ONE BEACH BOY’S “CHRISTMAS DAY”: Al Jardine Has a Sack Full of Excitement for the Coming Year!

PRLog (Press Release) - Dec 19, 2009 -
BURBANK, Calif. – Beach Boys co-founder Al Jardine, who started the group in 1961 with the Wilson brothers (Brian, Carl, and Dennis) and their cousin Mike Love, is preparing for the holidays by releasing a special “live” Christmas recording for download through the iTunes music store.

The song can be heard Saturday, December 19th on Sirius XM’s “Cousin Brucie” show (8 pm to Midnight Eastern time, “The ’60s on 6”), when Radio Hall of Fame DJ Bruce Morrow will conduct a live interview with Al Jardine at approximately 8:15 pm Eastern time (5:15 pm Pacific). If you miss this airing, the show should be available in the Sirius archives shortly.

On the track, an informal “live” performance recorded at a Christmas party at Red Barn Studios in Big Sur, California in 2004, Jardine reprises “Christmas Day,” the very first lead vocal he ever recorded with the iconic group. A video of the impromptu performance can be viewed at Jardine's website (http://www.aljardine.com/video2.html). The original version of the tune appeared on "The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album," which was released by Capitol Records in October, 1964 and has been a holiday favorite for decades.

Al Jardine has a plethora of exciting dates and events on his calendar, going into the new year:

First, on Nov. 24, 2009, the Beach Boys’ 1965 Capitol single, “California Girls,” on which Jardine also appeared, was named by the Recording Academy® as one of its 2010 Grammy Hall Of Fame® Inductees. The Grammy Hall Of Fame Award was established by The Recording Academy's National Trustees in 1973 “to honor recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance that are at least 25 years old. Inductees are selected annually by a special member committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of the recording arts.” The list and recordings now reside as a collection on display at the Grammy Museum® in Santa Monica, California.

Al Jardine is also a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received a Lifetime Grammy in 2001 as a member of the Beach Boys.

In January 2010 he will release an EP of three tracks, selected from “the green side” of his upcoming album, that speak to the relationship of man and his environment. “Don't Fight the Sea,” “Tidepool Interlude” and “California Saga” are songs that reflect this artist’s deep love for the California coastline and his concern for the ecological health of the planet. “I think the strength of this project lays here in these days of climate change,” Jardine suggests.

The new album, "A Postcard from California," is slated to become available in its entirety in spring 2010, and some rough-mix samples of tracks from the album can be enjoyed on Al Jardine’s website (http://www.aljardine.com). The collection will feature Jardine along with a regular “who’s who” of classic rock and popular music royalty, and includes a rare guest appearance by Neil Young, who will be honored as the 2010 MusiCares Person of the Year at a star-studded gala dinner and concert January 29th in Los Angeles. MusiCares is a charitable organization founded by the Recording Academy to benefit music professionals in need of help in various ways. The Person of the Year tribute dinner is an annual event that is held as part of the Grammy week activities.

Inspired by -- and dedicated to -- Jardine’s parents, who, as he puts it, “were infected by the American dream and never satisfied with the status quo,” the album was largely penned by Jardine. He was joined in the studio by a steady and willing stream of famous friends, including Brian Wilson, Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Glen Campbell, Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell of America, David Marks, Richie Cannata and John Stamos. Completing the generational span, Jardine’s sons, Matt and Adam, are also heard fleshing out the vocal harmonies.

The track, “Tidepool Interlude” (found on both EP and album packages), includes a spoken word narrative from another special guest, actor Alec Baldwin, who is heard reading a poem written by Stephen John Kalinich, in a moving tribute to California and its natural beauty. Baldwin is set to co-host the 82nd Academy Awards ceremony (“The Oscars”) with Steve Martin at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California, on March 7th, 2010.

Al Jardine’s 21st century take on “Help Me Rhonda” has a special place on the upcoming album, and a video from the recording sessions, showing Jardine with Steve Miller and Flea recording the Brian Wilson-penned song, is also hosted on the website (http://www.aljardine.com/video.html). “I wanted this version to feel like a blues classic,” says Jardine, to which end he also featured Steve Miller Band harmonica legend Norton Buffalo on the track, for that authentic blues edge. The Beach Boys’ original of “Help Me Rhonda,” on which Jardine also sang lead, went to number one on the Billboard “Hot 100” chart in 1965.

In other recent related activities, an alternate take of the Beach Boys’ hit, “Heroes and Villains,” (yet another original Jardine lead vocal!) appeared on Rhino/WMG’s archival 4-CD box-set, "Where The Action Is! Los Angeles Nuggets 1965-1968," which was released last September 18th.

Al Jardine’s single of “Christmas Day,” which he defines as a “Christmas party song,” could certainly liven up anyone’s holiday festivities, and can be instantly downloaded from the iTunes music store with a couple of mouse-clicks.

But Jardine’s best Christmas present to himself this year is the fact that he’s just wrapped production on his new album, "A Postcard from California," in his studio in Big Sur. We will be looking forward to enjoying his Postcard in the months ahead!

For any additional information about Al Jardine and his music, a current bio and photo, or to arrange an interview, please send an email to kubro@davidcarrmusic.com, or contact the KubRo Group office at (818) 343-1510.