David Axelrod (not the Obama one)

[decode reality]

Is anyone here familiar with this man's music? He's an American composer in his 70s now, has done lots of work as an arranger with jazz and soul artists. You may have heard it sampled on various hip hop tracks and even on video games. Apart from Funkadelic and James Brown, I'd say his work was the most sampled of all-and you can hear why.

Here are his best known pieces, Holy Thursday and The Edge Truly majestic music. ;)


YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.


David McCallum - The Edge - YouTube

[rishan]

the man is an absolute genius! i've got most of his records and they are some of the best music ever recorded. he is one of my musical idols. my jaw hit the floor when i first heard his stuff. utterly sublime. almost puts me into another state of consciousness. can not recommend him highly enough, especially for newcomers, his first two albums - song of innocence and songs of experience. thoroughly ridiculous music. great post!!!

[decode reality]

the man is an absolute genius! i've got most of his records and they are some of the best music ever recorded. he is one of my musical idols. my jaw hit the floor when i first heard his stuff. utterly sublime. almost puts me into another state of consciousness. can not recommend him highly enough, especially for newcomers, his first two albums - song of innocence and songs of experience. thoroughly ridiculous music. great post!!!

Rishan, you've said everything I feel about his music. It's coming from another plane. And credit to the great musicians he chooses.

I first heard him on a compilation called The Mighty Mellow Vol 2 which some great tracks on it. In fact, I was in a second hand vinyl shop back in the 90s, I heard Holy Thursday when I walked in. I went 'WTF IS THAT?" :eek: It reminded me of John Barry's music and something like what Gang Starr would do. I was shocked when the shopkeeper said that it wasn't a sample at all but an original recording from the 70s.

If I had to compare the vibe with other stuff, I'd say John Coltrane's Africa Brass album, especially Song Of The Underground Railroad, some of Gil Evans work with Miles and more recently, some stuff by The Verve. In fact, Richard Ashcroft sang 'Holy Are You' with Axelrod conducting, on his one UK appearance a few years back (I'm sure you'll know that).

[decode reality]

ROTARY CONNECTION-"I AM THE BLACK GOLD OF THE SUN" (1971) - YouTube

On much the same lines, here's ROTARY CONNECTION with 'I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun'. Featuring the great Minnie Ripperton.

[rishan]

hey man, yeah, for me this is what it must like to people who understand Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin etc. personally i don't hear what they hear (wish i did though), but it has to be a similar thing.

btw have you heard the Electric Prunes instrumentals, which were produced and arranged by Axelrod? man, they are strange and i can only say don't listen while driving! it's kind of religious and repetitive, and it might put you into a trance. nearly happened to me once!

i first heard Axelrod in the mid 90's, in some of the hip hop productions, but i didn't fully 'get it' until the breaks mixtapes came out where you could hear more of the songs. then i was buying all the amazing old jazz and soul records, not just hip hop. sadly had to sell my whole collection when i got into some financial strife. worst thing is, most of it is not available on cd. crazy!

i got Axelrod's album from a few years ago, but didn't know he came to the UK. to be honest i know nothing about what's going on these days, since Big Daddy/Grand Slam magazine is no longer. only check the dustygroove website for reissues now and then. will check out those recommendations you made, but i have to say though i am struggling to find anything quite comparable!

Minnie Riperton is a good call and her album 'Come to my Garden' is amazing, with Charles Stepney on production/arrangement. man he is another all time great, anything with his name on you know has an awesome vibe! a couple of things i will recommend: Demon Fuzz - Afreaka! and a record called Archie Whitewater on Cadet Concept (same as Rotary Connection).

[decode reality]

hey man, yeah, for me this is what it must like to people who understand Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin etc. personally i don't hear what they hear (wish i did though), but it has to be a similar thing.

btw have you heard the Electric Prunes instrumentals, which were produced and arranged by Axelrod? man, they are strange and i can only say don't listen while driving! it's kind of religious and repetitive, and it might put you into a trance. nearly happened to me once!

i first heard Axelrod in the mid 90's, in some of the hip hop productions, but i didn't fully 'get it' until the breaks mixtapes came out where you could hear more of the songs. then i was buying all the amazing old jazz and soul records, not just hip hop. sadly had to sell my whole collection when i got into some financial strife. worst thing is, most of it is not available on cd. crazy!

i got Axelrod's album from a few years ago, but didn't know he came to the UK. to be honest i know nothing about what's going on these days, since Big Daddy/Grand Slam magazine is no longer. only check the dustygroove website for reissues now and then. will check out those recommendations you made, but i have to say though i am struggling to find anything quite comparable!

Minnie Riperton is a good call and her album 'Come to my Garden' is amazing, with Charles Stepney on production/arrangement. man he is another all time great, anything with his name on you know has an awesome vibe! a couple of things i will recommend: Demon Fuzz - Afreaka! and a record called Archie Whitewater on Cadet Concept (same as Rotary Connection).

Enjoyed reading this, Rishan....will come back to it....heading for bed. :)