Toy Drums sets in popular recordings?

January 17, 2008 5:14 AM

What popular or well known recordings use toy drum sets for percussion?

I'm contemplating doing the RPM Challenge next month and I was wondering what it would sound like to use a cheapo children's mini drum set on a few of the songs.

I heard that Charlie Watts supposedly used something similar, on Street Fighting Man.

This made me curious about what other recordings use toy drum sets for percussion. Street Fighting Man was the only example I could find, but there are probably more. Anybody know of any examples? I'd be eager to hear what kinds of different sounds are possible.

posted by chillmost to Media & Arts (16 answers total)

Best answer: Pianosaurus did at least one album using entirely toy instruments back in the early '80's
posted by Gungho at 6:05 AM on January 17, 2008

Best answer: Self: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gizmodgery
posted by cashman at 6:07 AM on January 17, 2008 [1 favorite]

According to this comment, Ian Paice (drummer for Deep Purple) sometimes used a Planet of the Apes toy drum set. I'm really hoping this is true ;)
posted by iconomy at 6:10 AM on January 17, 2008

Didn't Presidents Of USA use a toy drum kit? Well it was definitely a miniature one in videos etc. Whether or not is on the recordings I don't know.
posted by alky303 at 6:11 AM on January 17, 2008

The Art Ensemble of Chicago, among other avant-garde jazz experimenters, are well-known for their use of 'little instruments.'
posted by box at 7:10 AM on January 17, 2008

Best answer: By The End of Tonight is a heavy rock band that used to use a toy drum kit but gave that up in recent years. "Setting Sail in April" for example is done on one.
posted by yeti at 7:15 AM on January 17, 2008

Best answer: Here's a link to my favorite Pianosaurus song, "The Sun Will Follow." Click on "Play Now."
posted by yeti at 7:21 AM on January 17, 2008

Best answer: Reverie Sound Revue uses (or used) a mini kit.
posted by chugg at 7:29 AM on January 17, 2008

^^^I don't know how popular or well known they are though.
posted by chugg at 7:33 AM on January 17, 2008

The production for Peter Gabriel's Up note that Manu Katche used a toy drum kit during recording.
posted by mkb at 7:42 AM on January 17, 2008

Best answer: Find a copy of the Self cover of "What a Fool Believes" Really, really good.
posted by sourwookie at 9:18 AM on January 17, 2008

Pram's early stuff was recorded with toy instruments, including drums, I think.
posted by umbú at 10:00 AM on January 17, 2008

I understand that some of the sound effects in the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations" are someone hitting the bottom of a Dixie cup.
posted by SlyBevel at 12:19 PM on January 17, 2008

If you can track down some of Ed's Redeeming Qualities' early stuff, Dan Leone used a toy drum set extensively. Check out the More Bad Times album especially.
posted by bendy at 2:57 PM on January 17, 2008

Response by poster: Thank you everybody for your answers.
posted by chillmost at 6:18 AM on January 21, 2008

I'm not sure if they qualify as popular, but the Tiger Lillies' Adrian Huge used a real toy drum set at one point.
posted by ostranenie at 8:45 PM on November 26, 2008