Letta Mbulu - Sings & Free Soul [1967,1968 - South Africa]

Still not an Axelrod fanatic? Well, try this one on for size.

Although known as a jazz-funk pioneer, David Axelrod produced records of various genres; from psychedelic rock (see The Electric Prunes) to Afro-pop.

The Axelrod sound is still definitely apparent in this album, however the African/Western fusion results in a unique sound; Letta Mbulu powerful voice over Axelrod's orchestral arrangements.

Hip-hop heads will dig this too. I was completely unaware of the Louis Logic sample for his hilarious track "Coochie Coup" found on Letta's "Kukuchi."

By the way, it's your lucky day cuz this is a DOUBLE LP!

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David Axelrod - Marchin' [1980 - USA]

Not to be confused with Predident Barack Obama's Senior Advisor, David Axelrod is a living legend in the world of jazz-funk and hip-hop. Some cite him as being the originator of trip-hop decades before it was labeled a genre.
Axelrod began his career in the early 60s as a producer for Capital Records working with artists such as Cannonball Adderley, Lou Rawls, David McCallum, and the Electric Prunes. From 1968-1980 he released 9 brilliant solo albums, but was frustrated that they never received the recognition or financial success they deserved. Not atypical of a brilliant musician that is not willing to dumb his music down for the masses, he sank into a episode a depression, torment, and substance abuse. It wasn't until 1996 when DJ Shadow released the trip-hop classic Endtroducing that he was rediscovered among a new generation of DJs and producers. Shadow's powerful track "Midnight in a Perfect World" features a sample from Axelrod's song "The Human Abstract" off his 1969 album Songs of Experience that made beat miners' heads spin. Since then, nearly all of his records have been re-released (but not this one) and Axelrod is finally getting the recognition and cash he deserves.

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