This ongoing list (in no particular order) contains, what I believe to be, some of the best drumming on record to date. These historical recordings are now available on compact disc; when possible I've provided links to the re-mastered CD versions for each album.
If you are a serious drummer or percussionist — those desiring to further their drumming art form — all of these albums should be on the top of your "must have" music library list.
| DRUMMER / PERCUSSIONIST | ALBUM | ARTIST / BAND | |||
| Manu Katche, Jerry Marotta, Stewart Copeland | So | Peter Gabriel | |||
| Philly Joe Jones | Milestones | Miles Davis | |||
| Elvin Jones | Love Supreme | John Coltrane | |||
| Dave Grohl | Nevermind | Nirvana | |||
| Stewart Copeland | Zenyatta Mondatta | Police | |||
| Bernard Purdie | Live at The Fillmore East | Aretha Franklin | |||
| John Bonham | Physical Graffiti | Led Zeppelin | |||
| Jeff Porcaro, Hal Blaine | Katy Lied | Steely Dan | |||
| Steve Gadd, Bernard Purdie, Rick Marotta, Ed Greene, Jim Keltner, Paul Humphrey | Aja | Steely Dan | |||
| David Garibaldi | In the Slot | Tower of Power | |||
| Kenny Aronoff | Lonesome Jubilee | John Mellancamp | |||
| Ringo Starr | Abbey Road | The Beatles | |||
| Zakir Hussain | Magical Moments of Rhythm | Zakir Hussain | |||
| Willie Bobo, Francisco Aguabella, Carlos Vidal, Armando Perazza | Afro Roots | Santamaria Mongo | |||
| Michael Giles | In the Court of the Crimson King | King Crimson | |||
| Jim Keltner | Little Village | Little Village | |||
| Mitch Mitchell | Are You Experienced | Jimi Hendrix | |||
| Terry Bozzio | Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop | Jeff Beck | |||
| Michael Spiro, Mark Lamson | A Musical Interplay of Cuba and Brazil Music | Bata Ketu | |||
| Elvin Jones, Charlie Persip, Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones | Gretsch Drum Night at Birdland | Elvin Jones, Charlie Persip, Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones | |||
| Tony Williams | Believe It | The New Tony Williams Lifetime | |||
| John Guerin | Court & Spark | Joni Mitchell | |||
| Billy Cobham | Birds of Fire | Mahavishnu Orchestra | |||
| Babatunde Olatunji | Drums of Passion | Babatunde Olatunji | |||
| Bobby Colomby | Spinning Wheel | Blood, Sweat & Tears | |||
| Tony Williams | Four & More | Miles Davis Quartet | |||
| Bill Bruford | Lark's Tongues in Aspic | King Crimson | |||
| Ian Paice | Burn | Deep Purple | |||
| Max Roach | Basin Street | Clifford Brown & Max Roach | |||
| Andy Newmark | Fresh | Sly & The Family Stone | |||
| Airto Moreira | Light as a Feather | Chick Corea & Return To Forever | |||
| Al Jackson, Jr. | Green Onions | Booker T. & The MG's | |||
|
Jim Gordon, Nick Martinis, Dennis Wilson |
Pet Sounds | The Beach Boys | |||
| Keith Moon | Whos Next | The Who | |||
| Ginger Baker | Wheels of Fire | Cream | |||
| Buddy Rich & Max Roach | Rich versus Roach | Buddy Rich & Max Roach | |||
| Mike Clark | Thrust | Herbie Hancock | |||
| Joseph (Zigaboo) Modeliste | Live on the Queen Mary | The Meters | |||
| Terry Bozzio, Vinnie Colaiuta, Ed Mann | Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar | Frank Zappa | |||
| Billy Cobham | Spectrum | Billy Cobham | |||
| Dave Weckl | The Chick Corea Elektric Band | Chick Corea | |||
| Jack DeJohnette | Standards | Keith Jarrett | |||
| Matt Cameron | Superunknown | Soundgarden | |||
| John "Jabo" Starks, Nat Kendrick | Star Time | James Brown | |||
| Mamday Keita | Wassolon | Mamady Keita & Sewa Kan | |||
| Mhuri yekwaRwizi | Zimbabwe: Shona Mbira Music | Shona Mbira | |||
| Glen Velez, Layne Redmond, Jan Hagiwara | Ramana | Glen Velez | |||
| Jose Mangual, Candido, "Patato" Valde, Luis Miranda, Ubaldo Nieto | Mucho Macho | Machito & His Afro-Cuban Salseros | |||
| Dennis Chambers | Pick Hits Live | The John Scofield Band |
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