Jeff Porcaro

Be sure to check out the new biography on Jeff Porcaro's life and career. "It's about Time " by Robyn Flans is really well written, informative, and a book that is hard to put down once you start reading it
 
Whoa I don't know how I've only just seen this thread! Ok, some albums Jeff lovers should definitely own:

1) Randy Crawford, Secret Combination: a pretty cheesy album in places but has Jeff and Abe Laboriel throughout - 'You might need somebody' has an incredibly 'phat' shuffle groove.

2) Larry Carlton, Friends: again, Abe and Jeff. Bass and drums don't come much tighter. A very listenable 80's guitar album.

3) Dire Straits, On Every Street: 'Calling Elvis' features absolutely perfect rock drumming. You must hear this track!! The big single off the album was 'Heavy fuel'; crap song, great drumming, with a massive Jeff snare fill at the end.

4) TOTO, The Seventh One: features what I think is Jeff's best ever shuffle on the track 'These chains'. And a great Lukather solo at the end, but then every solo that guy plays is amazing.

5) TOTO, Kingdom of Desire: bad album, but the track 'How many times' has one of the greatest Jeff fills ever. You can hear it on Keith Kronin's 'Drum licks from hell' site - http://www.keithcronin.com/fromhell.html

6) It's already been mentioned but the Michael McDonald track 'I keep forgettin' is probably Jeff's finest moment.

And let's not forget Michael Jackson's 'Heal the world'...lmao :)

If you really want to see Jeff at his best though you've got to get the TOTO Live DVD, filmed in Paris in '92. Every time I watch it I'm flawed by his time; he never ever drags or speeds up, except for the odd deliberate moment in a fill. I've never heard a drummer who had such control over the tempo...possibly Jim Keltner, but he did it in a different way. I've always been a massive Jeff fan but my respect for him was brought to new levels when it was pointed out to me, or at least opined, when I was at LAMA that Jeff was the only drummer who never once dragged or sped up. Not even JR could claim that.
You might need somebody! Forgot that existed. Sublime!
 
Be sure to check out the new biography on Jeff Porcaro's life and career. "It's about Time " by Robyn Flans is really well written, informative, and a book that is hard to put down once you start reading it

Second this. I am about to read it AGAIN.......

The detailed listing of every known recording is worth the price of the book alone. He is so very missed as his style is similar to how I play as I was influenced by him early on without even realizing it.
 
A local guitar player who eventually replaced Joe Walsh and Ritchie Blackmore had put out some solo things..Tommy Bolin Teaser as well ad Private eyes. Check porcaro out on the tune teaser. It's Jeff like I hadn't heard him befor. I always dug his groove but when I heard him with Tommy Bolin on the Teaser CD I was surprised to hear Jeff on fusion things. He was outrageous.
 
His single handed 16ths on the hats are a work of art....such finesse and groove.
Fun fact. He was booked to do a big shuffle groove on a Steely Dan tune...cant remember which one. He was struggling in rehearsal so went outside, walked around the block came back and cut it in one take....amazing cause fast shuffles are a thing I fear the most too.
 
His single handed 16ths on the hats are a work of art....such finesse and groove.
Fun fact. He was booked to do a big shuffle groove on a Steely Dan tune...cant remember which one. He was struggling in rehearsal so went outside, walked around the block came back and cut it in one take....amazing cause fast shuffles are a thing I fear the most too.

That story is in the book as well......I believe that may have also been when he had a broken hand as well.....can't recall. I guess I DO have to read the book again. I wanna say it was "Black Friday" on Katy Lied.......but I have been wrong before. Twice. Possibly three times, but the third one is under review....
 
The greatest drummer of all time imo. There is absolutely no competition other than maybe the guy who recorded all the motown records.
 
Man, Porcaro was just phenomenal. I'm not saying "The Pretender" by Jackson Browne is the greatest song of all time, though it is a great song maybe JBs best, but Porcaro's performance on that number is absolutely flawless. Perfect touch, tone, tempo, dynamics, expression...just amazing. Happy Birthday Jeff...and thanks.

 
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