E29-B: Andy Newmark Remembers Jim Gordon

[@gudgengrebe]

Pleasant to hear someone genuinely praising someone else.

[@DannyDrummer-q7f]

Listening to Andy on this is highly inspiring.

[@jeffs3627]

Jim Gordon. More people should know what an incredible drummer he was.

[@livefrommydrumroom]

Indeed. 🙏

[@robertstrobel7237]

Andy Newmark is a Legend.

[@Cheektowga]

Even more powerful coming from a master player like Andy Newmark.. Thank You Sir.

[@michaelw.4434]

Andy Newmark is no slouch,played on a lot of great songs!... hope to hear more about everything he's played on!..Thank You Both!...

[@drumsport]

Some of my favorite drum tracks were performed by Andy for the band "Balance". Check it out.

[@michaelw.4434]

@@drumsport Absolutely,I definitely will,Thank You!

[@livefrommydrumroom]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. It's an excerpt from his full episode from March 2021. I've had Andy on a few other episodes, so be sure to check them out!

[@paulrevelli]

I have always admired Jim Gordon's drumming and consider him to be one of my biggest influences to this day. Sad to hear of his passing.

[@IronMan-tk8uc]

The also late great Jeffrey Porcaro kissed the ground Gordon walked on!

[@lazur1]

I saw Newmark w/Roxy Music. A friend, & _very_ good drummer, was in the opening act. The comparison gave me perspective on greatness. Andy's drumming was next-next-level, the *_right thing_* , every touch. For him to put Gordon on a level above himself says a lot.

[@gsmith207]

At 56 and still hittin the cans, I realize now Andy is so part of my influences as well as Jim G. Thanks for puttin Andy on, he’s the coolest.

[@user-vg3yc6gk5f]

As a frustrated guitar player, the contributions of drummers to my favorite records wasn't something I appreciated until I got a little older. Jim contributed every bit as much to those songs as my favorite guitar players did. I hope he has found peace and he is in God's forgiving arms with his Mother now. Mental illness is a terrible thing.

[@JnTmarie]

Hi Andy. Old Nyc friend here. Happy birthday coming up! Your memory is incredible. Your appreciation for talent and nuances makes you a treasure. Thank you for sharing so much knowledge and wisdom so beautifully

[@UFO_computers]

Jim - it will be your incredible work that’ll be remembered after all has been said. I take solace in the fact you are now free from that cruel illness. 🥁 ⭐️

[@Scham53]

Wow! This is, for me, one of the most informative drum videos I've ever seen. A lot of people in drum videos say Jim Gordon was great. This is the first one where someone really explains WHAT made him great.

[@livefrommydrumroom]

I’m glad you enjoyed it. Check out my other episodes that pay tribute to Jim Gordon.

[@luvbasses5487]

Wanna hear a intimate and very clever example of Jim on drums? Call up Sundown by GL. His accents and understated fills in between verses and choruses command your attention as such that you’d think it was he who wrote the tune! Coming from under the wings of Hal Blaine, it’s not too surprising! He provided the perfect drum accompaniment for this beautiful song. Rest in peace, Jim.

[@theemiledeonorgantrio9773]

This is especially true as the record is fading out.

[@dougpeters1625]

Holy cow I wasn't aware he played on that track I'll have to check it out. it's one of my favorite songs but I haven't heard it in a while.

[@brianjezuit4085]

After hearing about Mr Gordon'Z passing, I went through his discography and Sundown really stuck out. It waZ about 1am and I grabbed my practice pad and started working it out. ItZ a truly amazing and well written drum composition 🥁 RIP Mr Jim Gordon...I hope you're at peace now

[@user-vg3yc6gk5f]

You're exactly right! Wouldn't be the same song without Jim's drumming.

[@luvbasses5487]

@@user-vg3yc6gk5f he was so very talented - From songwriting to composing to piano playing to percussion to lyrics and drums themselves. The guy seemingly could do it all..!!

[@MrDaveaccord]

RIP Jim Gordon. I fist heard him on the Low Spark of High Heeled Boys by Traffic. Just drumming perfection on that record. Also his work on Layla with Clapton is epic.

[@hippydippy]

Jim Gordon was one of the best... PERIOD. Such a tragic story though.

[@user-ie6dz4ib3b]

R.I.P. Jim and Hal. I saw Andy play for Roxy music. Outstanding

[@LPCustom3]

I sat and watched Jim one night at Western-United Studios. He was doing a track for Johnny Rivers, a remake of “Hang On Sloopy”! But Jim’s playing was a thing of beauty! This was probably 1973..(?) My friend Joe Zagarino was engineering.

[@donjarvie5075]

Jeff Porcaro said if you want to appreciate Jim Gordon listen to My Maria by BE Stevenson

[@bbsoni4814]

"got to get better in a little while" by Derek and the Dominoes would be my pick

[@JeffreySinclair-g8y]

Maybe Jim’s greatest piece of work

[@billrussell7197]

Two great drummers....you got it bro

[@HMJohnsonGuitar]

Great interview!

[@bellbrass]

Andy wrote me years ago, sharing this same story - but it's so cool to hear him tell it in the flesh here. Andy is just great to share this story in this way...he breaks down Gordon's brilliance very well. Thanks for posting this, John.

[@ronjon5386]

What a legend ANDY is and Jim Gordon was king in the studio. If your Jeff Porcaro favorite drummer your pretty damn good.

[@MarkFeldman]

wow. heavy. I used to go see Andy at the Bitter End in NYC in the late 80s /early 90s.... wow talk about playing with conviction.... That's actually what I remember most about seeing Andy live... he had more conviction than anyone else I had ever heard play. he hit the drums hard and sounded unbelievably good.....super clean and crisp with a heavy groove.

[@jrfrondelli2023]

John, this is a BRILLIANT interview, WITH a brilliant drummer, ABOUT a brilliant drummer. Like Andy, I've always thought that the drum part to "You're So Vain" was absolutely perfect! Must have been a total blast to sit IN the drum booth and watch that unfold.

[@livefrommydrumroom]

Thanks John 🙏

[@phillmellina]

Really insightful- Andy is (and always will be…) a humble and truly influential drummer. Very cool interview!

[@LeoraLaGraffe]

Sir, thank you for this and also for the incredible article you wrote several years ago about Jim Gordon. The world has lost a great musician. You kindly spoke with me about your article and Jim Gordon’s incredible work once. Thank you. I did not admit to you then, Jim did write back to me. I wanted to protect his privacy while he was alive. Now there is no harm in sharing this information, and in fact sharing it illustrates what a truly kind and humble man he was in addition to a brilliant drummer.

[@BONHAMOLOGY]

This is beautiful, thank you !

[@tomlehr861]

My favorite for that style. A great drummer

[@gerry1620]

I think Jim was one of the greatest drummers. He and other studio musicians like him play on more songs on the radio than most of the biggest artists. That’s quite a feat to me.

[@garyyarago2096]

Jim Gordon played the most exciting drum solo I have ever heard in the mid seventies , when he was playing with the Frank Zappa big band at Winterland in San Francisco .I have heard the rest (Bonham, Cobham,Carl Palmer,Phillips,Appice, and etc, Gordon towered above them all!Did his impending madness contribute to his greatness, like the proverbial bulb burning brightest just before it went out?

[@Cpayne30]

That Zappa show you saw at Winterland was officially released last year, its simply fantastic.

[@denmar355]

Loved Andy Newmark on Dan Fogelbergs Phoenix album.

[@earldrum]

John this was one of my favorite interviews that you have done so far! R.I.P. Jim Gordon

[@Canyon2023]

Beautiful description!

[@garethleitner9547]

I know Jim Gordon played with almost everybody, but lately I've been admiring his work with Dave Mason on "Alone Together".

[@sandyhanson6082]

Poor Jim Gordon suffered from schizophrenia. What a cool drummer. Rest in peace Jim.

[@JuanCarlosMelian]

Wow!!! Fantastic!! Thank you John. Best regards from Madrid.

[@guymann7614]

Interesting interview…!

[@livefrommydrumroom]

@@guymann7614 Thank you.

[@sspbrazil]

R.I.P. Jim, great drummer, tragic later life.

[@keithrhiggons]

Hi! My name is Keith R. Higgons, and I have a podcast called Abandoned Albums. I pulled a clip from this episode for my recent episode - it's an interview with writer Joel Selvin, who has a book coming out on drummer Jim Gordon. I credit your channel in the credits. The podcast dropped earlier today and is available all over. Anyway, I wanted you to be aware of both the book and my use of the clip. Thanks so much!

[@livefrommydrumroom]

Hi Keith, thanks for the heads up. Please credit my channel "Live From My Drum Room With John DeChristopher." Joel will be live on Facebook with me on Monday Feb 26th for my podcast, which will drop next week. He sent me the book and it's great! But I appreciate you making me aware. I'll check out your show and channel. Keep up the good work!

[@justinherbert9146]

I really, really admired Andy's playing when he drummed for Eric Clapton's band during the BACK TO THE CRADLE era -- Andy's playing fit Eric's playing like a glove, so much so to my ears and eyes that i believe Andy's drumming was better suited to Eric then Steve Gadd. Jim Gordon was like the heir apparent to Hal Blaine in that they both knew how to contribute a drum part that could elevate a song and a recording into becoming a hit record by contributing the perfect groove. RIP Jim and Hal

[@501chorusecho]

this is some real shit right here

[@kc0lif]

jim gordon legendary musician.

[@wayneblanchard97]

I had always wondered when and why Andy's style shifted from the funky linear style on 'Fresh' to the more straight-up grooves heard after that. I had asked him if he played funky like that on any other records and he said no. Andy also noted that despite the similarity to David Garibaldi's busy syncopations at the time with Tower of Power, his busy-sticking funky style was of his own making. Also interesting that seeing Gordon record such a straight-up tune as 'You're So Vain' proved so transformative for Andy. Jim Keltner once said that he would go to Gordon's gigs and sit on the stage floor by kit to get a close-up view. Andy's mention of Derek & the Dominos prompts me to add that Gordon took over from Keltner in Delaney & Bonnie and Friends and was in the band when Eric Clapton joined. And though Gordon was in Derek & the Dominos, the invite had originally been sent to Keltner, who couldn't accept as he was busy touring with Gabor Szabo. Gordon just happened to be in London, so he got the gig, effectively reuniting (with Carl Radle on bass) the D&B rhythm section. Their first work was as house band for the recording George Harrison's 'All Things Must Pass'. To see some fabulous Andy Newmark in action, try the Roxy Music DVD 'The High Road'. Recorded in Frèjus, France in the early 80s (see KZbin), with the late Alan Spenner on bass and Neil Hubbard on guitar (both ex-Joe Cocker's Grease Band), Andy's playing is superbly deep, inspired and creative...yet simple and always musical. Every tune is a lesson in how to groove a band. Superb stuff.

[@josephanthony392]

Saw Andy with Mark Farner. Great drummer.

[@Dogdrum]

He played with Mark Farner? Wow! I didn't know that...

[@josephanthony392]

@@Dogdrum Also, Andy played on Mark's solo album "No Frills".

[@drumdiscussion7776]

Thanks Andy and John for your perspective on Jim Gordon. I remember listening to Derek and the Dominos live and admiring his ride cymbal groove. An impressive musician with a disheartening disease. His recordings and performances will always be cherished. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2KYqnV_esSmeqs

[@SalMichael]

Fackin great

[@tomlehr861]

You can see jim play live on johnny cash show with dominoes and delaney and bonnie live on you tube

[@wecandobetter9821]

To really appreciate Jim Gordon as a drummer go check out all the albums he was asked to play on. It’s a who’s who in music. Sad he had such a tragic life.

[@jeffcrocker1078]

Folks if you don’t know Andy Newmark became like Gordon that rare ability to play anything the same guy that played with sly and the family stone played on John Lennon double fantasy nuf said

[@drumhd1]

Absolutely!

[@waynej2608]

Yes, and didn't Jim Keltner also drum on Double Fantasy?

[@UFO_computers]

Andy on Young Americans too- amazing!

[@LeoraLaGraffe]

@@UFO_computers Oh I didn’t realize that, Young Americans is one of my favorite songs! I never tire of it! Thank you Mr. Newmark for making that song so perfect! Just went and listened to it again. I can hear that same kind of bouncy energy that I loved so in Jim’s playing, in this song. I don’t know the right words to use because I am not a musician, but I can hear and feel it when a drummer makes the music addictive. Like this. And like Jim’s work.

[@loucontino4804]

I think by the time you hear Andy on The Pros & Cons of Hitchhiking by Waters, Newmark is pretty darn laidback.

[@hazor777]

All history aside , Jim Gordon was a top notch, very creative drummer - his tracks on Derek and The Dominoes is amazing

[@livefrommydrumroom]

Absolutely. Check out my episode with Joel Selvin. We did a deep dive into the brilliance of Jim Gordon.

[@johnpandolfino8663]

Great performance Andy with Roxy music of Neil Young's Like a Hurricane in France... Clapton thought Jim and Carl Radle were the best rhythm section he ever played with.....in Derek and the Dominoes.

[@felixramirez6898]

Feel baby .

[@AFaceintheCrowd01]

I always imagined Newmark was a Brit because he played so tightly with Alan Spenner and Neil Hubbard and others from the 70s soul scene in London.

[@richarddavis5542]

Jim probably learned the approach he took for "Your So Vain" from Hal Blaine. The build up to the chorus/hook is very similar to Hal's work.

[@peteluce]

That was great!

[@ValThor-g2c]

Newmark is an absolute top player. Gordon was super duper. I dig Andy a lot. Roxy Music Flesh and Blood is genius (tracks 4, 5)

[@davedillon1372]

Paul Samwell-Smith, Silven Productions, post Y'birds' Bass player also produced the sadly posthumous K.Relf 'Illusion' which was going to be a Reunion of Renaissance until Relf plugged in wet from a shower w/an idea

[@gepmrk]

Listen to Andy Newmark on In Time by Sly Stone.

[@AECJ1]

🎉🙏❣️+ Peace Happy St. Patrick's Day 💚🍀💚🍀💚 🍀☘️🍀☘️🍀 💞💚💞💚💞 🌴🌄🌴🌄🌴 ❤🎉❤🎉❤ ❤😂🎉❤🎉😢❤ #aecjdrumwalk #drumtalk #dreamhome #drumwalk #movieoftheweek 🌞❤️💟🌄🌴🙏+

[@ronjon5386]

I still think. Andy’s drum part in Gary wrights Dream Wever is one of the best ever. Some say Jim Keltner played in that track but I’m pretty sure it’s Andy

[@livefrommydrumroom]

@@ronjon5386 it’s definitely Jim Keltner and I agree it’s an epic drum part.

[@livefrommydrumroom]

Watch the complete episode with Andy from March 28, 2021! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYa0l6eAa655jNU

[@citydrums7525]

I always get something out of hearing Andy speak...

[@andrewsandoz8005]

Some of what your saying makes little sense. I get the East/West thing. But there were plenty of studio cats that could have done the drum duties on the Carly Simon tune. There are a few exceptions, but most studio drummers are used because they have the ability to interpret and play what's needed. Reading may be a plus. Time and feel...

[@UFO_computers]

Sorry but no one could’ve played that as masterfully as Jim Gordon. Listen to it again. It’s probably the best pop drum track of them all. The time, the feel, the dynamics., the orchestration, the effortless changing gears, and all of it working together seamlessly.

[@jamescox8402]

Yeah, but 'Fresh' was filthy.

[@johnlira8454]

Huh?

[@dankenton]

Gentle giant, eh? Not when the Craftsman is laying about.

[@jacquesdemolay5171]

That was a most unfortunate choice of words on his part. Yikes.

[@drumdude46]

Andy told a great story about the audition for Sly Stone... in an old Modern |Drummer issue, early 80's....

[@rjagger1395]

Wow making big deal over a simple pop groove ,,,