The Top 10 Albums That Mike Mangini Listed As His Favorites

Mike Mangini reveals his favorite albums that influenced him. Dream Theater’s old drummer Mike Mangini shares his top 10 albums of all time.

Progressive rock and metal music would never be the same without the great drummer Mike Mangini. He is known for being very good at his job and developing new ways to play drums. When Mangini joined the famous band Dream Theater in 2011, he brought a lot of knowledge and a unique style that has made the band’s music even more complicated and intelligent. Mike Mangini and Dream Theater were together for 13 years – 2011 to 2023. 

He has also played with Annihilator, Extreme, James LaBrie, and Steve Vai, among others. Mangini taught at Berklee College of Music before he joined Dream Theater. He set five records for World’s Fastest Drummer between 2002 and 2005. Mangini showed off his drum skills for fast-moving cameras on the Discovery Channel show Time Warp.

When Mangini was young, he loved playing the drums, which led him to study at the Berklee College of Music. He later became a staff member there, teaching other artists how to do what he did. Mangini had a great career before he joined Dream Theater. He worked with a lot of different singers and bands.

Fan favorites include “A Dramatic Turn of Events” and “Distance over Time.” Mangini has been praised for his lightning-fast speed, accuracy, and lively stage personality.

In addition to his work with Dream Theater, Mike Mangini taught others how to play the drums through clinics, workshops, and training tools. Mike Mangini is remembered as one of the best drummers of his age, and he continues to inspire drummers and musicians worldwide with his skill and commitment to his craft. Mike Mangini also uses and recommends Pearl drums, gear, pedals, and percussion, as well as Zildjian cymbals, Vater drumsticks, Remo drumheads, and Shure microphones.

He was on every Dream Theater album, from A Dramatic Turn of Events (2011) to A View from the Top of the World (2021). The song “Room 137” from Mangini’s fourth studio record with Dream Theater, Distance Over Time, was his first time writing lyrics.

Mike Mangini left Dream Theater on October 25, 2023, and original drummer Mike Portnoy returned to the band.

Look at Mike Mangini‘s favorite albums that influenced him below!

Mike Mangini’s Favorite Albums That Influenced Him

Dream Theater‘s old drummer, Mike Mangini, has shared his respect for other musicians, too. And Mangini picks his favorite albums he can’t live without. Regardless, he loves to listen to different genres but also loves pop, mostly blues, alternative rock, classical rock, and heavy metal musicians, particularly those who influenced him in his musical career. 

Which music albums does Mike Mangini love to?

• “Discipline” (1981) – King Crimson
• “Casino” (1978) – Al Di Meola
• “A Farewell To Kings” (1977) – Rush 
• “Night After Night” (1979) – UK 
• “Blood, Sweat & Tears” (1968) – Blood, Sweat & Tears
• “Spectrum” (1973) – Billy Cobham
• “The New One!” (1968) – Buddy Rich
• “Led Zeppelin IV” (1971) – Led Zeppelin 
• “Blow by Blow” (1975) – Jeff Beck 
• “Quantum” (2007) – Planet X 

1. “Discipline” (1981) – King Crimson

King Crimson‘s 1981 album “Discipline” highlights a critical chapter in the band’s illustrious career. The album, which was released after a hiatus, featured a reimagined lineup that included guitarist Robert Fripp, guitarist and vocalist Adrian Belew, bassist and Chapman Stick player Tony Levin, and drummer Bill Bruford, all of whom were known for their instrumental prowess and boundary-pushing approach to rock music.

“Discipline” showed King Crimson’s embrace of new wave and experimental sources of inspiration, with complex polyrhythms, angular guitar work, and Belew’s unique vocal stylings. Songs like “Elephant Talk,” “Indiscipline,” and “Thela Hun Ginjeet” showcased the band’s musical and songwriting skills.

Mike Mangini shares why he likes King Crimson’s “Discipline” as one of his favorite albums he influenced:

“Bill Bruford’s use of toms to act as ride sources – I mean, hello? And the sound. The sound of the rototoms’ ride… Wow!

Bill’s playing is so innovative, especially the crisscross kind of thing – again, it kept me from being either total rock or metal. It kept me in the fusion-y zone but on the rock side of it.”

2. “Casino” (1978) – Al Di Meola

Al Di Meola‘s jazz fusion and Latin jazz record “Casino,” which came out in 1978. The record, which came out at a time when Di Meola was coming up with new ideas for his music, shows off his amazing skill and his ability to mix jazz, rock, and Latin music so well.

“Egyptian Danza,” “Fantasia Suite for Two Guitars,” and “Chasin’ the Voodoo” are just a few of the songs that show how well Di Meola can combine complicated rhythms and harmonies, taking fans on a rich and engaging musical journey. His album “Casino” sealed his position as one of the best guitarists of his time, earning him praise from critics and a dedicated base of fans in the jazz fusion and instrumental music genres.

Mike Mangini shares why he likes Al Di Meola’s “Casino” as one of his favorite albums he influenced:

“The drummer on this record is Steve Gadd. Now, the Gadd album that impacted me the most was Friends by Chick Corea, but Casino makes this list because it’s the top 10 drum albums.

Friends can be a side note here, because I heard musicality in his drum fills. The Brazilian stuff, too. It was a fusion record; he was fusing jazz and Brazilian – it wasn’t just a Latin record. So Friends was an important record because it led me back to jazz, which took me to Al Di Meola. But Casino is the album that just kills me. It’s unbelievable.”

3. “A Farewell To Kings” (1977) – Rush 

One of the most important albums in the history of progressive rock is Rush‘s “A Farewell to Kings,” which came out in 1977.

A Farewell to Kings got to No. 11 in Canada and helped the group grow their fan base worldwide. It was their first song to make it into the top 40 in the UK and the US.

The first song from the record, “Closer to the Heart,” got to No. 36 in the UK. While the record was out, Rush went on tour from August 1977 to May 1978. The band played in the UK and at big sites across Canada as part of the tour.

In songs like “Closer to the Heart,” “Xanadu,” and “A Farewell to Kings,” which was the album’s title track, Rush used complicated time signatures, detailed guitar work, and Geddy Lee’s unique vocal range in a way that was immediately recognizable. For example, “A Farewell to Kings” explored topics like individualism, social constructs, and the human condition in its lyrics. This showed how intelligent the band was and how well they could incorporate philosophical ideas into their music.

Mike Mangini reveals why he likes Rush’s “A Farewell To Kings” as one of his favorite albums he influenced:

“There is so many things about this record. The music, it’s always so over the top. The visuals – I had experienced them with Led Zeppelin IV, but with A Farewell To Kings, man, it’s like, if other kids were experimenting with pot, all I had to do was listen to this album and get what I needed. I could close my eyes and just go somewhere. It’s aggressive, it has time changes and dynamics – it’s truly incredible.”

Related: Rush Albums Ranked (All Albums) – Worst to Best

4. “Night After Night” (1979) – UK

“Night After Night” was a live record by the progressive rock band UK released in 1979.

“Night After Night” features songs like “As Long As You Want Me Here” and “Presto Vivace and Reprise,” which show off the band’s complicated compositions, intricate instrumental interplay, and John Wetton’s emotional singing, all of which helped create the band’s characteristic sound. Although “Night After Night” made UK band even more famous as a progressive rock. 

Mike Mangini reveals why he likes UK’s “Night After Night” as one of his favorite albums he influenced:

“Oh, man! Terry Bozzio’s playing here is, to me, the most artistic use of the drum set and drum sounds. For me, this will always be number one, right there.”

5. “Blood, Sweat & Tears” (1968) – Blood, Sweat & Tears

“Blood, Sweat & Tears,” the self-titled album released in 1968 by the band Blood, Sweat & Tears. The album was an important part of the late 1960s music scene, showcasing the band’s groundbreaking fusion of brass and rock instruments, especially in the dynamic arrangements and the deep vocals of lead vocalist David Clayton-Thomas.

Featuring songs like “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” and “Spinning Wheel,” the album “Blood, Sweat & Tears” was a perfect representation of the band’s talent.

The album “Blood, Sweat & Tears” was a financial and critical achievement, winning the Grammy for Album of the Year in 1970.

Mike Mangini tells why he likes the UK’s “Blood, Sweat & Tears” as one of his favorite albums he influenced:

“I learned every note to every song on this album, and it’s the first time I ever did that, digging into every note of every single solitary song.

Bobby Colomby’s use of polyrhythms and his dynamics – to this day, I cannot listen to this album and perceive it the way the time signatures actually are.

I perceive it the way I did as a child, meaning that I didn’t know what the stuff was. And I can still play it spot-on without knowing what it is. That, to me, makes it a pretty special record.”

6. “Spectrum” (1973) – Billy Cobham

Legendary jazz fusion drummer Billy Cobham released his debut album, “Spectrum” in 1973.

Featuring tracks like the energizing “Quadrant 4” and the mesmerizing “Stratus,” “Spectrum” showcased Cobham’s ability to blend intricate rhythms, complex time signatures, and electrifying percussion solos, establishing him as a challenging energy in the jazz and fusion genres. Not only did “Spectrum” cement Cobham’s position as a jazz fusion industry heavyweight, but it also raised the bar for future performers in the field.

Mike Mangini describes why he likes Billy Cobham’s “Spectrum” as one of his favorite albums he influenced:

“This was given to me by a friend of my sister’s. Basically, he said, ‘You have to hear this!’ Although the record affected me greatly, I didn’t learn to play it. It hit me differently than The New One! It impressed me as though the entire album was one thing.”

7. “The New One!” (1968) – The Buddy Rich Big Band

The Buddy Rich Big Band‘s “The New One!” is an exciting and compelling record that attests to the ensemble’s extraordinary skill and permanent place in big band jazz.

“The New One!” showcased the band’s skills, featuring an exciting combination of complex compositions, passionate solos, and catchy rhythms. Popular songs on the album include “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy,” “Willowcrest,” and “The New One!” (the title track), which show the band’s musical genres and skills to engage an audience with their performances.

Mike Mangini explains why he likes The Buddy Rich Big Band’s “The New One!” as one of his favorite albums he influenced:

“I was given this record by my older brother Paul. If I remember correctly, I was around nine years old at the time. There’s a song on the album called Diabolus, and it had a drum solo on it. I played it thousands of times on 16 rpms to try to dissect it. I can remember bits and pieces of that experience like they were video clips in my mind.

The New One! affected me as far as slowing something down and taking the time to try to digest it. It gave me a natural insight, without being intellectual – I mean, come on, I was nine! – into playing odd time, and it gave me a love for swing and an understanding of notes not being even all the time. That’s an extension of some of The Beatles’ stuff anyway – swing. But this really made me dig in. It was extremely influential and required a lot of thought on my part.”

8. “Led Zeppelin IV” (1971) – Led Zeppelin

Legendary rock band Led Zeppelin‘s milestone 1971 album, “Led Zeppelin IV,” is a cornerstone of rock music.

Featuring classics like “Stairway to Heaven,” “Black Dog,” and “Rock and Roll,” “Led Zeppelin IV” showcased the band’s dynamic songwriting, Jimmy Page’s intricate guitar work, Robert Plant’s powerful vocals, John Paul Jones’s versatile bass lines and keyboards, and John Bonham’s thunderous drumming.

The album sold over 37 million copies worldwide and was a critical and economic success for Led Zeppelin. It is one of the best-selling albums in the US, and critics have routinely ranked it highly on lists of the greatest albums of all time. The album cover for Led Zeppelin’s IV was featured on a stamp issued by the Royal Mail of the United Kingdom in 2010.

Mike Mangini explains why he likes Led Zeppelin’s “Led Zeppelin IV” as one of his favorite albums he influenced:

“Even though Led Zeppelin II totally knocked me out, this one was more influential as a drum album for me. I had never listened to a record before and pictured things in my heard. Led Zeppelin IV made me do that. It was like I could see movie scenes as well as drums. The recording was so unbelievable. I mean, the sound… I never heard rock ‘n’ roll hit me so potently since the first Boston record, which really got me into rock ‘n’ roll. Boston isn’t on this list, however, although it affected me hugely.

[John] Bonham’s entrances to songs, coming on an up 16th note, and his use of feel without a metronome – that stuff struck me hard. Even though I could sense that his timing sped up here and there – he would rush some things – it didn’t seem like a bad thing to me. It’s all in the feel as it relates to the music. The Battle Of Evermore – I could see forests! It wasn’t even a drum thing, but the visuals continued through the whole of the record. But again, Bonham’s feel, his power – what he did made me learn everything on the album. At least I had to try.”

Related: Led Zeppelin Albums Ranked – Worst To Best

9. “Blow by Blow” (1975) – Jeff Beck

The “Blow by Blow” album was recorded and released by British musician Jeff Beck in 1975. When the record came out, rock music was going through a lot of changes and experiments. It showed how skilled Beck was at combining rock, jazz, and blues sounds into a soundscape that was both full and changing.

Featuring songs like “Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers” and “Freeway Jam,” “Blow by Blow” showed off Beck’s amazing guitar skills, and skills to use his instrument to express a wide range of feelings.

This album came out on March 29, 1975. That song did really well in the US. With a million copies sold, it got to number four on the Billboard album lists. In March 2001, Legacy Records, Epic, and Columbia Records (now Sony Music Entertainment) released a better CD version of the record.

As part of the video game Guitar Hero 5, the song “Scatterbrain” was played live.

Mike Mangini shares why he likes Jeff Beck’s “Blow by Blow” as one of his favorite albums he influenced:

“Richard Bailey is the drummer. I can see that with my photographic memory. Isn’t that funny? In my mind, I visualized the back of the record and saw the name ‘Richard Bailey.’ That’s what music can do to you.”

10. “Quantum” (2007) – Planet X

Planet X‘s 2007 album “Quantum” is a dynamic and virtuosic study of instrumental rock and jazz genres. It shows off the band’s exceptional musicianship and their creative approach to complex compositions.

With songs like “Alien Hip-Hop” and “Desert Girl,” which are both very active, “Quantum” showed off the band’s complicated arrangements, time signatures, and solid instrumental.

Mike Mangini talks about why he likes Planet X’s “Quantum” as one of his favorite albums he influenced:

“Now, with King Crimson and Discipline, that came out decades ago – as did all of the other records. But I have to break out of that mold with a fairly recent one, and that would be Quantum.

I have to say that two of the most influential drummers to me – or favorite drummers – are Dennis Chambers and Horacio Hernandez. I have to give them that credit. But I can’t list any one record of theirs because anything they do sticks out to me.”

What are your thoughts on Mike Mangini‘s favorite albums that he influenced? Let us know in the comment section!