100 Drum Breaks

A 100-track percussion playlist for learning, listening, and sampling.

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I love listening to and learning about songs with great drum breaks. For those new to the term, a drum break is an “open” section of drums with no other instruments. In other words, it’s a moment in a recording that’s just percussion and nothing else.

Breaks make for especially juicy sample fodder because the drums are already isolated and easier to chop, loop, and sample. Famous breaks come from every imaginable genre and range from straightforward to jaw-droppingly complex.

Check out “Sunshine Superman” by Eric Closs below for a drum break example. The song has some nice, crispy drums right at the song’s opening.

I love making drum break playlists because it’s a fun exercise in organizing music from all eras, geographic locations, and genres, around one distinct trait. In thinking of new ways to share music with my audience that might be interesting or useful for them, I decided to make a mega 100-song drum break playlist. My goal was to pull together disparate songs into a cohesive list that would inspire producers and/or provide people with an enjoyable listen and some new music.

I’ve included an organized list of all 100 songs and artists featured on the playlist below. Many of the artists featured here have catalogs that warrant further exploration and celebration. The Crusaders, for example, have 51 album credits on Discogs, and their work has been sampled hundreds of times. Bits and pieces of their songs appear on many rap classics. Shirley Scott has an even more vast collection of collaborative and solo albums, with a remarkable 64 in total. Though not sampled as frequently as The Crusaders, those who know, know. Her body of work is incredible.

So please, take a moment to immerse yourself in this playlist and enjoy the incredible music within. Flip a sample, make a DJ mix out of some of the tracks, or just appreciate the music for what it is as you give it a listen. You can listen to 100 Drum Breaks by clicking here.

I’d love it if you dropped me a note in the comments to let me know what you think.

1. "Moonlight Lady" by Chris Gilbey

2. "Stitch" by Chaplin Harness

3. "Stock no. 1 - 1976" by André Ceccarelli

4. "Ghetto Song" by Jon Lucien

5. "Last Chance to Dance" by King Errisson

6. "Mean Streets No Bridges" by Jimmy Ponder

7. "The Body Rock (Instrumental)" by The Treacherous Three

8. "1812 Overture" by The Philharmonics

9. "Lilies Of The Nile" by The Crusaders

10. "Freedom Ride" by Caribbean Torpedos

11. "I'll Take You There" by Rueben Wilson

12. "I Remember" by Melvin Van Peebles

13. "Out Of Your Head" by Man

14. "Mama Get Yourself Together" by Baby Huey

15. "Badd Motor Folk" by Uncle Louie featuring Walter Murphy

16. "I'll Bet You" by Funkadelic

17. "Sunshine Superman" by Eric Kloss

18. "Cztery ściany świata" by Czesław Niemen

19. "New York City" by Alphonse Mouzon

20. "Bad Side Of The Moon" by Bo Diddley

21. "Sweetheart" by Charles Kynard

22. "Do What You Wanna Do" by Poison

23. "Sunshine of My Life" by Blue Mink

24. "Hand Dance" by The Reddings

25. "Go Away from Here" by Mutiny

26. "Give It Up" by The Impossibles

27. "De alegria raiou o dia" by Carlos Dafé

28. "Use Me" by Isaac Hayes

29. "You Should've Listened" by Black Heat

30. "Bags and Strings" by Milt Jackson & The Hip String Quartet

31. "Get Up" by Vernon Burch

32. "Got To Get Me A Job" by Ann Alford

33. "808 Volt Mix (808 Beatapella Mix)" by D.J. Battery Brain

34. "You Are The One" by Eddie Harris

35. "Take Me Back" by Johnny Nash

36. "Get Out of My Life Woman" by The Leaves

37. "Get Out of My Life, Woman" by Iron Butterfly

38. "Lady Groove" by The Fatback Band

39. "I Can't Get Enough of Your Love" by Archie Bell & The Drells

40. "Jade East" by Ramsey Lewis

41. "A Possibility (Back Home)" by Wanda Robinson

42. "Quantrale" by Curtis Fuller

43. "Caribbean Festival" by Kool and the Gang

44. "Express Yourself" by New York Community Choir

45. "Everyman's Your Brother" by The Fourth Way

46. "These Are My Friends" by Jazzberry Path

47. "Sudden Senility (Vocal)" by Herb Geller featuring Mark Murphy

48. "Nipple To The Bottle" by Grace Jones

49. "Mr. Fantasy" by Trilark

50. "Noche Azul" by Shirley Scott

51. "Kissing My Love" by Al Jarreau

52. "Restless Wave" by Compost

53. "The Blue Gate" by Janne Schaffer

54. "Wichita Lineman" by Bobby Pierce

55. "Through All Times" by Chuck Jackson

56. "Tell Me Why Has Our Love Turned Cold" by Willie Hutch

57. "Memories of Georgia" by Thom Janusz

58. "Summer Fool" by Ronnie Laws

59. "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" by The Spotnicks

60. "Trust In You" by Wishbone Ash

61. "You're a Sweet Sweet Man" by Aretha Franklin

62. "Why Did You Do It" by Chicago Gangsters

63. "Friends" by Whodini

64. "It's a New Day" by Skull Snaps

65. "It's My Turn" by Stezo

66. "You're A Customer" by EPMD

67. "Let's Ride" by Q-Tip

68. "BNH" by The Brand New Heavies

69. "Bu-Bu" by Arp Life

70. "This Is Soul Medley" by Paul Nero

71. "Honey Dove" by Lee Fields

72. "The Addict's Psalm" by Ralph Carmichael

73. "The Landlord" by Al Kooper

74. "Rock Candy" by Montrose

75. "Dance Girl" by The Rimshots

76. "I'm Gonna Get You" by Joe Quarterman and Free Soul

77. "Fire Eater" by Rusty Bryant

78. "Evil Ways" by Brothers Seven

79. "Superfunk" by Vern Blair Debate

80. "Godofallofus" by New Hope

81. "Melody For Thelma" by Blue Mitchell

82. "L' Alpagueur" by Michel Colombier

83. "Blow For The Crossing" by Billy Butler

84. "Hallelujah, Alright, Amen" by Gus Poole

85. "Come Let Me Love You (Instrumental)" by Jeanette 'Lady' Day

86. "Super Mellow" by Louis Bellson, Shelly Manne, Willie Bobo, and Paul Humphrey

87. "Ebony Jam" by Tower Of Power

88. "Advice" by Sly & The Family Stone

89. "Soul Drums" by Bernard “Pretty” Purdie

90. "Holy Ghost" by The Bar-Kays

91. "Light My Fire" by Young Holt Unlimited

92. "Love and Affection" by Ike White

93. "Good News" by The 5th Dimension

94. "Slow Dance" by Stanley Clarke

95. "Bust the Break" by Tuff City Squad

96. "Chicken Yellow" by Miami

97. "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" by Shirley Scott

98. "Outside Love" by Brethren

99. "The Boogie Back" by Roy Ayers

100. "Jupiter's Child" by Steppenwolf

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