BACKBEATS: A HISTORY OF ROCK AND ROLL IN FIFTEEN DRUMMERS By John Lingan and MAX WEINBERG PRESENTS: LET THERE BE DRUMS (VOLUMES 1-3)

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John Lingan provides a guided tour to the best drummers in Rock ‘n Roll. Hal Blaine played drums for the legendary Phil Spector. “Spector loved ear-bleeding volume, but he also wanted his songs to sound perfect on a tinny transistor speaker… The “Be My Baby” beat became instantly recognizable and endless borrowed… His collaborations with Spector made Hal Blaine a new kind of studio-bound celebrity.” (p. 26-27)

“As the go-to drummer for Stax in its glory era, Al Jackson, Jr. similarly played on one soul triumph after another– “Soul Man,” “In the Midnight Hour,” “Walking’ the Dog,” “Born Under a Bad Sign”–and his approach helped distinguish Memphis’s sonic identity from Detroit’s. (p. 41)

I was surprised to learn Ringo Starr was a left-handed drummer, which explains some of the unique drumming that helped The Beatles to craft their sound. “Tumbling Dice,” for example, begins with a quick guitar lick, then Charlie Watts nails two rifle-shot snare hits and the full band slams into a soft, strutting groove.” (p. 72). Charlie Watts is my favorite rock drummer and you only have to hear his impact on “Tumbling Dice”–my favorite Rolling Stones song–to appreciate his talent.

“Bernard “Pretty” Purdie nearly played the entirety of 1976’s The Royal Scam, was was also Steely Dan’s most stylistically diverse record, encompassing disco (“The Fez”), reggae (“Haitian Divorce”), and long multipart ballads like the title track.” (p.169)

John Lingan’s tour through the works of the greatest drummers, made me want to re-listen to many of the great songs I grew up with and focus on the drumming. I suspect this might also be your reaction to this wonderful book! And if you want to listen to those great songs of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, take a listen to the Max Weinberg (the drummer of The E-Street Band) set of CDs that capture the great drumming of three decades! Do you have a favorite drummer? GRADE: A (for everything!)

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Glossary — xi

Introduction: We are a part of the Rhythm Nation — xv

Sam Lay: integrating the blues — 1

Hal Blaine: the sound of California — 19

Al Jackson Jr.: from Memphis to the Love Crowd — 35

Ringo Starr: the biggest fool that ever hit the big time — 53

Charlie Watts: let it loose — 71

Kenny Buttrey: beyond the Nashville sound — 83

Moe Tucker: louder than anything — 97

Clyde Stubblefield: don’t turn it loose — 113

John Bonham: power and presence — 131

Bernard “Pretty” Purdie: the sweetener — 149

Earl Hudson: this is hardcore — 165

Tony Thompson: the biggest beat — 179

Dave Lombardo: going to extremes — 193

Dave Grohl: one big rip-off! — 209

Questlove: man vs. machine — 225

Acknowledgements –– 241

Notes — 243

Sources — 251

Index — 259

Max Weinberg Presents: Let There Be Drums! Vol. 1: The ’50s

TRACK LIST:

Sandy Nelson–Let There Be Drums2:23
Bill Haley And His Comets–(We’re Gonna) Rock Around The Clock2:11
Bo Diddley–Bo Diddley2:29
Little Richard–Long Tall Sally2:09
Preston Epps–Bongo Rock2:07
Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps–Be-Bop-A-Lula2:36
Fats Domino–I’m Walkin’2:10
Buddy Holly–Peggy Sue2:30
Chuck Berry–Rock & Roll Music2:32
Cozy Cole–Topsy II3:36
Jerry Lee Lewis–High School Confidential2:29
Johnny And The Hurricanes–Red River Rock2:10
The Coasters–Yakety Yak1:52
Johnny Horton–The Battle Of New Orleans2:32
Dion (3)–The Wanderer2:48
Fats Domino–The Fat Man2:37
Ray Charles–What’d I Say (Part I)3:11
Sandy Nelson–Teen Beat2:23

Max Weinberg Presents: Let There Be Drums! Vol. 2: The ’60s

TRACK LIST:

1The Ventures–Walk—Don’t Run Drums – Howie JohnsonProducer – Bob ReisdorffWritten-By – John Smith*2:06
2Roy Orbison–Running ScaredDrums – Murray “Buddy” Harman, Jr.*Producer – Fred FosterWritten-By – Joe Melson, Roy Orbison2:13
3Percy Sledge–When A Man Loves A Woman Drums – Roger HawkinsProducer – Marlin Greene, Quin IvyWritten-By – Andrew Wright (4), Calvin Lewis2:58
4The Surfaris–Wipe OutProducer – Paul BuffWritten-By – Robert Berryhill*, James Fuller*, Patrick ConnollyWritten-By, Drums – Ron Wilson (5)2:38
5Creedence Clearwater Revival–Born On The Bayou Drums – Doug CliffordWritten-By, Producer – John Fogerty5:13
6Aretha Franklin–(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been GoneDrums – Roger HawkinsProducer – Jerry WexlerWritten-By – Aretha Franklin, Ted White2:25
7Moby Grape–Omaha Drums – Don StevensonProducer – David RubinsonWritten-By – Skip Spence*2:22
8The Rascals–People Got To Be Free Drums – Dino DanelliProducer – Arif Mardin, The RascalsWritten-By – Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere3:01
9The Isley Brothers–Twist And ShoutDrums – Gary Chester (2)Producer – Ilene BernsWritten-By – Burt Russell*, Phil Medley2:30
10Steppenwolf–Born To Be Wild Drums – Jerry EdmontonProducer – Gabriel MeklerWritten-By – Mars Bonfire3:30
11Booker T & The MG’s–Green OnionsProducer – Jim StewartWritten-By – Booker T. Jones, Lewis Steinberg, Steve CropperWritten-By, Drums – Al Jackson Jr.2:55
12Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels–Jenny Take A Ride! Drums – John “Bee” Badanjek*Written-By – Enotris Johnson, Richard PennimanWritten-By, Producer – Bob Crewe3:23
13The Band–Up On Cripple Creek Drums – Levon HelmProducer – John Simon, Robbie RobertsonWritten-By – Jaime Robert Robertson*3:34
14Sam & Dave–Soul Man Drums – Al Jackson, Jr.*Producer – Isaac Hayes & David Porter*Written-By – Isaac Hayes/David Porter*2:39
15The Hollies–Look Through Any Window Drums – Bobby ElliottProducer – Ron RichardsWritten-By – Charles Silverman, Graham Gouldman2:17
16Jan & Dean–Surf City Drums – Hal BlaineWritten-By – Brian WilsonWritten-By, Producer – Jan Berry2:28
17Wilson Pickett–In The Midnight Hour Drums – Al Jackson, Jr.*Producer – Jim StewartWritten-By – Jerry Wexler, Steve Cropper, Wilson Pickett2:34
18The Strangeloves–I Want Candy Written-By – Bert Berns Written-By, Drums, Producer – Jerry Goldstein, Richard GottehrerWritten-By, Producer – Bob Feldman2:34

Max Weinberg Presents: Let There Be Drums! Vol. 3: The ’70s

TRACK LIST:

The Rolling Stones–Rocks Off
Aretha Franklin–Rock Steady
Raspberries–Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)
Rufus–Tell Me Something Good
Gary Wright–Dream Weaver
The Edgar Winter Group–Franksenstein
The Staple Singers–I’ll Take You There
Ringo Starr–Drumming Is My Madness
George McCrae–Rock Your Baby
Yes–The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)
Sly & The Family Stone–In Time
Meat Loaf–Paradise By The Bashboard Light
MFSB–TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia)
James Taylor (2)–Fire And Rain
Herbie Mann–Hijack
The Grateful Dead–Terrapin Flyer (Excerpt)
Daryl Hall & John Oates–She’s Gone
Bruce Springsteen–Candy’s Room

15 thoughts on “BACKBEATS: A HISTORY OF ROCK AND ROLL IN FIFTEEN DRUMMERS By John Lingan and MAX WEINBERG PRESENTS: LET THERE BE DRUMS (VOLUMES 1-3)”

  1. Deb

    I have a soft spot for the late Dino Danelli of the Rascals. He has a long form drum improv called “Boom” on the “Once Upon A Dream” album: iirc, it’s about 18 minutes long (although I could be getting the length confused with “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vita” lol).

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  2. Patricia Abbott

    There are podcasts that look at the history of music, which are good for me because they play the pieces as they discuss them. I remember very little without the music.

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  3. Mary Mason

    This is a subject I haven’t given much thought to. I do remember Ringo being left handed, but wasn’t aware it made the sound different.

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  4. Jeff Meyerson

    Not really, though I love a good drum riff. I remember my brother going on about Ginger Baker in the Cream days. Hal Blaine with The Wrecking Crew did way more than Phil Spector’s records. Benny Benjamin and the Funk Brothers had a smooth sound at Motown.

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    1. george Post author

      Jeff, I heard Ginger Baker do a 10-minute drum solo during a Cream performance in Milwaukee in May 1968. The drum solo was electric!!!

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  5. Cap'n Bob

    I was a teen when I heard of Sandy Nelson’s LET THERE BE DRUMS! It’s a good title and a paean to drummers is a fine idea! Credit the drummers for the Bandstand kids saying, “It’s got a good beat, and I can dance to it.”

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      1. Cap'n Bob

        When I was 17, I sat at a drum set and learned a 4-4 beat! That’s the limit of my drumming! I can play guitar, but I’ve never considered myself above the journeyman level!

  6. Todd Mason

    I have been a percussionist of necessity for a friend’s more or less demo…Max Roach continued to sleep easily. Charlie Watts earned points with me for being the jazz fan in the Stones. Max Weinberg would be the first rec I’d have for the editor/annotator of such a project. Roach and Joe Morello have been my mega-heroes among jazz geniuses I’ve had the pleasure to meet.

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