Al Jardine Appreciation Thread

[Wah Wah Wah Ooooo]

Definitely agree that Al's voice is by far the best of the surviving boys. I'd actually put it at second best overall in the history of the band for my tastes (2nd to Carl). He seems friendly and likeable, and his complete and utter misremembering and mangling of historical facts comes off as kind of quirky and almost charming at times.  I also agree that Postcard is better than most people give it credit for. The version of California Feeling on there is a prime example of his strong vocals holding up...it's one of my favorite Al vocals in fact.

[Puggal]

He's so clumsy and forgetful it's kind of cute.

[The Shift]

Got the Japanese version of Postcards this week, with its multitude of bonus tracks. Played The Eternal Ballad until it's now stuck in my head on a loop! His voice makes it.

However.

My subconscious mix master now takes over the skull iplayer and at the end of each verse adds the lines:

Wake up, call me baby call me
tell me what's on your mi-i-ind
I've got a car and you're not too far
Please let me come over to you

Anyone else see the homage to that Beach Boys classic subtlety contained within the melody?

[rn57]

I just have my ancient Android on me or otherwise would link, but if you go on YouTube, there's a video of Alec Baldwin recording Tidepool Interlude in the studio. Now, when recording a rock album, or a pop album anyway, you'd just wear casual clothes, right? In this case wrong...if the clip can be believed, Baldwin recorded his bit in his 30 Rock clothes. Dress shirt, suit, tie -not even loosened- the works. He looks like he's about to walk out of the studio and right onto the set of a Capitol One commercial.

Although it could be that he was, from there, going directly to film something. A true story comes to mind. A member of the lounge revival group Love Jones once told me about when they were recording their second album in the '90s. Right after a take the door to the studio opened and a guy in a rumpled trenchcoat walked in. He looked around, puzzled, with his one good eye, and said: "I'm looking for where they're doing the looping."

"Right down the hall and to the left, Lieutenant," answered one of the band. "Thanks," said Peter Falk, and left. He was doing some dubbing on one of the last Columbo TV movies. I guess he was wearing the coat to stay in character.

[Magic Transistor Radio]

I love Looking At Tomorrow and Santa Anna Winds. He also reminds me of Benjamin Button.

[halblaineisgood]

.

[The 4th Wilson Bro.]

Al has by far the best voice of any surviving Beach Boy, and while it's heresy I'd say he has a better voice than Carl did for most of his last twenty years or so as well.
In my experience, Al is the most friendly of the surviving members towards fans.
On the reunion tour, Al was clearly putting in a huge effort on his backing vocals -- it was fascinating watching the concentration on his face as he was singing even the least important parts.
A Postcard From California is a far better album than most people give it credit for.

I'm a great fan of Al too (both the man and his great singing voice), and agree with almost everything written about him in this thread.  However, AH, your comment about Al having a better voice than Carl for most of Carl's last 20 years or so is (for me, anyway) a head-scratcher.  In my opinion, Carl's voice improved as he matured – I started to notice it about the time he was recovering from that dark period in the late '70s.  Carl was a wonderful singer as a teenager and on through his 20s, but was even better later on.  Listen to his leads on songs like GOK and ICHM in the band's concerts throughout the '80s and early '90s.  To me, those vocals, more often than not, bordered on perfection.

[leggo of my ego]

Al seems like the type of guy, who, if you were really disheveled and trespassing on his land, would sooner cook you breakfast and buy you a bus ticket home, than call the cops. Al Jardine is a good man? I don't know if that's what I'm saying. But I sure as hell don't care though, it's none of your business. None of mine. I appreciate him. That's the only important thing.

 He doesn't care what you do or, who you do it with, just, keep it clean, and stay the hell away from Big Sur. He doesn't know what you're doing...and he doesn't care! But he can't have you trespassing. spooking the goshdarn goats. they'll end up on the goshdarn highway. They'll chew through the fence made of hemp, and  they'll escape.
 

I promise to stay off his land 

[Puggal]

Can I ask....

How is Al Jardine no longer bald (thinking about the 90s bald-mullet days)?

[bossaroo]

he's pretty thin on top but he still has Mike Love beat.

now there's something to smile about!

[Al Jardine: Pick Up Artist]

Can I ask....

How is Al Jardine no longer bald (thinking about the 90s bald-mullet days)?

hair plugs

[Niko]

He's still keepin' it clean ya'll. Day by day - day after day.

[Postcard From Jardine]

.

[job]

Al seems like the type of guy, who, if you were really disheveled and trespassing on his land, would sooner cook you breakfast and buy you a bus ticket home, than call the cops. Al Jardine is a good man? I don't know if that's what I'm saying. But I sure as hell don't care though, it's none of your business. None of mine. I appreciate him. That's the only important thing.

 He doesn't care what you do or, who you do it with, just, keep it clean, and stay the hell away from Big Sur. He doesn't know what you're doing...and he doesn't care! But he can't have you trespassing. spooking the goshdarn goats. they'll end up on the goshdarn highway. They'll chew through the fence made of hemp, and  they'll escape.
 

Ran into Al when I was having breakfast at the River Inn in Big Sur back in 2006.  He was great to talk to...really nice and engaged in the convo.  He did mention that he had a couple of sections of fence to fix after the storm that had rolled thru the night before.

[Howie Edelson]

Cool voice. Honest guy.