“A Postcard from California” Reissues

[The LEGENDARY OSD]

This is going back a bit, but does anyone remember Al doing a song that starts off with or is titled "Down South In San Diego" or something close to that?? Whatever it was or is, it doesn't appear in any form on YT. From what I remember, it was an incredibly good song with an amazing hook.

That's an Alan Boyd (not Jardine) song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1PBw2xjCfs

Thanks, Wirestone!!. Great to hear it again. Could have been a great BB album track had they expanded and finished it. Didn't realize Boyd had such a great voice.

[Conspiracy Jim]

Can someone briefly lay out the various versions of Waves Of Love?

I've got two, a 3:48 version (starting with sleighbells and organ) and a 3:35 version (starting with sax, which has been labelled 'Demo Version' which may or may not be accurate, I don't know).

Aside from this 2.0 version, what am I missing?

[Tony S]

I have all 3 of these too...sort of like the sliegh bells/ organ version probably because of the addition pn Carl's part.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

New online Al interview where he talks about the reissue and new material:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8FS85ZTHnkI

[HeyJude]

"Jenny Clover 2.0?" Good lord Al. Let someone go through your archives and put together an album of NEW stuff.

[HeyJude]

Can someone briefly lay out the various versions of Waves Of Love?

I've got two, a 3:48 version (starting with sleighbells and organ) and a 3:35 version (starting with sax, which has been labelled 'Demo Version' which may or may not be accurate, I don't know).

Aside from this 2.0 version, what am I missing?

It's difficult to label each version, but here goes:

Version 1
Included on *physical CD* copies of the 2012 "Postcards" album. This is the version starting with sax, which sounds more like a "live soundcheck" recording. On this version, the song is in a lower key, and Carl's vocals are mixed/buried within other voices. This version was apparently *accidentally* included on the physical CD. It was supposed to include the next version instead...

Version 2
Included on digital download versions of the 2012 "Postcards" release (and also on the Japanese SHM CD from 2012). This starts with bells and organ, is in a higher key, with mostly everything re-recorded from the other version. It's much dryer and punchier. On this version, Carl's lead vocal has been isolated more.

Version 3
Exclusive to the Japanese SHM CD of "Postcards" from 2012. This is essentially a slightly alternate mix of "Version 2", with just different mixing choices, and I think some of the lead vocal lines are missing as well. This definitely sounds like a "rough mix" on the way to arriving at "Version 2."

Version 4
Unreleased, found for a brief time a year or two ago on Larry Dvoskin's SoundCloud page. This version sounded closer to "Version 1" than it does to other versions, but again with some differences.

Version 5
Released physically and digitally as "Waves of Love 2.0" in 2021.

[Conspiracy Jim]

Much obliged!

[“Big Daddy”]

For any of the creatively-minded members of Smiley Smile: Al is launching a music video contest for “Waves of Love 2.0.”



(Via https://www.aljardine.com/news)

[thetojo]

So version 5 = West Coast mix?

Which one is East Coast Mix?

My head hurts.

[tpesky]

He’s gotten more mileage out of that song than Loop De Loop and PT Cruiser !

[thetojo]

Rereading this advert I notice that Don't Fight The Sea b/w Friends is on offer.

That 'a cappella' version of Friends is still unique to vinyl, even after the 1968 copyright extension releases.

[“Big Daddy”]

The new reissue is now available on download/streaming services. The “West Coast” version of “Waves of Love” sounds very similar to one of the previously released mixes, perhaps with some new vocals? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXp2MC8IZ9I

[Awesoman]

How many times is he going to tamper with that "Waves of Love" song?

[FreakySmiley]

The new reissue is now available on download/streaming services. The “West Coast” version of “Waves of Love” sounds very similar to one of the previously released mixes, perhaps with some new vocals? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXp2MC8IZ9I

No mention of CD?

[Sangheon]

The new reissue is now available on download/streaming services. The “West Coast” version of “Waves of Love” sounds very similar to one of the previously released mixes, perhaps with some new vocals? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXp2MC8IZ9I

I suppose that Al refered to Waves of Love 2.0 as the West Coast version.

[Jim V.]

Wow. So yet another tweaked version of “Waves of Love.” This is getting insane. How many versions have now been officially released? Five?

[HeyJude]

I suppose that Al refered to Waves of Love 2.0 as the West Coast version.

I know Al previous teased a "west coast mix", but it's definitely different from the "2.0" mix. (I dunno; is the 2.0 version an "East Coast Mix"?). So he has released two new vastly different (from each other) remixes of the song this year.

It's only going to get more confusing, because at least on YouTube and Spotify where I checked, this new "West Coast Mix" is not labeled. It's just the latest version of "Waves of Love" uploaded a week or two ago.

[HeyJude]

Wow. So yet another tweaked version of “Waves of Love.” This is getting insane. How many versions have now been officially released? Five?

Five, or six if you include the mix that was up on Dvoskin's Soundcloud. A update/recap:

Version 1
Included on *physical CD* copies of the 2012 "Postcards" album. This is the version starting with sax, which sounds more like a "live soundcheck" recording. On this version, the song is in a lower key, and Carl's vocals are mixed/buried within other voices. This version was apparently *accidentally* included on the physical CD. It was supposed to include the next version instead...

Version 2
Included on digital download versions of the 2012 "Postcards" release (and also on the Japanese SHM CD from 2012). This starts with bells and organ, is in a higher key, with mostly everything re-recorded from the other version. It's much dryer and punchier. On this version, Carl's lead vocal has been isolated more.

Version 3
Exclusive to the Japanese SHM CD of "Postcards" from 2012. This is essentially a slightly alternate mix of "Version 2", with just different mixing choices, and I think some of the lead vocal lines are missing as well. This definitely sounds like a "rough mix" on the way to arriving at "Version 2."

Version 4
Unreleased, found for a brief time a year or two ago on Larry Dvoskin's SoundCloud page. This version sounded closer to "Version 1" than it does to other versions, but again with some differences.

Version 5
Released physically and digitally as part of the "Waves of Love 2.0" single in 2021. Sounds like a hybrid of previous versions; with Carl seemingly completely mixed out.

Version 6
Released digitally in July 2021 as part of a digital re-release of "Postcards"; while not labeled on some platforms, this is the "West Coast Mix", which sounds relatively like Version 2 and/or Version 3, with Carl mixed to the fore.

[HeyJude]

Okay, I think I managed to find a link on YouTube to every version of the song apart from the unreleased mix from SoundCloud (Version 4). Here are the (hopefully correct) links for each:


Version 1
Included on *physical CD* copies of the 2012 "Postcards" album. This is the version starting with sax, which sounds more like a "live soundcheck" recording. On this version, the song is in a lower key, and Carl's vocals are mixed/buried within other voices. This version was apparently *accidentally* included on the physical CD. It was supposed to include the next version instead...
LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7KfaQQr9PY

Version 2
Included on digital download versions of the 2012 "Postcards" release (and also on the Japanese SHM CD from 2012). This starts with bells and organ, is in a higher key, with mostly everything re-recorded from the other version. It's much dryer and punchier. On this version, Carl's lead vocal has been isolated more.
LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUy9TqulQoU

Version 3
Exclusive to the Japanese SHM CD of "Postcards" from 2012. This is essentially a slightly alternate mix of "Version 2", with just different mixing choices, and I think some of the lead vocal lines are missing as well. This definitely sounds like a "rough mix" on the way to arriving at "Version 2."
LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H_09SjnMNA

Version 4
Unreleased, found for a brief time a year or two ago on Larry Dvoskin's SoundCloud page. This version sounded closer to "Version 1" than it does to other versions, but again with some differences.

Version 5
Released physically and digitally as part of the "Waves of Love 2.0" single in 2021. Sounds like a hybrid of previous versions; with Carl seemingly completely mixed out.
LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktfK-lb0cgs

Version 6
Released digitally in July 2021 as part of a digital re-release of "Postcards"; while not labeled on some platforms, this is the "West Coast Mix", which sounds relatively like Version 2 and/or Version 3, with Carl mixed to the fore.
LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXp2MC8IZ9I

[Sangheon]

I suppose that Al refered to Waves of Love 2.0 as the West Coast version.

I know Al previous teased a "west coast mix", but it's definitely different from the "2.0" mix. (I dunno; is the 2.0 version an "East Coast Mix"?). So he has released two new vastly different (from each other) remixes of the song this year.

It's only going to get more confusing, because at least on YouTube and Spotify where I checked, this new "West Coast Mix" is not labeled. It's just the latest version of "Waves of Love" uploaded a week or two ago.

You are totally correct. The 2.0 mix is mentioned as the East Coast mix on Al's web site. And the version of the re-released digital Postcard is difinitely a NEW mix! I think it's the West Coast Mix.
Al can make his second solo album named "Waves of Love" with 3 or 4 more versions!

[CenturyDeprived]

It almost seems like Al absorbed some of the indecisiveness that Brian notoriously (to his own detriment) had regarding finalizing the song Heroes & Villains from 55 years ago, and it is manifesting all these decades later.

I know deciding on final mixes can be hard, but this is a bit ridiculous! (All due respect to Al).

Maybe Al feels a need to make things as good as he can possibly make them, with a mind towards perfectionism, perhaps to compete or at least have material be in what he views as even remotely in the same league as the high standards set by the Wilson brothers. Being in a band with arguably the biggest musical genius of the 20th century might have affected Al and created a compulsion to get things as right as he can.

That's the only real explanation I can see for this. And maybe also because it's one of Carl's last vocals, Al may feel like it's an extra precious thing to get right. Unless he thinks he's finally gonna have a radio hit once version 12 comes out? 

It's not all that unusual for musicians to make a great many mixes before deciding on one, but it's another thing entirely to keep releasing version after version after version (even if it seems at least 2 versions were released or leaked inadvertently).

This is like Al's version of Brian's Shortenin' Bread tick.

[Wirestone]

I miss Carl, but 2.0 might be the best of these.

[Jim V.]

I miss Carl, but 2.0 might be the best of these.

Yeah, 2.0 is pretty great. Though I like the "original saxophone version" as well, that came out on the CD released in 2012. Not to be confused with the CD-R that was released through Amazon in 2010. Hah.

Anyways, I gotta say it's almost kinda cute and endearing in the way that Al (and his buddy Larry Dvoskin) have continually tinkered with this song and it's various permutations. I remember Larry at one point calling "Waves of Love" his and Al's "Pet Sounds" or something like that in an interview. And you just can't help but kinda smile at that kinda thing.

Now what I will say would be amusing is if The Beach Boys did actually happen to release a new album next year, and Mr. Alan Jardine finally got his wish to get it on said album, with yet another new recording and mix.

[Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll]

I hear version 7 will be based around an ol Kingston Trio song 

[HeyJude]

While Al can surely be indecisive and finicky, and slow to finish stuff, and while I'm sure that was the initial deal behind "Waves of Love", I don't think that's what's driving the 500 versions of the song at this point.

I think we can firmly call this milking the same thing over and over (no "Jenny Clover" pun intended) to generate "content" at this point. Remember, he has also (I'm not kidding) discussed doing a "Jenny Clover 2.0" mix as well.

I don't know why Al has an aversion to working on *something* else, *anything* else. I promise you, he *does* have other tracks in his vaults (to say nothing of BRI vaults) that nobody has heard that he could work on.