Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Sandy Nelson - Let There Be Drums / Drums Are My Beat
 | Sandy Nelson is one of rock 'n' roll's enduring stories. He played on many hit sessions, and had a few bona fide Billboard hits in his own right, beginning with "Teen Beat" in 1959. His guitar player of choice was often Richard Podolor. |
Picks: Slippin' And Slidin', Tequila, My Girl Josephine, Big Noise From Winnetka, Let There Be Drums, Bouncy, Birth Of The Beat, Quite A Beat, Get With It, Drum Roll, My Blue Heaven, Hawaiian War Chant, Twisted, Caravan, Drums Are My Beat, Day Drumming, Drum Stomp, Hum Drum, Topsy, The City
Track by Track Review
Rock (Instrumental)
Little Richard's wailing song is the basis for this infectious blues jam. Energetic and bouncy, with a pumping piano and thumpy bass line, and a solid drum solo.
Rock (Instrumental)
A sorta big band arrangement modeled on Cozy Cole's "Topsy II," the drums are rhythmic and so cool. It's a long ways from the Mexican cool of the Champs, but Sandy Nelson's drums sure do rock!
My Girl Josephine Rock (Instrumental)
Fats Domino's suave song finds a pale presentation here. The sax work is not inspired...
Rock (Instrumental)
Aside from catchy drum work, this is just a moderately interesting interpretation of Bob Crosby's "Big Noise From Winnetka." Lotsa fun though.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Let There Be Drums" was the first track released after Sandy Nelson lost his foot. It is an infectious thing with a rolling rhythm and great drums. The formula was a cross between "Wipe Out" and "Rebel Rouser." Nelson's drums are solid, and Richie Podolor's guitar work is excellent too.
Rock (Instrumental)
Sandy Nelson wrote "Bouncy," which is a riff rocker for sure. Kinda relentless, but rhythmic and party cool.
Rock (Instrumental)
This slowly evolving drum masterpiece shows off a healthy nod to Cozy Cole and Gene Krupa. Tribal like a forties big band rocker, this drum solo is very powerful. It's drums solos that best show off how important a really good sounding and well tuned drum kit really is.
Near Surf (Instrumental)
Richard Podolor plays guitar and co-wrote "Quite A Beat" with Sandy Nelson. It's patterned like many of his drums singles, with lots of drums and chord progressions on guitar setting off different verses. Richard Podolor's guitar plays an Indian thing. This grows on you.
Rock (Instrumental)
Richard Podolor's cool reverbed guitar chops under the dry riff lead as Sandy Nelson plays restrained drums. Similar in some ways to a softened "Let There Be Drums," "Get With It" is an infectious percussion track.
Rock (Instrumental)
This sounds almost like a demo, with dry sound and less distinct ambiently captured drums. Perhaps it's from earlier sessions. It's a rocker, with little focus or hook value.
Rock (Instrumental)
Cool piano and fifties studio rock and roll sound. Pumped up, but not particularly catchy.
Rock (Instrumental)
Sandy Nelson's drums amp up this traditional Hawaiian number in a big band format. It's fun, but not particularly remarkable.
Rock (Instrumental)
A rock solid drum beat opens this fifties style studio rock cut. Aside from Sandy's kit, there's nothing to really set this apart. It is quite energetic.
Rock (Instrumental)
Duke Ellington's "Caravan" is a natural for a drum record. It's so rhythmic. This is a very cool version of this venerable song. Very exotic.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Drums Are My Beat" sports a fun little riff carried on piano and bass against guitar. It's pretty simple, but very cool. As always, the drums are focus.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Day Drumming" is another Sandy Nelson composition. There are no players adding to the song. It's all drums and almost eight minutes long.
Near Surf (Instrumental)
"Drum Stomp" employs a Richard Podolor vibrato shimmered progression to lead the drum fest. Kinda country, kinda surfy, and rooted in the fifties.
Rock (Instrumental)
With a simple riff inspired slightly by "Istanbul," this is a rhythmic and tribal track with solid energy. It's also a bit like "Let There Be Drums."
Rock (Instrumental)
"Topsy" opens with the middle section in brass before giving way to lead xylophone. It's an interesting concept, but is not as hard driving as the Cozy Cole hit.
Rock (Instrumental)
Steve Douglas' nasty sax and Sandy Nelson's tribal thunder work wonders on this track. The guitar riff is highly repetitious, but the back ally mean streak comes through clearly, coupled with a Vegas runway giggle.