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Collectors Item - Music, Art and Life: Music Documentaries
Revisit The Greatest 80's Pop Grooves on "Behind The Drums" Recreation Series


Break out your Jheri curl, Michael Jackson gloves and boombox as you get down to the sound of this musician who pays homage to 80's production. Behind The Drums takes a deep dive into the rhythms which built a generation. I'm proud to be raised on this type of music and now present the source of these magical drum sounds and grooves.


Based on the "Behind The Drums" sources, here is a list of the drum machines mentioned, the producers or programmers who used them, and the specific songs they were used on. I'm also including some of my favorite mixes to highlight drum sounds introduced in the 80's courtesy of Sparkle Motion:


Click on each header below to be redirected through my Awin affiliate link to each drum machine listed for sale on Reverb.


  • Linndrum & Emu Drumulator: Used by Tears For Fears on the song "Shout".
  • Linndrum: Used by producer Keith Forsey on the Billy Idol song "Eyes Without A Face".
  • Linndrum: Programmed by Paul Waaktaar and produced by Alan Tarney for the A-ha song "Take On Me".
  • Linndrum: Programmed by Chris Hughes for the Tears For Fears song "Everybody Wants To Rule The World".
  • Linndrum: Programmed by Neil Giraldo for the Pat Benatar song "Love Is A Battlefield".
  • Linndrum: Programmed for producer Giorgio Moroder on the Berlin song "Take My Breath Away".
  • Linndrum: Programmed by Michael Sembello for his song "Maniac".
  • Linndrum: Used by producer Mutt Lange (or sampled via a Fairlight CMI) for The Cars' song "Drive".
  • Linndrum & Sequential TOM: Used by producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for the Janet Jackson song "What Have You Done For Me Lately".
  • Linn 9000: Programmed by Sammy Merendino for the Cameo song "Word Up".
  • Linn 9000: Used by the production team Stock Aitken Waterman for the Dead Or Alive song "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)".
  • Linn 9000 (speculated): Used by producer Elliot Wolff for the Paula Abdul song "Straight Up".
  • Linn LM-1: Mentioned as a machine known to be used by Tears For Fears.



  • Oberheim DMX: Programmed by Fred Zar for producer John "Jellybean" Benitez on the Madonna song "Holiday".
  • Oberheim DMX: Programmed by Stephen Bray for the Madonna song "Into The Groove".
  • Oberheim DMX: Programmed by Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner for the New Order song "Blue Monday".
  • Oberheim DMX: Used by producers Tom Petty and Dave Stewart on the song "Don't Come Around Here No More".
  • Oberheim DMX: Programmed by Larry Smith for the RUN DMC song "Sucker MC's".
  • Oberheim DMX: Used by producer Jimmy Iovine (programmed by either Prince or Dave Bluefield) for the Stevie Nicks song "Stand Back".
  • Oberheim DMX (for cabasa): Used by Phil Collins on the song "Take Me Home".
  • Roland TR-707: Programmed by Andrew Ferris for the INXS song "Need You Tonight".
  • Roland TR-909: Programmed by Phil Collins for his song "Take Me Home".
  • Roland TR-909: Programmed by Gota Yashiki for producers Jazzy B and Nellee Hooper on the Soul II Soul song "Back To Life".
  • Roland TR-909: Programmed by Schoolly D for the song "PSK," which was later sampled by Stephen Hague for the Siouxsie & The Banshees song "Kiss Them For Me".
  • Roland TR-727: Used for additional percussion on the Shep Pettibone remix of Madonna's "Into The Groove".

Other Machines & Samplers

  • Simmons SDS7: Used for white noise by Sammy Merendino on Cameo's "Word Up".
  • Simmons (Toms): Used by Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner on New Order's "Blue Monday".
  • Fairlight CMI: Used by Tears For Fears for the kick drum on "Everybody Wants To Rule The World".
  • Akai MPC 2000XL: Used by the video host, Nick, for the recreation of the drums for Soul II Soul's "Back To Life".

The Foundation Set To Release The Whole Darn Family Documentary


Thank The Foundation for keeping the Funk alive at their YouTube channel which chronicles biographical information about the practitioners of Hip Hop. This 2025 trailer for The Whole Darn Family Documentary offers a story of the Richmond, VA band who created the renowned break "7 Minutes Of Funk". This groove was the foundation for classics by Jay-Z, DJ Premier, Grandmaster Flash, and dozens more.

 

Detroit Black Journal TV Present Rare Video of James Brown, Isaac Hayes, Motown & More

By JR on 9:17 AM

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Michigan State University strike musical gold in their initiative to preserve the video archives from local TV program Detroit Black Journal. ABJ interviews, field productions, and historic performances explore the social and cultural roots of Detroit. As a result, we get a look into the eclectic and highly influential contributions of this city upon American music. These ABJ shows feature an intermixture of conventional themes in urban pop culture (youth, political protest, romance, defiance of social conventions). In addition, you get to experience themes in black history and culture (blues, Christian spirituality, liberation), plus interviews with a host of legendary musicians.

Visit the archive here at MSU to enjoy hours of streaming video that captures important moments of American history.

For "Chronic 2001", Dr. Dre Invites BET DocuGroove Into His Home & Life Journey


From Andre Young the budding high school DJ to Dr. Dre the hit-making producer and entertainment mogul, BET covers the journey of a legend. Catch up with The Doctor back during the success of 2001 and the height of Eminem in this hour-long documentary. This Docu Groove features clips, photos and rare glimpses into Dre's life. Below, End Of The Night does a cool all-star posse cut mashup of Dre's affiliates on the re-edit of "Big Egoes"

Soul Facts Go DEEP Into The History Of The Diplomats, aka The Skull Snaps

By JR on 3:17 PM

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Witness a representation of class and diplomacy in Soul music and one of the funkiest in obscure bands as Chance B of the Soul Facts show runs down history. The Diplomats, aka The Skull Snaps are well known for the "It's A New Day" break, but this story reveals so much more of their roots and discography. From Doo Wop and Soul to Funk, Soul Facts takes a trip down memory lane with a band who's known to split wigs.

The 2018 repress of the Skull Snaps' self-titled LP by Mr. Bongo, now available here at Turntable Lab.

Behind The Scenes Of The Self Destruction Video With KRS-One, Heavy-D, Kool Moe Dee, D-Nice & More

By JR on 7:42 PM

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"The making of the Stop The Violence Movement's "Self-Destruction" video filmed in January 1989. Music Video was released on Martin Luther King Weekend 1989" - Ralph McDaniels

Video Music Box Presents: Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek's "Train Of Thought" EPK

By JR on 11:41 AM

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Ralph McDaniels captures the making of Kweli & Hi-Tek's excellent 2000 debut with live concert footage, a look inside the studio and words from the album's participants. Featuring Truguoy of De La Soul, Mos Def and others.

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