Percussion Discussion -or- Rhythm and No Clues
I don't have this album, by the way. I remembered the song itself from my days as a DJ in Fort Stockton back in the late 60s; it must have made an impression for it to stick with me all this time (although I seem to have a gift for retaining useless trivia, while forgetting things like where I left my car keys). Anyway, I had a devil of a time locating the tune. The search function on ITMS has some puzzling shortcomings and a search for "Dave Brubeck" will not yield a link to this song. It took me a while to figure out the correct spelling; "Shortnin' Bread" will also not work in the ITMS search.
I continue to be amazed at the collective wisdom and wit of Gazette readers and hope you enjoyed this little exercise; thanks for playing! (You also helped set a record for the most-commented-on post in the Gazette's history!)
- Wipeout by the Surfaris - Brian was the first to get this one correct. Memo to Gwynne: It's good to be confident; even better to be correct. ;-)
- Also Sprach Zarathustra by Strauss, commonly known as the theme song to 2001: A Space Odyssey - Brian called it via the movie reference, but Mark actually gets credit for the correct title
- In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by the Iron Butterfly (never knew the leading "the" was involved until I re-read the album's liner notes, and we know how authoritative liner notes from 60s LPs were) - We'll give Mark credit for this one despite the Jewish spelling (Davida?).
- The End from the Beatles' Abbey Road - Jim channels Wallace and correctly identifies this one. By the way, Ringo's little escapade on this song just cries for steering wheel accompaniment during road trips.
- Soul Sacrifice by Santana - Gwynne gets credit for this one, albeit with a liberal application of clues from yours truly
- LaGrange by ZZ Top - Mark is on a first name basis with whats-his-name and thus gets credit for this one.
- Toad, played by Ginger Baker of Cream. Gwynne finally knocks one out of the park.
- Mark's onto something with his guess as to the approximate vintage of this last clip. I'll be amazed if anyone guesses this one; I had to dig back into my radio DJ days to uncover it. They just don't play jazz like this anymore.
[Original post from 3/20/06]
As I warned promised you, I've created a new music quiz that's deceptively simple. Even if you can't carry a tune in a bucket...even if you're tone-deaf to the max...you can participate, because this ones all about the drums, man.
I've created an mp3 using clips from eight songs, said clips consisting entirely of drum solos or other percussive instrumentation. Your assignment is to identify the eight songs (and for extra credit, the drummers who drummed them).
And lest you think you have to be a rocker to play, 'tis not so. Two of the clips are of the non-R&R persuasion.
The mp3 weighs in at around 750kb, in case your connection speed is a concern. I suggest downloading it to your hard drive and listening offline; run it through headphones or your stereo system for best results.
As usual, leave your guesses in the comments. Each correct guess will garner you instant fame and nothing more as I'll add your name to this post. I'll think about leaving clues if things bog down too much. For what it's worth, I tried to arrange the clips in the order I think they'll be increasingly difficult to identify. But, as usual, I expect to be surprised.
Oh, by the way. The 1812 Overture is not in this group.
Is #7 Wipe Out, by the Ventures (or was it the Surfaris)? I don't know the drummer, but it's basically in every drummer's repertoire, isn't it?
Posted by: Gwynne at March 20, 2006 04:30 PMThis may be harder than I figured.
Posted by: Eric at March 20, 2006 04:38 PMOh, and John...it's "25 or 6 to 4." As an engineer, you should know better than to omit a significant digit like that. ;-)
Posted by: Eric at March 20, 2006 04:39 PMWhere's Wallace when you need him?
This is hard Eric, except for that one clip from the Beatles "The End" I didn't know any of them. And I'm having a devil of a time googling this one.
Posted by: Jim at March 20, 2006 06:16 PM#2 is definitely the theme from 2001, A Space Odyssey.
I'm with Gwynne on Wipe Out, only I think it's the first one, not the seventh :-)
#6 is "Call Me" by Blondie
Posted by: Brian at March 20, 2006 06:46 PM2. Also Sprach Zarathustra...or whatever from 2001
3. Inna Godda Davida... I have to admit that I figured this classic would be in here even before I started listening.
4. Inna Godda Davida again ?????
6 La Grange - ZZ Top (Frank...I am on first name basis with him so I dont need to know his last name)
Posted by: Mark at March 20, 2006 07:52 PMFrank Beard.
Posted by: Jim at March 20, 2006 08:08 PMI called him Frank once and he said, "That's Mr. Beard to you."
Posted by: Jim at March 20, 2006 08:09 PMFrank Beard...how ironic...he is the only one with no Beard. Of course everyone knows Billy and Dusty by thier beards.
2001...that's it! I kept thinking that was the opening song for the Olympics or something.
Funny, Mark, I was gonna guess InAGaddaDaVida without even listening also, but for the life of me, I couldn't pick it out of the line-up. :-) Now that you say so, I think it's #4.
Eric, could we buy a vowel on #1 and #8?
Posted by: Gwynne at March 20, 2006 08:30 PMGwynne,
Do you hear it in #3 also? He might also have Frankenstein by Edgar Winter in there...they are very close.
Posted by: Mark at March 20, 2006 08:41 PMYou guys continue talking amongst yourselves. We've got company and I can't break away to join the discussion but you're doing good. Sort of. ;-)
Posted by: Eric at March 20, 2006 08:52 PMOK, at great risk, I am changing my #4 to Frankenstein...
Posted by: Mark at March 20, 2006 09:05 PMMan, I can't believe I'm spending this much time on this...
I don't know #8 but I think it is definitely from the Big Band era...decent hint maybe????
My wife thinks it is George of the Junge...sheesh....
Posted by: Mark at March 20, 2006 09:18 PMOoo, I wouldn't do that if I was you, Mark. The timing is off, I think. I don't think #3 has a strong enough downbeat, or whatever you call it, for InAGadda...so it has to be #4. I think #3 is a blues rif of some kind...maybe Butterfield Blues Band.
I'm going to throw out Little Red Corvette, by Prince, as #8. ;-)
Posted by: Gwynne at March 20, 2006 09:32 PMOK, 1 more and I'm done...
#1 is a version of Wipeout by someone...
Posted by: Mark at March 20, 2006 09:34 PMGwynne...I'm stickin' to ma guns... I spent countless hours laying under a swamp cooler listening to Iron Butterfly play InnaGadda.....
And then I spent countless hours riding around Odessa listening to the Winter Group play Frankenstein...on an 8-Track.
Posted by: Mark at March 20, 2006 09:38 PMOkay, I'm gonna trust you on #3 & 4. I think you've earned those. ;-)
But I spent too many days on the beaches of CA to give up on #7 as the original Wipeout. And I think #1 is Pipeline, by the Chantays.
#7 - I haven't heard this for a long time, but just based on the clues, I'm going to guess Toad, by Cream.
Posted by: Gwynne at March 21, 2006 09:57 AMU rawk!!!!
I'm quite impressed, in other words. ;-)
Posted by: Eric at March 21, 2006 11:07 AMBut I'm sure they stole this from the Surfaris. ;-)
Posted by: Gwynne at March 21, 2006 11:09 AMDon't know about the Surfaris, but I feel safe in saying that Ginger Baker wasn't breaking any ground that hadn't already been more expertly plowed by guys like Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich.
Posted by: Eric at March 21, 2006 11:15 AMAhh, some more clues, eh? Gene Krupa, big band swing era (guessed by Mark)...so, how about Drum Boogie by Gene and his orchestra for #8?
Posted by: Gwynne at March 21, 2006 11:49 AMEric, is #8 "Sing, Sing, Sing" by Louis Prima?
Also, I was wondering if #7 might be Carl Palmer.
Posted by: Jeff at March 21, 2006 12:31 PMBoth of you have the right mindset, so to speak. Just not the right answer. 8-)
Posted by: Eric at March 21, 2006 12:41 PMOh, Jeff, Gwynne got #7 -- Toad by Cream. I just haven't updated the post yet.
Nobody's taking a shot at #5 though. Hmm...
Posted by: Eric at March 21, 2006 12:42 PMNumber 5 is........."A hard days night" by the Beatles.
Posted by: Wallace-Midland, Texas at March 21, 2006 01:16 PMThat last one is Gene Krupa playing Sing, Sing, Sing. Right?
Posted by: Jim at March 21, 2006 04:57 PMOh, guess I shoulda read more carefully. Sounds like Sing, Sing, Sing though.
Posted by: Jim at March 21, 2006 04:58 PMMaybe we should work on #5 for a while, whaddaya say? Especially those of you from the, um, Woodstock Generation...
Posted by: Eric at March 21, 2006 05:00 PMIs #5 YYZ by Rush? I actually don't think it is but what the heck.
Posted by: Jim at March 21, 2006 05:02 PMLimbaugh was a drummer? Kuhl...
And, nope.
Posted by: Eric at March 21, 2006 05:06 PMSounds like the Benny Goodman version of Sing, Sing, Sing.
Posted by: Scott Chaffin at March 21, 2006 05:22 PMIt's not "Sing, Sing, Sing" by anybody...period. But you're in the right genre and approximate era.
Here's a clue: the song is basically a "call and answer" between the piano and the drums...sort of like dueling banjos, only different.
Posted by: Eric at March 21, 2006 05:27 PMOh, well, that's all I had. Drums are boring, but I love Sing, Sing, Sing.
Posted by: Scott Chaffin at March 21, 2006 06:29 PMHi De Hi De Hi De Ho by Cab Calloway???
Posted by: Janie at March 21, 2006 08:54 PMOoh - I hope Janie's right! I love that song. At least the Blues Brothers version of it...
Posted by: Brian at March 22, 2006 06:19 AMSorry, Cab's poignant ode to Minnie the Moocher is not represented here. I think that song pre-dates the one in the quiz, although I'm just guessing.
Posted by: Eric at March 22, 2006 06:35 AMOn a trivia note.......did you know that Gene Krupa's cousin, Eddie, lives/lived in Midland. He is/was a friend of my Dad's. Can't remember if he's passed away or not.
Posted by: Wallace-Midland Texas at March 22, 2006 11:20 AM#5 is from Woodstock? Is that all you're gonna give us?!? Wow, that could be anything...tell us if any of these are getting warm:
Creedence Clearwater
Jefferson Airplane
Butterfield Blues Band
Santana
Canned Heat
The Who
Blood Sweat & Tears
Not every act at Woodstock included a drum solo by a 12-year old kid. OK, maybe he just looked 12 years old...
8->
Posted by: Eric at March 22, 2006 01:09 PMIt's Santana's drummer, isn't it? Off to do some googling...
Posted by: Gwynne at March 22, 2006 01:14 PMMike Shrieve! Oh, you want to know what song? What was the question again? [buying more time]
Posted by: Gwynne at March 22, 2006 01:17 PMOkay, it's gotta be either Persuasion or Soul Sacrifice.
Posted by: Gwynne at March 22, 2006 01:22 PMMy largesse extends only so far...you're still on your own here!
Posted by: Eric at March 22, 2006 01:28 PMHuh? Okay, fine [speaking with confidence, but with very little actual knowledge], it's Persuasion, by Santana, Michael Shrieve drummer. Yay! I win, I win!!! ;-)
No? 8-{
Posted by: Gwynne at March 22, 2006 01:52 PMbraaaaaaacccckkk (or however that annoying sound goes that indicates an answer that is accuracy-challenged)
But, I admire your confidence! ;-)
Posted by: Eric at March 22, 2006 01:56 PMNot going down easily...
Then it HAS to be Soul Sacrifice, by Santana, Michael Shrieve drummer! ;-)
Posted by: Gwynne at March 22, 2006 02:06 PMIs that your final answer? 8-)
OK...that's it. Whew.
Now, about #8...
Posted by: Eric at March 22, 2006 02:12 PMWoo-hoo!!!
Posted by: Gwynne at March 22, 2006 02:36 PM#8 is Sing, Sing, Sing by Gene Krupa's cousin, Eddie. ;-)
Posted by: Gwynne at March 22, 2006 03:00 PMTax season just gets longer every year, doesn't it?
Posted by: Eric at March 22, 2006 03:06 PM:-) Yes.
Posted by: Gwynne at March 22, 2006 03:21 PMIt's Willow Weep For Me by Art Tatum... which doesn't have drums in it at all... I just like that tune.
You're enjoying this aren't you?
Posted by: Jim at March 22, 2006 03:23 PMWell, the important question is, really, are you enjoying it? ;-)
New hint and help posted in an update, by the way...
Posted by: Eric at March 22, 2006 04:09 PMWell, I can hum the tune, but I still can't identify the song or its origins...but it goes a little like this...
b-b-baa, b-b-1/2 b-baa, b-b-baa-ba!, and then up an octave and repeat. :-)
So, are you now proposing that we try to identify your tune? ;-)
Posted by: Eric at March 22, 2006 04:54 PMWell, that would help. ;-) If you can identify mine, then I can identify yours.
Posted by: Gwynne at March 22, 2006 04:55 PMI wish I could say I knew a lot of those tunes, but I really can't. I do know the Beatles though!
Posted by: Rachel at March 22, 2006 07:26 PMBack again. This sure beats reviewing tax returns. ;-)
How about Greensleeves, by Buddy Rich? People always confuse this with George of the Jungle. ;-)
Posted by: Gwynne at March 22, 2006 08:41 PMWell, like I said last night, my wife thought it was George of the Jungle....I have been scouring the music samples of the Smithsonian with no luck.
Posted by: Mark at March 22, 2006 09:01 PMMark, I agree with your wife's assessment last night. That was my favorite cartoon (and song) back in the day...but that was post-Big Band era, so that song's out.
I figure if Eric thinks we can discern a "tune" out of that drum riff, then it must be a tune most people know. Scanning the song titles of Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa ought to turn up something.
Posted by: Gwynne at March 22, 2006 09:14 PMOK, here are some big hints. I mentioned that the song is a call-and-answer between piano and drums. The pianist's name is Dave; the drummer is Joe.
And, you don't have to go to the Smithsonian's archives because the iTunes Music Store will get the job done.
Rachel, once again, you're just too young for a contest like this. ;-)
Posted by: Eric at March 22, 2006 09:48 PMI'm firewalled out of iTunes Music Store here at the office...it's a sad state. :-(
One last guess and I'm throwing in the towel. How about Dave Brubeck and Joe Morello...Take Five?
Posted by: Gwynne at March 22, 2006 10:01 PMI don't know which is sadder...the fact that you're firewalled out of ITMS, or the fact that you're STILL AT THE OFFICE!
But, you know, something is working, because you've got the musicians right. Wrong song, though.
Posted by: Eric at March 22, 2006 10:04 PMYeah, it's all sad. :-(
I didn't think that song had a call and answer piece to it, but it was the first recognizable song that popped up on the first Brubeck album I pulled up in Amazon (they can't keep me out of ALL the music on the internet ;-).
I'll let someone else run the last 100 yards. :-)
Posted by: Gwynne at March 22, 2006 10:11 PMGwynne, I was thinking the same thing ... the drummer for the Dave Brubeck Quartet was a guy named Joe Dodge.
Posted by: Jeff at March 22, 2006 11:21 PMI couldn't help myself. But I think I've got it!!! It's "Far More Drums," isn't it? I finally found a clip of it on Amazon (even that took some digging) and it sounds right on. A cool song, by the way!
Jeff, I think Brubeck went through a few drummers, but Joe Morello stood out as one of the greatest.
Now, I can rest. Just one more tax return.
Posted by: Gwynne at March 23, 2006 12:11 AMGwynne, sorry to burst your bubble...but that's not it! :(
I'll post the answer later this morning...
Posted by: Eric at March 23, 2006 06:31 AMArrrggghhh! I'm melting!!!
You know, as soon as I went home I thought, that couldn't have been it because there is no "tune" in "Far More Drums." Which meant either a) you were teasing about a "tune" or, [gasp] b) I WAS WRONG (AGAIN)!
But of course, "Short'nin' Bread" [rolling eyes].
Well, Far More Drums is far more cool anyway. ;-)
Posted by: Gwynne at March 23, 2006 10:32 AMIf you're coming here for cool, you made a wrong turn somewhere. ;-)
Posted by: Eric at March 23, 2006 03:28 PMIt's hard to take a "wrong" turn when you don't know where you're going. I just stumbled into this joint. Divine Providence. You can deny the "cool" factor if you want, but we all know better. ;-)
Posted by: Gwynne at March 23, 2006 04:10 PMWell, I recognized the ZZ Top one, but really, that could be from any ZZ Top song.
Posted by: Denise at March 23, 2006 09:11 PMAbout the publisher
Random Abbye photos...
Angry Clouds
I am Curious Llama
Ganglia & Brain Cloud
Cabeza del Diablo
Aurora Moreorless
Be careful Who you plagiarize
Coming Attractions
All Thorns, All the Time
Hitchin' a Ride
"...the flower fades..."
Finding meaning in random events
Random Thursday: The Thanksgiving Edition
A Matter of Perception
Reason #21 to wear shoes in West Texas
The Neighborhood:
West Texas Blogs:
[Midland unless otherwise indicated]
Other Texas Blogs:
The Business:
The Church:
The World:
The ONLY song I could identify was 5 or 6 to 4, by Chicago. The drummer was Alfred E Neuman.
Posted by: John Comeaux at March 20, 2006 04:17 PM