David Axelrod

David Axelrod on vinyl: orchestra, funk and big emotions

In short: David Axelrod (1931–2017) was a producer, arranger and composer from Los Angeles. At Capitol in the sixties he worked with Lou Rawls and Cannonball Adderley, and he wrote and arranged music for The Electric Prunes; his own albums combine orchestra, jazz, funk and rock into dramatic, cinematic pieces. Later, hip-hop producers discovered his music as a rich source of samples. The Vinyl Room currently has 6 David Axelrod records.

What makes David Axelrod special?

Axelrod’s sound is unmistakable: heavy drum breaks, deep bass, with strings and horns rising above like film music. “The Auction” (1972) and “Seriously Deep” (1975) show that mix, while “Strange Ladies” (1977) gets funkier and lighter.

With “David Axelrod” (2001) he returned on the London label Mo Wax – a late tribute from a generation that had grown up with his samples.

From our stock

First pressings

Records by David Axelrod

→ Mo Wax · Cannonball Adderley · Lou Rawls · Jazz-funk

FAQ

Who was David Axelrod? A producer, arranger and composer from Los Angeles, known for orchestral jazz-funk.

Who did he work with? Lou Rawls and Cannonball Adderley among others; he wrote and arranged music for The Electric Prunes.

Why is Axelrod so sought after by DJs? His breaks and arrangements were often sampled in hip-hop.

Which records do you have? Albums from the seventies and his late album on Mo Wax – 6 records in all.