Various
If You Ask Me To... (black)
'VICTOR AXELROD PRODUCTIONS FOR DAPTONE RECORDS'- If you're a fan of Daptone Records, chances are you've read or heard the name Victor Axelrod, and even if you haven't, you've heard music from his hand. As a producer, arranger, recording and mixing engineer, and keyboardist, his creativity has extended across more than two decades of the label's releases, even dating to its prehistory with Desco Records. 'If You Ask Me To...,' the first LP under his name for the label, is a collection of singles released between 2007-2023 as well as unreleased tracks from Sugar Minott and Binky Griptite. While previous projects like Ticklah Vs. Axelrod and Roots Combination (produced under the alias Ticklah) were inspired by the Jamaica of the 1970s and 80s, this set specifically channels an earlier period in the 1960s when Jamaica was both strikingly original in its continuum of genres but also closely and empathetically attuned to Black American music. Through Axelrod's exceptional taste and the notable contributions of guitarist Tom Brenneck, original tapes from Bob & Gene's MoDo discography, members of The Frightnrs, and others from the NYC reggae community, the legacy of trailblazing Jamaican artists like Alton Ellis, Tony Gregory, and Ken Parker continue to resonate and inspire a whole new generation of reggae and soul enthusiasts. SIDE 1: 1. Sugar Minott - One Step Ahead 2. Leon Dinero - If You Ask Me 3. Charles Bradley - Whatcha Doing To Me (Victor Axelrod Production) 4. Bob & Gene & The Inversions - I Can Be Cool 5. Binky Griptite - Lover Like Me SIDE 2: 1. The Frightnrs - I'd Rather Go Blind 2. Bob & Gene & The Inversions - I Can't Stand These Lonely Nights 3. Bob & Gene & The Inversions - It's Not What You Know 4. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - How Long Do I Have To Wait For You? (Victor Axelrod Production) 5. The Inversions - Conscience Is Heavy