Forget About the Cowbell, These Songs Would Be Nothing Without a Tambourine

When Will Ferrell portrayed musician Gene Frenkle on Saturday Night Live, he probably made the cowbell more famous than any classic rock drummer from the 1970s. Ferrell’s “More Cowbell” sketch first aired on SNL in 2000 and ranks as one of the best in the show’s 50-year history. It also highlighted the importance of the cowbell to Blue Öyster Cult’s hit “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”.

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But let’s forget about the cowbell (for now). There’s another piece of rock and roll percussion behind many classic hits: the tambourine. And the songs below would be nothing without it.

“Mr. Tambourine Man” by The Byrds

The Byrds helped pioneer folk rock with a cover of Bob Dylan’s song in 1965. Dylan’s original didn’t include a tambourine, and it opened the acoustic side of his album Bringing It All Back Home. But The Byrds stayed true to Dylan’s title and added percussion to their first hit. Also, Roger McGuinn’s twelve-string electric guitar helped launch the jangly rock that inspired everyone from The Beatles to Tom Petty to R.E.M.

“You Can’t Hurry Love” by The Supremes

Berry Gordy understood how to make a hit record. The Motown sound rested on melody, gospel roots, and a driving back beat, which often included a tambourine. There are many Motown classics worthy of this list, but “You Can’t Hurry Love” combines the glamour of Diana Ross with the hit songwriting of Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, and Eddie Holland, and a swinging tambourine. Notice how loud it’s sitting in the mix.

“Day Tripper” by The Beatles

Most remember the iconic guitar riff on John Lennon’s “weekend hippie” song. But check out Ringo Starr’s tambourine overdub in the right speaker. Starr drives the track with a full drum kit that’s panned to the left speaker. But his tambourine part lifts the recording, and along with Lennon’s guitar, you can hear psychedelic rock coming into focus.

“Femme Fatale” by The Velvet Underground and Nico

Lou Reed’s ode to Edie Sedgwick highlights how important Maureen Tucker was to The Velvet Underground. Tucker gives the track momentum with a steady snare drum and tambourine. Though it was written for another Andy Warhol star, “Femme Fatale” became Nico’s defining vocal performance, with a co-starring role by Tucker and her constant tambourine.

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