums ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-songs-featuring-stand-out-drumming/448902/13 "2008-05-11T13:51:35Z")
\*\*Problem Child \*\* by AC/DC featuring the one and only Phil Rudd on drums. - absolutely rock solid drumming - no fills - no fills whatsoever - and yet he does NOT sound like a metronome - he grooves the beat and drives it along, in the simplest way possible. They say that the way to tell if a chef is truly a good cook, ask them to make something super-simple with maybe 2 or 3 ingredients at most - THEN let’s see if they can make it special. That’s Phil Rudd’s drumming on Problem Child. - at the end of Angus’ solo, after much guitar drama, they are breaking it back down to the main, driving riff (D-A-D-G ah bliss) and Phil Rudd adds…maracas. Best damn maracas ever, dude. - Phil Rudd is my test for any drummer I might play with. If I ask what they think of Rudd and they’re like “chya, no way dude - he’s a simplistic moron!” then we’re pretty much done… Beyond that, there are plenty of amazing drums. You don’t mention R&B, but if you worship at the altar of Aretha, like all true believers must, you could have an entire master class of drumming listening the Bernard “Pretty” Purdie on Rock Steady. Syncopated high hat, a groove that makes you move, and the best, tight little fill at the end of the bridge you have ever heard… Plenty of other great suggestions in the thread - I LOVE Peter Gabriel’s use of drums. Lay Your Hands on Me is my standout… ---
**Author:** ![percussion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@percussion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percussion)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-songs-featuring-stand-out-drumming/448902/14 "2008-05-11T13:58:50Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] \*\*Problem Child \*\* by AC/DC featuring the one and only Phil Rudd on drums. - absolutely rock solid drumming - no fills - no fills whatsoever - and yet he does NOT sound like a metronome - he grooves the beat and drives it along, in the simplest way possible. They say that the way to tell if a chef is truly a good cook, ask them to make something super-simple with maybe 2 or 3 ingredients at most - THEN let’s see if they can make it special. That’s Phil Rudd’s drumming on Problem Child. - at the end of Angus’ solo, after much guitar drama, they are breaking it back down to the main, driving riff (D-A-D-G ah bliss) and Phil Rudd adds…maracas. Best damn maracas ever, dude. - Phil Rudd is my test for any drummer I might play with. If I ask what they think of Rudd and they’re like “chya, no way dude - he’s a simplistic moron!” then we’re pretty much done… Beyond that, there are plenty of amazing drums. You don’t mention R&B, but if you worship at the altar of Aretha, like all true believers must, you could have an entire master class of drumming listening the Bernard “Pretty” Purdie on Rock Steady. Syncopated high hat, a groove that makes you move, and the best, tight little fill at the end of the bridge you have ever heard… Plenty of other great suggestions in the thread - I LOVE Peter Gabriel’s use of drums. Lay Your Hands on Me is my standout… [/QUOTE] Problem child has fills, Hell, IT has a 4 bar break.. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-songs-featuring-stand-out-drumming/448902/15 "2008-05-11T15:14:14Z")
I’m not a drummer, but friends who are have always said that the drummer in the Dave Mathews Band is really good. (I would have offered Tool, but I see the OP already mentioned that band). ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-songs-featuring-stand-out-drumming/448902/16 "2008-05-11T15:25:06Z")
[QUOTE=percussion] Problem child has fills, Hell, IT has a 4 bar break.. [/QUOTE] Okay - there are spaces where it is mostly drums, but it is not like he’s trying to imitate Neil Peart or anything… More importantly - any issues with my basic point about Phil Rudd as a great, simple drummer? ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-songs-featuring-stand-out-drumming/448902/17 "2008-05-11T16:13:08Z")
Hm, how about anything with [Gene Krupa](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Krupa?) On [Emusic.com](http://Emusic.com) you can get Drum Boogie, but if you manage to rent Ball of Fire, he does an amazing version using a pair of wooden matches and a matchbox. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-songs-featuring-stand-out-drumming/448902/18 "2008-05-11T16:16:41Z")
_Radar Love_ by Golden Earring has a great drum solo in it. ---
**Author:** ![percussion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@percussion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percussion)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-songs-featuring-stand-out-drumming/448902/19 "2008-05-11T16:28:30Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] Okay - there are spaces where it is mostly drums, but it is not like he’s trying to imitate Neil Peart or anything… More importantly - any issues with my basic point about Phil Rudd as a great, simple drummer? [/QUOTE] none, use him to teach kids all the time in lessons its just a comment like - “no fills - no fills whatsoever” had to get stamped out, we are fighting ignorance after all!! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![diggleblop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-songs-featuring-stand-out-drumming/448902/20 "2008-05-11T16:30:00Z")
Slayer-Anything with Dave Lombardo on the set [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-songs-featuring-stand-out-drumming/448902.md?page=2)