Best drumming album of all time?

[Funky Crêpe]

Oh, ok. Thanks Bosphorus. Will do.

actually, i don't know why i quoted your comment! habit i guess! But ya, you should check it out, jeff ballard on drums, it's a very busy record

[Mattiadrummer]

...Sting Ten,Summoner's Tale Vinnie Colaiuta,for me one of the best album ever!!!...

[arthurk1]

Rush- All The Worlds A Stage

[BeatlesFan]

The Beatles - Revolver

[Lance England]

First off, I just wanted to say that I stumbled on this thread (I really cannot remmeber how) and it prompted me to sign up to the MB :)

I've been drumming about 28 years, and while I think in some regards I'm decent, other times I realize I suck compared to all the great drummers named here (and many more that probably haven't been mentioned).

I have to say that Moving Pictures was a watershed album for me, and every other drummer in my general age range. It's the album that made my brain explode for the first time. So, top to bottom, it's hard to beat based on the criteria put out in this question. But I did want to throw out some names for conversations sake.

"Condemed", Steve Shelton (Confessor) - Very unique approach to contructing parts for songs. The song condemed still blows me away every time I hear it. Listen to a stream here: http://www.confessorband.com/condemned.html

"Blizzard of Oz", Lee Kerslake (Ozzy) - One of the underrated rock drummers of our time. Played with power and feel.

"She", Raymond Weber (Harry Connick, Jr) - Tasty grooves throughout the entire album. I love his understated style.

"In Abstensia", Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree) - Fits in lots of interesting notes, but not to the point where he is overplaying. Standout track to me is "The Sound of Muzak". To me is sums up everything I love about Gavin's approach to drums.

"Stoner Witch", Dale C (Melvins) - A great, very unique drummer. Plays heavy, plays slow, creates very unique parts . Stand-out track s are "Revolve", "Roadbull", and "At The Stake"


Wow, I could go on. Ive been listening to many of the recomendations here. Just got turned on to the band Morphine and love it! That's the best part about these typoe discussions. Now, I hang my head in shame of not being familiar with Elvin Jones. It appears I must get educated right quick!

[toddbishop]

Every time this thread gets bumped something new pops into my head. This time it's Pat Metheny's Rejoicing, with Billy Higgins.

[ChrisCirino]

I know I'm a little late to this game but here's my take on it. These are the albums that I have consistently turned to for inspiration throughout the past 30 years.

Get the Knack, The Knack: The late great Bruce Gary
Led Zeppelin IV, Led Zeppelin: The late great John Bonham
Eat to the Beat, Blondie: Clem Burke
Back in Black, AC/DC: Phil Rudd
Crash and Burn, Pat Travers: Tommy Aldridge
Unleashed in the East, Judas Priest: Les Binks
Number of the Beast, Iron Maiden: Clive Burr
Exit Stage Left, Rush: Neil Peart
Spring Session M, Missing Persons: Terry Bozzio
Truth or Soul, Fishbone: Phillip "Fish" Fisher
Ghost of a Dog, Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians: Matt Chamberlain
Badmotorfinger, Soungarden: Matt Cameron
Train of Thought, Dream Theater: Mike Portnoy
Blast Tyrant, Clutch: Jean Paul Gaster

[Mandala]

Juturna - Circa Survive (Steve Clifford)
On Letting Go - Circa Survive (Steve Clifford)

Steve pretty much owns these albums. His drumming so technical, but far from over the top. It's just really nice to hear that precision, skill and feeling in a drummer.

Manipulator - The Fall Of Troy (Andrew Forsman)
Doppelganger - The Fall of Troy (Andrew Forsman)
Phantom on the Horizon - The Fall of Troy (Andrew Forsman

Very underrated. This guy supports two of the most technical musicians I've ever heard in modern music and pulls it off profoundly.

De-Loused in the Comatorium - The Mars Volta (Thomas Pridgen)

Need I say more?

Old World Underground - Metric (Joules Scott-Key)

Lays down very groovy beats.

[Ian Williams]

Great mentions, in addition:

In Rock, Fireball, Machine Head - Deep Purple

Sin After Sin, Stained Class, Hell Bent For Leather - Judas Priest

I, II, III - Led Zeppelin

Revolver, For Sale - The Beatles

Paranoid, Vol.4, Heaven and Hell - Black Sabbath

A day at the races, A night in the opera, News of the world - Queen

[Skulmoski]

Vinnie Colaiuta's playing on Joe's Garage has to be one of the more insane performances ever. Highlight is the blowing in 19/16 on Keep It Greasy.

An amazing album. God I miss Frankie.

GJS

[ryan462]

Not sure if it's been mentioned or not .. but Tool's 10,000 Days is definitely worth a listen - specifically tracks 7 "Lost Keys" through 10 "Right In Two". There is plenty of great Carey stuff on the rest of the album, and on the other albums, but for some reason those 4 songs in order are simply amazing for me.

Of course .. anything from Vinnie Calouita, Dennis Chambers, Gavin Harrison, Chad Sexton and Abe Cunningham - inspires all day long.

[Coldhardsteel]

Anything by Yes.

Bill Bruford is a monster.

[ChrisCirino]

De-Loused in the Comatorium - The Mars Volta (Thomas Pridgen)

Need I say more?




Thomas Pridgen doesn't play on "Deloused". The drummer is Jon Theodore.

[doctor_benway91]

Anything by Yes.

Bill Bruford is a monster.

I agree with Bruford. But I must say I think his most impressive and creative work was with King Crimson on Larks' Tongues in Aspic and Red.

Also anything with Jack Dejohnette. I especially like the new album he is on called Music We Are with John Patitucci and Danilo Perez good stuff!

[Mandala]

Thomas Pridgen doesn't play on "Deloused". The drummer is Jon Theodore.
Oh, my bad. I don't know much about the Mars Volta, I only recently started listening to them.
Thanks.

[Fuo]

Oh, my bad. I don't know much about the Mars Volta, I only recently started listening to them.
Thanks.

Pridgen plays on The Bedlam in Goliath and yea, he's badass.

[groovy]

Great thread, it brings back a lot of memories of albums I grew up listening to but haven't heard in their entirety in years.

My vote would go to Rush 2112. Moving Pictures is phenomenal too, it's a tough call.

Carter Beauford on Before These Crowded Streets is simply amazing.

Kill 'Em All, Metallica. Lars ripped on this one.

Bill Ward on Master of Reality, Black Sabbath.

Physical Graffiti, Led Zeppelin. Bonham rocks...

[Mandala]

Pridgen plays on The Bedlam in Goliath and yea, he's badass.
My buddy went to a clinic of his and apparently Pridgen knows little theoretical knowledge, he plays based mostly on feeling.
Feeling music is definitely the most important aspect of drumming with a band, but I still feel like theoretical knowledge is real important. It's interesting to see such a good drummer who goes against that.

[Fuo]

Aenima & Lateralus - Tool
2112 & Moving Pictures - Rush
The Bedlam in Goliath - The Mars Volta
In Absentia & Deadwing - Porcupine Tree
Focus - Cynic
Human - Death
Blind - Corrosion of Conformity

[bmilt]

My area of expertise is in extreme metal, so here are some albums with a corresponding youtube clip

Nile - anything featuring george kollias
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXINemV8E_0&feature=related

Quo Vadis - Day Into Night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wmr_evkO9k

Meshuggah - Obzen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7OFjw1cQCA

[KBadd]

Any album Buddy Rich played on.

[DrummerMax]

Avended Sevenfold - M.I.A.
Artic Monkeys - Brianstorm, When the sun goes down
Foo Fighters - Best of You
Cream - White Room
Sunny Day Real Estate - Seven

[Spinozalove]

John Coltrane - A Love Supreme...

...and anything else with Elvin Jones!

[chrisbowman]

Bonus Trivia Question: Do you know what the significance of the letters "YYZ" is in reference to the song?

YYZ is the Airport code for Toronto Pearson International. If you are ever flying into Toronto, check your luggage tag and it should say YYZ. The full official code is CYYZ, YYZ might be for the associated Navigational aid.

Not only am I a Drummer I am a Pilot as wel (from Toronto Area)l.

Favourite Drumming Album? Tyranny of Distance by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists and One Chord to Anothe by Sloan.

[I'm Just Gettin OK]

Too many choices but if I had to pick some......

Badmotorfinger by Soundgarden Best Song Jesus Christ Pose

Fireball by Deep Purple Fireball

Emerson Lake & Palmer self titled Best song Tank

Red by King Crimson best song One More Red Nightmare

Bitches Brew by Miles Davis Best Song Spanish Key

Frizzle Fry by Primus Best songs Spegetti Western and John The Fisherman

Anything By John Bonham, Buddy Rich, Vinnie Colatiua, Neil Peart, or Keith Moon.
Can't Get Better Than that

[joezack2003]

be interesting to see this album when it comes out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPHd2NyQ4TM

it has billy cobham, hossam ramzy, manu katchem joji hirota and ar rahman produced a couple of the tracks.....interesting combination of people

[HipshotPercussion]

TAKE FIVE - Dave Brubeck Quartet, Joe Morello, Drums

CANNONBALL ADDERLEY QUINTET IN SAN FRANCISCO - Cannonball Adderley, et al, Louis Hayes, Drums

Morello's work on the "Take Five" track is, of course, classic. Hayes' work on "This Here" is fascinating. He seems uncomfortable with the 3/4 time, loses it a couple of times, but comes back with a vengeance. The song really rocks, possibly as much because of his mistakes as in spite of them.

[daredrummer]

I'm gonna go with heavy weather by weather report. Stunning percussion, latin drumming, funk, fusion, and even some jazz! Outstanding album!

[ron pangborn]

Jimmy Cobb on "Kind Of Blue" by Miles Davis. Sure, you got to love Tony, Elvin, and Max and all the other jazz masters, but Cobb's simple, direct and beautifully grooving performance is a shining example of everything that's right about playing music.


Oh yea......, and Ringo on every Beatle recording.

[larryz]

Bonus Trivia Question: Do you know what the significance of the letters "YYZ" is in reference to the song?

YYZ is the Airport code for Toronto Pearson International. If you are ever flying into Toronto, check your luggage tag and it should say YYZ. The full official code is CYYZ, YYZ might be for the associated Navigational aid.

Not only am I a Drummer I am a Pilot as wel (from Toronto Area)l.

Favourite Drumming Album? Tyranny of Distance by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists and One Chord to Anothe by Sloan.

After all the above knowledge of Rush and you choose a non-Rush album??? :)

[larryz]

First to mind, Abbey Road. Ringo's drumming really went off the charts on this one.

[Mad About Drums]

Well this thread started in 2005, and has been re-visited periodicaly as more extraordinary drummers are shining on a specific album or because (that' my case) a newbie went down the archives to look for interesting reading.

I've read loads of posts, and there's definitely some masterpiece within this thread :-))

So here's my current best drumming album of all time:

Hiromi Trio Project album "Voice", Hiromi Uehara: Piano, Anthony Jackson: Bass, Simon Phillips: Drums.

Incredible music, Hiromi's jazzy material is utterly musical, modern, innovative and beautiful and the skills, feels and musicality of these three wonderful musicians are from another world such is the interaction and complicity between them throughout each and every songs in this album.

For me, it is by far my favourite recording of my long time "spiritual" drumming mentor, Simon Phillips. :-))

[keep it simple]

Well this thread started in 2005, and has been re-visited periodicaly as more extraordinary drummers are shining on a specific album or because (that' my case) a newbie went down the archives to look for interesting reading.

I've read loads of posts, and there's definitely some masterpiece within this thread :-))

So here's my current best drumming album of all time:

Hiromi Trio Project album "Voice", Hiromi Uehara: Piano, Anthony Jackson: Bass, Simon Phillips: Drums.

Incredible music, Hiromi's jazzy material is utterly musical, modern, innovative and beautiful and the skills, feels and musicality of these three wonderful musicians are from another world such is the interaction and complicity between them throughout each and every songs in this album.

For me, it is by far my favourite recording of my long time "spiritual" drumming mentor, Simon Phillips. :-))


I'd just like, for what it's worth, to add my vote to this. A musical musicians masterclass for the soul!

[Bo Eder]

How about Simple Pleasures by Bobby McFerrin? There's NO drums on it and you can feel the groove all over it ;)

[Mad About Drums]

How about Simple Pleasures by Bobby McFerrin? There's NO drums on it and you can feel the groove all over it ;)

Yes man, that's groooving! :-))

Have a listen guys http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2q0enNEkCc

[Bo Eder]

Yes man, that's groooving! :-))

Have a listen guys http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2q0enNEkCc

Ironic the guy won a grammy and there are no other musicians on the album - let alone drums, eh?

[syoshii]

"CLAY" by Yosuke Yamashita Trio (recorded live at Germany in 1974)
Yosuke Yamashita (p), Akira Sakata (as), Takeo Moriyama (ds)

Speed, intensity, power...just awesome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH6O0y5rlD4

[uniongoon]

I have not browsed the 8 pages here, two memorable ones for me:

Genesis Seconds Out, Chester Thompson make his mega kit sound so good, I think these are the original Bubinga Sonor's.

Magna Carta / Levin, Bozzio and Stevens. i never knew Billy Idol's guitar was this calibre of a player, Levin is great on everything he does, Terry Bozzio wrote the book on dynamic builds in this CD, one song starts with roto toms, but sounds like tabla, Stevens is playing a classical guitar piece, the song gently builds into this monster room filling barrage of music.

[Lunar Satellite Brian]

I suggest Rush - Moving Pictures. Neil Peart took drumming to new heights with this album. If you can listen to "YYZ" without tapping your feet, beating your hands on your legs, and nodding your head, you have no pulse.

Bonus Trivia Question: Do you know what the significance of the letters "YYZ" is in reference to the song?

Moving Pictures was the first album that popped into my mind as well.

And to the question, yyz is the letters that are typed out in morse code for airplanes landing in Toronto.

[Choasmaster]

im glad i kept reading till i found the answer to OP question, i didnt know that the YYZ stood for Torontos airport code or whatever, but also YYZ in morse code forms the rhythm for the beginning of the song?! thats awesome.

[mediocrefunkybeat]

'Foldings' by Tetuzi Akiyama, Toshimaru Nakamura, Mark Wastell and Taku Sigimoto.

You heard me right.

[sticks4drums]

'Foldings' by Tetuzi Akiyama, Toshimaru Nakamura, Mark Wastell and Taku Sigimoto.

You heard me right.
What is wrong with you, except for the obvious. :):P

[mediocrefunkybeat]

What is wrong with you, except for the obvious. :):P

I think the lack of drums is an excellent compositional choice. Knowing when not to use drums is an important as knowing when to use them.

[sticks4drums]

I think the lack of drums is an excellent compositional choice. Knowing when not to use drums is an important as knowing when to use them.
I know enough not even to argue about this stuff with you anymore. Carry on buddy. :)

[mediocrefunkybeat]

I know enough not even to argue about this stuff with you anymore. Carry on buddy. :)

I just look at things in a different way to most other people. I do enjoy being deliberately obtuse sometimes too, though!

[sticks4drums]

I just look at things in a different way to most other people. I do enjoy being deliberately obtuse sometimes too, though!
Hey man, be obtuse as you want to be. It is a free world on here. You have helped me learn that. Thanks man. :) Hope you are going to have a great Christmas.

[mediocrefunkybeat]

Do enjoy your Christmas too. I'm going to do my best to not get into any arguments in real life or otherwise!

[sticks4drums]

Do enjoy your Christmas too. I'm going to do my best to not get into any arguments in real life or otherwise!
Me also, buddy. Me also. That is a full time job for me. :( Us crazy guys have to stick together you know. :)

[Lunar Satellite Brian]

Me also, buddy. Me also. That is a full time job for me. :( Us crazy guys have to stick together you know. :)

I'm sorry are you two like ex's or something :P

[sticks4drums]

I'm sorry are you two like ex's or something :P
Why? You want to ask one of us out? :P

[uniongoon]

Be obtuse all you want, I am still acute.

[Swiss Matthias]

Serious Young Insects - On The Virg, Drummer: Virgil Donati

Drumming from a different planet!!

Secrets - Allan Holdsworth, Drummer: Vinnie Colaiuta

Drumming from another different planet.

EnRoute Live - John Scofield, Drummer: Bill Stewart

(I know it's been mentioned before in the thread

Also: Bill Stewart's solo records like Telepathy or Incandescence

[Err]

Nirvana - In Utero

Grohl is a beast on that

[Sjogras]

"Moonloop" by Porcupine Tree, from 1994. Drumming by Chris Maitland, which is just amazing, its really the definition of groove if you ask me!

[Taye-Dyed]

Many great drummers, bands and albums have been listed on this long ongoing thread. It has been educational for me as I checked out several I was not familiar with and even purchased a couple of albums on iTunes because of it.

It is a very hard choice but I would personally have to go with Deep Purple's Machine Head. In my formative years as a musician (though not yet a drummer), it made such an impression on me. Ian Paice's energy, agility and musicality caught my ear as a youngster back then and has stayed with me to this day.

[BillBachman]

There will be a million different answers dependent on philosophies, but I'll put in a tip to Moving Pictures.

[mandrew]

Jazz at the Philharmonic series records. Drum battles between Krupa and Rich!!!

[Brian]

Jim Gordon on Derek and the Dominos - Live at the Electric Factory 1970. :)

[Midnite Zephyr]

Slayer - Reign in Blood

This album is a cultural icon.