David Axelrod - The Edge: David Axelrod At Capitol Records 1966-1970 '2005

Tracks list

Though he worked for a series of labels over the course of his storied career,
David Axelrod is best known as one of Capitol Records foremost producers during
the companys glory years in the 1960s. Under his production, actor David
McCallum released four albums; soulster Lou Rawls released a countless number of
LPs (including his first gold album, Lou Rawls Live); Cannonball Adderly
released Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (1966), one of the highest selling jazz albums of
all time; and countless artists from Letta Mbulu to Common People released
albums that spanned the gamut from funky African folk to psychedelic rock.
Axelrod himself released three albums as a solo artist on Capitol - Songs of
Innocence (1968), Songs of Experience (1969), and Earth Rot (1970) - the first
of which even legendary producer Quincy Jones admitted was the immediate
precursor to jazz-fusion.

David Axelrod was instrumental in creating the Black Music division at Capitol
Records in the mid-60s, and had a string of hit albums with artists such as soul
singer Lou Rawls and jazz saxophonist Cannonball Adderley. Today he is best
known in the hip-hop world for three albums he released on Capitol under his own
name between 1968-1970. Songs of Innocence, Songs of Experience, Earth Rot, and
other ancillary Axelrod productions are among the most sampled records in
hip-hop history, having been mined by producers as varied as Madlib, DJ Shadow,
and Dr. Dre, Mos Def, and many others.

Original LPs that Axelrod produced are coveted among DJs and crate-diggers. This
definitive retrospective is the first release to put his career in its proper
context and present it with the sonic quality it merits.

Produced by Eothen Egon Alapatt

Relegated to obscurity until leading hip-hop producers started mining his
records for beats, producer and composer David Axelrod is a true American
genius. There is no shortage of Axe compilations on the scene, but this one
benefits from fluid programming, great artwork, and for the first time, mastered
from the original session reels. One of Capitol Records leading producers in the
studio, the majority of this Axelrod compilation is culled from his 3 solo
albums for the label; Song of Innocence, Songs of Experience, and Earth Rot.
Also present are some break beat covers by Lou Rawls, and an extended piece the
Axe contributed to a Cannonball Adderley LP. Filled with spacey vibes, eerie
flutes, and super-funky rhythm, this is the go-to compilation for Axelrod fans.
If you have other compilations youll still want this, and if you dont, get with
it! -Kristian St. Clair

Tracklist:
01. David McCallum - House Of Mirrors (Remastered) (2:22)
02. David McCallum - The Edge (Digital Remaster/2005) (2:54)
03. Letta Mbulu - Pula Yetla (3:37)
04. Lou Rawls - Lifetime Monologue (Remastered) (1:52)
05. Lou Rawls - Youve Made Me So Very Happy (Remastered) (4:25)
06. David Axelrod - The Smile (3:25)
07. David Axelrod - Songs Of Innocence (4:31)
08. David Axelrod - The Mental Traveler (4:02)
09. David Axelrod - A Divine Image (Remastered) (4:37)
10. David Axelrod - London (2:47)
11. David Axelrod - The Fly (4:48)
12. David Axelrod - The Human Abstract (2005 Remaster) (5:27)
13. David Axelrod - Warning Talk, Part One (Remastered) (2:48)
14. David Axelrod - Warning Talk, Part Three (4:39)
15. David Axelrod - The Signs, Part One (3:44)
16. Don Randi - Theme From The Fox (3:54)
17. Cannonball Adderley Quintet - Tensity (12:35)

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