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Let the Drums Speak!
Bernard "Pretty" Purdie is arguably the most recorded drummer in the world. Purdie has been a regular guest in the studios of the stars of jazz, soul and rock, as well as producing his own albums.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 11, 2015
Enjoyed it, especially after Bernard's arrival in NYC. I first saw him with King Curtis's band backing a show at the Paramount on Times Square. That had to be 1963. After that his name popped up more and more frequently as his studio career blossomed. I've met Bernard and have had the good fortune to do a couple of gigs with him. Great musician that was immediately comfortable to play with and talk with. A friendly conversationalist. The greatest controversy surrounding him was his claim to have overdubbed (in the early 60s) on over 20 tracks by The Beatles. He doesn't remember which tracks (He is a man who has played on more records than you can count). In the often complex world created by the ability to overdub, the lack of any paper trail, etc etc, the recording business is subject to strange things happening. So is it possible that Purdie did this? It is! Some producer may have gotten hold of early recordings, not liked the drums (rightly or wrongly)and thanks to overdubbing, put another drummer on. Which in turn was subject to later tampering. And in the end may not have gone anywhere. It's a complex business.
In any event, if your have interest in the NYC recording scene of that era (sadly pretty much defunct now)or in an inside view of the music business it's a good read.
In any event, if your have interest in the NYC recording scene of that era (sadly pretty much defunct now)or in an inside view of the music business it's a good read.
November 13, 2022
Bernard Purdie biography
This book is so much more than just another biography of a drummer. Purdie is unique as a person and as a drummer. Well worth reading.
This book is so much more than just another biography of a drummer. Purdie is unique as a person and as a drummer. Well worth reading.
December 23, 2025
If you are a drummer, my rating would be 5 stars.
Why? Well, it is Bernard "pretty" Purdie! The man has a drumbeat named after him ( the purdie shuffle), you cant get any more famous than that, as a drummer.
If you are not a drummer, my rating would be 3 stars.
Why? Well, Mr.Purdie is not a writer and altough it is still interesting, it is not great story telling.
I would still recommend it though, hence the 4 stars, in general. But you at least need to be interested in music.
Why? Well, it is Bernard "pretty" Purdie! The man has a drumbeat named after him ( the purdie shuffle), you cant get any more famous than that, as a drummer.
If you are not a drummer, my rating would be 3 stars.
Why? Well, Mr.Purdie is not a writer and altough it is still interesting, it is not great story telling.
I would still recommend it though, hence the 4 stars, in general. But you at least need to be interested in music.
November 19, 2014
We received an autographed copy of this at our daughter's wedding in October, 2014, from Bernard Purdy himself, who was at the drums in the band playing at the wedding reception! Not being into drummers, his was not a name I was familiar with. Apparently, Bernard Purdie is the "world's most recorded drummer", having performed and recorded with artists across the musical spectrum, such as Pearl Bailey, Tony Bennett, Claude Bolling, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillepsie, Nat "King" Cole, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin. Michael Jackson, and Willie Nelson, to name just a few.
Purdie's story begins with his boyhood in Maryland, taking us through his beginnings as a drummer for the local big band, to his big break in New York, and his subsequent success in recording studios & venues across the country. Except for his boyhood, very little is revealed about his personal life, but there is an abundance of anecdotes concerning his professional life and his contributions to music as it evolved in the 60's through the 70's. There are lots of pats on the back in this book for Mr. Purdie!
Purdie's story begins with his boyhood in Maryland, taking us through his beginnings as a drummer for the local big band, to his big break in New York, and his subsequent success in recording studios & venues across the country. Except for his boyhood, very little is revealed about his personal life, but there is an abundance of anecdotes concerning his professional life and his contributions to music as it evolved in the 60's through the 70's. There are lots of pats on the back in this book for Mr. Purdie!
January 11, 2015
Great drummer - shit book. Passed off as ghost-written autobiography but with not even the slightest attempt to get a 'voice' anywhere near Prudie's; bogged down with Wikipedia fluff and boring stories of upbringing and then the important stuff - all that music from "The World's Most Recorded Drummer" is glossed over. Insulting to the legacy. And just really bad writing too. Thoroughly disappointing.
September 5, 2015
Clearly not written by Purdie himself, but seemly just a flushed out ghost text of the more informative and extensive reprint of an interview in the back of the book, it’s an overall very disappointing read. The most recorded session drummer in the business, hours and hours shoulder to shoulder with some of the greatest musicians of the 70s, and not one interesting anecdote?
Someone should sit down with Mr Purdie an intensive interview, that would make a book.
Someone should sit down with Mr Purdie an intensive interview, that would make a book.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews