|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LP
|
|
GET 54100LP
|
2021 repress. "The rediscovery of the music of David Axelrod in the 1990s was a revelation to the scores of hip-hop and breakbeat DJs that sampled him, but his composition genius was on display as early as the 1960s. After producing and arranging major critical and commercial hits for Lou Rawls, The Electric Prunes, David McCallum, and Julian 'Cannonball' Adderley, he was encouraged by Capitol Records to record and produce solo material. Coming right on the heels of The Beatles' revolutionary 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band, Axelrod would produce a slew of instrumental baroque pop records, which were intricately orchestrated, fused elements of jazz, psychedelic rock, chamber music, and neo-classical, and tackled issues of mental enlightenment, environmental impact, and would be hailed by critics as highly ambitious pieces of conceptual art. The albums Song Of Innocence (1968), Songs Of Experience (1969), and Earth Rot (1970) are most often hailed as David Axelrod's finest moments, but little is mentioned of the producer's 1970s material. Among these records is Seriously Deep, his lone album recorded for Polydor, and an unheralded gem of jazz-rock fusion. On Seriously Deep, Axelrod dispenses with the heavily orchestrated measures of previous works to conduct a powerhouse crew of session musicians, including Leon Ndugu Chancler of Santana on drums, Mailto Correa on percussion, Jim Hughart on bass, Joe Sample on electric keys, and many others, with production from frequent Axelrod collaborators Cannonball Adderley and Jimmy Bowen. Seriously Deep is an obscure release, but also one of David Axlerod's tightest, and most exploratory ones. Across six tracks, Axelrod and his collective of players dip in and out of bounding jazz-funk, Afro-Latin grooves, cinematic flourishes, psychedelic synth washes, and blaring big band horns. It's a singularly insular curiosity of musical impressionism that's equal parts brooding and joyous, a definitive part of Axelrod's discography, and a well of sample material for tracks by Mobb Deep, Large Professor, The Black Eyed Peas, and Beanie Siegel, among others."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
LP
|
|
NA 5187LP
|
"Comes packaged in a gatefold jacket with a 28-page booklet. Earth Rot is visionary composer/arranger/producer David Axelrod's third album, and the last of his Capitol trilogy. Recorded as a concept album about the decrepit state of the environment in 1970 Los Angeles, and scheduled for release on the first Earth Day, it marks a departure for Axelrod's signature sound, which would take on a jazzier feel in the 1970s. The instrumental version of Earth Rot was first issued by Now-Again, overseen by the label's Eothen Alapatt in conjunction with Axelrod's estate as a limited double LP offering. The instrumentals are now available for the first time ever as a stand-alone LP. The master was approved by Axelrod's son Michael, who adapted ancient lyrics for the album in one of three collaborative projects he did with his father. Contains a 28-page booklet that delves into Axelrod's incredible life and music, replete with never before published photos and an interview. 'There are very few people who see the Grand Picture of the Universe and understand the Nothingness that it all comes from. There are even fewer who can express these ideas through music -- David could do it all.' --T-Ray"
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
LP
|
|
NA 5186LP
|
Sold out, repressed in 2023. "Comes packaged in a gatefold jacket with a 28-page booklet. Earth Rot is visionary composer/arranger/producer David Axelrod's third album, and the last of his Capitol trilogy. Recorded as a concept album about the decrepit state of the environment in 1970 Los Angeles, and scheduled for release on the first Earth Day, it features choral vocals and marks a departure for Axelrod's signature sound, which would take on a jazzier feel in the 1970s. This definitive version of Earth Rot, overseen by Now-Again's Eothen Alapatt in conjunction with Axelrod's Estate, fulfills a request Axelrod made while alive -- to see the instrumentals of this album, never before released, issued. They see release here as the second half of a deluxe CD reissue. This is an audiophile reissue, with the vocal version transferred directly from Axelrod's original master tapes at Capitol Records by Ron McMaster. The master was approved by Axelrod's son Michael, who adapted ancient lyrics for the album in one of three collaborative projects he did with his father. Contains a 32 page booklet that delves into Axelrod's incredible life and music, replete with never before published photos and an interview. "There are very few people who see the Grand Picture of the Universe and understand the Nothingness that it all comes from. There are even fewer who can express these ideas through music -- David could do it all.' --T-Ray"
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
NA 5167CD
|
"Includes never before issued instrumentals! Comes with a 32-page booklet! New audiophile transfer directly from Axelrod's original EQ'ed master tapes. Earth Rot is visionary composer/arranger/producer David Axelrod's third album, and the last of his Capitol trilogy. Recorded as a concept album about the decrepit state of the environment in 1970 Los Angeles, and scheduled for release on the first Earth Day, it features choral vocals and marks a departure for Axelrod's signature sound, which would take on a jazzier feel in the 1970s. This definitive version of Earth Rot, overseen by Now-Again's Eothen Alapatt in conjunction with Axelrod's Estate, fulfills a request Axelrod made while alive -- to see the instrumentals of this album, never before released, issued. They see release here as the second half of a deluxe CD reissue. This is an audiophile reissue, with the vocal version transferred directly from Axelrod's original master tapes at Capitol Records by Ron McMaster. The master was approved by Axelrod's son Michael, who adapted ancient lyrics for the album in one of three collaborative projects he did with his father. Contains a 32 page booklet that delves into Axelrod's incredible life and music, replete with never before published photos and an interview."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
NA 5166CD
|
"Audiophile reissue, transferred directly from Axelrod's original EQ'ed master tapes at Capitol Records by Ron McMaster 'Songs of Experience was supposed to have a different feel than Song of Innocence. You see, music is a great outlet. And regardless of what the titles say, and as close as I wanted it to be to William Blake, what was going on in my life took precedence.' --David Axelrod Songs of Experience is visionary composer/arranger/producer David Axelrod's second album; it was recorded after the death of his beloved son Scott. Experience is an ominous affair, an album concerned with mortality and spirituality -- the solitary, pastoral musings of William Blake set to the urban bombast of a full Los Angeles orchestra, with Wrecking Crew vets grounding the proceedings with dark funk. This is the next Now-Again issue in a series of reissues centered around Axelrod's Capitol Trilogy -- Song of Innocence, Songs of Experience and Earth Rot -- which will see release through 2018. Contains 32-page booklet that delves into Axelrod's incredible life and music, replete with never before published photos. 'There are very few people who see the Grand Picture of the Universe and understand the Nothingness that it all comes from. There are even fewer who can express these ideas through music -- David could do it all.' --T-Ray"
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
LP
|
|
NA 5166LP
|
Sold out, repressed in 2023. LP version. Audiophile reissue, lacquered directly from Axelrod's original EQ'ed master tapes at Capitol Records by Ron McMaster, housed in a deluxe gatefold jacket. "Audiophile reissue, transferred directly from Axelrod's original EQ'ed master tapes at Capitol Records by Ron McMaster 'Songs of Experience was supposed to have a different feel than Song of Innocence. You see, music is a great outlet. And regardless of what the titles say, and as close as I wanted it to be to William Blake, what was going on in my life took precedence.' --David Axelrod Songs of Experience is visionary composer/arranger/producer David Axelrod's second album; it was recorded after the death of his beloved son Scott. Experience is an ominous affair, an album concerned with mortality and spirituality -- the solitary, pastoral musings of William Blake set to the urban bombast of a full Los Angeles orchestra, with Wrecking Crew vets grounding the proceedings with dark funk. This is the next Now-Again issue in a series of reissues centered around Axelrod's Capitol Trilogy -- Song of Innocence, Songs of Experience and Earth Rot -- which will see release through 2018. Contains 32-page booklet that delves into Axelrod's incredible life and music, replete with never before published photos. 'There are very few people who see the Grand Picture of the Universe and understand the Nothingness that it all comes from. There are even fewer who can express these ideas through music -- David could do it all.' --T-Ray"
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
LP
|
|
NA 5165LP
|
Sold out, repressed in 2023. "David Axelrod delivered one of the great psychedelic albums with 1968's Song Of Innocence, based around the poetry of William Blake. It is considered by many his masterpiece. Song Of Innocence is this weird hybrid that no one, not even Axelrod himself, could ever really describe. The listener is pulled in by his melodies, simplistic at first blush, but colored by odd chord progressions and turn arounds, grounded by the drummer Earl Palmer and Carol Kaye's funk, torn between the juxtaposition of musical elements -- a jazz vibraphone solo here, a fuzz guitar tear here, a nod to the baroque in Don Randi's clavichord comps -- and put at ease, always, by Axe's arrangements, which utilize brass and strings in a way that no 1960s arranger did. It's worth noting that there are really count-on-your-hand examples of anything that might even be compared to Song Of Innocence. Perhaps Arthur Verocai's self-titled and only artist album, issued on the Brasilian Continental label in 1972, or the collaborations between Serge Gainsbourg and Jean Claude Vannier, which found their epitome in 1971's Histoire de Melody Nelson. But even these albums, superb, in any thinking music fan's canon of the best from this era, perhaps in their lives -- and perhaps in line with Song Of Innocence -- are one-offs. Axelrod's Song Of Innocence set in path a series of artist albums on Capitol and other labels and influenced the world countless times over, from The Verve to DJ Shadow to Madlib to J.Dilla. Remastered from the original tapes in a new transfer, with extensive liner notes and unpublished photos."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD/DVD
|
|
VAMPI 098CD
|
2008 release. Vampisoul offers you David Axelrod's very first UK orchestral performance, live at the Royal Festival Hall in London in . A Grammy award-winning producer for Capitol Records who helmed dozens of great jazz, funk and soul records during the 1960s and '70s (David, McCallum, Lou Rawls, Stan Kenton, The Electric Prunes, Cannonball Adderley...), David Axelrod also forged a distinctive musical style while recording several of the most eccentric albums of the '70s. His music was rediscovered in the '90s, and has been sampled by key hip-hop artists such as Dr.Dre, DJ Shadow, or Lauryn Hill. On this performance, from Dean Rudland's liner notes: "The show opens with what sounds like an Axelrod classic, but is in fact, a re-composition specifically written for the show, the Rolling Stones' 'Paint it Black.' 'How could I come to England and not pay tribute to the Beatles or the Rolling Stones?' explained David. And sure enough, the show's closing moment is dedicated to Lennon and McCartney's 'Norwegian Wood,' sealing the overall unique experience of Axe's evening. In between, for the best part of an hour and a half, we were treated to an incredible selection of David Axelrod's music, mainly taken from his work on the William Blake inspired albums Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience." DVD is NTSC, all region format.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
MOWAX 141CD
|
Original UK copies of 2001 release of self-titled album, a surprise release on Mo'Wax. Features previously unreleased backing tracks from the late 60s, with some new finishing touches. Very strong classic Axelrod feel, in the spirt of his albums Songs of Innocence & Songs of Experience. From DJ Shadow's liner notes: "...the material on this album, as fresh as it sounds, was written over thirty years ago. Always the visionary, David had been toying with the concept of recording an album for Reprise based on Goethe's Faust (he often used literary and political themes for inspiration). Interpretive lyrics were written by Steven Poncher. Since each of the songs had already been written as lead sheets, Axelrod went into the studio and recorded the rhythm tracks. At the end of the session, an acetate was cut, as a reference. Unfortunately, due to an internal problem at Warners, the tracks remained shelved in anticipation of completion." Axelrod was in touch with Mo'wax in 1999 and eventually was convinced to complete work on this project. Seven of the 9 tracks make use of the original acetate tracks, with additional strings and texturing. There are also 2 new tracks, which feature vocals from M.C. Ras Koss and Lou Rawls. More Shadow: "Listen to the arrangements, listen to the way Carol Kaye's bass dances around Howard Roberts' guitar, listen to the way Earl Palmer's snare cracks, listen to the awesome command of melody. This is the David Axelrod sound. L.A. bred and ahead of its time. Thirty-three years later, finger still on the pulse."
|
|
|
|