You are so right!! The guys who played on these classic tracks were truly ORIGINAL artists--no electronics, no digital editing, no RUclips to learn from. They forged trails by cutting through the jungle with the machete of their own ideas. BTW...the drummer on the original song is Willie Leacox.
I always loved the overall sound of America, but I never knew there was so much going on in the drum section on this track.. will have to revisit the original.. Great job on this BTW!
Agreed, Had the chance to meet Willie, Very nice guy, Hated to see him retire! Nice to hear the late Sir George Martin playing piano on this original recording as well....
I always did but drums are what I hear and always have.....from the beginning.....Played this album a zillion times......It is a fabulous song and Steve does it justice.....
Out of all the drum covers of Tin Man I've watched on RUclips, you are the ONLY ONE who was able to catch the right grove on the sock cymbals! P.S.: After having watched again, I also have to commend you on how effortless you make it look!
Steve, I am continuously blown away by your versatility. I have a reputation for being a versatile drummer, but you take the cake by at least 4x. Thanks for taking the time to produce and publish these videos. They are very inspirational to me and I’m learning a lot from you. I’m also left wondering how anyone could give you a thumbs down on this song. You did such a splendid job. I'm guessing you're a studio drummer???
Hi Scott. Thank you for your amazing support. I love music so I try to learn different styles and genres. I am very gratified and humbled that you're learning from my channel. I am a self-taught, weekend warrior drummer so the thought of "teaching" anyone else seems impossible to me. I started playing drums when I was 18 and have played since then in various cover bands. I've always had a daytime career so drums are actually a life-long hobby for me. Good luck with your drumming!!!!
Amazing. True professionals make it look easy. I'm watching your arms and your hands and I can see that there is a lot going on in that song. Thank you!
I heard this song the other day (for the millionth time) and had never critically listened to the drums before. I had to come home and see your take on it. There is a lot more going on than meets the ear. Very well executed.
I’ve been learning this tune on drums over the past year or so. My band has worked up a very nice version which I’m proud of. I mentioned to them how exceptional the drumming is, and they were surprised to hear me say that. They always figured that it was an easy tune with a simple beat. That’s true, in a sense, but its a deceptively simple arrangement that is difficult to get just right, particularly when singing a harmony part, as I do. See if you agree with what I had to say to them. I pointed out several details that are challenging, starting with the most elusive, the feel. This drum track is absolutely priceless for its time feel. The interplay between the bass guitar, the acoustic parts, the vocals and the drums is dependent on the drums feeling relaxed. I’ve learned this the hard way! You have obviously played this several times, because you look and sound just right, very relaxed, almost nonchalant, and confident. Starting with the intro and verses, the drums play that awesome little Latin type, Samba/Calypso thing with the clave-esqe rim clicks and the bass drum playing the subtle dotted eighths, implying a Samba style pattern. It perfectly compliments the acoustic guitar rhythm, leaves plenty of room for the fantastic, funky bass guitar part, while complimenting it, and it just feels great to play. Then, the fills he plays are signature, in my opinion, and I try to play them note for note. Particularly the first time the band goes into the chorus. (A quick note here, if the drums are tuned open, with long sustain, its probably going to sound a bit fuzzy. The drums on the recording have the classic, dead/muffled ‘70s sound, all pitch and focused attack, with no noticeable sustain. It seems to work better that way.) The phrase he uses there just seems perfect, da DA da da dada, and has to be played absolutely relaxed, or it sounds stiff. The whole phrase during the pre chorus, the quarter note triplet cymbal hits, the snare/tom phrase, back to the triplet cymbal hits, and the finishing snare/tom orchestration are magical. I also love how he goes back to the rim click on the snare for the first chorus. I begin my part of the vocal harmony at that point, and I have to have absolutely perfect posture to facilitate smooth breath control and pitch, while still playing solid rim clicks. The vocal OOHS are not too tough, but they do a bend downward at the end of the phrase, OOOOOOOoooooh. My microphone has to be in a supportive position so I’m relaxed, and not reaching and stretching for it, without it being too close and hitting me in the face, lol. If these details aren’t achieved, then my voice wavers as my body is playing the kit, like if you sing a note and bounce your leg. So there’s the posture, vocal control/breath control, while still breathing in a relaxed way to get oxygen as normal, the muscle coordination and control to go from rim clicks, up to the snare and around the toms, the cymbal hits, back to the snare/toms, back to the clicks, all while playing with a relaxed feel and hitting the wonderful dynamics in those fills, its MUCH more difficult than it seems. Then, during the subsequent choruses and the outtro, while the vocals are OOOOOHing, that absolutely brilliant little hi hat bark on the 2 and 4, my god it’s just so good, has to be just the right length and exactly the same every time. You are doing this perfectly here. Lastly, you definitely hear the bell, or crotale, or something like that, during the fills leading into the chorus, when the vocal sings “Oz never did give nothing to the tin man, that he didn’t, didn’t already have....” Each of the phrases is two bars of 4/4, with vocals and fills during the first bar, and rhythm/instruments during the second. During the first bar with the fills, the bell hits with the bass drum on the “e” of count 2, and on the “a” of count 3. Its a clever little part, either played by the percussionist or as an overdub, but its grabbed my attention for as long as I can remember, even as a young boy who knew nothing about drums, or cared yet. I’ve devised a simple sticking to fit that in on the hi hat bell and crash cymbal bell as I play the fill. I really like how it adds a little sparkle. So, if you’ve made it this far into my comment, you’re probably thinking that I need to get a life, or a buddy or something. My wife has been glancing at me, shaking her head like I’m an obsessed mad man, as I have been trying to get this typed out on my iPhone, index finger pecking away like crazy. Its just that I love this tune in a special way, maybe because it takes me back to my earliest memories of noticing music, I’m not quite sure. I’ve just always loved the melody, the harmonies, the guitar, the drums and that little bell part that I heard so clearly all those years ago. I never thought I would have an opportunity to play it live with a band, but here I am. We play it well, not every time, but mostly we’ve gotten it done well. I’m really proud of us, a little four piece band one electric guitar, a bass guitar, drums and a fantastic lead vocalist, who finally will play the occasional tambourine or shaker part, mostly because he’s tired of hearing me and the guitar player harassing him and explaining that it adds such a nice layer on top, and that its an important part to play, lol. Or, maybe its because this tune is one of the reasons that I began to love music in the first place. Thank you for sharing your video. You did a great job with this tune, and it seems like you’re hearing many of the same nuances that I do. By the way, drums sound fantastic! Any chance you would give a description of your gear? Well done!
Wow, you've achieved the record of leaving the longest comment on any of my 350+ drum cover videos!!! Via iPhone too!!!! WOW!!! And yes, I read every word. Your review of the original drumming on this wonderful song is spot on! I feel guilty for not having recorded this cover note-for-note. Thank you for watching!!
I really enjoy your playing and try to copy it somehow.I still cant nail your hihat sound.IS it a 15 or 14 inch hi-hat ? Do you use nylontip stix (7a, 5a, ?)If you could post a version of this video with your playing on right and the original sond on the left, it could be helpfull too. Thank you for answering.
Thank you for your support! The hi-hats are 13.5" Zildjian Hybrids. I use Vic Firth 8DN sticks (yes, with nylon tips). I record all my videos "live" to the camera so I cannot separate my drums from the original recording. Sorry.
ok, thank you, that is helpfull.I play this song with 7a woodtip vic firth on a 70's zildjian avedis 15 inch... i guest that explain why its different.i will try tu get a smaller hihat if possible.
Un believable that I'm looking for a cow bell between the cymbals, and to realize that he's just hitting the very near center of the symbol itself. I'm no drummer and couldn't figure out where that sound was coming from until looking in a second time. Actually I love watching drum covers being a guitarist.v
Precisely, Robin...the trusty paradiddle should be in every crime-fighter's tool box. The key.......is.......to use them....in....conspicuously. LOL!!!! Thank you!
Until you SEE someone drum over this song, you don't truly appreciate the masterful percussion work on this track. Very nice.
You are so right!! The guys who played on these classic tracks were truly ORIGINAL artists--no electronics, no digital editing, no RUclips to learn from. They forged trails by cutting through the jungle with the machete of their own ideas. BTW...the drummer on the original song is Willie Leacox.
I always loved the overall sound of America, but I never knew there was so much going on in the drum section on this track.. will have to revisit the original.. Great job on this BTW!
Agreed, Had the chance to meet Willie, Very nice guy, Hated to see him retire! Nice to hear the late Sir George Martin playing piano on this original recording as well....
I always did but drums are what I hear and always have.....from the beginning.....Played this album a zillion times......It is a fabulous song and Steve does it justice.....
Listening to it really made me wanna see it. I imagined it took a lot of physical focus to be this technical
My Favorite America tune!!!! Soooo well done, Sir!!!!!!
Thank you!!!
I can't find the words discribe the amazing drumming from Steve Tocco...AMAZING!!!
Thank you! All credit goes to Willie Leacox, the original drummer on this song.
Out of all the drum covers of Tin Man I've watched on RUclips, you are the ONLY ONE who was able to catch the right grove on the sock cymbals!
P.S.: After having watched again, I also have to commend you on how effortless you make it look!
Steve, I am continuously blown away by your versatility. I have a reputation for being a versatile drummer, but you take the cake by at least 4x. Thanks for taking the time to produce and publish these videos. They are very inspirational to me and I’m learning a lot from you. I’m also left wondering how anyone could give you a thumbs down on this song. You did such a splendid job. I'm guessing you're a studio drummer???
Hi Scott. Thank you for your amazing support. I love music so I try to learn different styles and genres. I am very gratified and humbled that you're learning from my channel. I am a self-taught, weekend warrior drummer so the thought of "teaching" anyone else seems impossible to me. I started playing drums when I was 18 and have played since then in various cover bands. I've always had a daytime career so drums are actually a life-long hobby for me. Good luck with your drumming!!!!
This is a tough piece so beautifully played 🙏 I'm a new drummer, living my dreams to learn how to drum... Thank you for inspiring me .
Those small fills are so magical... Great Job!!
Perfect. Your feel in this song is outstanding. So well done.
Amazing. True professionals make it look easy. I'm watching your arms and your hands and I can see that there is a lot going on in that song. Thank you!
Thank you!!
This is not an easy task to do, but you made it look so simple. You're an awesome drummer.
just goes to show the depth of the artist of the 70s...perfect as usual steve..
Great Job! America Was Incredible! Their Arrangements and Musical Talent were so Unassuming....
Great stuff man. You make it look so effortless. Just love your channel - keep em coming.
Thank you for watching and commenting on my channel!!!!
Great song and really interesting drum work ... well done !
What a master piece
Beautiful cover. Love this song. Great job.
I heard this song the other day (for the millionth time) and had never critically listened to the drums before. I had to come home and see your take on it. There is a lot more going on than meets the ear. Very well executed.
Thank you. The original drum part is marvelous. I am embellishing (overplaying) the drums a bit.
You give this soul.
Such a great song! Beautiful drum cover, Steve!
It's a great song, indeed!! Thank you!!
Perfect!!!! With the late Sir George Martin playing piano on this great classic!
You completely captured the essence of the original song. Those laid back fills are so good! Great cover!
Thank you!!!
Wow! Great song done so very well! 🎼👍🥁
So good. Thank you. The perfect song to open an outdoor concert (ala Central Park 1979)
I’ve been learning this tune on drums over the past year or so. My band has worked up a very nice version which I’m proud of. I mentioned to them how exceptional the drumming is, and they were surprised to hear me say that. They always figured that it was an easy tune with a simple beat. That’s true, in a sense, but its a deceptively simple arrangement that is difficult to get just right, particularly when singing a harmony part, as I do. See if you agree with what I had to say to them. I pointed out several details that are challenging, starting with the most elusive, the feel. This drum track is absolutely priceless for its time feel. The interplay between the bass guitar, the acoustic parts, the vocals and the drums is dependent on the drums feeling relaxed. I’ve learned this the hard way! You have obviously played this several times, because you look and sound just right, very relaxed, almost nonchalant, and confident. Starting with the intro and verses, the drums play that awesome little Latin type, Samba/Calypso thing with the clave-esqe rim clicks and the bass drum playing the subtle dotted eighths, implying a Samba style pattern. It perfectly compliments the acoustic guitar rhythm, leaves plenty of room for the fantastic, funky bass guitar part, while complimenting it, and it just feels great to play. Then, the fills he plays are signature, in my opinion, and I try to play them note for note. Particularly the first time the band goes into the chorus. (A quick note here, if the drums are tuned open, with long sustain, its probably going to sound a bit fuzzy. The drums on the recording have the classic, dead/muffled ‘70s sound, all pitch and focused attack, with no noticeable sustain. It seems to work better that way.) The phrase he uses there just seems perfect, da DA da da dada, and has to be played absolutely relaxed, or it sounds stiff. The whole phrase during the pre chorus, the quarter note triplet cymbal hits, the snare/tom phrase, back to the triplet cymbal hits, and the finishing snare/tom orchestration are magical. I also love how he goes back to the rim click on the snare for the first chorus. I begin my part of the vocal harmony at that point, and I have to have absolutely perfect posture to facilitate smooth breath control and pitch, while still playing solid rim clicks. The vocal OOHS are not too tough, but they do a bend downward at the end of the phrase, OOOOOOOoooooh. My microphone has to be in a supportive position so I’m relaxed, and not reaching and stretching for it, without it being too close and hitting me in the face, lol. If these details aren’t achieved, then my voice wavers as my body is playing the kit, like if you sing a note and bounce your leg. So there’s the posture, vocal control/breath control, while still breathing in a relaxed way to get oxygen as normal, the muscle coordination and control to go from rim clicks, up to the snare and around the toms, the cymbal hits, back to the snare/toms, back to the clicks, all while playing with a relaxed feel and hitting the wonderful dynamics in those fills, its MUCH more difficult than it seems. Then, during the subsequent choruses and the outtro, while the vocals are OOOOOHing, that absolutely brilliant little hi hat bark on the 2 and 4, my god it’s just so good, has to be just the right length and exactly the same every time. You are doing this perfectly here. Lastly, you definitely hear the bell, or crotale, or something like that, during the fills leading into the chorus, when the vocal sings “Oz never did give nothing to the tin man, that he didn’t, didn’t already have....” Each of the phrases is two bars of 4/4, with vocals and fills during the first bar, and rhythm/instruments during the second. During the first bar with the fills, the bell hits with the bass drum on the “e” of count 2, and on the “a” of count 3. Its a clever little part, either played by the percussionist or as an overdub, but its grabbed my attention for as long as I can remember, even as a young boy who knew nothing about drums, or cared yet. I’ve devised a simple sticking to fit that in on the hi hat bell and crash cymbal bell as I play the fill. I really like how it adds a little sparkle. So, if you’ve made it this far into my comment, you’re probably thinking that I need to get a life, or a buddy or something. My wife has been glancing at me, shaking her head like I’m an obsessed mad man, as I have been trying to get this typed out on my iPhone, index finger pecking away like crazy. Its just that I love this tune in a special way, maybe because it takes me back to my earliest memories of noticing music, I’m not quite sure. I’ve just always loved the melody, the harmonies, the guitar, the drums and that little bell part that I heard so clearly all those years ago. I never thought I would have an opportunity to play it live with a band, but here I am. We play it well, not every time, but mostly we’ve gotten it done well. I’m really proud of us, a little four piece band one electric guitar, a bass guitar, drums and a fantastic lead vocalist, who finally will play the occasional tambourine or shaker part, mostly because he’s tired of hearing me and the guitar player harassing him and explaining that it adds such a nice layer on top, and that its an important part to play, lol. Or, maybe its because this tune is one of the reasons that I began to love music in the first place. Thank you for sharing your video. You did a great job with this tune, and it seems like you’re hearing many of the same nuances that I do. By the way, drums sound fantastic! Any chance you would give a description of your gear? Well done!
Wow, you've achieved the record of leaving the longest comment on any of my 350+ drum cover videos!!! Via iPhone too!!!! WOW!!! And yes, I read every word. Your review of the original drumming on this wonderful song is spot on! I feel guilty for not having recorded this cover note-for-note. Thank you for watching!!
love this song! Nice job!
Que gran tema..y que bien ejecutado por este baterista.!!
Gracias!!
I always thought the drum part on this tune was interesting...seeing it up close, wow, amazing drum piece. Thanks Steve!
Thank you! All credit goes to the original drummer, Willie Leacox.
Excellent drumming sir!!!!! wow.
Thank you!!
Beautiful piece man .
Very nice...I can hear each beat that is played 😊
That's how I teach
Your skill and attention to detail is amazing, sir.✌️👍🥁
Thank you! Skill level is a relative scale. When compared to my drum heroes, I SUCK!! LOL!!
@@SteveToccoDrummer well damnit I wish I sucked at drumming as much as you!
This is sooo soothing
Yes, the band America has a great sound. Thanks for watching and commenting!!
America 🇺🇸
Excellent Cover 👍
nice cover, good job!
+gwen jing _ Thank you!!!
Really amazing
Excellent! very good execution
Thank you!
Bravo! really good job, very professional.
Thank you!
Like # 471 👍🏻 very tastefully played sir 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thank you!!
Love those cymbal tones
Solid Stever! Awesomeness.
Thank you!!!
Wow!
Well done, my compliments!
+MsStormy333 Thank you!
Good Job ! Great Song !!
amazing talent
Thank you!!!
Great job! Thank you for giving me insight to the drum pattern on this song
thats not a drum cover! thats a masterpiece!!!
The best and most accurate cover. kudos
Uauuuuuuuu master..🙏🥁🎶
I'm not even close to being a master but I thank you nonetheless!!!
This is raw, no electronic bullshit like we have today in our music. Awesome!
Absolutely and totally cool. I'm 60 + and decided to teach myself to play drums...? yeah, this looks like it would be fun to learn. Pray for me. LoL.
Thank you!! Welcome to the drummer club! Prayers coming your way!!
I really enjoy your playing and try to copy it somehow.I still cant nail your hihat sound.IS it a 15 or 14 inch hi-hat ? Do you use nylontip stix (7a, 5a, ?)If you could post a version of this video with your playing on right and the original sond on the left, it could be helpfull too. Thank you for answering.
Thank you for your support! The hi-hats are 13.5" Zildjian Hybrids. I use Vic Firth 8DN sticks (yes, with nylon tips). I record all my videos "live" to the camera so I cannot separate my drums from the original recording. Sorry.
ok, thank you, that is helpfull.I play this song with 7a woodtip vic firth on a 70's zildjian avedis 15 inch... i guest that explain why its different.i will try tu get a smaller hihat if possible.
Awesome cover alot more going on in this great song than you think
Thank you! Yes, the original drummer, Willie Leacox, played some genius stuff on this song.
These kinds of songs with extended fills throughout the verse or chorus must be what drummers live for (02:18)
very enjoyable and dead on
Impressive!!!
Master Drummer !!!!!
I WISH!!!! Thank you!
Damn, Dude. I'll probably watch this a thousand times.
Un believable that I'm looking for a cow bell between the cymbals, and to realize that he's just hitting the very near center of the symbol itself. I'm no drummer and couldn't figure out where that sound was coming from until looking in a second time. Actually I love watching drum covers being a guitarist.v
so cool!
It's a great song. Thank you!!
Muito bom.
obrigada
Bravo!
Thank you!!!
Master!!!
Very nice sir!!
Thank you!!
this is tough! great job!
Excelente
You smoked this cover!!
Thank you!
WOW! Great stuff
I never realized how much the rhythm had a rather laid back, almost "latin" feel to it.....WL really was a good drummer.
bravo!
Great
WOW !!!! (= Love IT!!!!
enfin un bon cover de ce titre j'm
Merci!
muito 10 show
Obrigado!!
Impressive
Great Drummer.!!
Thank you!!!
Nice 😉💐💐💐
Holy paradiddles Batman " 👍🥁
Precisely, Robin...the trusty paradiddle should be in every crime-fighter's tool box. The key.......is.......to use them....in....conspicuously. LOL!!!! Thank you!
@@SteveToccoDrummer welcome.
that is a busy song to play the drums to
Yes, there are a lot of details in this song.
suave
Fuckkng amazing the finesse is flawless
Dude!
Hello steve !!!!!
Sarro
Soap suds green like bubbles
Steve lo hace parecer tan fácil...seems to be easy
Strangely enough Ms. Officer by Lil Wayne 😱
needs the triangle