Soul Drums

Soul Drums is the debut album by drummer Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, recorded for the Date label in 1967. The single "Funky Donkey" reached No. 87 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967.

Reception
The review by Jason Ankeny of AllMusic states:"Not so much an album as it is a master class in the art of funk percussion, Soul Drums is the quintessential Bernard "Pretty" Purdie LP, an unstoppable rhythm machine made all the more memorable by its fiercely idiosyncratic production... Purdie creates a suite of deep funk grooves notable for the sheer insistence of their energy as well as the remarkable imagination and skill of their beats, all topped off with echo-chamber-like production that underscores the music's visceral punch. It is virtually impossible to listen to Soul Drums without nodding your head and tapping your foot–– and physical response, not thoughts or words, are its most sincere praise."

Track listing
All compositions by Bernard Purdie except where indicated
 * 1) "Soul Drums" – 3:33
 * 2) "Bee 'N' Tee" (Purdie, Richard Tee) – 2:56
 * 3) "Caravan" (Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Juan Tizol) – 2:41
 * 4) "Soul Bossa Nova" (Purdie, Tee) – 2:46
 * 5) "Jimmy's Back" (Purdie, James Tyrell) – 2:37
 * 6) "Funky Donkey" – 3:01
 * 7) "Bill's Groove" – 2:44
 * 8) "On the Outskirts of Minitown" – 3:19
 * 9) "Testifyin'" (Purdie, Tee) – 2:37
 * 10) "Modern Jive" (Purdie, Tee) – 2:46
 * 11) "Blow Your Lid (But Watch Your Cool)" – 2:40
 * 12) "Alexander's Ragtime Band" (Irving Berlin) – 4:03 Bonus track on CD reissue
 * 13) "Fickle Finger of Fate" (Billy Jackson, Richard Rome, James Wisner) – 1:53 Bonus track on CD reissue
 * 14) "Genuine John" (Cornell Dupree, Chuck Rainey) – 2:44 Bonus track on CD reissue
 * 15) "Soul Clappin'" (Purdie, Tee) – 2:40 Bonus track on CD reissue
 * 16) "Groovin'" (Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere) – 3:38 Bonus track on CD reissue
 * 17) "If You Never Cried" (Jerome Jackson) – 3:08 Bonus track on CD reissue
 * 18) "Stop" (Jerry Ragovoy, Mort Shuman) – 2:48 Bonus track on CD reissue
 * 19) "Time Is Tight" (Booker T. Jones, Al Jackson Jr., Donald "Duck" Dunn, Steve Cropper) – 2:40 Bonus track on CD reissue

Personnel

 * Bernard "Pretty" Purdie – drums, shouting vocals
 * Seldon Powell – tenor saxophone, flute
 * Buddy Lucas – tenor saxophone, flute, baritone saxophone, shouting vocals
 * Billy Butler – guitar
 * Eric Gale – guitar
 * Richard Tee – piano, Hammond organ, arranger
 * Bob Bushnell – bass