The Greatest Grooves Of R&B And Soul
“Shotgun” By Jr. Walker & The Allstars
The musicians on these tracks weren’t credited, and I’ve found two different credits for the drumming on this song. Either Motown studio drummer Benny Benjamin or Richard “Pistol” Allen provided the instantly recognizable intro fill to “Shotgun,” which is a good example of how a drum fill can become a song hook. Play the song without that fill or change it and you’re simply playing it wrong. Notice the constant eighth-note bass drum pattern used to drive the song. Reportedly, Jr. Walker performed the vocals on this classic track only because his singer never showed up.