OK so let’s make it ONE drum fill per post. And let us know the location in your YT clip
My one is this from 1979 – Rickie Lee Jones and “Chuck E’s In Love”
The drummer is Steve Gadd. See also Paul Simon, James Taylor and a million other people who want him in their band.
The drum fill is at 1.56. So unexpected, subtle, and so musical.
There are YT clips about how he does it for drum people…
I just think it’s so appropriate for the song
Let’s have your besties…
Brimful Of Asha – at 3:07. Not flashy, but punctuated nicely
The mighty Dukes – at 0:45, etc.
Wonderful performance by Rickie. And what a beret!
I’m going to enjoy this thread even if I do feel completely out of my depth. I know as much about drum fills as I do about Medieval Hungarian erotic poetry.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bálint_Balassi
I’, expecting a thread devoted to medieval Hungarian erotic poetry set to music any minute.
Plastic Ono Band at 1:43.
I’ve just discovered that George H is on that record. I did not know that.
Coincidentally; following the All Things Must Pass thread, I was reading up on Alan White & in an interview with Music Radar, he said about Instant Karma
“The parts in the song where the drums kind of explode, the fills that I do – I came up with this idea of going off the meter, playing a fill and then going back into the main rhythm. I kind of sprang it on John and Phil and they loved it. Phil said, ‘Alan, just keep doing that. It’s making the whole song!’ [laughs]
My standard answer to this question is this gem featuring Ricky Fataar. It’s impossible to imagine the arrangement without it. The timing it exquisite – right in the pocket behind the beat.
I don’t know if this counts, but on Lonesome Sundown by Tom Petty, the drummer (I think it’s Steve Ferrone?) plays a slightly more assertive fill at 3:47-ish before the last chorus that somehow kicks the song up a gear. Nothing whatsoever fancy about this, but it really works. The whole band plays beautifully on this one.
Woody Woodmansey on Bowie’s “Watch That Man”
At 1:54 he throws in a small fill – nothing flash, but the thing is: why is it there? Unlike most traditional drum fills, it’s not at the end of a verse leading into the chorus, nor at the end of a chorus leading into the next verse, or indicating the beginning or end of an instrumental break.
It just shows up in the middle of the first line of the second verse, having not appeared in the first, and indeed is not used as a motif again. As one might have said in earlier days, I can dig it.
I love odd unexpected drum fills popping up in the most unlikely of places. For example, was having a bit of a Creedence session recently and loved how the sludgy snare plod of Born on the Bayou is suddenly punctuated with minimal little fills here and there.
From the same time, roughly, this – the drums are on edge, brilliantly frisky and percussive throughout
And this old favourite! I adore those old country rock drummers, all frantic and flowery, especially the mad fills around the kit across the solo and towards the end.
2.34 in and the late, great, Kevin Wilkinson does his thing! Not sure if it’s a fill or a break as I’m not that muso, but it’s simple and awesome all at the same time.
You need a good goalkeeper, and Topper did that job for The Clash.
It was Topper’s drumming that elevated the band, starting with Give ‘Em Enough Rope
(I think theri best, many people say I’m a fool).
The drum rolls at the end of Safe European Home (from about 3:03) are a bit good
The best 1-2-3 on an album ever?
And Stay Free later just makes all the more better-er
Oh the anticipation…..
I am not at all sure if they are drum fills but in Maid of Orleans by OMD the drums are quite remarkable and elevates the song. In this live version we see the drummer at work and this helpfully diverts the eye from McCluskey’s dancing.
I was watching Andy. What a dancer.
Glad you didn’t mention DM’s own Animal. He absolutely tortures their songs live.
Wow, they really sound good live don’t they? Anyone think Andy might have seen Future Islands?? I don’t remember him being that quite, err, “expressive…”
He’s been flailing around like a drowning man since his first appearance on the OGWT. As with Richard Jobson, he is possessed by the Spirit of the Dance* and is giving the people what they expect – nay, need. If Andy ain’t a-whirlin’ you don’t got you no OMD.
(*pronounced daunce)
I saw them live at 930 Club a couple of years ago, Andy dancing and all.
It looks…not great on Youtube, but live – it’s up there as one of the best shows I’ve seen, and his dancing is a large part of it. he just does what he does, and as a result, everyone in the audience just does what they do. That concert was such a positive night out. Not a hint of anything negative, and an uplifiting set of performances.
You can mock OMD all you like – they’re right in the middle of “soo good, no debate” block.
About 3.44, a swift dollop around the tomtom by the ever wonderful Dave Mattacks that does it for me. Pretty exemplary throughout, IMHO.
The Cure: Inbetween Days. Start as you mean to continue. The intro fill at 0.00
Easy by the Commodores, around 2:48, just before my favourite guitar solo. Discreet but irresistible.
That song also falls into the category of “almost ruined by a rubbish middle eight”. Another thread?
Do it!
I don’t pay much attention, because I’m always waiting for the guitar solo.
AW T-Shirt.
You mean “lifted” by a “fantastic” middle eight, surely? Too late to edit your post now I’m afraid.
Surely this:
or this: the mighty Ted McKenna – music starts about 1:30 and the drums just get better and better…
One summer in the early 90s, during the dying days of my academic career, New Order’s Technique was a constant companion. Three of us used to play it in the van on the way to field work in north Wales. Vanishing Point was always a highlight, turned up loud, and for a few seconds – around the four minute mark – I felt lighter than air.
https://youtu.be/kHrAjj4s0CU
Terry Williams – just one laid back fill after another…
https://youtu.be/57zSSSeQml4
See also Terry Williams’ fill-full contribution on Dire Straits’ Sultans Of Swing live on the Alchemy tour.
As shown here by incredible Sina, my favourite at 4:17 and 4:24
Yes, she’s good, isn’t she?
I don’t know anything about the technique of playing drums, but I found the fluidity of her right hand when playing the high-hats mesmerizing.
Whither Pick Withers, though? There’s a gentle sophistication in the original fill at 4.24 that just can’t be beat.
And talking about laidback fills…Richie Hayward in excelsis…Little Feat’s Old Folks Boogie.
And don’t forget fillmeister supreme Hal Blaine. Takes a fairly throwaway number…
…and then at the 0:36 point throws in a couple of fills that lift it into something other than else. He did that a lot.
Mel Gaynor out of yer Simps – round about 3:40.
Wot, no mention of Phil’s fill? Comes in at 2.58 on here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVhNi5cU8mo *
The drums come in at about 17 seconds, and it’s what I listen for every time I hear this track. The steering wheel has indentations from me playing along to them. Take the drum fill out, and the somng just dies.
* Other landfill shoegaze indie tracks are available if you’re feeling particularly down.
Not sure that Ride are landfill indie. Dreampop/shoegaze surely, but not landfill indie.
Nigel Pegrum at 2:02
At 1m11s, the late Pierre Moerlen on Gong’s “The Isle of Everywhere” from “You”. With lots of other fills as the track progresses.
I’ve always loved Mitch Mitchell’s drumming on All Along the Watchtower (especially from 3:20). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmGFFJtkDXA