There are few instruments that can turn a groove into a moment like the cowbell. Clanky, clunky, unmistakable—it’s the funky exclamation mark we never knew we needed. From rock anthems to disco bangers, here are 20 songs that let the cowbell shine.
1. “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” – Blue Öyster Cult
The cowbell that launched a thousand SNL skits. Played by producer David Lucas, it adds tension and swagger to the haunting track. More cowbell? This is where that plea was born.
2. “Mississippi Queen” – Mountain
The opening cowbell hits like a starter pistol. Drummer Corky Laing laid it down to help guitarist Leslie West stay on beat—and it stuck. Raw, loud, and heavy as a Southern rock steamroller.
3. “Honky Tonk Women” – The Rolling Stones
Charlie Watts kicks things off with an iconic cowbell intro. It’s slinky, it’s swampy, and it leads into one of the Stones’ most bluesy jams. This cowbell swings like a bar door on Bourbon Street.
4. “Good Times Bad Times” – Led Zeppelin
John Bonham doesn’t just play cowbell—he attacks it. It punctuates the track’s off-kilter groove and Bonham’s jaw-dropping kick-drum work. Subtle? Never. Effective? Always.
5. “Low Rider” – War
The cowbell on this one is smooth as a chrome rim. A laid-back, hypnotic rhythm that oozes cool from the first beat. It’s basically a musical hydraulic system.
6. “We’re an American Band” – Grand Funk Railroad
This song opens with cowbell and never lets up. It’s fast, relentless, and proud—kind of like the band itself. Rock radio wouldn’t be the same without it.
7. “Hair of the Dog” – Nazareth
You’re messin’ with a son of a cowbell. Those pounding hits give the riff an extra bite. It’s macho, it’s metal, it’s gloriously over the top.
8. “Rock Lobster” – The B-52’s
The cowbell here is part of the band’s deliciously weird surf-punk stew. It’s there to keep you dancing… and laughing… and wondering what planet this band came from. (It’s a fun one.)
9. “You Can’t Do That” – The Beatles
Ringo gives us some early cowbell action on this 1964 B-side. Tucked under jangly guitars and Lennon’s sneer, it still manages to stand out. A sign of cowbell greatness to come.
10. “Funky Cold Medina” – Tone Lōc
Built on a Van Halen sample that includes cowbell, this track is pure party fuel. It’s hip-hop, but the percussion owes a lot to hard rock swagger. Proof the cowbell knows no genre.
11. “Drive My Car” – The Beatles
Yes, more Beatles. Because when they let the cowbell in, they did it right. It adds drive (pun intended) to this groovy tale of ambition and innuendo.
12. “Jungle Boogie” – Kool & the Gang
This whole song is a masterclass in rhythm—and the cowbell holds it all down. A funky strut with attitude and brass to spare. That metallic ding is a dancefloor secret weapon.
13. “Time Has Come Today” – The Chambers Brothers
This psychedelic soul epic features cowbell like echoes in time. Wild, unpredictable, and totally hypnotic. It’s less of a song and more of a sonic trip.
14. “Alright Now” – Free
Before Paul Rodgers joined Bad Company, he gave us this swaggering classic. The cowbell here works like punctuation for every riff. Minimalist cowbell done maximally well.
15. “La Grange” – ZZ Top
Billy Gibbons’s guitar growls. Frank Beard’s cowbell barks. It cuts through like a signal that something funky and greasy is about to happen. And it always does.
16. “Fell in Love with a Girl” – The White Stripes
Jack White keeps it raw and fast. The cowbell isn’t flashy, but it’s vital. Just a quick hit here and there—but without it, the whole song loses that garage-punk punch.
17. “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” – T. Rex
Glam rock gets cowbell glitter. The groove struts with the help of a steady metallic tick. It’s sexy, stylish, and just a little bit sleazy—just how Marc Bolan wanted it.
18. “Born on the Bayou” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Fogerty’s swamp-rock simmer builds on a rhythmic foundation of, yep, cowbell. Subtle, but it makes the whole thing feel like a backwoods incantation.
19. “Cuban Pete” – Desi Arnaz
Old-school cowbell brilliance. Arnaz introduced Latin rhythms—and their essential percussion toys—to American audiences. Call it vintage cowbell supremacy.
20. “Gimme Some Lovin’” – The Spencer Davis Group
A pounding, organ-fueled anthem. But it’s the cowbell that keeps the engine running. A total mod-rock banger with just enough cowbell to make you feel alive.
Cowbell isn’t just a percussion instrument—it’s a statement. It says: “Pay attention. This moment matters.” And from classic rock to funk to Latin jazz, it’s been clanking its way into our hearts for decades.
More cowbell? Always.
