James Lee Keltner (born April 27, 1942) is an American drummer and percussionist known primarily for his session work. He was characterized by Bob Dylan biographer Howard Sounes as "the leading session drummer in America".

Career

Keltner was inspired to start playing because of an interest in jazz, but the popularity of jazz was declining during the late 1950s and early 1960s, and it was the explosion of pop/rock in the mid-1960s that enabled him to break into recording work in Los Angeles. His first gig as a session musician was recording "She's Just My Style" for the pop group Gary Lewis and the Playboys.

Keltner's music career was hardly paying a living, and for several years at the outset he was supported by his wife. Toward the end of the 1960s, he finally began getting regular session work and eventually became one of the busiest drummers in Los Angeles. His earliest credited performances on record were with Gabor Szabo on the 1968 album Bacchanal. They were signed by Mo Ostin and recorded an album for Warner/Reprise originally titled MC Squared which has later been re-mastered and re-released in 2012 with the album title Tantalizing Colors. They appeared live that same year on the Hugh Hefner / Playboy Magazine television show Playboy After Dark, playing two songs: an original by MC Squared members Michael Clough and Michael Crowley titled "I Know You" and a version of the Fred Neil song "Everybody's Talkin'". Both Playboy After Dark performances with Keltner playing drums can currently be viewed on YouTube.

It was his work with Leon Russell playing on Delaney & Bonnie's Accept No Substitute that attracted the attention of Joe Cocker, who recruited Russell and everyone else he could out of the Delaney & Bonnie band for his Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour. Playing with Joe Cocker led to work in 1970 and 1971, on records by Carly Simon (No Secrets), Barbra Streisand (Barbra Joan Streisand), Booker T. Jones (Booker T. & Priscilla), George Harrison (The Concert for Bangladesh) and John Lennon (Imagine). Keltner performed with George Harrison throughout his solo career. He even worked on Harrison's final posthumous album Brainwashed.

Keltner played the role of the judge in the music video for George Harrison's 1976 Top 30 hit, "This Song".

In 1989, Keltner toured with Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band.

Equipment

Keltner is an endorser of DW drums, hardware and pedals, Ahead drumsticks/gloves/griptape, Paiste Cymbals, Remo drumheads and world percussion and Roland electronics.

Little Village

In 1987, Keltner, along with guitarist Ry Cooder and bassist Nick Lowe, played on John Hiatt's Bring the Family. Four years later the four musicians reunited as the band Little Village, recording an eponymous album.

In 1974, he played on most tracks on the Jack Bruce album Out of the Storm.

Other demonstrations of his style and range can be found in "Jealous Guy" from John Lennon's Imagine, "Watching the River Flow" by Bob Dylan, and the hit single "Dream Weaver" by Gary Wright.

Keltner is the drummer on the Steely Dan tune "Josie" (released in 1977). He played a Vistalite drum kit for the track, the only time he used it on a session. In the DVD Steely Dan - Classic Albums: Aja, Donald Fagen states that in the bridge of the tune, Keltner overdubbed a 16th note based pattern played on a metal trash can lid. Keltner clarified that it was a garbage can lid with special rivets worked into it that he had received as a Christmas gift.

Keltner appears on Marc Jordan's 1979 album Blue Desert on the tracks "Twilight" and "Lost in The Hurrah".

1980s

Keltner specialized in R&B, and developed a deceptively simple drumming style that melds a casual, loose feel with extraordinary precision.

Keltner played on the Saved and Shot of Love albums by Bob Dylan.

Keltner performed on many classic recordings by J. J. Cale and often worked with bassist Tim Drummond.

He guested on Sheryl Crow's 1996 self-titled album, on the track "The Book".

He played on Gillian Welch's album Revival, on the track "The Only One and Only".

Keltner played on the 1997 Bill Frisell album Gone, Just Like a Train with Viktor Krauss and toured as a member of the trio in support of the album. He also played on the 1999 Frisell album Good Dog, Happy Man and is pictured in the CD leaflet and back cover (Nonesuch 79536-2).

In 1999, he played on Fiona Apple's album When the Pawn... on the track "I Know."

2000s

In 2000, Keltner toured with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young on their "Tour of America".

In 2000, he was the drummer on Neil Young's album Silver & Gold.

In 2000, Keltner collaborated with Charlie Watts, drummer of the Rolling Stones, on an instrumental album entitled The Charlie Watts–Jim Keltner Project. Watts played drums for each track, while Keltner contributed sequenced sounds and percussion. Tracks were named after famous drummers.

In 2002, he briefly joined Bob Dylan's band during the European gigs while its main drummer, George Receli, recuperated from a hand injury. Later in the year, Keltner played in Concert For George, a tribute to George Harrison a year following his death. Wearing a sweatshirt with a Bob Dylan logo, he reprised his role as the Wilburys' drummer, joining Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne for "Handle with Care." During that project and performance, he worked with Paul McCartney along with other percussionists, including Ringo Starr.

In 2003, he toured with Simon & Garfunkel in their Old Friends tour.

In 2004, he was one of the "Hot Licks" on Dan Hicks' Selected Shorts CD.

In 2006, he toured with T-Bone Burnett in The True False Identity tour and was featured on Jerry Lee Lewis's album Last Man Standing. He played on Mavis Staples's album We'll Never Turn Back, produced by Ry Cooder.

He also lent his drumming skills to the tracks on Richard Shapero's album entitled Wild Animus: The Ram, recorded the same year.

In 2007, he appeared with Lucinda Williams on West. The album was listed No. 18 on Rolling Stones list of the Top 50 Albums of 2007. He also played on Phish keyboardist's self titled debut album Page McConnell, released in 2007.

In 2008, Keltner appeared on Break up the Concrete by The Pretenders, on One Kind Favor by B. B. King and on Oasis's "The Boy with the Blues", a non-album-track from Dig Out Your Soul.

Also in 2008, Keltner participated in the production of the album Psalngs, the debut release of Canadian musician John Lefebvre.

In 2009, Keltner played drums on singer/songwriter Todd Snider's Don Was-produced album, The Excitement Plan and on the Nonesuch debut, Christina Courtin.

2010s

In 2010, Keltner produced Jerry Lee Lewis's Mean Old Man duets CD. He played drums on Fistful of Mercy's debut album, As I Call You Down, which one of the band's members, Dhani Harrison, described in an interview as the first project of his that he felt worthy to bring to Keltner, who was an old family friend (Dhani is the son of George Harrison). Keltner also played on The Union by Leon Russell and Elton John, produced by T-Bone Burnett and released on October 10, 2010. He also appeared on the eponymous Eric Clapton album, on 8 of the 14 tracks.

Joseph Arthur's 2011 album, The Graduation Ceremony, features Keltner on drums, reprising a partnership that began with the Fistful of Mercy project.

He has recorded twice with the indie band She & Him, on 2011's A Very She & Him Christmas and 2014's Classics.

He played drums on Michael Buble's 2011 “Christmas” album. The tracks are “All I Want for Christmas is You,” and “Blue Christmas.”

For the 2012 release, Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International, Keltner sat in a studio with Outernational covering Dylan's "When the Ship Comes In".

In 2012, he also played drums on John Mayer's "Something Like Olivia", the fifth track of the album Born and Raised.

That same year, he recorded with Italian instrumental band Sacri Cuori on their second record, Rosario.

In 2013, Keltner appears on the track "If I Were Me" from Sound City: Real to Reel with Dave Grohl, Jessy Greene and Rami Jaffee. Also, on "Our Love Is Here To Stay", a classic Gershwin jazz standard recorded by Eric Clapton for his album, Old Sock.

In 2014, Keltner played on Peter Himmelman's album The Boat That Carries Us.

In 2016, Keltner recorded drums for Neil Young's thirty-seventh studio album, Peace Trail.

In 2016, Keltner also appeared on the Rolling Stones' CD "Blue & Lonesome", playing percussion on "Hoo Doo Blues."

In 2017, Keltner played drums and percussion as well as co-producing Conor Oberst's Salutations album. Oberst described Keltner's production as "flawless".

In 2018, he played drums and percussion on Boz Scaggs' 19th album, Out of the Blues, and Eric Clapton's Happy Xmas.

In 2019, he played drums and percussion Foxygen's most recent album, Seeing Other People.

In 2019, Keltner played drums along with bassist Mike Watt for guitarist Mike Baggetta's Wall of Flowers album released in March. Keltner played drums on the original soundtrack for the movie "The Irishman". The music was written by Robbie Robertson.

2020s

Keltner plays drums on the song included on Mike Viola's 2020 album The Best of Mike Viola. Manga artist Naoki Urasawa, who wrote the original song,

Following this he joined Dylan to complete his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour in Europe.

Collaborations

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

|+ Jim Keltner collaborations

|-

! scope="col" | Collaborator

! scope="col" | Album

! scope="col" | Label

! scope="col" | Year

|-

! scope="row"

| Gold || Lost Highway Records || 2001

|-

! scope="row"

| Voyager || Elektra Records || 1978

|-

! scope="row"

| Taught by Experts || A&M Records || 1976

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| When the Pawn... || Epic Records || 1999

|-

| Extraordinary Machine || Epic Records || 2005

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Time for Mercy || A&M Records || 1993

|-

| Happy? || A&M Records || 1997

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=3

| Come to Where I'm From || Virgin Records || 2000

|-

| ' || Lonely Astronaut Records || 2011

|-

| ' || Lonely Astronauct Records || 2013

|-

! scope="row"

| In Thrall || Geffen || 1993

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=3

| Life Machine || A&M Records || 1974

|-

| Fearless || A&M Records || 1976

|-

| Free Sailin || MCA Records || 1978

|-

! scope="row"

| Amidst the Chaos || Epic Records || 2019

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=3

| Carole Bayer Sager || Elektra Records || 1977

|-

| data-sort-value="Too" | ...Too || Elektra Records || 1978

|-

| Sometimes Late at Night || Boardwalk Records || 1981

|-

! scope="row"

| Little Spark || Blonde Rat || 2012

|-

! scope="row"

| Still Cruisin || Capitol Records || 1989

|-

! scope="row" | Bee Gees

| Life in a Tin Can || RSO Records || 1973

|-

! scope="row"

| Non-Fiction || Star Song || 1985

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=3

| Minnows || A&M Records || 1971

|-

| Ambush || A&M Records || 1972

|-

| Lost in Austin || A&M Records || 1979

|-

! scope="row"

| ' || MCA Records || 1994

|-

! scope="row"

| Fast Man Raider Man || Cooking Vinyl || 2006

|-

! scope="row"

| Dark Passion || Medley Records || 1990

|-

! scope="row"

| Surrender || Sparrow Records || 1983

|-

! scope="row"

| Sounds From Home || Zane || 1998

|-

! scope="row"

| Everything Comes and Goes || Reprise Records || 2010

|-

! scope="row"

| Punisher || Dead Oceans || 2020

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=4

| For Everyman || Asylum Records || 1973

|-

| Lives in the Balance || Asylum Records || 1986

|-

| I'm Alive || Elektra Records || 1993

|-

| Standing in the Breach || Inside Recordings || 2014

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Makin' Music || MCA Records || 1978

|-

| Long Way Home || Verve Records || 1995

|-

! scope="row"

| French Touch || Barcklay Records || 2017

|-

! scope="row" data-sort-value="Bryson, Peabo" | Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack

| Born to Love || Capitol Records || 1983

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=3

| Christmas || Reprise Records || 2011

|-

| To Be Loved || Reprise Records || 2013

|-

| Higher || Reprise Records || 2022

|-

! scope="row" data-sort-vale="Buckingham, Lindsay" | Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks

| Buckingham Nicks || Polydor || 1973

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=5

| Shades || Island Records || 1981

|-

| 8 || Mercury Records || 1983

|-

| Travel-Log || BMG || 1990

|-

| Closer to You || Virgin Records || 1994

|-

| Roll On || Rounder Records || 2009

|-

! scope="row"

| Carasmatic || Elektra Records || 1987

|-

! scope="row"

| Kim Carnes || A&M Records || 1975

|-

! scope="row"

| Lost & Found || Asylum Records || 1979

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| I Fell in Love || Reprise Records || 1990

|-

| Carter Girl || Rounder Records || 2014

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| The Higher They Climb || RCA Records || 1975

|-

| Home Is Where the Heart Is || RCA Records || 1976

|-

! scope="row"

| Sand and Water || Reprise Records || 1997

|-

! scope="row" | Cher

| Stars || Warner Bros. Records || 1975

|-

! scope="row"

| House of Hope || A&M Records || 1991

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=6

| Journeyman || Reprise Records || 1989

|-

| From the Cradle || Warner Bros. Records || 1994

|-

| Me and Mr. Johnson || Reprise Records || 2004

|-

| Clapton || Reprise Records || 2010

|-

| Old Sock || Polydor Records || 2013

|-

| Happy Xmas || Polydor Records || 2018

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Follow My Mind || Reprise Records || 1975

|-

| Give Thankx || Warner Bros. Records || 1978

|-

! scope="row"

| Nothing but a Burning Light || True North Records || 1991

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=5

| Joe Cocker || A&M Records || 1972

|-

| Civilized Man || Capitol Records || 1984

|-

| Night Calls || Capitol Records || 1991

|-

| Organic || 550 Music || 1996

|-

| Hymn for My Soul || EMI || 2007

|-

! scope="row"

| Adam Cohen || Columbia Records || 1998

|-

! scope="row"

| Death of a Ladies' Man || Warner Bros. Records || 1977

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| ' || Atlantic Records || 1993

|-

| Join the Parade || Decca Records || 2007

|-

! scope="row"

| Start the Car || Reprise Records || 1992

|-

! scope="row"

| Hard Times for Lovers || Elektra Records || 1979

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Fat City || Columbia Records || 1992

|-

| Cover Girl || Columbia Records || 1994

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=11

| Boomer's Story || Reprise Records || 1972

|-

| Paradise and Lunch || Reprise Records || 1974

|-

| Chicken Skin Music || Reprise Records || 1976

|-

| Bop till You Drop || Warner Bros. Records || 1979

|-

| Borderline || Warner Bros. Records || 1980

|-

| ' || Warner Bros. Records || 1982

|-

| Get Rhythm || Warner Bros. Records || 1987

|-

| Chávez Ravine || Nonesuch Records || 2005

|-

| My Name Is Buddy || Nonesuch Records || 2007

|-

| I, Flathead || Nonesuch Records || 2008

|-

| Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down || Nonesuch Records || 2011

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2 data-sort-value="Coolidge, Priscilla" | Priscilla Coolidge and Booker T. Jones

| Booker T. & Priscilla || A&M Records || 1971

|-

| Chronicles || A&M Records || 1973

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=3

| Rita Coolidge || A&M Records || 1971

|-

| ' || A&M Records || 1972

|-

| Satisfied || A&M Records || 1979

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=5

| King of America || F-Beat Records || 1986

|-

| Spike || Warner Bros. Records || 1989

|-

| Mighty Like a Rose || Warner Bros. Records || 1991

|-

| Kojak Variety || Warner Bros. Records || 1995

|-

| Painted from Memory || Mercury Records || 1998

|-

! scope="row"

| Christina Courtin || Nonesuch Records || 2009

|-

! scope="row"

| Cracker || Virgin Records || 1992

|-

! scope="row"

| Jaggedland || 429 Records || 2009

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| A. J. Croce || Private Music || 1993

|-

| That's Me in the Bar || Private Music || 1995

|-

! scope="row" | Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

| Looking Forward || Reprise Records || 1999

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Oh Yes I Can || A&M Records || 1989

|-

| Thousand Roads || Atlantic Records || 1993

|-

! scope="row"

| Sheryl Crow || A&M Records || 1996

|-

! scope="row" | Crowded House

| Crowded House || Capitol Records || 1986

|-

! scope="row"

| Ain't Living Long Like This || Warner Bros. Records || 1978

|-

! scope="row"

| Your Place or Mine || 20th Century Records || 1975

|-

! scope="row"

| Silent Song Through the Land || A&M Records || 1970

|-

! scope="row"

| Stay with Me || Rocket || 1979

|-

! scope="row"

| Blue Skies || RCA Records || 2004

|-

! scope="row"

| Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd || Polydor Records || 2023

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2 | Delaney & Bonnie

| ' || Elektra Records || 1969

|-

| Motel Shot || Atco Records || 1971

|-

! scope="row"

| Somebody Up There Likes Me || MCA Records || 1986

|-

! scope="row"

| Born to Be with You || Phil Spector Records || 1975

|-

! scope="row"

| Taking Chances || Columbia Records || 2007

|-

! scope="row"

| Craig Doerge || Columbia Records || 1973

|-

! scope="row"

| Waiting for a Song || Ember Records || 1974

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2 | Donovan

| Slow Down World || Epic Records || 1976

|-

| Beat Cafe || Appleeseed Records || 2004

|-

! scope="row"

| Ghost Town Parade || Columbia Records || 1978

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=4

| Saved || Columbia Records || 1980

|-

| Shot of Love || Columbia Records || 1981

|-

| Empire Burlesque || Columbia Records || 1985

|-

| Time Out of Mind || Columbia Records || 1997

|-

! scope="row"

| Break Your Mother's Heart || New West Records || 2003

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Night Flight || RSO Records || 1978

|-

| Yvonne || RSO Records || 1979

|-

! scope="row"

| Breakdown || Island Records || 1999

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=3

| Blues for Thought || Point Blank Records || 1994

|-

| Puttin' In Down || AudioQuest Music || 1995

|-

| Walk That Walk || Telark Records || 2000

|-

! scope="row"

| Don Everly || Ode Records || 1970

|-

! scope="row" | Eye to Eye

| Eye to Eye || Warner Bros. Records || 1982

|-

! scope="row"

| American Rock 'n' Roll || BMG || 2019

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| And the Feeling's Good || RCA Victor || 1974

|-

| For My Love... Mother Music || RCA Victor || 1974

|-

! scope="row"

| One Nil || Parlophone Records || 2001

|-

! scope="row" | Firefall

| Élan || Atlantic Records || 1978

|-

! scope="row"

| I'm the One || Atlantic Records || 1982

|-

! scope="row"

| Twin Sons of Different Mothers || Epic Records || 1978

|-

! scope="row"

| Seasons of Change || Myrrh Records || 1982

|-

! scope="row"

| Blue Virgin Isles || Polar || 1978

|-

! scope="row"

| ' || Decca Records || 2012

|-

! scope="row"

| Breakaway || Columbia Records || 1975

|-

! scope="row"

| Thanks, I'll Eat It Here || Warner Bros. Records || 1979

|-

! scope="row"

| American Vagabond || MCA Records || 1986

|-

! scope="row"

| Love Me By Name || A&M Records || 1976

|-

! scope="row"

| Bad, but Not Evil || Chelsea Records || 1972

|-

! scope="row"

| Henry Gross || ABC Records || 1972

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=3

| Hobo's Lullaby || Reprise Records || 1972

|-

| Last of the Brooklyn Cowboys || Reprise Records || 1973

|-

| Arlo Guthrie || Reprise Records || 1974

|-

! scope="row" data-sort-value="Harris, Emmylou" | Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt

| Trio II || Asylum Records || 1999

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=7

| Living in the Material World || Apple Records || 1973

|-

| Dark Horse || Apple Records || 1974

|-

| Extra Texture (Read All About It) || Apple Records || 1975

|-

| Somewhere in England || Dark Horse Records || 1981

|-

| Gone Troppo || Dark Horse Records || 1982

|-

| Cloud Nine || Dark Horse Records || 1987

|-

| Brainwashed || Dark Horse Records || 2002

|-

! scope="row"

| Your Love Keeps Me Off the Streets || RCA Records || 1975

|-

! scope="row"

| ' || DGC || 1994

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Building the Perfect Beast || Geffen || 1984

|-

| ' || Geffen || 1989

|-

! scope="row"

| Tiny Voices || Anti- || 2003

|-

! scope="row"

| Susanna Hoffs || London Records || 1996

|-

! scope="row"

| I've Got the Music in Me || Sheffeld Lab || 1975

|-

! scope="row"

| Mr. Lucky || Virgin Records || 1991

|-

! scope="row" | Indigo Girls

| Nomads Indians Saints || Epic Records || 1990

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Silvertone || Warner Bros. Records || 1985

|-

| San Francisco Days || Reprise Records || 1993

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Wandering Spirit || Atlantic Records || 1993

|-

| Goddess in the Doorway || Virgin Records || 2001

|-

! scope="row"

| Limelight || MapleMusic Recordings || 2005

|-

! scope="row" | Japanese Breakfast

| For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) || Dead Oceans || 2025

|-

! scope="row" data-sort-value="John, Elton" | Elton John and Leon Russell

| ' || Mercury Records || 2010

|-

! scope="row"

| Everything You've Heard Is True || Warner Bros. Records || 1979

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Flying Cowboys || Geffen || 1989

|-

| Traffic from Paradise || Geffen || 1993

|-

! scope="row"

| Notes from the Lost Civilization || A&M Records || 1988

|-

! scope="row"

| Cul-De-Sac || Atlantic || 1974

|-

! scope="row"

| Barbara Keith || Reprise Records || 1973

|-

! scope="row"

| Lovejoy || Stax Records || 1971

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=4

| B.B. King in London || ABC Records || 1971

|-

| There Is Always One More Time || MCA Records || 1991

|-

| Deuces Wild || MCA Records || 1997

|-

| One Kind Favor || Geffen || 2008

|-

! scope="row"

| Woman Across the River || Shelter Records || 1973

|-

! scope="row"

| Miss Gladys Knight || Buddah Records || 1978

|-

! scope="row"

| Wallflower || Verve Records || 2015

|-

! scope="row"

| Forget About It || Rounder Records || 1999

|-

! scope="row"

| Reckoning || Virgin Records || 1993

|-

! scope="row"

| Phew! || Warner Bros. Records || 1973

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=4

| Imagine || Apple Records || 1971

|-

| Mind Games || Apple Records || 1973

|-

| Walls and Bridges || Apple Records || 1974

|-

| Rock 'n' Roll || Apple Records || 1975

|-

! scope="row"

| On the Line || Warner Bros. Records || 2019

|-

! scope="row"

| Party of One || Reprise Records || 1990

|-

! scope="row"

| Second Sight || Alligator Records || 1986

|-

! scope="row"

| Whatever || Geffen || 1993

|-

! scope="row"

| Don't Cry Out Loud || Arista Records || 1978

|-

! scope="row"

| Coming Out || Atlantic Records || 1976

|-

! scope="row" data-sort-value="Marley, Ziggy" | Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers

| Spirit of Music || Elektra Records || 1999

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Alone Together || Blue Thumb Records || 1970

|-

| It's Like You Never Left || Blue Thumb Records || 1973

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Born and Raised || Columbia Records || 2012

|-

| ' || Columbia Records || 2017

|-

! scope="row"

| One of the Fortunate Few || Rising Tide || 1997

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Maria McKee || Geffen || 1989

|-

| You Gotta Sin to Get Saved || Geffen || 1993

|-

! scope="row"

| Pat McLaughlin || Capitol Records || 1988

|-

! scope="row"

| Jukebox Sparrows || Capitol Records || 2002

|-

! scope="row"

| País Tropical || A&M Records || 1971

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Broken Blossom || Atlantic Records || 1977

|-

| No Frills || Atlantic Records || 1983

|-

! scope="row"

| ' || Elektra Records || 2002

|-

! scope="row"

| Recall the Beginning...A Journey from Eden || Capitol Records || 1972

|-

! scope="row"

| Turbulent Indigo || Reprise Records || 1994

|-

! scope="row"

| ' || Epic Records || 2000

|-

! scope="row"

| Howdy Moon || A&M Records || 1974

|-

! scope="row" data-sort-value="Moreno, Gaby" | Gaby Moreno and Van Dyke Parks

| data-sort-value="Spangled" | ¡Spangled! || Nonesuch Records || 2019

|-

! scope="row"

| Alegoría || Metamorfosis || 2022

|-

! scope="row"

| Maria Muldaur || Reprise Records || 1973

|-

! scope="row"

| Self-Titled || Island Records || 2022

|-

! scope="row"

| Across the Borderline || Columbia Records || 1993

|-

! scope="row"

| Warm Your Heart || A&M Records || 1991

|-

! scope="row"

| If My Ancestors Could See Me Now || Polydor Records || 1988

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=4

| Sail Away || Reprise Records || 1972

|-

| Good Old Boys || Reprise Records || 1974

|-

| Little Criminals || Reprise Records || 1977

|-

| Randy Newman's Faust || Reprise Records || 1995

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=6

| Nilsson Schmilsson || RCA Victor || 1971

|-

| Pussy Cats || RCA Victor || 1974

|-

| Duit on Mon Dei || RCA Victor || 1975

|-

| Sandman || RCA Victor || 1976

|-

| data-sort-value="That's the Way It Is" | ...That's the Way It Is || RCA Victor || 1976

|-

| Flash Harry || Mercury Records || 1980

|-

! scope="row"

| ' || Warner Bros. Records || 1979

|-

! scope="row"

| Salutations || Nonesuch Records || 2017

|-

! scope="row"

| Nigel Olsson || Rocket || 1975

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Fly || Apple Records || 1971

|-

| Feeling the Space || Apple Records || 1973

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Mystery Girl || Virgin Records || 1989

|-

| King of Hearts || Virgin Records || 1992

|-

! scope="row"

| Daybreaker || Heavenly Records || 2002

|-

! scope="row"

| ' || RCA Victor || 1976

|-

! scope="row"

| Fires || Idaho Records || 2005

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Clang of the Yankee Reaper || Warner Bros. Records || 1976

|-

| Jump! || Warner Bros. Records || 1984

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=3

| Here You Come Again || RCA Records || 1977

|-

| Great Balls of Fire || RCA Records || 1979

|-

| Rainbow || Mercury Records || 1987

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| March || RCA Records || 1989

|-

| Free-for-All || RCA Records || 1992

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2 | Perfume Genius

| Set My Heart on Fire Immediately || Matador Records || 2020

|-

| Glory || Matador Records || 2025

|-

! scope="row"

| Full Moon Fever || MCA Records || 1989

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Damn the Torpedoes || MCA Records || 1979

|-

| Southern Accents || MCA Records || 1985

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=3

| Omnipop (It's Only a Flesh Wound Lambchop) || Virgin Records || 1996

|-

| Fan Dance || Nonesuch Records || 2001

|-

| ' || Nonesuch Records || 2004

|-

! scope="row" | Pink Floyd

| ' || Columbia Records || 1987

|-

! scope="row"

| Michel Polnareff || Atlantic Records || 1975

|-

! scope="row"

| It's in Every One of Us || Arista Records || 1975

|-

! scope="row"

| Been Here All The Time || Shelter Records || 1974

|-

! scope="row"

| Break Up the Concrete || Shangri-La Music || 2008

|-

! scope="row"

| Cedar + Gold || Capitol Records || 2012

|-

! scope="row"

| Underwater || Mom + Pop Music || 2012

|-

! scope="row"

| Takin' My Time || Warner Bros. Records || 1973

|-

! scope="row"

| Willis Alan Ramsey || Shelter Records || 1972

|-

! scope="row"

| Martha Reeves || MCA Records || 1974

|-

! scope="row"

| Digby Richards || RCA Records || 1975

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=3

| Home Grown || United Artists Records || 1970

|-

| Outside Help || Big Tree Records || 1977

|-

| Not a Through Street || CBS || 1983

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| How to Become Clairvoyant || 429 Records || 2011

|-

| Sinematic || UME || 2019

|-

! scope="row"

| ' || Columbia Records || 1999

|-

! scope="row"

| Smokey & Friends || Verve Records || 2014

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Bridges to Babylon || Virgin Records || 1997

|-

| Blue & Lonesome || Polydor Records || 2016

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Feels Like Home || Elektra Records || 1995

|-

| We Ran || Elektra Records || 1998

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=4

| Leon Russell and the Shelter People || Shelter Records || 1971

|-

| Carney || Shelter Records || 1972

|-

| Stop All That Jazz || Shelter Records || 1974

|-

| Will O' the Wisp || Shelter Records || 1975

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Come On Home || Virgin Records || 1997

|-

| Out of the Blues || Concord Records || 2018

|-

! scope="row"

| Rumble Doll || Columbia Records || 1993

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2 | Seals and Crofts

| Summer Breeze || Warner Bros. Records || 1972

|-

| Takin' It Easy || Warner Bros. Records || 1978

|-

! scope="row"

| ' || Reprise Records || 1992

|-

! scope="row" | Shivaree

| I Oughtta Give You a Shot in the Head for Making Me Live in This Dump || Capitol Records || 1999

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=5

| No Secrets || Elektra Records || 1972

|-

| Hotcakes || Elektra Records || 1974

|-

| Another Passenger || Elektra Records || 1976

|-

| Christmas Is Almost Here || Rhino Records || 2002

|-

| Christmas Is Almost Here Again || Rhino Records || 2003

|-

! scope="row"

| California Years || Pinko Records || 2009

|-

! scope="row"

| Black Rose || Asylum Records || 1976

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2 | Splinter

| ' || Dark Horse Records || 1974

|-

| Harder to Live || Dark Horse Records || 1975

|-

! scope="row"

| We'll Never Turn Back || Anti- || 2007

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Peace to the Neighborhood || Pointblack Records || 1992

|-

| Father Father || Pointblack Records || 1994

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=4

| Ringo || Apple Records || 1973

|-

| Goodnight Vienna || Apple Records || 1974

|-

| Ringo's Rotogravure || Polydor Records || 1976

|-

| Stop and Smell the Roses || RCA Records || 1981

|-

! scope="row" | Steely Dan

| Aja || ABC Records || 1977

|-

! scope="row"

| Vagabond Heart || Warner Bros. Records || 1991

|-

! scope="row"

| Brighter Days || Columbia Records || 1999

|-

! scope="row"

| 100 Year Thing || Atlantic Records || 1998

|-

! scope="row"

| Surprise || Virgin Records || 1989

|-

! scope="row"

| Barbra Joan Streisand || Columbia Records || 1971

|-

! scope="row"

| In Reverse || Volcano || 1999

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Gorilla || Warner Bros. Records || 1975

|-

| In the Pocket || Warner Bros. Records || 1976

|-

! scope="row"

| Three Way Mirror || Epic Records || 1978

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Cradlesong || Atlantic Records || 2009

|-

| Someday || Atlantic Records || 2010

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=4

| Daring Adventures || Polydor Records || 1986

|-

| Amnesia || Capitol Records || 1988

|-

| Rumor and Sigh || Capitol Records || 1991

|-

| You? Me? Us? || Capitol Records || 1996

|-

! scope="row"

| Lovers in the City || East West Records || 1995

|-

! scope="row"

| Cal Tjader Sounds Out Burt Bacharach || Skye Records || 1968

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=3 | Toto

| Fahrenheit || Columbia Records || 1986

|-

| ' || Columbia Records || 1988

|-

| Kingdom of Desire || Relativity Records || 1992

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2 | Valdy

| Landscapes || Haida || 1973

|-

| See How the Years Have Gone By || A&M Records || 1975

|-

! scope="row"

| Closeup || Private Stock Records || 1975

|-

! scope="row"

| Zazu || A&M Records || 1986

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Unrequited || Columbia Records || 1975

|-

| Here Come the Choppers || Sovereign Records || 2005

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=3

| Rufus Wainwright || DreamWorks Records || 1998

|-

| Poses || DreamWorks Records || 2001

|-

| Unfollow the Rules || BMG || 2020

|-

! scope="row"

| Field of Souls || Warner Alliance || 1995

|-

! scope="row"

| Black & Blue Suite || 20th Century Records || 1974

|-

! scope="row"

| Revival || Almo Sounds || 1996

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| I Just Wasn't Made for These Times || MCA Records || 1995

|-

| No Pier Pressure || Capitol Records || 2015

|-

! scope="row"

| Just as I Am || Sussex Records || 1971

|-

! scope="row"

| Lauren Wood || Capitol Records || 1979

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=3

| Gimme Some Neck || Columbia Records || 1979

|-

| 1234 || Columbia Records || 1981

|-

| I Feel Like Playing || Eagle Rock Entertainment || 2010

|-

! scope="row"

| Stone Alone || Atlantic Records || 1976

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Silver & Gold || Reprise Records || 2000

|-

| Peace Trail || Reprise Records || 2016

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2

| Mr. Bad Example || Giant || 1991

|-

| ' || Artemis Records || 2003

|}

References

  • 2015 Audio Interview with Jim Keltner from the I'd Hit That podcast October 2015 *
  • "Jim Keltner on Booker T. and the MGs"(2007 Variety article by Jim Keltner)
  • 2005 Interview by Modern Drummer magazine
  • Jim Keltner Billboard biography