Al Jardine EP

[c-man]

Don't Fight The Sea is the standout here. The production could be less cheesy but the voices and melody are pretty terrific. Hearing Al, Carl, and Brian together again is something special. I wonder how much was recorded now as opposed to 1980.

There's an AFM contract for "Don't Fight The Sea"...recorded at the same session as "That Same Song" for the "15 Big Ones" album (basic track 4/27/76, sweetening the next day).  Players on the basic track were the same as those listed for "That Same Song" on the "15BO" back cover slick.  Al's website says the basic track is from 1978.  There was mention in the "Add Some Music" fanzine of Al working on the song in late 1980.  Al's website says it was recorded at Capitol's Studio A, and the general production style sounds like something from the "Still Cruisin'" era, so it was likely worked on in 1989 (when they had a deal with Capitol Records).  I would guess that's when Carl's (and Brian's) vocals were recorded.  If they used the 1976 basic track as a foundation, it could have Dennis' drumwork on it (other drums were obviously added later on, but the main drums COULD be him).  

Obviously something Al pulled out & worked on sporadically over the years (and decades).

[Matt H]

Is Bruce on this track?  Who is singing "Just Let It Be" towards the end?

[dave maclean]

Please note, the link to Als EP download has now been removed.  It was intended for the private use of those to whome the link was sent.  Dave Maclean

[Steve Mayo]

get 'em early i always say..... 

ps----alan has a great cd coming out i feel....congrats al!

[The infamous Baldwin Organ]

Oh man...I really want to hear this. Is there a way to buy it?

[Foster's Freeze]

Wow.  WOW!

I LOVED THEM!

Cal Saga w/ Neil Young was great.

All of it was great!

Let's go Al!  The time has come!

[Rocker]

I like that everything is linked together with the water sounds. But I don't think Cal.Saga is that good. It's nice and ok for sure but the Campfire Scene is so good that imo it should've led to a better version.
I like Alec Baldwin's recitation very much. He puts in a lot of emotion. Much better that Brian's talking parts on TLOS or Stephe Kalinich's imo.
If the album has the same quality as this EP, then we're in for something very cool. But I hope that the fact that someone put out the link when it seems to have been only for ticket-buyers, won't hamper the release.

[smile-holland]

Please note, the link to Als EP download has now been removed.  It was intended for the private use of those to whome the link was sent.  Dave Maclean

seeing how things were developing on several boards, that's no surpise to me at all...

[The Shift]

      


edited 

[Foster's Freeze]

I just have to saw WOW again.

This was better than I expected. 

[The Shift]

I am blown away. This is so much better than the initial demos Al posted on his website -  help for the way it's arranged cohesively here.

This is great -  some terrific backing vox, and Neil Young's vocal adds... well, I'm not sure yet precisely what it does add, but he's my Number 2 musical hero after BW, John Martyn, Dennis Wilson, Orinoco & Bungo etc, and it certainly adds something.

Also blown away that Al hasn't simply used the Cal Saga that was included on the ESQ freebie a couple or three years back -  that version was stunning, easily worth mainstream release, so I'm well-impressed he hasn't taken the lazy route.

And is this the best vocal performance buy a pod of whales on any CD, any where, any time???

Tidepool Interlude, like has been said, far better than the narration on Brian's album, real feeling in that voice. I'd say better than the Jeffers recitations on Holland, and I'm one of the few fans this side of Saturn who liked that stuff (am I allowed to say that, that I find that something from 2010 could be better than something from 1973?).  But who wrote the lyrics? Is this a collaboration with Stephen J Kalinich? If so, some of the best stuff of his I've heard yet too. Very evocative. Sod the idea of a mere postcard, I need a TICKET to California...!

EDIT: Answered my own question. This from a cutting on Al's own site:
"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."

Campfire Scene is is exquisite. If there are more of these such linking tracks on the eventual album release, I'll be a very happy man indeed.

As a footnote, I seriously hope Al isn't discouraged by the fact that these files have been shared by a few fans. This is the best, the most effective promotion his album could have had. I'm sold, I'll buy.

[phirnis]

As a footnote, I seriously hope Al isn't discouraged by the fact that these files have been shared by a few fans. This is the best, the most effective promotion his album could have had. I'm sold, I'll buy.

Couldn't agree more. I'm pretty sure I'm going to get my hands on it as soon as it's out.

[Matt H]

When the link was sent out to fans, did it say that it was just for them?  The link was on his own website, why wasn't there a username and password assigned so that it wouldn't be open to everyone?

[The Shift]

When the link was sent out to fans, did it say that it was just for them?  The link was on his own website, why wasn't there a username and password assigned so that it wouldn't be open to everyone?

Don't know what was said, as I'm playing catch-up. My impression is that the link was intended, in spirit, only for those who'd sent in stubs. Those of us who might get to hear the tracks via other mans are truly fortunate.

[runnersdialzero]

I have to say I'm a lot more interested in what else Al has in store after hearing these tracks. I totally see the, "That was only meant for people with the ticket stubs," side, but you can count me in on this really grabbing my attention.

[Rocker]

I have to say I'm a lot more interested in what else Al has in store after hearing these tracks. I totally see the, "That was only meant for people with the ticket stubs," side, but you can count me in on this really grabbing my attention.

Yeah, it would be a very good way to promote the album (which was already mentioned in some magazine's, etc.) if they just put the whole EP up there to download for free. On the other hand, maybe that's exactly what they'll do but they just wanted to give it to the people with tickets earlier

[smile-holland]

When the link was sent out to fans, did it say that it was just for them?  The link was on his own website, why wasn't there a username and password assigned so that it wouldn't be open to everyone?

The personal e-mail that was received specifically mentioned not to share the link with others, as one was receiving it before the general public".

In case you wonder why: in 2007 almost days before the European BW/AJ tour was going to start, Al Jardine announced he wouldn't be there. As a compensation for those disappointed but loyal fans that had bought tickets to see them both, Jardine had made the promise to send a free copy of his new CD (which - according to Jardine - was the reason he wasn't able to attend the European concerts) to all fans that would e-mail him scans of the ticket stub after the concert took place. But we all know that since then a CD-release was postponed. Earlier this week, all fans that had sent scans of their stub, received an e-mail basically saying that "Al would like to repay your patience with 4 tracks from his first solo record. Al is still unable to announce the actual release date, but did not wish to ask you to wait any longer"

A nice gesture for sure... but of course it was a matter of time that the "don't share" remark wouldn't hold up for long.

And of course from the fan’s perspective it’s understandable that they would like to share this (great) EP with others. But a bit more low-profile would have been much smarter than for instance openly on the BLUEBOARD (of all places).

Hey, if I were Jardine, I’d probably say “if you can’t keep a promise, I pull the plug as well” too.


But at least the first reviews on this EP are (mildly to very) positive. If only if this would give him that last push to finally release the whole album…

[smile-holland]

When the link was sent out to fans, did it say that it was just for them?  The link was on his own website, why wasn't there a username and password assigned so that it wouldn't be open to everyone?

The link was sort of attached to the web site, but wasn't visible. You simply received a link and if you clicked on it, you got a direct download pop-up screen.

And the password thing might have worked for a (very) short while, but once downloaded I assume it would spread out to other fans soon after.

[Mike's Beard]

I think I speak for every person on this site when I say "JUST RELEASE THE F*#KING THING ALREADY AL!!!!!!!!"

[Matt H]

When the link was sent out to fans, did it say that it was just for them?  The link was on his own website, why wasn't there a username and password assigned so that it wouldn't be open to everyone?

The link was sort of attached to the web site, but wasn't visible. You simply received a link and if you clicked on it, you got a direct download pop-up screen.

And the password thing might have worked for a (very) short while, but once downloaded I assume it would spread out to other fans soon after.

I get that, I guess if you put a password on it, and made it different for everyone, then you could track down who leaked it.

[Steve Mayo]

When the link was sent out to fans, did it say that it was just for them?  The link was on his own website, why wasn't there a username and password assigned so that it wouldn't be open to everyone?

The link was sort of attached to the web site, but wasn't visible. You simply received a link and if you clicked on it, you got a direct download pop-up screen.

And the password thing might have worked for a (very) short while, but once downloaded I assume it would spread out to other fans soon after.

I get that, I guess if you put a password on it, and made it different for everyone, then you could track down who leaked it.

well, not really ...if you know what to do.... 

[Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll]

Someone hook me up please. I was at 2 shows on that tour but I've no idea where the ticket stubs are.

[The Shift]

... I was at 2 shows on that tour but I've no idea where the ticket stubs are.

I was in the same boat - I attended a couple of those gigs, and have the stubs somewhere... I took the initial invite to mean "send in the stubs themselves" and as I knew I'd buy the album anyway I decided I'd rather hang on to the stubs for my collection. Never envisaged the CD giveaway, as I'm sure is the case with many here.

[Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll]

yep, would be great if someone could upload to sendspace or rapidshare or something and send us a pm.

The main reason I went to those shows was to hear Al sing live as I've seen Brian several times. Still have not seen Al live 

[Foster's Freeze]

So, I have been listening to the EP again this morning.

Short but sweet is all I can say.  Damn, Al did a GREAT job on these and to hear Carl's voice again in the mix?         

I personally can't wait to get the complete CD as I think it will be wonderful to listen to.

I think the Alec Baldwin "Tidepool Interlude" is well done, the "Campfire Scene" builds just right to flow into "California Saga"

I really don't think that Al's camp will be that upset that these tracks have been "leaked" to others without tickets.  The fact that so many people are getting a chance to hear these songs does nothing but drum up more interest in the CD and the fact that the songs and production are top notch, people are certainly more hungry for the full product.

People, these tracks are really, really good.

"What is this feeling that I cannot grasp that is hopeful?  California.  California, you are everything to me."