Let There Be Drums is more than just an album title. It's a proclamation from above, a call to arms that galvanized an entire generation of aspiring drummers. The infectious title cut proved Sandy Nelson's second and final Top Ten hit, and its bombastic drum sound remains a rock & roll archetype, distilling the immense power and allure of bashing the skins in well under three minutes. Like no one before him, Nelson captures the fundamental frenzy that is the essence of rock drumming, and his performance remains the template for successive generations of players to follow. The remainder of Let There Be Drums ain't too shabby, either. Additional Nelson/Richie Polodor originals like "Bouncy" and "Birth of the Beat" showcase the energy and invention of Nelson's drumming to no less impressive effect, rendering the record's cover songs (including the Champs' "Tequila" and Fats Domino's "My Girl Josephine") obsolete in the process. ~ Jason Ankeny