List article
25 Best 1970s Rock Drum Breaks
1970s rock breaks bring room tone, heavier snare weight, and long performance dynamics that modern sample packs rarely recreate. This list is built for beatmakers who want raw, playable drum texture from real records.
Method note: this ranking is editorial and optimized for break utility, groove character, and replay value. Every item is verified against a live OpenDrumsOnly entry page.
How to use this list
- Start with the top 8 records if you want instantly recognizable break textures.
- Use the full list to find less-obvious loops that still sit in classic rock drum language.
- After opening each entry, compare year + style to branch into related digging paths.
- The Mexican - Babe Ruth (1972): A hard-driving groove with classic break energy. OpenDrumsOnly entry
- Long Red - Mountain (1972): Famous intro drums and room sound that cut through mixes. OpenDrumsOnly entry
- Walk This Way - Aerosmith (1975): Straight-ahead rock pocket with high sample recognition. OpenDrumsOnly entry
- Funk #49, The Bomber (Medley) - James Gang (1970): Punchy drums with a crunchy live feel. OpenDrumsOnly entry
- Living Wreck - Deep Purple (1970): Tight hard-rock drumming with useful accents. OpenDrumsOnly entry
- Fireball, Fools - Deep Purple (1971): Dense fills and classic early-70s drum tone. OpenDrumsOnly entry
- In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed - Allman Brothers Band, The (1971): Long-form groove movement with dynamic transitions. OpenDrumsOnly entry
- Hamburger Midnight - Little Feat (1971): Loose but controlled pocket, ideal for gritty loops. OpenDrumsOnly entry
- Teenage Nervous Breakdown - Little Feat (1972): Snappy drums and bounce-heavy phrasing. OpenDrumsOnly entry
- Day Or Night - Little Feat (1975): Deep groove and dry kit articulation for chopping. OpenDrumsOnly entry
- Hypnotized - Fleetwood Mac (1975): Smooth rock pulse with clean transients. OpenDrumsOnly entry
- Jesus Is Just Alright - Doobie Brothers, The (1972): Steady backbeat with useful kick/snare separation. OpenDrumsOnly entry
- Rio - Doobie Brothers, The (1976): Tight and modern-sounding 70s pop-rock drums. OpenDrumsOnly entry
- Hair Of The Dog - Nazareth (1975): Stomping hard-rock rhythm with aggressive attack. OpenDrumsOnly entry
- The Ballad Of Hollis Brown - Nazareth (1974): Heavier groove with roomy drum character. OpenDrumsOnly entry
- Hot 'N' Nasty - Humble Pie (1972): Grit-driven blues-rock feel that loops well. OpenDrumsOnly entry
- Mr. Big - Free (1970): Classic break-friendly phrasing and space in the drums. OpenDrumsOnly entry
- Walking In Your Shadow - Uriah Heep (1970): Powerful groove with hard-rock kit weight. OpenDrumsOnly entry
- The Pilgrim [Live Version] - Wishbone Ash (1973): Live-recorded drum movement with natural dynamics. OpenDrumsOnly entry
- Trust In You - Wishbone Ash (1976): Prog-rock precision with strong loop points. OpenDrumsOnly entry
- Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed - Thin Lizzy (1976): Tight kick/snare balance for punchy edits. OpenDrumsOnly entry
- Do You Love Me - Kiss (1976): Big arena-style drums with clear impact. OpenDrumsOnly entry
- Lord Of The Thighs, Woman Of The World - Aerosmith (1974): Hard groove and thick kit sound for raw loops. OpenDrumsOnly entry
- Supernaut - Black Sabbath (1972): Heavy, driving rhythm with unmistakable attack. OpenDrumsOnly entry
- Breakout - Black Sabbath (1978): Percussive hard-rock texture for darker flips. OpenDrumsOnly entry
FAQ
Why target 1970s rock breaks for sampling?
Because many were tracked with live-room bleed and minimal processing, so they keep natural movement when chopped and repitched.
Are these the “best” in a strict statistical sense?
No. This is a qualitative shortlist based on break usability and long-term digger consensus, not a single numeric popularity metric.
How should I continue digging after this page?
Use each entry to pivot by artist, year, and style, then expand through the main catalog search for similar drum aesthetics.
Related: Top 10 classic breaks and 25 best 1970s funk/soul drum breaks. Missing a key rock break? Submit it here.