Hal Blaine Drums! Drums! A Go Go CD - Import

Ignore the overdubbed crowd-noise, and concentrate on the rolling Blaine solos, LA producer extraordinaire/Grass Root PF Sloan's stinging guitar, and Gene Page's noir-ish spy-movie charts, all of which keep the shagadelic music in good-time motion. The song selection is simple--three-chord romps, quick and to the point--and the all-star crew throws them away with giddy deliberateness (check out the organ solo on "Wooly Bully" for an example). It's like a garage-rock blowing session by a bunch of seasoned professionals who just want to flex. Fun! Fun! Fun!

The real way to gain an appreciation for Hal Blaine's Hall of Fame-caliber abilities is to hear him as a sessionman, 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 '50s through the mid-'60s, 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 of Drums! Drums! A Go Go 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

During the 1960's Hal seemed to be thrashing away with his drum-kit in 10 studios at the same time, such was the demand for his seemingly indispensable talent! Somehow he also managed to fin in two solo albums for Dunhill. His first "Psychedelic Percussion" was released by Harkit on HRKCD 8122 (5055055901227). This second outing showcases his genius with 12 rock classics including his version of Cozy Cole's "Topsy" and the late Link Wray's "Rumble" which sharp eared listeners will recall was heard to such great effect in "Pup Fiction". Nice eye-catching Milla Jovavich cover too. Harkit.2006

Even among the ranks of the many studio musicians who helped make the 60s such a golden decade for rock and pop, drummer Hal Blaine holds singular status. Between Phil Spector's numerous orchestral productions and Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Blaine added his musical expertise and rhythmic care to an avalanche of recordings. And like many master studio pros of his day, Blaine wasn't averse to leading a session of well-seasoned colleagues stomping through a handful of meticulously arranged, fiercely grooving instrumentals either. Thus, DRUMS! DRUMS! A GO GO, Blaine's second solo LP.

Personnel includes: Hal Blaine (drums); John Phillips (guitar).