This is a historical list (in no particular order) of, what I believe to be, some of the best drumming recorded in the twentieth century. These recordings are now available on compact disc — when possible I've provided links to the re-mastered CD versions for each album.
If you are a serious drummer or percussionist — those desiring to further their drumming art form — all of these albums should be on the top of your "must have" music library list.
DRUMMER / PERCUSSIONIST | ALBUM | ARTIST / BAND | ||
Manu Katche, Jerry Marotta, Stewart Copeland | So | Peter Gabriel | ||
Philly Joe Jones | Milestones | Miles Davis | ||
Elvin Jones | Love Supreme | John Coltrane | ||
Dave Grohl | Nevermind | Nirvana | ||
Stewart Copeland | Zenyatta Mondatta | Police | ||
Bernard Purdie | Live at The Fillmore East | Aretha Franklin | ||
John Bonham | Physical Graffiti | Led Zeppelin | ||
Jeff Porcaro, Hal Blaine | Katy Lied | Steely Dan | ||
Steve Gadd, Bernard Purdie, Rick Marotta, Ed Greene, Jim Keltner, Paul Humphrey | Aja | Steely Dan | ||
David Garibaldi | In the Slot | Tower of Power | ||
Kenny Aronoff | Lonesome Jubilee | John Mellancamp | ||
Ringo Starr | Abbey Road | The Beatles | ||
Zakir Hussain | Magical Moments of Rhythm | Zakir Hussain | ||
Willie Bobo, Francisco Aguabella, Carlos Vidal, Armando Perazza | Afro Roots | Santamaria Mongo | ||
Michael Giles | In the Court of the Crimson King | King Crimson | ||
Jim Keltner | Little Village | Little Village | ||
Mitch Mitchell | Are You Experienced | Jimi Hendrix | ||
Terry Bozzio | Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop | Jeff Beck | ||
Michael Spiro, Mark Lamson | A Musical Interplay of Cuba and Brazil Music | Bata Ketu | ||
Elvin Jones, Charlie Persip, Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones | Gretsch Drum Night at Birdland | Elvin Jones, Charlie Persip, Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones | ||
Tony Williams | Believe It | The New Tony Williams Lifetime | ||
John Guerin | Court & Spark | Joni Mitchell | ||
Billy Cobham | Birds of Fire | Mahavishnu Orchestra | ||
Babatunde Olatunji | Drums of Passion | Babatunde Olatunji | ||
Bobby Colomby | Spinning Wheel | Blood, Sweat & Tears | ||
Tony Williams | Four & More | Miles Davis Quartet | ||
Bill Bruford | Lark's Tongues in Aspic | King Crimson | ||
Ian Paice | Burn | Deep Purple | ||
Max Roach | Basin Street | Clifford Brown & Max Roach | ||
Andy Newmark | Fresh | Sly & The Family Stone | ||
Airto Moreira | Light as a Feather | Chick Corea & Return To Forever | ||
Al Jackson, Jr. | Green Onions | Booker T. & The MG's | ||
Jim Gordon, Nick Martinis, Dennis Wilson | Pet Sounds | The Beach Boys | ||
Keith Moon | Whos Next | The Who | ||
Ginger Baker | Wheels of Fire | Cream | ||
Buddy Rich & Max Roach | Rich versus Roach | Buddy Rich & Max Roach | ||
Mike Clark | Thrust | Herbie Hancock | ||
Joseph (Zigaboo) Modeliste | Live on the Queen Mary | The Meters | ||
Terry Bozzio, Vinnie Colaiuta, Ed Mann | Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar | Frank Zappa | ||
Billy Cobham | Spectrum | Billy Cobham | ||
Dave Weckl | The Chick Corea Elektric Band | Chick Corea | ||
Jack DeJohnette | Setting Standards | Keith Jarrett | ||
Matt Cameron | Superunknown | Soundgarden | ||
John "Jabo" Starks, Nat Kendrick | Star Time | James Brown | ||
Mamaday Keita | Wassolon | Mamady Keita & Sewa Kan | ||
Mhuri yekwaRwizi | Zimbabwe: Shona Mbira Music | Shona Mbira | ||
Glen Velez, Layne Redmond, Jan Hagiwara | Ramana | Glen Velez | ||
Jose Mangual, Candido, "Patato" Valdes, Luis Miranda, Ubaldo Nieto | Mucho Macho | Machito & His Afro-Cuban Salseros | ||
Dennis Chambers | Pick Hits Live | The John Scofield Band |