David Axelrod
The Edge: David Axelrod at Capitol Records 1966-1970
Capitol Jazz

Capitol pays tribute to producer David Axelrod with this attractive compilation of some of the many sessions he helmed in the late 1960s. An example of his successful Lou Rawls productions is here, Rawls' rendition of the Blood, Sweat & Tears hit "You've Made Me So Very Happy" (preceded by one of Lou's trademark monologues), as is a Cannnonball Adderley track and a couple of odd pieces by actor David McCallum. But the meat of the disc is drawn from the three records Axelrod released under his own name. The productions comprising Axelrod's 1968 album Songs Of Innocence are supposedly the beginning of jazz fusion, though they sound more like just really progressive pop to these ears. Think of what the missing link between Brian Wilson's Beach Boys masterpiece Pet Sounds and the Flaming Lips' The Soft Bulletin might sound like, and you'll have an idea of how Axelrod's solo productions sound. -- Michael Fortes