David McCallum - Music: A Bit More Of Me

6.5 - USA - 1967

The second of four albums cut for Capitol Records by TV star David McCallum, this set, like it's predecessor, consists largely of pop hits of the day recorded in an easy-jazz quasi-big band style by the inimitable David Axelrod. Unlike most albums recorded by TV stars, Music: A Bit More Of Me doesn't feature The Man From U.N.C.L.E. star in any vocal capacity. Rather, the classically-trained son of a concertmaster violinist is the ostensible arranger and conducter of the record (though one can't help but suspect the sound is just a little too redolent of Axelrod's trademark expansive orchestral funk). The record acquits itself fairly well, even if may border on proto-muzak at times. The Byrds' "It Won't Be Wrong" is relatively interesting and Petula Clark's "Call Me" bears the inimitable stamp of Axelrod's arranging.

When listening to this album, however, a funny thing happens towards the end of side 2. After a couple of McCallum originals, the listener is suddenly hit by the deep horn stabs and spidery muted guitars of "The Edge" and suddenly we're removed from the swinging easiness of a TV star's big band album a thrown deep into the well of Axelrod's dark cosmic fusion. Even without having heard its recasting in Dr. Dre's "The Next Episode", it is immediately apparent that this track was made to be sampled. A definite highlight to an otherwise ordinary record.