Imperial exhibited little restraint or respect in repackaging
Sandy Nelson's recordings for the label, and
Beat That Drum is a particularly egregious show of contempt for the listening public. The album is little more than an odds-and-ends collection of songs from previous LPs released here under new titles, some with minor production additions or subtractions apparently as justification for passing off this stuff as new material. The contents in question nevertheless capture
Nelson in his prime, drumming with abandon across a series of taut, twangy instrumentals that evoke the pre-
Beatles era with uncanny immediacy. Highlights include "Turf-Rider" (aka "Twisted," from
Drums Are My Beat!), "Viva Nelson" (aka the single "Just Bull"), and "Rockin' Party" (essentially the Teenage House Party opener, "House Party Rock," sans crowd-noise overdubs). ~ Jason Ankeny