Solo drum albums?

[Holy Zoo]

This may seem like an odd request, but here goes:

I've always wanted an album full of just a drummer drumming. No bass, no guitar, no vocals, no keyboards. Just drums.

I've searched in the past, and besides the Sheffield Drum Record - which seemed to be more of a test record than a thought out "album", struck out. I've even asked all my drummer friends, and no-one's heard of anything.

So, does anyone know if such a beast exists?

Thanks!

[Andy]

Are you talking about a single drummer behind a trap, or some thing like a marching arrangement.

[Holy Zoo]

Originally posted by Andy
Are talking about a single drummer behind a trap, or some thing like a marching arrangement.

Single drummer...

The ideal album would be Neil Peart playing non-stop for an hour. :D

[Andy]

Oh.

[Patrick M]

Mickey Hart has done some world music stuff that may come close. I say "may" because I haven't actually heard them. But it's a safe bet that they are percussion-heavy. Anyone?

You could always pull out your Zep boots, and stitch those solos together. Or, if you're having trouble sleeping, put on "100,000 Years" from KISS - Alive!

[Andy]

Why not rent a studio commission a drummer and record one. You could be the driving force behind a whole new genre.

[Holy Zoo]

Well, I do have about a zillion hours of Kenny Pardo (Holy Zoo's drummer)...

:)

Still, it's all rehearsal stuff and pretty low audio quality.

[Andy]

You have to start some where. Just think what the world would be like if Mr bad hair cut had quit with windows 1.0

[GregM]

Solo and group drumming was probably the first organized "music". Hardly a new genre.

I'd look to other cultures to fulfill this interest--or at least the influence of other cultures. Order the two Kodo SACDs from hmv.co.jp . . .those being Tsutsumi and Warabi. There is non-percussion instrumentation on these, but the focus is strongly on drumming. And the sound quality is unbelievable.

You may also want to gravitate toward jazz. Listen to Art Blakey--The African Beat. Or for solo drum kit featured on one or two tracks but not an entire album, check out Art Blakey--Freedom Rider, Tony Williams--Spring and Billy Cobham--Spectrum. And if you want, Elvin Jones--Heavy Sounds and Illumination, just to soak in the very independently limbed, extraordinary playing of Elvin.

[Holy Zoo]

Originally posted by Andy
Just think what the world would be like if Mr bad hair cut had quit with windows 1.0

We'd all be using the superior windowing system of the Macs? ;)

[Holy Zoo]

GregM, Patrick -

I indeed have Mickey Hart's Planet Drum cds, and while I really love them, they're not quite what I'm looking for. I reallly want that classic rock or jazz "drummer pounding their kit" sound.

Jazz is probably a great place to look, and I'll definitely check out the Art Blakely and others you suggest. Thanks!!

[Patrick M]

Originally posted by Holy Zoo
Jazz is probably a great place to look, and I'll definitely check out the Art Blakely and others you suggest. Thanks!!

Highly recommend the Tony Williams Lifetime "Collection" on CD. It's a twofer, with the two albums when Holdsworth was in the band. Amazin' stuff.

[Andy]

GregM,

Your suggestions are a good place to start. Art Blakey is great. But instead of limiting the choices to what’s already in print somewhere why not expand the horizons of what’s available? Mr. Zoo has already said he has hours of tape of a solo drummer. Since I’m not sure on this I’ll say I’m assuming it’ s a standard drum kit that one might find in any band. If this is what we are truly after an American or at least a member of modern culture drumming on a modern set of drums why look elsewhere when these resources are with in easy reach? While drumming may not be “new” an album of this makeup is certainly new to me. The tribal influences cannot be overlooked and I do not mean to be flip when I say new genre. For me an entire album of one drummer drumming without accompaniment would be a new experience.

[Paul Chang]

Originally posted by Patrick M
Mickey Hart has done some world music stuff that may come close. I say "may" because I haven't actually heard them. But it's a safe bet that they are percussion-heavy. Anyone?

You could always pull out your Zep boots, and stitch those solos together. Or, if you're having trouble sleeping, put on "100,000 Years" from KISS - Alive!

Mickey Hart, along with Airto and Flora Purim, recorded Dafos in 1982-83. At first it was released by Reference Recordings (RR-12) in 1983 on 45 RPM vinyl. It was later switched to Ryko (by Hart?). The RR 45 got on TAS (the abso!ute sound) HP's super disc list but not the Ryko. It is percussion-heavy but not purely percussive - it also has woodwinds, vocals and bass. This is the only one out of many Mickey Hart's non-Grateful Dead albums I have heard.

You can find 30-second-long sample tracks on CDNOW or Amazon.com just to have an idea how they sound. The sound quality is quite poor, though.

[Claus]

one of the best recordings of drums is Curt Cress' Avanti (1987)... rock and jazz influenced recordings, and drums only!

By the way it's a very good sounding recording... unfortunately out of print!

[Andy]

Well, I'll have to start looking for that one. Do you know where this was released, and in what sort of quantity? I don't want to bother looking very hard if something like only 200 copies were printed.

[Claus]

Curt Cress "Avanti" WEA (A Warner Communication Company)

# 240 133-2

Okay, I give you more infos about this german drummer... he has the same reputation like Simon Phillips or Jeff Porcaro. He is well known in Europe and played as session drummer for lot of musicians and bands... for example Meat Loaf.

Anyway it is a great drum record and in comparison against Mickey Hart... it's not a World Music tour de force... easy to find... go to amazon.com and you got it! About 15 bucks... but it's worth!

[Holy Zoo]

Originally posted by Claus
one of the best recordings of drums is Curt Cress' Avanti (1987)... rock and jazz influenced recordings, and drums only!

By the way it's a very good sounding recording... unfortunately out of print!


Excellent! this sounds like what I'm looking for. I've just ordered cd and vinyl copies off GEMM (for $6 and $3!). Whoo-hoo!

thanks Claus, I owe ya one.

[AudioGirl]

Originally posted by Claus
one of the best recordings of drums is Curt Cress' Avanti (1987)... rock and jazz influenced recordings, and drums only!

By the way it's a very good sounding recording... unfortunately out of print!

NICE Mac Claus!! :D :D

[Andy]

Zoo,


So you wouldn't be first. It could still be something worth doing.

[christopher]

don't forget sandy nelson's "let there be drums"

later, chris

[Andy]

I must have been living under a rock all these years.