david axelrod - The Edge Of Music, An Exploration Of 50 Years In Music
a few months ago bob stanley wrote a wonderful piece re david in mojo - i totally recommend you track down the issue (Jan'06 - springsteen cover). since that piece was written, one of davids best vocal collaborators, lou rawls has sadly passed away, so we'll never get to hear those rich sultry vocals alongside davids work again. fittingly, this compilation opens with their last recorded team up, the sad and heartbreaking loved boy, as originally featured on mo'wax album, the song is a tribute to the death of davids son, and doesn't pull any punches. not a party track that's for sure, but one that proves that even in today's climate david has the power to pull out something rather special, it's not all bout his so called classic period (the mid to late 60's, and early 70's)
bobs stanley's piece went alongside a capitol records album called simply 'the edge'. so be careful as this is a very different double cd compilation that has been put out by the $tateside imprint. of course the music is as excellent as anything you have ever heard by david, which covers a wide range of styles from choral weirdness, through to full on big band cinematic drama. the reason for the longevity of the appeal of david music is the big band arrangements, the funky drums, the excessive strings, pumped up horns and the sheer class invoked through the sparkling arrangements (all of which have been remastered of course !) when the mood is more mellow. so, it was only natural that you will hear chunks during this compilation that have appeared in recent times accompanied by rap stars dropping verse over loops that have been lifted from these sources. hip hop heads have rooted through davids catalogue, and this set of tracks should give reason why.
as well as the music, the sleeve notes provide some wonderful insights and detail and even a photo or 2.
a brilliant package for some brilliant music.
Tracklisting:
Disc 1
1. Lovéd Boy (featuring Lou Rawls) David Axelrod XL LP (XL / Beggars)
2. Holy Thursday
3. The Leading Citizen The Auction Decca LP (Universal)
4. London
5. A Dream
6. The Auction The Auction Decca LP (Universal)
7. The Sign (pt 1)
8. Everything Counts Heavy Axe Fantasy LP (Ace)
9. Song Of Innocence
10. Mental Traveler
11. The Poison Tree
12. Aquarius Nat Adderley Sextet with Cannonball Adderley
13. Love Is A Hurting Thing - Lou Rawls
14. Paint It Black Live At The Royal Albert Hall DVD
Disc 2
1. The Edge - David McCallum
2. Holy Are You - Electric Prunes Release Of An Oath Reprise LP (WSM)
3. The Sign (Pt III)
4. A Little Girl Lost
5. Tensity - The Cannonball Adderley Quintet
6. 1000 Rads Seriously Deep Polydor LP (Universal)
7. Mucho Chupar Heavy Axe Fantasy LP (Ace)
8. Web - Hampton Hawes Northern Windows Fantasy LP (Ace)
9. Tony’s Poem Strange Ladies MCA LP (Universal)
10. Gunjah - Cannonball Adderley
11. The Human Abstract
12. The Fly
13. Introit / Krystallnacht