The handclap used to be an essential percussive element in Pop music. It is a very human sound, whose pitch and texture isn’t entirely predictable. It depends on a well functioning, but inevitably flawed, human brain and the presence of two hands. Its rhythm isn’t always accurate. It invariably adds energy, excitement and risk to a song’s performance. Because humans are involved, things can so easily go wrong. That’s why it is becoming increasingly scarce. It’s a sound, more often these days, replaced by a machine.
My record buying began at peak Glam. Almost all Glam records featured handclaps. T.Rex’s Get It On has everything, a great guitar riff, honking sax, wailing backing vocals, strings, even a Rick Wakeman glissando, but without the handclaps it would be nothing.
The prize for best handclapping stamina must go to The Stooges. No Fun lasts nearly five minutes. The handclaps drive it relentlessly on without pause, without hesitation and without missing a single beat. They remain resolutely undistracted throughout all the chaos, including the wild fuzz guitar solo in the last two minutes which thrashes all over Iggy’s vocal.
For off-beat smatterings that decorate rather than drive a song, you will go a long way before you find a better example than Take The Money And Run by The Steve Miller Band.
I’m very fond of the strategically placed clap. You have to wait until 1:44 for three pairs of the sexiest claps you will ever hear, halfway through the lustful guitar solo on Prince’s The Question Of U. He was so pleased he repeated the trick a minute later.
My absolute favourite clap of all time is the second one on Use Me by Bill Withers. It is deployed earlier than you’d expect given the timing of the first clap and the pace of the rhythm. The effect is a cranking up of tension that increases the heart rate, giving the impression of an acceleration in impetus in the song. It is a single stroke of genius. It occurs at 2:43.
My question of you, Afterworders, is which is your favourite clap?
retropath2 says
My Best Friends Girl has the clap I remember with most fondness:
(Bet it isn’t even for real, being no doubt some studio trickery, but I still love it.)
Gary says
That was my first thought too. I always clap along with it. Even when driving.
chiz says
‘My best friend’s girl has the clap…’
Tiggerlion says
Pretty much all over after 30 seconds. To be fair, they do set the song up nicely.
fentonsteve says
Rose Royce – Car Wash, as written and produced by Norman Whitfield.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eZoiYoFxU0
Greased Lightning contains my favourite handclap solo at 2:13 or so:
Tiggerlion says
Norman Whitfield was the master of handclaps. For Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone, he had available to him the five different voices of The Temptations, a three note bass line, a tapping hi-hat, strings, harp, wah-wah guitar and an echo drenched trumpet, but what did he turn to add drama and energy? Handclapping, of course.
Also, loving the flamenco style clapping on Greased Lightning.
Bingo Little says
This is definitely up there, particularly as it’s a great karaoke tune and you can get the whole room doing the big handclaps from about 3’30 in.
Tiggerlion says
I’m really enjoying this. The handclapping is as basic as it can get, yet, it’s incredibly effective. However, a part of me suspects a drum machine on a clap setting.
davebigpicture says
Featured prominently in the video
DogFacedBoy says
The handclaps on Here Comes The Sun
Tiggerlion says
Good call. They only appear for twenty seconds at the two thirds Mark but they add another dimension to the song, effectively a middle eight.
The Beatles have form clapping hands. Off the top of me head:
I Saw Her Standing There
Hold Me Tight
I Want To Hold Your Hand
Roll Over Beethoven
Please Mr Postman
Eight Days A Week
Words Of Love
I’m Looking Through You
It’s All Too Much
The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill
Come Together
DogFacedBoy says
I only mention HCTS cos when I went to see Robyn Hitchcock (& Heavy Friends) play Abbey Road in its entirety we practiced doing the handclaps on the way in the car
Is ‘Cecelia’ allowed or is that slapping rather than clapping? Same with Buddy Holly’s ‘Everyday’
Tiggerlion says
If it’s flesh on flesh it counts.
Moose the Mooche says
Ohhhh yeah.
Sewer Robot says
Tsk Tsk ☝️
“A mind is a terrible thing to waste” that was the slogan
But now it’s ninety-five and it’s “Don’t forget the Trojan”
Explained it to her momma, before somebody get her
Gotta hip her to the game of those smooth talkin niggaz
Love is the word, seldom meant but often heard
Latex safe sex you better learn
Or get hip to the facts before you react or end up in a box on your back
Sometimes you ask for what you want and, get what you got
Don’t get caught up in the plot, it’s too damn hot
– The mighty poet Coolio.
Diddley Farquar says
No Reply is a great example. No clip available. The hand claps come in as the music switches from moody and dramatic to a faster, more urgent section, giving it added momentum. What a great song that is.
Tiggerlion says
Here you go.
hubert rawlinson says
Ian Matthews Da Doo Ron Ron
SteveT says
Don’t get much better than this – try not dancing around!!
Tiggerlion says
I was so impressed with his work on Young Americans, I bought an LP of his when I was still a teenager. It was on offer.
Gary says
Life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone.
Tiggerlion says
Is it possible to have a cooler middle name than Cougar? Pity the song is no good.
Gary says
So much of that there your post is plain wrong, Tiggs, that I wouldn’t be at all surprised to discover you are really Ivanka Trump, or thereabouts. It’s a great song.
Tiggerlion says
Only four steps of seperation.
Sewer Robot says
Still pining for this band….
(Kenickie -Come Out 2Nite)
Tiggerlion says
Grand. I enjoyed that, thank you. Just that the clapping is all over in a matter of seconds.
mikethep says
Peak clapping was achieved in 1962. It’s all been downhill from there. Features one Scott Walker on bass.
Tiggerlion says
I regularly hear this kind of clapping at football matches.
mikethep says
That record is where it all started.
mikethep says
Also from 1962, Dave Brubeck. Advisory: contains prancing.
Tiggerlion says
Ah. The Miro album, in which each track has a different time sequence according to its order on the LP. Mini told me this on her recent radio show. You should give it a listen, mike.
mikethep says
I really should, keep meaning to.
Bamber says
Tiggerlion says
The guy on hand drums looks the worse for wear. You’re fond of Joan, aren’t you, Bamber?
Bamber says
Love her. Odd but adorable. Great live act.
Moose the Mooche says
Oh for god’s sake! All this way down and no…. this???
Tiggerlion says
Lovely. Have you bought his new album released today? No, not Bowie. James Murphy as LCD Soundsystem. It’s a corker, apparently.
Moose the Mooche says
You’re such a joker. As we’re in a time later than 1999, my permanent answer is that I have not bought anyone’s new album released today.
Tiggerlion says
You should make an exception. Bowie told him to make it.
Black Type says
Slade were into clapping big style. It’s all over many of their big hits; I’m particularly fond of the echoey, stompey clapping on Look Wot U Dun.
Tiggerlion says
Glam, you see.
I like this video of Sweet performing Ballroom Blitz because the audience can’t get the clapping right.
Black Celebration says
The drumstick twiddle at 1.28 is quite something too.
mikethep says
Sorry to keep punting the old, but Dion has form in this area.
https://youtu.be/y4NUZJMCJ20
Tiggerlion says
The snare drum sound on that song is terrific. Solid!
Mike_H says
The clapping on this is rather ragged, but they stuck some reverb on it and it really adds to the groove, I think.
(Bob & Earl – Harlem Shuffle)
Tiggerlion says
Indeed. The handclaps help to shift the shuffle into a groove.
Mike_H says
It’s always good to shift your shuffle.
Black Celebration says
The Belle Stars – none more clappy. It was kind of OK to like the Belle Stars even though this song and video could have easily been by Black Lace.
Tiggerlion says
Handclaps were The Belle Stars lead instrument!
nickduvet says
Here’s a couple of my favourites, the ‘Somehow, Someday’ section at the end of Todd Rundgren’s Just One Victory, and this, the soul at the beginning of DB’s Soul Love:
Tiggerlion says
My favourite Bowie handclaps are on The Secret Life Of Arabia, the strange finale to “Heroes”. Strange because it sounds part Eastern, part English and part German. The handclaps are in the German part and seem to be drafted in from another song. Best dance track on the album.
https://youtu.be/TI_aBgcLHZE
Diddley Farquar says
Love that track. Gets a bit disco when the handclaps come, not far removed from this hand enhanced beauty:
Moose the Mooche says
Hand enhanced beauty…. hurrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
H.P. Saucecraft says
CBWGTFWM Frank Zappa (unless we have).
Tiggerlion says
I listened to that the whole way through. Twice. At no point did I hear a handclap, not even during the percussive breakdown after six minutes. Frank drums like me.
What’s going on, Saucey?
H.P. Saucecraft says
It’s called The Clap, Tig! Ha ha ha! It’s my favourite rock clap. Frank also uses some great cheerleader-style claps in Joe’s Garage (at 2:28):
Tiggerlion says
Ahh. That’s more like it. Brief and pithy.
I think his other song must be about sexually transmitted disease, though it’s an instrumental.
Alias says
There are plenty of latin soul songs which feature clapping quite heavily. Here are two of the best known:
Pete Rodriguez – I Like It Like That
Joe Bataan – Subway Joe
Tiggerlion says
For half a minute, there, I thought Joe Bataan was going for the stamina award.
Chrisf says
Shirley, it has to be this classic…..
bricameron says
Mick Karn @2:25
Tiggerlion says
Of course! The most sophisticated clap in Pop.
Mike_H says
Of course our very own Disappointment Choir had a good clapper in “I Heard You’re In Love” on their previous album thingy.
Sniffity says
Heard Queen’s We Will Rock You on the radio today and, although not a favourite of mine, thought it would be a natural for this thread. As songs go, it depends on handclaps more than most – in fact, remove the claps and you’re not left with much of a song.
(No Youtube link needed – you all know how it goes)
Sewer Robot says
Yeah, why don’t bands write football chants anymore? See also Judas Priest’s United.
(Brummies they – one of the few of the larger English cities – Liverpool, I suppose – without a “United”)
Wheldrake says
Can’t believe no-one has posted this yet….the clap track to end all clap tracks
Moose the Mooche says
Oakay Geordie, stoart the clap macheene….