The Brady Bunch - The Kids From The Brady Bunch

Year Released: 1972
Genre: Sunshine Pop / Teen Pop / Funk-Pop / Novelty Soul

Description:

The Kids From The Brady Bunch is the third studio album by The Brady Bunch, released in 1972 on Paramount Records. Recorded during the peak of the television show’s popularity, the album captures the upbeat, wholesome spirit of early-1970s pop culture — but with a few surprising musical moments that would later intrigue collectors, most notably the standout track “Drummer Man.”

Though much of the LP consists of bubblegum pop and family-friendly harmonies typical of the era, “Drummer Man” stands out for its unexpectedly funky edge and rhythmic drive. The track features tight drum work, syncopated percussion, and a bass groove that owes more to early funk and rock crossover than to mainstream pop. Layered with bright horn stabs and a touch of psychedelic guitar, it showcases an uncharacteristic rhythmic sophistication for a Brady Bunch recording.

Lyrically, “Drummer Man” celebrates the energy and charisma of a performer behind the kit — the archetypal “beat master” who keeps the groove alive. Though written and arranged in a light-hearted pop style, the instrumentation and production reflect the studio musicianship of the Los Angeles session scene, possibly involving members of the Wrecking Crew, whose hallmark was professional polish fused with deep rhythmic feel.

While The Kids From The Brady Bunch did not chart significantly upon release, “Drummer Man” later gained cult recognition among breakbeat collectors and hip-hop producers, thanks to its clean drum intro and percussive breakdown. These sections became valued by sample diggers for their crisp analog warmth and open groove — aligning the track unexpectedly with the lineage of obscure 1970s break sources.

Musically, “Drummer Man” sits at an intersection of sunshine pop and light funk, a rare moment when a TV-pop project accidentally stumbled into genuine groove territory. The track’s rhythmic clarity and warm analog sound have earned it underground respect, with sampling enthusiasts and rare groove DJs occasionally including it in sets or compilations of “unlikely breaks.”

Original pressings of The Kids From The Brady Bunch (Paramount PAS-6028) are now collectible, not only for nostalgia but for the curiosity and charm of its production — a record that captures both the innocence of early-’70s pop and, on “Drummer Man,” a surprising glimpse of authentic funk rhythm.

“Drummer Man” stands today as a cult breakbeat oddity — a cheerful yet groove-rich gem that reveals how even the most mainstream corners of 1970s pop culture could, on occasion, lay down a rhythm worthy of rediscovery by later generations of crate diggers