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 |
