Now-Again Records

David Axelrod speaks about “Songs of Experience” in 1969

A rare audio interview from 1969, recently surfaced, captures David Axelrod reflecting on his then-new album, the landmark Songs of Experience.

In 1969, David Axelrod was interviewed for Voices of Vista, a United States Peace Corps initiative that was pressed to vinyl and distributed to radio stations and recruitment centers. He spoke about the song “A Divine Image” and his album Songs of Innocence, and wondered about the music he would create in the future.

This video was edited by Bennett Piscitelli, with thanks to Kristof Indeherberge.

Legendary Composer/Arranger/Producer David Axelrod’s essential trilogy on Capitol Records – Song of Innocence (1968), Songs of Experience (1969), and Earth Rot (1970) – officially reissued this year on Now-Again. Earth Rot will see release on Black Friday Record Store Day.

PRE SALE »» DAVID AXELROD – EARTH ROT
ON SALE NOW »» DAVID AXELROD – SONGS OF EXPERIENCE
ON SALE NOW »» | DAVID AXELROD – SONG OF INNOCENCE

Don Randi on David Axelrod’s “Song of Experience” reissue – “This is Marvelous”

Above,Songs of Experience keyboardist and conductor Don Randi visits Now-Again’s Egon at producer Emile Haynie’s studio to approve an acetate cut of David Axelrod’s second album, taken directly from the master tapes he and Axelrod assembled 50 years ago.

Legendary composer/Arranger/Producer David Axelrod’s essential trilogy on Capitol Records – Song of Innocence (1968), Songs of Experience (1969), and Earth Rot (1970) – officially reissued this year on Now-Again. Songs of Experience is now available.

ON SALE NOW »» DAVID AXELROD – SONGS OF EXPERIENCE
ALSO AVAILABLE | DAVID AXELROD – SONG OF INNOCENCE

Songs of Experience (1969) is visionary composer/arranger/producer David Axelrod’s second album; it was recorded after the death of his beloved son Scott. Experience is an ominous affair, an album concerned with mortality and spirituality – the solitary, pastoral musings of William Blake set to the urban bombast of a full Los Angeles orchestra, with Wrecking Crew vets grounding the proceedings with dark funk.