My Top 6 Favorite Popular Drum Parts.
Famous Drums in Classic Rock and Jazz Songs.
The following is a short list of some of my favorite "drum songs" - songs that have memorable drums in them. These are songs that most people know, without going too deep into the rabbit hole of extreme drum pieces. Again, these are songs I know, that I grew up listening to. As a huge fan of 1970's jazz fusion, there are numerous songs with insane drummers playing insane pieces, such as Lenny White, Dennis Chambers, Vinnie Colaiuta, Tony Williams, Billy Cobham and many more. However, that list of accomplished masters will have to wait for another time.
1) "Barracuda" - Heart.
This was one of the first songs that used an odd time signature at the beginning part of the verses. I didn't know how to count odd times in music, but I could still play it. It wasn't until many years later I discovered the 5/4 time signature in the 2nd measure of the verses. This song was especially well known for its "galloping" E power chord on the guitar. Being a diehard Heart fan since the middle 1970's, I was much more attracted to the drums in this song. In the recording of the song, they are way out front, where they should be. I think that Michael DeRosier is one of the most underrated drummers in rock history.
2) "Tom Sawyer" - Rush.
Well, this song being on this list goes without saying - but I will anyway. Anyone and everyone who has ever heard this song, has attempted to air-drum the entire song without stopping. I, too, am one of those people. Neil Peart was paying close attention that day, the day he discovered the perfect drum parts of this legendary rock anthem. Again, this was another song that steered into the obstacle of odd time signatures. Rush seemed to construct songs with odd times effortlessly, and yet, not alienate the listener in the process. You can't really dance to Rush songs, you can only jello-neck head-bob to them.
3) "YYZ" - Rush.
On the very same album "Moving Pictures", not only introduced Tom Sawyer, it also gave us the third track on the album - an instrumental masterpiece that challenged every drummer on every level. Rush has been notorious for using 5/4, 5/8 and 7/8 time signatures in many of their songs. This album is a huge fan favorite as every song is nearly perfect.
4) "Dance on a volcano/Drum solo/Los Endos (LIVE)" - Genesis.
It really doesn't matter which live version you've heard, each one is a monster. I was lucky enough to see Genesis in the early 1980's, at the Rosemont Horizon theater in Chicago with my drummer buddy, Jim. We were there to hear and witness the visual spectacle that is Genesis. I was completely blown away by the entire concert. Phil Collins sings the lyrics to "Volcano", while Chester Thompson plays drums. Towards the end of song, Collins runs upstage to the second drum set and finishes out Volcano which introduces the drum duel between he and Thompson. There have been numerous variations of length to the duel, but most of it is completely by design. This widely anticipated part of the concert always brings down the house.
And, talk about odd time signatures! Check out the intro to this Dance on a Volcano:
5) "La do da" (LIVE) - Journey.
"The one, the only, Steve 'Machine-gun' Smith!" ~ Steve Perry. Live drum solos are always a crowd-pleaser, especially when it comes from someone of the caliber of legendary drummer Steve Smith. A nearly 3-minute long barrage solo at the end of the song is one of those things you simply need to crank the volume up on your car or home stereo - I know I did a few hundred times. Even blew out my speakers once.
6) "Aja" - Steely Dan.
This is my all-time favorite album ever recorded. I think many will agree with me. The title track, "Aja" is a nearly 8-minute long masterpiece. The opening piano immediately sets the mood for the picturesque story. Many solos are taken in this song, including Larry Carlton, Walter Becker and Denny Dias on guitars, the late great Wayne Shorter on tenor saxophone and of course, the incomparable Steve Gadd on drums. Gadd incorporates his first expedition of exotic drum fills during Shorter's sax solo. After the last verse, at about the 7-minute mark, the outro explodes with Gadd throwing fills in every measure. Because of the amount of impossible fills, I always thought that it sounded like an overdub of a second drum track towards the beginning of the fade out. I have yet to meet anyone to verify this.