Al Jardine - 2018 Tour Thread - Postcards Storytellers Tour

[KDS]

Another story, with news for fans of vinyl...

Jardine will also celebrate the re-release of his 2010 album "A Postcard from California" on vinyl in two months.

"We just closed the deal today," he said. "Vinyl is popular again. So it will be great for people to be able to hold the record in their hands and see the artwork on the cover."

https://www.parkrecord.com/entertainment/original-beach-boy-sends-a-postcard-from-california/

That's nice. I'm glad for Al. Recently I played his live album for the first time in years. A mighty fine record. If you haven't listened to it or if it's been a while, give it a spin.

Agreed, it's probably the best BB related live album since the In Concert album. 

[HeyJude]

I get it, vinyl continues to be trendy, so it'll be cool to see "Postcard" on that format (curious if it'll be the 2010 or 2012 versions, or some sort of hybrid, and whether it'll be a single or double set). But Al should also get the album back in print on CD and/or as a digital download (and via streaming).

It's crazy that, other than selling the "Postcards" CD at shows, his albums ("Postcards", "Live in Las Vegas") have remained largely out of print during his solo touring this year. Typical awful BB timing.

Al owns both albums as far as I know, so even if he can't easily find a distributor that'll put the stuff back out on CD, it should be pretty easy to get the stuff available again digitally.

I continue to be irked by how many projects are now *only* getting a vinyl release and no CD or digital download. The just-announced expanded ELO "Secret Messages" is a vinyl release (looks like it might see a digital download release, but no CD), and I just had to pre-order an expensive, never-before-released soundtrack on vinyl because it has never been released in any other format and there are no plans to do so.

[KDS]

I get it, vinyl continues to be trendy, so it'll be cool to see "Postcard" on that format (curious if it'll be the 2010 or 2012 versions, or some sort of hybrid, and whether it'll be a single or double set). But Al should also get the album back in print on CD and/or as a digital download (and via streaming).

It's crazy that, other than selling the "Postcards" CD at shows, his albums ("Postcards", "Live in Las Vegas") have remained largely out of print during his solo touring this year. Typical awful BB timing.

Al owns both albums as far as I know, so even if he can't easily find a distributor that'll put the stuff back out on CD, it should be pretty easy to get the stuff available again digitally.

I continue to be irked by how many projects are now *only* getting a vinyl release and no CD or digital download. The just-announced expanded ELO "Secret Messages" is a vinyl release (looks like it might see a digital download release, but no CD), and I just had to pre-order an expensive, never-before-released soundtrack on vinyl because it has never been released in any other format and there are no plans to do so.

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who hasn't gone all in on the vinyl revival.   

I'm still a CD guy.   I wanted to get the expanded edition of the new Ghost album at my local record store, but Target was the only one who carried the version with the bonus tracks. 

[HeyJude]

I dig vinyl, and with a high-end rig and the good luck of an actual solid mastering and pressing, it can sound great.

But with a regular turntable, and vinyl pressings that are often simply cut from a 16/44.1 digital master (and can still be noisy/crackly/flawed), it's more trouble than it's worth. CDs are likely still cheaper to mass produce than vinyl is, but they probably have a higher profit margin for the vinyl that is sold these days, as it's usually hugely overpriced.

[KDS]

I dig vinyl, and with a high-end rig and the good luck of an actual solid mastering and pressing, it can sound great.

But with a regular turntable, and vinyl pressings that are often simply cut from a 16/44.1 digital master (and can still be noisy/crackly/flawed), it's more trouble than it's worth. CDs are likely still cheaper to mass produce than vinyl is, but they probably have a higher profit margin for the vinyl that is sold these days, as it's usually hugely overpriced.

Supply and demand.   If people are willing to pay the high price for vinyl, they'll keep charging high prices. 

Meanwhile, as a CD collector, I've never seen lower prices.   For stores that actually still carry them, you can get catalog CDs for $4-$5. 

[HeyJude]

I 100% understand the economics and logistics of why vinyl is where it's at.

We've hit a weird divergence where CDs and digital downloads are passé and vinyl and streaming (two opposite ends of the recording spectrum timeline-wise) are popular.

Thankfully, some vinyl pressings also come with a download card, which is a decent compromise. *And*, most stuff that is out on vinyl is also still available to purchase digitally one way or another.

The frustrating thing is when a small vinyl label pays for a single-use license to only issue vinyl, and do so with a product that is either OOP in any other format, and/or has never been issued in any other format ever. *That* is frustrating and ass-backwards, and *does* limit the audience for that product. But some labels can't afford to pay for a wider license, and/or don't have the capability to service/distribute digital download content.

And to be clear, when it comes to Al's "Postcards", the situation isn't *too* egregious. You can still buy the album on CD for not too-inflated of a price, and we don't yet know if he will make it available again as a download (and possibly CD as well).

Al should realize that the median sort of BB fan is usually a step or two behind the going audio trend. So there are some folks that gave up vinyl many years ago and deal pretty exclusively in CD or even "old fashioned" digital downloads rather than streaming with a Spotify account or going back to vinyl.

[KDS]

I 100% understand the economics and logistics of why vinyl is where it's at.

We've hit a weird divergence where CDs and digital downloads are passé and vinyl and streaming (two opposite ends of the recording spectrum timeline-wise) are popular.

Thankfully, some vinyl pressings also come with a download card, which is a decent compromise. *And*, most stuff that is out on vinyl is also still available to purchase digitally one way or another.

The frustrating thing is when a small vinyl label pays for a single-use license to only issue vinyl, and do so with a product that is either OOP in any other format, and/or has never been issued in any other format ever. *That* is frustrating and ass-backwards, and *does* limit the audience for that product. But some labels can't afford to pay for a wider license, and/or don't have the capability to service/distribute digital download content.

And to be clear, when it comes to Al's "Postcards", the situation isn't *too* egregious. You can still buy the album on CD for not too-inflated of a price, and we don't yet know if he will make it available again as a download (and possibly CD as well).

Al should realize that the median sort of BB fan is usually a step or two behind the going audio trend. So there are some folks that gave up vinyl many years ago and deal pretty exclusively in CD or even "old fashioned" digital downloads rather than streaming with a Spotify account or going back to vinyl.

Postcard can usually be found for a decent price. 

However, his Friends and Family Live album can go for a pretty penny at times. 

[HeyJude]

"Live in Las Vegas" certainly got less distribution than any version of "Postcards" ever got. It was initially only sold online at the end of 2001, I believe via CDBaby (back when CDBaby only had CDs!).

At some point he did get some level of in-store distribution for the CD, but it wasn't even like another label taking over. They simply distributed Al's manufactured copies to some stores (and presumably Amazon); I think they slapped a sticker on the front mentioning that the CD has Beach Boys hits. I remember seeing this at an indie CD shop in 2002 or 2003 or so. I think it looked like this:

[HeyJude]

Let us not also forget that Al partially re-recorded the "Live in Las Vegas" bonus track "California Energy Blues" as "California Recall Blues", and only made it available via download on his website!

[KDS]

Let us not also forget that Al partially re-recorded the "Live in Las Vegas" bonus track "California Energy Blues" as "California Recall Blues", and only made it available via download on his website!

Even though I'm a bit of a completist, that doesn't sound like anything I need to seek out. 

[HeyJude]

I actually wish Al would release some rough/early mixes of the "Postcards" stuff. Years ago when he teased some clips on his website, the mixes/versions were different. "Don't Fight the Sea" was a less cluttered mix with less instrumentation, and "A Postcard California" had Al doing a great job singing the verse he eventually gave to Glen Campbell. That title track also had all-Jardine layered backing vocals instead of the larger "chorus" of backing vocalists he added to the song later.

There are some other scattered Al tracks around. A couple of tracks from a "Vocal Hall of Fame" live concert CD; a track or two with Al on lead from one of the "Surf City All Stars" CDs, his "Big Sur Christmas" track with "Hey Stevie", etc.

[HeyJude]

Let us not also forget that Al partially re-recorded the "Live in Las Vegas" bonus track "California Energy Blues" as "California Recall Blues", and only made it available via download on his website!

Even though I'm a bit of a completist, that doesn't sound like anything I need to seek out. 

Al actually maintained an excellent level of awareness and being informed on the issues surrounding the energy crisis and the recall it led to back in 2001/2002/2003 in California. If you weren't living in California at the time, you may not be aware that it was a huge deal both apolitically and politically. Here's a 2003 interview on the subject:

http://earcandy_mag.tripod.com/aljardine2003.htm

I think Al knew it was a then-hot-button topic that would age out eventually, hence just putting the thing out as a download.

But it should be noted that Al wasn't coming at the issue first as a political/party issue, but rather first and foremost (as heard on the *first* version of the song) about the PUC and the "energy" stuff going on in the state at the time. The remake seems to have sprung up as a continuation of that rather than some strictly partisan political screed. It's kind of a sequel to the previous version, but instead of writing a new song he just slapped some new lyrics on the old song.

[KDS]

Let us not also forget that Al partially re-recorded the "Live in Las Vegas" bonus track "California Energy Blues" as "California Recall Blues", and only made it available via download on his website!

Even though I'm a bit of a completist, that doesn't sound like anything I need to seek out. 

Al actually maintained an excellent level of awareness and being informed on the issues surrounding the energy crisis and the recall it led to back in 2001/2002/2003 in California. If you weren't living in California at the time, you may not be aware that it was a huge deal both apolitically and politically. Here's a 2003 interview on the subject:

http://earcandy_mag.tripod.com/aljardine2003.htm

I think Al knew it was a then-hot-button topic that would age out eventually, hence just putting the thing out as a download.

But it should be noted that Al wasn't coming at the issue first as a political/party issue, but rather first and foremost (as heard on the *first* version of the song) about the PUC and the "energy" stuff going on in the state at the time. The remake seems to have sprung up as a continuation of that rather than some strictly partisan political screed. It's kind of a sequel to the previous version, but instead of writing a new song he just slapped some new lyrics on the old song.

Al does seem to be socially conscious.   I just don't think the song itself is very good.   

[RangeRoverA1]

"California Energy Blues" is good! In fact, it's in Top-5 songs by Al.

[astroray]

When I saw Al here in Atlanta, I had him sign the "Vegetables" single that came in the "Smile" box set. He asked what it was , never seen it! Do the Beach Boys not get copies of everything that comes out? Do they not even care to look it over, after all it does make their house payments!

[HeyJude]

When I saw Al here in Atlanta, I had him sign the "Vegetables" single that came in the "Smile" box set. He asked what it was , never seen it! Do the Beach Boys not get copies of everything that comes out? Do they not even care to look it over, after all it does make their house payments!

That's just a typical Al comment. He probably saw it back when it came out. I think he just isn't hardcore enough to retain all that trivia. And it's not even an age thing; I recall a fan story from the 70s where someone asked Al to sign a copy of the stock "Smiley Smile" album, and they alleged Al acted like it was some weird, rare, bootleg specimen or something.

[HeyJude]

Added a new July 4 gig to the top post schedule. Will update some setlist links soon.

[Tony S]

For the July 4th show at Terranea resort near LA, my wife and I were at the resort last 4th of July week; it's a a fantastic resort, with great restaurants, views of the Pacific and Catalina, and an out of this world private spa. The concert venue there is right on the ocean, truly special. I would have traveled back there but we already had other plans. For anyone considering it, it's well worth the trip!