Al's album coming soon?

[Pretty Funky]

We shall see...


www.billboard.com


Ex-Beach Boy Jardine Recruits Neil Young, Steve Miller For Solo Album
 
 
April 05, 2009 11:44 AM ET

Gary Graff, Cleveland
Former Beach Boy Al Jardine recruited an impressive group of all-star friends to be part of his new solo album, which he plans to release in early summer.

Neil Young, Brian Wilson, Steve Miller, Stephen Stills, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and Glen Campbell all guest on "Post Card From California," which includes a mix of original songs and "a Beach Boys standard or two," including "Help Me, Rhonda."
 
"They've all been great," Jardine told Billboard.com about his guests while attending the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremony Saturday in Cleveland. "Steve Miller flew up, diverted his jet to Monterey to be on it. (Young) wanted to play but the track was done. But he was very generous; we spent all day on it."

Jardine described the album as a conceptual piece, "a travelogue for California. It actually takes you through the experience of being there in that environment and driving up Coast Route 1. It's kinda cool."

Stylistically he calls it "post-Beach Boy...easy listening. In the aftershock of what we've been through, it's gonna be real nice to get into that California feeling."

Jardine is still looking for a distributor for the album but expects to have one soon.
 

[chris.metcalfe]

ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Jonas]

that last line kills it

[Smilin Ed H]

I don't know what's more boring - the ongoing saga of its non-release or the ongoing piss-take from people who don't want to hear it anyhow.

[PongHit]

that last line kills it

I'm not sure I even understand it; what have 'we' been thru?

[sofonanm]

Al needs to get with the picture and start writing concept albums about his electric car.

(wonders if anyone knows what I'm talking about here)

Cough up the bucks, cough up the bucks... totally suited for Mr. Al Jardine. 

[Dr. Tim]

I see you're a Neil Young fan.   As far as coughing up the bucks goes and his electric car.  And his girl.

As for Al looking for a "distributor" - maybe if he lifts the hood on said electric car he'll find one. 

I feel like a goddam broken record here  on this topic - Brian got  REAL lucky that Capitol picked up TLOS.  I was surprised they did, pleasantly, of course.  But Al and Mike - not likely to be so lucky, unless they go with a smaller indie label, assuming one will have them.  That's not a judgment on their albums.  But who else will put them out?  They're going to have to self-distribute (like David Byrne and Brian Eno have done) but, in so doing, can control how they release the tracks and in what format.  Yeah, they will have to do the mastering/packaging/pressing/webhosting themselves up front.  That's the modern world.  The days of "the record company, Rosie, just gave me a big advance!" are OVER.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

I think we are a bit hard on Al.  He DID release his "Family and Friends" album independently.  Maybe Rhino is interested, or somebody else.
Maybe he was told, "get Mike Love on there too and you might have a deal"?

On the positive side, the delay seems to have allowed Al and Mike to patch things up a bit; and for Mike to sing on the album.

And finally, let's remember that Al Jardine is not Brian Wilson!  He could never give us a 'Pet Sounds' or 'Smile'.
If we get 4 good tunes ('Driving', 'Don't Fight the Sea'....) to download from iTunes, is that not better than the alternative of Al retiring and getting zilch?

What he does give us, still, is his great voice!  Sadly, it was not heard on 'TLOS' - now that would have been significant!

[Columnated Ruins]

Do I interpret this article correctly in that it implies that Neil Young collaborated but does not actually play or sing on the album??? Also, if all these awesome guest artists were involved, how does not one of them have a distributor contact to get this thing off the ground? Oh, and I have never been more embarrassed than when I took my fiancee to see Neil at MSG and he sang Cough Up the Bucks. Oh, and...oh wait, no, that's it for now.

[c-man]

Do I interpret this article correctly in that it implies that Neil Young collaborated but does not actually play or sing on the album??? Also, if all these awesome guest artists were involved, how does not one of them have a distributor contact to get this thing off the ground? Oh, and I have never been more embarrassed than when I took my fiancee to see Neil at MSG and he sang Cough Up the Bucks. Oh, and...oh wait, no, that's it for now.

I think he means Neil sang on the song, and also wanted to play guitar, but the "track" (meaning, the intrumental backing) was done, so no room for Neil's guitar (sadly).

[Sheriff John Stone]

I think he means Neil sang on the song, and also wanted to play guitar, but the "track" (meaning, the intrumental backing) was done, so no room for Neil's guitar (sadly).

I'd have made the room...

Classic Al Jardine. He actually pulls it off, gets one of the greatest guitarists in the history of rock nd roll to actually show up, and doesn't use him - because the track was "done". Well, for Neil Young, you either wait for him, or you "un-do" the track!

[Jay]

Hmmmm, which name doesn't belong here? "Neil Young, Brian Wilson, Steve Miller, Stephen Stills, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and Glen Campbell all guest on "Post Card From California," which includes a mix of original songs and "a Beach Boys standard or two," including "Help Me, Rhonda."

[Sciencefriction]

I hope that Al gets this out, because I'm actually interested in hearing it.  Sure, once I put away my other records you can see I'm a sap.   

So it's a bit easy listening, I'm glad Al is still in the game really, and his voice is still top notch.  I also dig Flea, good musician and seemingly cool guy.  I don't like RHCP though.  Anyway, I look to forward to hearing all the guests on this album, if only out of curiousity.  I'm normally weary of guest spots, but it's Al, I'll live. 

[Loaf]

On al's website there are now 7 track samples to listen to, and a full video for Help Me Rhonda.

Rhonda seems a bit flat to me, lacking the dynamics that the BBs version(s) have, but I like the rest of the songs. Drivin' with BW sounds good and I love hearing anything David Crosby does.

[Dr. Tim]

So I'm being too hard on Al and his hope to find an old-fashioned distribution deal for his finished album?   

Maybe.  I'd love to be wrong.  But here is what the music guru, Bob Lefsetz, says about the future of the "album" (full article at www.lefsetz.com):

What happens when the labels stop paying an advance?
You know that’s gonna happen.  With such limited revenue from recorded music, no one’s going to pay you a fortune to make it.  There’s no incentive. [...]  The only thing selling is singles.  Hell, not one album released this year has yet gone PLATINUM!  Do you expect Universal to be ponying up millions of dollars in the future?
Don’t be surprised if the major labels morph into management companies.  In a way, they already have.  That’s what a 360 deal is.  That’s what the manager has ALWAYS had, a share in all revenue streams.  You only get paid if there’s success.  Are the majors going to follow this paradigm? {...}
An album’s worth of material usually does not build an audience.  A TRACK builds an audience.  If you’re a career artist, people will want more tracks.  But only if they’re good.  [...]
DON’T tell me how much you love albums.  That’s like labels saying no one will ever download music from the Internet.  The album is history, you just don’t know it yet.  STATEMENTS are not history, but are you really making a statement?   Innovate in the new sphere.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

So I'm being too hard on Al and his hope to find an old-fashioned distribution deal for his finished album?   

Maybe.  I'd love to be wrong.  But here is what the music guru, Bob Lefsetz, says about the future of the "album" (full article at www.lefsetz.com):

What happens when the labels stop paying an advance?
You know that’s gonna happen.  With such limited revenue from recorded music, no one’s going to pay you a fortune to make it.  There’s no incentive. [...]  The only thing selling is singles.  Hell, not one album released this year has yet gone PLATINUM!  Do you expect Universal to be ponying up millions of dollars in the future?
Don’t be surprised if the major labels morph into management companies.  In a way, they already have.  That’s what a 360 deal is.  That’s what the manager has ALWAYS had, a share in all revenue streams.  You only get paid if there’s success.  Are the majors going to follow this paradigm? {...}
An album’s worth of material usually does not build an audience.  A TRACK builds an audience.  If you’re a career artist, people will want more tracks.  But only if they’re good.  [...]
DON’T tell me how much you love albums.  That’s like labels saying no one will ever download music from the Internet.  The album is history, you just don’t know it yet.  STATEMENTS are not history, but are you really making a statement?   Innovate in the new sphere.

hey Dr. Tim, it was just coincidence my post came right after yours.
You are right-on about the music industry - I actually agree 1000%!  You are exactly right!  Brian was lucky with Capital.

I was more referring to the slagging of Al's album.  He should just release it on CD Baby and iTunes.  But, in Al's defense, I was merely saying that there could be some small amount of interest from some label(s) that is (falsely?) building up his hopes and causing a delay.

But if Mile Love can't find an label, why does Al think he can?  I often wonder why Mike doesn't do the CD Baby/iTunes route?  The initial outlay is small, he's already got the album in the can, and he can sell it at Beach Boys shows.

[Awesoman]

CD Baby would be a good venue for Al's album.  Robert Lamm (of Chicago) has put out several fine albums using CD Baby. 

[Loaf]

But if Mile Love can't find an label, why does Mike think he can?

"Mile Love" should be the name of Mike's next unreleased solo album!

And, I know it's passe now, but I love albums.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

But if Mile Love can't find an label, why does Mike think he can?

"Mile Love" should be the name of Mike's next unreleased solo album!

And, I know it's passe now, but I love albums.

ooops, I meant to say "Why does Al think he can"

Yeah, CD Baby is great.  Quite a few big  name band solo projects go there: Chicago, Poco, The Beach Boys: see     http://cdbaby.com/cd/aljardine

[SurfRiderHawaii]

From Paula Bondi-Springer (Al's assistant??) on the BBB.

Re(2): Al Jardine - Rock and Roll Hall of fame Photos and more...
Posted on April 8, 2009 at 10:06:40 PM by Paula Bondi - Springer

I know there have been delays, buy sometimes these things happen; but soon---slated for this summer I'm told and I'm pretty certain this "will" be the case. Thanks for your patience. Paula

www.aljardine.com
**************
Also - www.Zimbio.com/pictures

Al Jardine - Rock and Roll Hall of fame Photos and more...
Posted on April 7, 2009 at 03:10:38 AM by Paula Bondi - Springer

Al Jardine attended the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio. Al posed with among others for photos Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones, and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Also present Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and others. You can see photos etc. at www.Zimbio.com/pictures or go to google and type in Al Jardine/Rock and Roll Hall of fame KUDOS TO AL!!(of course I might be "a little" prejudice...")

www.aljardine.com