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Tate
This style really works for these songs, but it also in a way fits with his "lazy" drumming habits. When you play r+r drums, it becomes very easy to just let your kick-foot just pound away all the time, without even thinking about it-- like when you tap your feet to music at home. It's just natural. Charlie has a lot of "lazy" drumming habits, like playing heavy on the right hand, and not hitting the ride note that coincides with the beat (only playing 3 out of every four notes on the hi-hat). But that's just his style, and I've always liked it and felt it was appropriate for the Stones.
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Tate
Charlie is definitely a rock drummer. He loves jazz, plays jazz, but is not a stellar jazz drummer, and has admitted it himself, saying he is a better rock drummer. I think Charlie's passion is jazz, and loved it early on, but really got his start as a blues/rock drummer. Playing with jazz groups after being in a rock band is kinda like learning to drive on an automatic and switching to a standard... whole new ballgame.
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Tate
Charlie is definitely a rock drummer. He loves jazz, plays jazz, but is not a stellar jazz drummer, and has admitted it himself, saying he is a better rock drummer. I think Charlie's passion is jazz, and loved it early on, but really got his start as a blues/rock drummer. Playing with jazz groups after being in a rock band is kinda like learning to drive on an automatic and switching to a standard... whole new ballgame.
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skipstone
There may be eights for all I know but the style is known simply as four on the floor. So if the measure is eight beats long, it's still four, it's just twice.
AH HA HA HA!
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saulsurvivor
He plays eighth notes in bursts on the kick in the songs originally mentioned in this post. He also does that live on occasion, especially the last two tours. (See JJF at the Olympia and Street Fighting Man at Twickenham and a plethora of other examples from the ABB tour.)
Charlie is my favorite rock and roll drummer of all time. I've been playing drums for over 30 years now, and it never ceases to amaze me how completely underrated he is. Drummers who try to belittle his drumming style and abilities are a dime a dozen. There is only one Charlie Watts. He's simply the best.
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Tate
I am also a drummer, have been all my life. I think essentially I agree with 71tele's notion of Charlie's preferences. I guess I am one of the "dime-a-dozen" drummers, though, who trashes Charlie's playing, though I don't deny how perfect he is for the Stones. Every musician is unique, does things the way he/she wants to, and Charlie is definitely unique. While I like his sound and style with the Stones, I find it more of a coincidence, and luck of the draw as to band chemistry than anything Charlie does as a drummer. He is a sloppy drummer as professional drummers go, you just can't deny that. In the studio he sounds ok, but you can do wonders in a studio. On stage these days I find he is very limited, takes every short cut he can, and often makes mistakes. But he loves what he does (especially the jazz material) and any musician must be respected for putting joy into music. I'm sure his jazz bandmates over the years have appreciated him... but to say he's not a good rock drummer because he's really a jazz drummer is off the mark. If you are a skilled jazz drummer, you can do anything. I just don't think Charlie takes the time these days to really keep himself "in shape" as a drummer, but rather just goes out and plays swing. I don't think a drummer has to be phenomenal or a good soloist to be good-- but playing tight and making the band sound good is the most important part. I think live, there are times when Charlie really loses it and exposes his loss of finesse over the years.
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straycatblues73
charlie is great for the stones . sloppy? loose? i dont know but did he ever come in at the right time in little queenie in 69?
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saulsurvivor
He plays eighth notes in bursts on the kick in the songs originally mentioned in this post. He also does that live on occasion, especially the last two tours. (See JJF at the Olympia and Street Fighting Man at Twickenham and a plethora of other examples from the ABB tour.)
Charlie is my favorite rock and roll drummer of all time. I've been playing drums for over 30 years now, and it never ceases to amaze me how completely underrated he is. Drummers who try to belittle his drumming style and abilities are a dime a dozen. There is only one Charlie Watts. He's simply the best.