From the album, The Captain and Me, Long Train Runnin’ is perhaps the best known of The Doobie Brothers songs.
At a time when bands like the Grateful Dead were experimenting with two drummers being a part of the band, this track features both drums and congas, but who plays what is anyones guess! The two drummers who were a part of the band for this album were John Hartman and Michael Hossack. Originally, just a song to jam live, Long Train Runnin’ was finished being written in studio whilst the album was being recorded. The lyrics came once the instrumental parts had been recorded.
As far as the drum chart goes, the song uses a driving eight note hi-hat against a kick pattern that only hits the “1” in the bar. All the other kick notes play off the beat which helps give the song a slightly lilting yet driving feel.
The drum part starts to be developed from the Solo, with the drummer employing open hi-hats, ride cymbal bow and bell strikes, and more ghost notes to keep the driving nature of the song. By the Instrumental the use of paradiddles between the bell of the ride and the snare are brought in.
Overall, there are few surprises in this chart, but it’s a classic song that people recognise very quickly when it’s played live.
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