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