Hal Blaine - Drums! Drums! A Go Go (CD)

All Music Guide

The real way to gain an appreciation for Blaine's Hall-of-Fame-caliber abilities is to hear him as a session man, and not on his occasional recordings as a solo artist. This instrumental album is something of a novelty rather than a serious attempt to build solo credentials. It consists almost entirely of cover versions of well-known rock hits from the late 1950s through the mid-1960s, with live "party" noises dubbed on to simulate a concert recording (although it was cut in the studio). Still, it's better than might be expected considering its frivolity, with a bunch of top fellow Hollywood session musicians providing pretty energetic support, particularly in the surf-ish guitars. Producers P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri take the writing credits for "Drums a Go Go," although in fact it's built around the main riff of the Kinks' "All Day and All of the Night." The CD reissue adds three bonus tracks from the 1967 album Have Fun Play Drums, as well as the 1966 non-LP single "Bang Bang Rhythm...." - Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide Read more Less