David Axelrod (Self-Titled, 2001)

Coming Record Store Day, Black Friday, Nov. 27, 2026, on Now-Again.

David Axelrod's full length, self-titled "lost" album was primarily recorded in the late 1960s. It was meant to be a third in a trilogy of Electric Prunes releases for Reprise Records, based around the legend of Faust. He took his crew of Los Angeles session musicians, including drummer Earl Palmer, bassist Carol Kaye, and guitarists Howard Roberts and Pete Wyant, and recorded the rhythm tracks. He cut them an acetate for review. The project was then shelved, but his then-manager Lenny Poncher kept that acetate. 

In the late 90s, after Poncher returned the disc to him and Axelrod met Mo’Wax boss James Lavelle through his work with DJ Shadow, Axelrod agreed to write, arrange and record what would have been the completed orchestra and horn tracks in the same Capitol Studios he had recorded the rhythm tracks in the '60s. He augmented the album with two tracks written specifically for the release, no longer about a cursed bargain, but as a reflection of his life in music -  a life, few knew then, full of triumph and tragedy. 

Now-Again’s Egon sat in on those Capitol sessions and, 26 years after their recording, has partnered with the Axelrod Estate to present this music anew on Now-Again. The 2026 reissue has a new album cover with a photo by B+ taken at the Capitol sessions and comes with an extensive, oversized booklet with detailed information on this special album and Axelrod’s life and oeuvre.