This is for Chris Whitten, who is a pro's pro and wants to educate the kiddies more about drummers with taste and conviction. I'm sure this will become a long list of everything ever recorded by Led Zeppelin, Steely Dan, and Toto, so I'm going to stretch a little and list some things that may not be on others' lists. These are still some of my all-time favorite drum tracks, chops or no chops:

Manu Katche, Sting, the entire All This Time recording.
This stuff is soooo good, and his playing sits so comfortably between some very hip upright bass lines and keyboard riffs. It's just a great groove from start to finish, but especially on Set Them Free and All This Time. Also love his playing on Hounds of Winter, but that's slightly more of a chops fest.

Kenny Aronoff, John Cougar Mellancamp, Jack and Diane
Just a stellar drum track. The drums sound perfect for the song, extremely powerful, and the fill leading into the drum break is unforgettable. Love the little twist on the drum break. An air drumming classic in the Gaddabout household.

Chris Whitten, Edie Brickel and the New Bohemians, What I Am
Before anyone accuses me of pandering, I've mentioned this song among my favorites for years on this board. It brought me back to radio at a time when acoustic drums and great shuffle feels just weren't very hip. I love the subtlety of the playing. It sounds like something Keltner would've done in the 70s.

Jeff Porcaro, Boz Scaggs, Lido Shuffle
Porcaro in an unsung shufflin' moment. Only Jeff had the hands to pull this off so deftly. I'm told he wrote this song, but Scaggs and David Paich are listed as the authors.

Steve Smith, Journey, Open Arms
Smith wrote the book on rock ballad drumming. At least for me. This is the standard song I refer back to when asked to play rock ballads.

Bill Maxwell, Andrae Crouch, Soon and Very Soon
If I had never heard this song, I probably would've ended up a piano player. But I heard it, and I've been banging on something ever since. Just ... wow, soulful playing.

Rick Marotta, Steely Dan, Peg
This is a classic I have to mention. Tasteful and unique, but low down on the funk.

Andy Newmark, Sly and the Family Stone, the entire Fresh album
Andy invented modern funk drumming. This is the seminal album in which he did it.

Adrian Young, No Doubt, Hella Good
Young spent 3 montns before recording this album practicing to every Steely Dan record in his collection. It really shows. The playing on this song classifies as a true next generation groove classic, IMO.

I'm running out of time, but I love Jack DeJohnnette with the McCoy Tyner Trio, anything Max Roach has ever touched, and Nigel Olson has laid down three decades of tasty rock drums for Elton John.

On Tom Petty's 'You Don't Know How it Feels', Steve Ferrone lays down the perfect groove.  It's so nice, I almost don't notice that there's not a fill in the tune.

i was also thinking tom petty. 'wildflowers' has some great drum tracks.

stevie wonder's 'innervisions'


ah crud i gotta mee

FWIW, I also like these:

i dunno who the drummers were on any of these, but i always liked the grooves on tunes from the o'jays, ohio players and tavares. also love the 'peg' and 'josie' grooves from steely dan [esp. the tom-tom sounds on josie...so earthy!] stuff off michael jackson's 'off the wall.' [ie; i wanna rock with you], gladys knight & the pips. for quirkier grooves, i like a lot of steve coleman stuff off 'curves of life' and 'genesis & the opening of the way,' among others.

Yep.

I just wanted to add one more:

Omar Hakim, David Bowie, Let's Dance
Hakim has a signature bounce in his playing that I can only attribute to someone who grew up dancing rather than drumming. He definitely likes the R&B side of things, and hasn't really been seen showing off his chops for some time. A lot of drummers from the 80s talk about the first time they heard Rosanna, and how it made them really stop in their tracks. This song did it for me. The beat is Pop 101, but the way Hakim plays it, it sounds like rhythm on a live wire -- even with the dead over-processed sounds.

I just have a couple:

"Baby I Love U" by Jennifer Lopez, featuring Omar Hakim. Thumping, deep groove, meaningful, only song I like of hers.

"A Lover's Holiday" by Change, appearing on their 1980 album The Glow Of Love.  This is pretty much my favorite groove as of current.  It's just a steady beat, but it's persistent, and the hi-hat is played in such a naughty fashion.  You can hear it here, but the good hi-hat part during the chorus is omitted.

And, why not---I'll include "The Glow Of Love" from the same album.  Similar naughty hat, along with Mr. Vandross's dulcet vocals.

In the city-Eagles/Walsh
Youve got to serve somebody-Dylan-Pick Withers drums
Rebel Rebel Bowie-Drums?
Waitin for the bus ZZ-Top-Frank Beard
Bang a gong- T-Rex, drums?
Pump- Jeff Beck- Simon Phillips
Day Tripper- Ringo
Pink Caddilac- Aretha Franklin- Narada Michael Waldon.
Oh Sherrie- Steve Perry, Larrie Londin.
Etc Etc Etc. 

Oh man, so many to choose from!  Im sure once I finish I will think of a totally different list-but here goes.......

Stevie Wonder-Superstitious
Dusty Springfield-Son of a Preacherman
Bad Company-Ready for Love
Bob Dylan-Brass Bed
John Lee Hooker/Bonnie Raitt-Im in the Mood
Elton John-Rocket Man
Elton John-Love lies bleeding
Don Henly-Boys of Summer
Pixies-Chained (anything by this band)
Tom Petty-Runnin down a dream
Bob Seger-Hollywood Nights
Eric Clapton-The Core
Frank Sinatra-Ive got you under my skin
Joan Jett-I hate myself for lovin you
Quicksilver Messenger Service-ANYTHING!!!!!!
Beatles-Helter Skelter
Wings-Rockhestra (Bonham)