Whats the beef?

[LittleSurferGirl]

Upon looking through past threads & reading different things, I've noticed theres some major beef with Al & alot of fans! Everyone always seems to be picking on him, whether its just for "fun" or if its serious.

I'm just curious as to why?? I like him, I have no reason not to. He's a Beach Boy, seems quiet & reserved and never caused any major problems [that I know of anyway]. He's got a decent voice & is keeping the BB spirit alive like Mike, Bruce & Brian. So why do a lot of people constantly rag on him?

[mikeyj]

Who's Al?

[Nicole]

Like that?

[donald]

Al is cool and a lot of folks are or were pissed at Mike for supposedly excluding him from the current lineup.. He has a damn fine voice and was a keystone in the original vocal blend.

[Wrightfan]

I thought this was gonna be a Clara Peller thread.

[the captain]

I thought this was gonna be a Clara Peller thread.

Funny!

Hopefully this isn't inspired by me and my (I thought obviously) faux-hate of Al. Anyone who digs through actual musical threads knows I like him a lot. I do think he overproduces things, and takes WAY THE f*** TOO LONG to release an album, especially in that it's a solid 50% covers. But late 60s and early 70s? Love the guy. (Height notwithstanding. Fuckin midget.)

[mikeyj]

In all seriousness I like Al and from what I can gather most people don't have anything against Al - except maybe Luther - but I reckon he just doesn't get noticed anywhere near like the other guys do. I could be wrong but on the Lost Concert doesn't the guy introduce them as "I give you Brian, Carl, Dennis and Mike - The Beach Boys!". I always find that funny... poor Al...

[Dave in KC]

I'm sure if Luther ever had a chance to meet Alan (not going to happen) he would throughly enjoy the man and his charm. That is if said person was normal. Now, the fact that he is referred to a a f 'n midget by Luther, probably would  preclude said person from making a sound judgement about Al.
Golly, I stood next to the lead singer of Cheap Trick in an airport bar once, and the fact that he was so short never entered my mind as to his value versus the notion that Luther would probably call him a midget too. I sure hope said person doesn't judge all his encounters with short people as a chance to let out his prejudices.

[Wirestone]

He's the least important member of the original band. That's all. He's the only one who wasn't family. And while Love was by far the crassest, Al was always kind of the squarest. And he looks kinda funny and is short.

That's really it. Plus, he has a funny name (Letterman uses "Al Jardine" as a punchline sometimes, and it has nothing to do with the audience knowing who he is). Oddly, though, some of Al's squareness has made him age rather gracefully.

[JB Wilojarston]

I thought this was gonna be a Clara Peller thread.

Funny!

Hopefully this isn't inspired by me and my (I thought obviously) faux-hate of Al. Anyone who digs through actual musical threads knows I like him a lot. I do think he overproduces things, and takes WAY THE foda TOO LONG to release an album, especially in that it's a solid 50% covers. But late 60s and early 70s? Love the guy. (Height notwithstanding. Fuckin midget.)

Yeah, OK, I don't do enough trawling through actual threads. Oaf.

[the captain]

Wow. All-around wow.

[LittleSurferGirl]

Ok well glad to see he's not as dis-liked as I thought!

He defintley doesnt get as much "show" as the rest of the boys. Which makes sense because he's not family.

[mikeyj]

He defintley doesnt get as much "show" as the rest of the boys. Which makes sense because he's not family.

And cause he generally isn't as interesting as the others.

[the captain]

Oh, I see ... so I get looked down on even though you're all raging anti-dentites?

(Insert emoticon of choice for those in need.)

[SurfRiderHawaii]

He's the least important member of the original band.

Yeah but I still rate him over Bruce.  Ironic that Al and David Marks now have the best voices/chops of the remaining original members (though Brian can still write a tune)

[Mr. Cohen]

I hate Al Jardine. After the commercial disappointment of Sunflower, Al would intimidate Brian if he went into the studio to do anything but help Al finish "Loop De Loop", which Al thought was necessary to save the BBs careers.  That's why Brian stopped making music (he only recorded when he could sneak by Al). That's also why the group went to Holland, so Brian could produce away from Al. Al wasn't supposed to know, but somehow he found out (I think he cornered Brian's wife?!?!) and flipping flopping flew his airplane to Holland. He made Brian stop recording Mt. Vernon & Fairway and the rest is history. Fucking Al!

[shelter]

He's the least important member of the original band.

I think until 'Friends' Dennis was the least important member.

[mikeyj]

He's the least important member of the original band.

I think until 'Friends' Dennis was the least important member.

Although he did attract a lot of attention from the ladies (which is important for generating popularity)... but I'm guessing you mean musically? In which case, what did Al do musically before then?

[A Million Units In Jan!]

I think that the biggest beef that people have with Al is that he's, well....Al.  Bland or boring is how I've heard a lot of people put it....

[hypehat]

My beef with Al Jardine mostly comes from that bit in Good Vibrations tour video where he talks all about being 'one with nature' in his 'lone ranger' outfit, then gets his ass handed to him by a goat  You couldn't take anyone seriously after that...

Musically, he's fine. If he composed the end of Don't Go Near The Water (and ilets face it, it wasn't Mike) , he's probably a musical genius on the sly. My preferred non-family Beach Boy

[Sheriff John Stone]

Al is what he is. He was the rhythym guitarist in the band. He was usually the 4th lead vocalist in line, behind Mike, Brian, and Carl. With the exception of Holland, his songwriting contributions seemed to be obligatory. And, some fans might hold against him the fact that he isn't a Wilson; he came and went, came back, and went again! Bruce Johnston has actually been a Beach Boy for more years than Al. I'm also still amazed at what Al did (if anything?), to get those great vocals out of Brian on MIU - which Al produced! I do respect Al for staying relatively "clean" during a period and being in a group that was notorious for sex, drugs, and alcohol. And, because of that, I'm betting that Al will be the last Beach Boy standing.

My only two "beefs" with Al are, 1) he is The Beach Boy who is supposed to be the "normal" one; however, in reading/hearing his interviews over the last 20-30 years, he says some of the "loopiest" things, and 2) in recent years, Al has been critical of Mike (and Bruce?) for their "musical direction", especially the setlists. Then I look at "California Calling", "Island Girl", Al's live CD, his contribution to the Hallmark CD ("PT Cruiser"), Al's setlists for the few concerts he has played, and the songs on Al's upcoming album. Al Jardine is a hypocrite.

[RickD]

saw Al in Vegas just after the Hawthorne do, with Matt, Adam, Billy and Tripsitter - one of the best sounding BB related shows I've heard - and a thoroughly decent bloke as well.

[lance]

I would like to see Al, Prince and Paul Simon in a celebrity midget fight to the death.

[grillo]

I would like to see Al, Prince and Paul Simon in a celebrity midget fight to the death.

I FULLY support this concept

[matt-zeus]

I like Als production on stuff like Back home (69 version) and Susie Cincinatti and all that of that era, I also like the production on the MIU album that he was mostly responsible for (I know i'm in the minority..!) so he's alright by me. Don't like his spoken word stuff though.