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In 1975, Paul Simon released Still Crazy After All These Years. The album won two Grammys and had four top 40 hits.
One song reached cult status in the drumming world for its innovation, technical brilliance and mass appeal. That track is ...
THREAD
One song reached cult status in the drumming world for its innovation, technical brilliance and mass appeal. That track is ...
THREAD
Yup, 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.
WHAT A TRACK.
It has it all: an intriguing title, Simon's lyrical genius, a recognisable intro, a catchy chorus. But the stand-out feature of the song is Steve Gadd's groove (or drum beat). Who the hell is Steve Gadd you ask?
I'll tell you.
WHAT A TRACK.
It has it all: an intriguing title, Simon's lyrical genius, a recognisable intro, a catchy chorus. But the stand-out feature of the song is Steve Gadd's groove (or drum beat). Who the hell is Steve Gadd you ask?
I'll tell you.
Steve Gadd was *the* session drummer of the 70s and 80s. He played for:
Frank Sinatra
Paul McCartney
Eric Clapton
Joe Cocker
Carly Simon
The Bee Gees
and Kate Bush.
Session musos are hired to perform in recordings or live performances. They're not permanent band members.
Frank Sinatra
Paul McCartney
Eric Clapton
Joe Cocker
Carly Simon
The Bee Gees
and Kate Bush.
Session musos are hired to perform in recordings or live performances. They're not permanent band members.
As a result you rarely hear about them. They don't get plaudits or fame (or cheques). They are the unsung heroes of music.
Here's @rickbeato raving about Gadd's work on Steely Dan's Aja (if you're a music fan, subscribe to Rick's channel IMMEDIATELY):
Here's @rickbeato raving about Gadd's work on Steely Dan's Aja (if you're a music fan, subscribe to Rick's channel IMMEDIATELY):
A tangent, but for the ultimate in session drummer porn, here's Steve Gadd, Dave Weckl and Vinnie Colaiuta facing off at a Buddy Rich memorial concert in 1989. This is Michelangelo, Da Vinci and Raphael painting together:
*Wipes sweat from brow.*
Ok back to 50 Ways. Why such a cult hit? There are easier, more basic grooves Gadd could have played, especially considering the low key nature of the tune, but he goes with this left-field funk marching band adaptation.
Ok back to 50 Ways. Why such a cult hit? There are easier, more basic grooves Gadd could have played, especially considering the low key nature of the tune, but he goes with this left-field funk marching band adaptation.
Here's a video of the demigod himself breaking down the beat. It doesn't look like much, does it? He does a few things though that are subtle but essential to the final product ...
- He holds the sticks backwards. This produces a heavier, "deader" sound.
- He plays lightly, with nuanced accents, the dynamics of which are really difficult to replicate .
- He plays a lot of "space". The gaps in the groove are as important as the notes.
- He plays lightly, with nuanced accents, the dynamics of which are really difficult to replicate .
- He plays a lot of "space". The gaps in the groove are as important as the notes.
(I love how, even when demonstrating the groove, he can't stop his body from moving with the backbeat. He's basically a human drum machine. At 0:55 in the vid he looks up as if to say "do you get it?", and then looks down realising nobody ever will.)
ANYWAYS. I tell you all of this, because today, after 25 years of playing the drums, I finally got this groove right. It was my personal #lockdown challenge, and I flipping nailed it.
I'd gotten into a bit of a rut, drumming-wise, playing the same stuff over and over again, but this reminded me of that feeling from the early days when you crack something seemingly impossible for the first time. It's the best feeling. And made my week.
Now, I'll need a year or so to work on UNIVERSE BOSS Jeff Porcaro's Rosanna shuffle. Maybe in 5 years I'll write you (5 readers) another long Twitter story about him.
Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.
