You Make Me Feel Like Dancing - Steve Gadd drum cover -Jim Huwe

Many of us just learned that Steve Gadd, once found out he was in LA recording with Steely Dan, was "borrowed" to record this big hit with Leo Sayer. But it had to be done just an hour or two before the recording of AJA. So the same studio, same drums, same mics were used by a different engineer. I had just done AJA, so I needed to do this one too since I tweaked my drum sounds for it. So it is basically the same with slightly different mixing going on. Enjoy the trivial travel through history. Please listen to my recording of AJA here: studio.youtube...
I did an unusual thing on this, I mixed my drums hard panned to the left channel and hard panned Steve Gadd's drums in the right channel. It's kind of a cool stereo sound. I never do this.
Another interesting find: Someone left comment, which I found again on Rick Beato's channel from that interview with Bill Shnee. Here it is:
"A few years ago I was in a shopping centre in Sydney and noticed Leo Sayer standing next to me. He used to live in Glebe. Being a drummer and knowing that he used Porcaro a lot I introduced myself and then had a chance to ask him why does the snare sound change in the final verse of You Make Me Feel Like Dancing - this was his reply. " Wow you are the only person that has ever asked me that". He then went to disclose that the track was Gadd and Porcaro. Hence the slight change in snare sound, touch and attack. Porcaro's take comes in at the final verse. I used to practice along to the track and with good headphones its noticeable. Confirmed by Leo himself. "
Hmmm. There is a slight change in the snare sound on the original? There is also a classic Porcaroism in the bass drum only in that verse. If you listen closely to the original recoding, you will hear it. Please share your thoughts. It might be total bunk. But maybe not......cool stuff. Also, I found myself flamming with the snare on the recording on that last verse. If Porcaro, who was know to lay way back on the snare was on this, that would explain it. Also Gadd was noted for playing it right on the beat as Shnee metions in the interview with Rick Beato. I love mysteries.

[@randyedward1]

Top-notch, top-drawer, top-shelf playing!

[@jimflys2]

Thank you, Randy. That means so much to me. I will never hear this song the same after hearing the back story - in my description.

[@KMKanDrum]

I've always wanted to do this one. Maybe one day. But this is just perfect. Love the feel Jim. Amazing work brother!

[@jimflys2]

Please do! It's a great tune!

[@drumcitybob5927]

Excellent Jim!! Thanks for sharing that cool bit of trivia regarding this tune! I didn’t realize this tune was recorded the same day as Aja. Your drumming on the tune provides a nice funky feel!! 👍👍👍🥁🥁🥁

[@jimflys2]

Thanks, Bob. I appreciate that so much. Yeah, I just learned that from an interview Rick Beato did with Bill Shnee about the Aja recording. He mentioned another engineer, who was recording next door wanting to use Steve Gadd on a cut for Leo. With the time crunch. He had to come over with tape to record Gadd doing this in the studio where Aja was recorded. They finished Leo's tunes just in time to start the second day of recording Aja with Gadd at a 2pm session. I think day one was mostly rehearsing and the 1st take. The drums and everything had to stay set up for both sessions to nog use or lose any valuable time since Gadd was leaving later that day.

[@RichRawDawgdrums]

Tricky hihat work! Thanks for sharing the story. Had no idea it was Steve Gadd on drums all those years ago listening to this song in the back of my parent’s car on AM radio. Cool video production, Jim!

[@jimflys2]

Thank you, Rich. I know, I had no idea.

[@RichRawDawgdrums]

@@jimflys2 and Jeff Porcaro on the last verses? Interesting!

[@gregwonhoff7161]

Good morning to you, Mr.Jimflys2. I hope you are well and doing fine. This one is a real toe-tapper. You have a lot going on in this song. I love the tom/cymbal combination in there as well as the snare/tom/cymbal combination. Those were so cool. Thank you for another great production straight from your hanger, my high flying friend.❤️🙏👏❤️🙏👏❤️

[@jimflys2]

Yeah. I was surprised at how much was on the recording too! Thanks for the great observations. I could never eclipse Steve Gadd.

[@gregwonhoff7161]

@@jimflys2 Nice job getting a plug for today’s total eclipse.🙏🏻❤️

[@jimflys2]

@@gregwonhoff7161 Instead of commenting, I should have played Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler or better yet, Staring at the Sun by Level 42.

[@earldrum]

Great drumming Jim! That fact about Aja and this song were recorded on the same day is one of the most interesting facts about this song! You played this so well! It’s got that funky Gadd feel! Awesome cover! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻😎😎😎

[@jimflys2]

Thanks so much, Earl. I really appreciate that. Did you read my description notes? I think there is some validity to that comment I found. That last verse also has the snare drum behind the beat a touch. The say Gadd played right on 2 and 4 and Jeff played behind 2 & 4. Check it out....because I hadd panned it, you can hear it in the last verse. Slight flam on the snare with my track and the recording. So it might be true about Jeff on that verse.

[@earldrum]

@@jimflys2I didn’t read it (it was 4:30 am … first listen) until now, but I knew about the Aja session. I think that comment is bogus the last chorus has Gadd’s hi hat and snare vibe all over it! I love Jeff’s playing, but this one is Gadd! But maybe Merv will weigh in on this one 😊 Cool idea stereo double drums with Gadd. I heard the other drum part was wondering why? My first cover of this song is me playing over Gadd … not easy to do!

[@RubenvanRoonDrumChannel]

I think it's all Gadd, only he has such great dynamics on the snare drum, that he goes a little louder there and rimshot's that make the snare sound different, cool drumming!

[@jimflys2]

It could be. I start flamming a little in that last verse that wasn't happening in the other verses. Jeff hit more behind the beat, so......I don't know. I find it hard to lay back.