This is a follow-up of sorts to fellow Blogcritic Glen Boyd’s recent “Whatever Happened To The Live Album?” article published on BC a couple of weeks ago. I really enjoyed Glen’s piece. But there seemed to be an essential element of the Seventies live album absent from his article.
Whatever happened to the drum solo?
When you went to a concert in the Seventies, the drum solo was a given. And it was never really an issue. It simply provided you with an opportunity to reload the bong, or to take a whizz. Kind of an intermission basically. But then someone got the bright idea to include the drum solo in the inevitable double live album, and all hell broke loose.
Blame it on Iron Butterfly, or I. Ron Butterfly as Bart Simpson calls them. At one point their In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida was the biggest selling album in Atlantic Records’ history. The centerpiece of that 17 minute extravaganza is Ron Bushy’s drum solo. It may not have been the greatest in the world, but it was memorable. When the record blew up, the drum solo was with us for a long time to come.
Atlantic’s next biggest selling band was Cream. Did Ahmet Ertegun force them to put Ginger Baker’s 16 minute “Toad” on Wheels Of Fire? I hope not. Jeez, “Toad,“ what a title! The guy looks like a toad for starters, and the song is about as interesting as one to boot.
Blue collar rockers Grand Funk Railroad then entered the picture. On “Mark Says Alright” from Live Album, drummer Don Brewer beats the skins mercilessly. Meanwhile singer Mark Farner utters his immortal line, “All right!” A truly transcendent moment.
After an excursion with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Deep Purple decided to get into the drum solo business in a big way. Their classic Made In Japan from 1972 contained “The Mule.” Ten excruciating minutes of Ian Paice showing the world what he could do when left to his own devices. “The Mule” kind of felt like punishment for enjoying definitive live versions of “Smoke On The Water,” “Child In Time,” and “Highway Star.”
Article comments
1 - Jordan Richardson
Zach Hill happened to the drum solo, man.
2 - Greg Barbrick
Jordan--Drummers are like Rodney Dangerfield, they get no respect. Kudos to you for recognizing Hill's talent.
Greg
3 - El Bicho
What happened to Carl Palmer? No respect for him either, I guess
4 - Greg Barbrick
Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends should have been mentioned for it's title alone. Carl Palmer deserves an article of his own.
5 - Glen Boyd
The thing is Palmer could actually play, and "Tank" is a textbook example of how a drum solo should be done. Speaking of guys you missed though...remember Frosty? The guy who was the drums behind the two-man show with forgotten keyboardist Lee Michaels? Now, those were some epic drum solos.
-Glen
6 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
If this article is just a nod to the past then that's cool and my pick would have to be Buddy Rich. But, he was so damn good that he incorporated his solos into the song.
As for the Drum Solo being a separate entity, I know Mike Portnoy did plenty in the traditional sense,but, it seems that the really good drummers of today write their solos as a part of the song. Still, I'm sure their are plenty of bands that offer up a drum solo at their concerts. Of course I think it would have to be either a Metal,Jazz or Prog kind of band.
Personally, as a drummer, I still drool over Akira Jimbo. He is the true progression of Buddy Rich & he does plenty of drum solos. Actually, he's taken "solo" to a whole new level!
7 - Scott M. Deitche
Neil Peart's live drum solos have evolved (dare I say progressed) into a fusion of styles driven by core beats and rhythyms making them more enjoyable now than his 70s-era work.
8 - psf
no love for the grateful dead's dual "drumz" aka "bathroom break" followed by "space" aka "practicing scales on stage"?