David Axelrod

Early life Born in Los Angeles, California, David Axelrod was raised in its South Central neighborhood, where he grew up listening to R&B and jazz. He graduated from Dorsey High School. The Electric Prunes disbanded during the recording sessions and Axelrod's team completed the albums. Axelrod's success also encouraged Capitol to allow him to produce solo albums, the first two of which, Song of Innocence (1968) and Songs of Experience (1969), were homages to the mystical poetry and paintings of William Blake. These used sweeping strings, booming sound and heavy beats in a way that was unique for the time and became highly influential many years later. His third solo album, Earth Rot (1970), warned of the impact of environmental pollution and degradation. In 1970, he left Capitol and over the next few years issued a rock version of Handel's oratorio Messiah and further solo albums, as well as continuing to work with Adderley on several albums until the latter's death in 1975. His approach fell out of fashion for a while, and three solo albums he recorded in the 1980s went unreleased.

His work as arranger and composer began to be rediscovered in the early 1990s, and to be sampled by artists such as Dr. Dre, DJ Shadow and Lauryn Hill. In 1993, he released his first album for over a decade, Requiem: Holocaust. Several compilations of his earlier work were also released. In 2000 he released David Axelrod, which used rhythm tracks originally recorded for a proposed third Electric Prunes album, with new arrangements. Dr. Dre used a David McCallum cut ("The Edge") for "The Next Episode" from 1999's 2001. Masta Ace also used a cut from "The Edge" in his song, "No Regrets" from the 2001 album, Disposable Arts. In addition, "The Edge" was heavily sampled on the Emperor Penguin track "Burnt Sienna and Avocado".

Axelrod appeared at the Royal Festival Hall, London, on 17 March 2004 as part of the Ether festival where he conducted a performance of his solo work. He was joined onstage by Richard Ashcroft who sang "Holy Are You", originally recorded by The Electric Prunes. During the intro of his song "The Edge", he spoke on the subject of sampling, saying "I'm such a hypocrite, I hate sampling because it takes jobs away from musicians, but it allows me to have fun. It's screw-you money. So I love this, naturally. Thank you Dre.". At the end of this rare concert he informed the audience that he was suffering from ill health. Axelrod signed with Blue Note Records in 2005. In 2006, Live at Royal Festival Hall was released as a DVD and CD.

Axelrod died of lung cancer on February 5, 2017, at the age of 85.

Discography

Albums + List of albums, with selected details Title Details

Released: 1968 Label: Capitol Formats: CD, LP

Released: 1969 Label: Capitol Formats: CD, LP

Released: 1970 Label: Capitol Formats: CD, LP

Released: 1971 Label: RCA Formats: LP

Released: 1972 Label: Decca Formats: LP

Released: 1974 Label: Fantasy Formats: LP, CD

Released: 1975 Label: Polydor Formats: LP, CD

Released: 1977 Label: MCA Formats: LP

Released: 1980 Label: MCA Formats: LP

Released: 1993 Label: Stateside Formats: CD

Released: 1995 Label: Stateside Formats: CD

Released: 2001 Label: Mo' Wax Formats: CD

Released: 2004 Label: Formats: CD/DVD

Compilation The Edge: David Axelrod At Capitol Records 1966-1970 (Capitol Jazz, 2005)

Singles "Gumshoe" / "The Lost Lament" (Decca, 1972) "The Leading Citizen" (Decca, 1972) "The Dr & The Diamond" (Mo' Wax, 2001) "Holy Thursday" (Stateside, 2002) (split) "The Signs" (Capitol Jazz, 2005) (split) "London" (Stateside, 2006)

Other credits

As arrangerWith Hampton HawesNorthern Windows (Prestige, 1974) - also producerWith The Electric PrunesMass in F Minor (Reprise, 1968) Release of an Oath (Reprise, 1968)With Gene AmmonsBrasswind (Prestige, 1974)

As producer With Cannonball Adderley Cannonball Adderley Live! (Capitol, 1964) Live Session! (Capitol, 1964)) Cannonball Adderley's Fiddler on the Roof (Capitol, 1964) Domination (Capitol, 1965) Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! Live at 'The Club' (Capitol, 1966) 74 Miles Away (Capitol, 1967) Why Am I Treated So Bad! (Capitol, 1967) In Person (Capitol, 1968) Accent on Africa (Capitol, 1968) Country Preacher (Capitol, 1969) The Cannonball Adderley Quintet & Orchestra (Capitol, 1970) Love, Sex, and the Zodiac (Capitol, 1970) The Price You Got to Pay to Be Free (Capitol, 1970) The Happy People (Capitol, 1972) The Black Messiah (Capitol, 1972) Music You All (Capitol, 1976) Inside Straight (Capitol, 1973) Pyramid (Capitol, 1974) Walk Tall: The David Axelrod Years (Stateside, 2006)[2CD] – compilationWith Donna Loren Beach Blanket Bingo (Capitol T-2323, ST-2323, 1965) "Blowing Out the Candles" b/w "Just a Little Girl" (Capitol 5250, 1964) "Ten Good Reasons" b/w "Ninety Day Guarantee" (Capitol 5337, 1964) "New Love" b/w "So, Do the Zonk" (Capitol 5409, 1965) These Are the Good Times: The Complete Capitol Recordings (Now Sounds CRNOW-47, 2014) (tracks: "Just a Little Girl", "So, Do the Zonk", "Good Things" [previously unreleased], "Leave Him to Me" [previously unreleased], "Ten Good Reasons", "Ninety Day Guarantee", "Blowing Out the Candles", "Drop the Drip" [previously unreleased], and the tracks from the Beach Blanket Bingo album).With David McCallum Music...A Part of Me (Capitol ST 2432, 1966) Music...A Bit More of Me (Capitol ST 2498, 1966) Music...It's Happening Now! (Capitol ST 2651, 1967) McCallum (Capitol ST 2748, 1968)With others''' Elmo Hope, Elmo Hope Trio (HiFi Jazz, 1960) Harold Land, The Fox (HiFi Jazz, 1960) Frank Rosolino, Free for All (Speciality, 1986) Jimmy Witherspoon, Feelin' The Spirit'' (HiFi Jazz, 1959)