Wherein A Studio Master Takes It To The Stage And Makes His Peace With Dr.Dre
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Artist:
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Album:Live@Royal Festival Hall (2001)
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Track:The Edge(1)
I am more than a little slow on the uptake. I may have a lot of music in my collection, but a huge chunk of my 85,000 tracks (probably 75%) were recorded before 1980. Getting me to buy a post-1980 record is about as easy as getting me to go to the dentist. I figure if its new it'll be around. Even with folks I admire like David Axelrod, I was slow to pick up his 2001 "comeback" record and its been two years since his CD/DVD live piece recorded about that same time, but I finally have them in the collection.
I've written about supa-producer Axelrod before...
Lou Rawls and David
and Electric Prunes and David
...but it was the mighty Fistula Spume who jacopettied me into finally breaking down and getting Mr.Axelrod's 2001 Live session, recorded and filmed at London's, Royal Festival Hall. I haven't peeped the video yet, but the 26 piece band,with a vocal guest spot from Richard Ashcroft does an incredible job of bringing Axelrod's orcrchestral jazz-funk to the stage.
The sound is pretty damn good, but overall it' just can't reach the heights of his stellar studio productions..I think this is one of those where you would've had to be in the house to appreciate the space,sight and sound, for the full effect. Don't get me wrong though, I am pleased with my purchase.
Axelrod conducts the band through a set that leans heavily on the tunes that made him a friend to folks in the hip hop and jazz-funk community, like Holy Thursday, Holy Are You, and the track that really brought the sample dollars in..The Edge, which was famously sampled by Dr.Dre for Eminem.
At the concert, Mr.Axelrod (who you can tell, hasn't spent a whole lot of time on stage) introduces The Edge, with what was my first takeaway from the record..an old school producers view on sampling. It was a little touching even.
Bookending the show were abstract Stones and Beatles covers that didn't really grab me, but in between were those heavenly beats and some stunning solos.
So whether you think of David Axelrod as a campaign strategist or a mad musical professor, IMO, they both deliver the goods.
Check out the cash cow sample (orginally a David McCallum record), from my king of whitesploitation, here. Please see Richard Ashcroft push Holy Are You along, and the ripping guitar solo from Holy Thursday in comments.
Comments (13)
David Axelrod-Holy Are You
David Axelrod-Holy Thursday
Good stuff.
Many thanks,exp. It's good to be rescued from el zilcho infamy. Hope all is well with you.
awesome audio. i'd never heard Axelrod that i know of. hilarious!
I, for one, am glad you broke down and shook that money tree!
Very nice
I'm blown away at how great his first two albums are, very happy you brought this up today. Thanks Cody.
Molli- In studio, he got a great drum sound, worth checking, if you are into that sort of thing..like Dach sez his first two records (Songs of Innocence,Songs Of Experience) are, though short, "great".
Rummy- I know I need to go get a job now..Is it hard to find a job during a recession?
depends on your motivation and your standards :-)
speaking of recession, my hairline seems to have jumped on the band wagon. I now understand how a depression can sometimes follow a recession :-(
Then again, I've always got your posts as a tonic!
Thank you for the props and the chuckle..Since I got laid off last year, I've been attending school..but I'm itching to get back to work. Been sending out resumes. I dunno if I'm cut out for school. Perhaps a bit of both?
I've been loving his song on the GTA IV soundtrack. And he got Obama elected! I'm going to check out this album, he sounds great (and rather drunk), ta.
He's another living chart topper of mine..thanks fluxy.
Show off.
One of maybe 8 in my collection!