Introduction: Whether Al Jardine knows it or not, it took him over sixty years to pay homage to his first music group – The Islanders. It’s songs like “Islands in the Sun” that prove Jardine’s folk roots have aged perfectly with his ‘Beach Boys success.’ Finding inspiration in a beautiful suggestion like ‘bottle up the sun’ also shows that Al – despite being an octogenarian – is still incredibly young at heart and Islands in the Sun is a full circle moment. The folk-rooted troubadour is also preparing to embark on a new tour with his Pet Sounds Band. Here, we break down each song on the new EP, share the credits for the songs so you can see the interesting guests, and learn about what he has in store for concert goers.
ISLANDS IN THE SUN (A. Jardine)
Lead vocals: Al Jardine, Matt Jardine
Slide Guitar: Al Jardine
Flute: Paul Contos
Drums: Stevie Heger
Percussion: Shaun Elley
Marimbas: DJ Bonebrake
Keyboards and pedal steel guitar: Arlan Oscar Schierbaum
Children’s Choir: Santa Catalina School For Girls/Janice Perl (Choir Master), Carmel River School/Erinn Barca-Hall (Choir Master), Captain Cooper Elementary School/Shana Garritson (Choir Master)
Backing vocals: Bruce Johnston, Matt Jardine, Mary Ann Jardine, Al Jardine
Al Jardine: The EP is called Islands in the Sun because it’s the leadoff title; it’s a Harry Belafonte meets The Beach Boys kind of tune. It’s formulated a bit like Harry’s “Island in the Sun.” So, I just added an ‘s’ to the end of island and made it ‘islands’ so it wouldn’t be mistaken for his song. I thought it was a pretty melody, so I took it, rearranged it, and made it into “Islands in the Sun,” which would have been a terrific Beach Boys song.
MY PLANE LEAVES TOMORROW (Au Revoir) (A. Jardine)
Lead vocals: Al Jardine, Neil Young, Matt Jardine
Trumpet: Flea
Piano, electric guitars, drums: Stevie Heger
Bass, acoustic guitars: Al Jardine
Backing vocals: Neil Young, Adam Jardine, Matt Jardine
Al: I have Neil Young as a guest star on the song called “My Plane Leaves Tomorrow (Au Revoir)” It’s about a young soldier who goes off to the fray as we say … and he says, “Please don’t say goodbye.” That kind of thing. I almost called it “Au revoir” but I thought, well, “My Plane Leaves Tomorrow” sounds better; it’s really kind of cool. [Note: This song was recorded during the sessions for Al’s debut studio album A Postcard from California and includes a portion of the melancholy bugle call “Taps,” performed by Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.]
HIGHWAY 101 (J. Leiber/M. Stoller w/ additional words & music by A. Jardine)
Lead vocals: Al Jardine
Piano: Scott Slaughter
Guitar: Michael Lent, Al Jardine
Percussion: Stevie Heger
Bass: Ed Carter
Drums: Mike Kowalski
Baritone saxophone: Paul Tarantino
Tenor saxophone: Steve Douglas
Backing vocals: Kate Faber, Marlena Jeter, Lynne Fiddmont, Mortonette Stephens
Al: There’s a tribute to a Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller composition that I call “Highway 101 (Rosarita Beach Café).” It’s really kind of a cool little takeoff on “Smokey Joe’s Café.” It’s about reminiscing as I get a little older and some of the things I enjoy listening to. So, this is all about taking “Smokey Joe’s Café” to another level. [Note: Michael Lent was Barry Manilow’s guitarist for over 25 years, and the late Steve Douglas – who passed away in 1993 – has played on more than his fair share of historic recordings.]
CRUMPLE CAR (D. Aaberg/P. Pritchard w/ additional words & music by A. Jardine)
Lead vocals, whistling and guitar: Al Jardine
Bass and foot stomps: Ed Carter
Conga, kalimba: Pínche Pete
Backing vocals: Adam Jardine
Tape hiss: Stevie Heger
Al: Another (kind of) rearranged tune – because I enjoy finishing stuff that people start but never finish – is the tune “Crumple Car” from the movie Big Wednesday (1978). It’s a happy little song about surfing. It’s kind of a surf / folk tune about a mythical car that becomes a reef down in the Santa Barbara area. I saw the film and thought it would make a great song … actually, Ed Carter suggested I do it. He said, “You should record this, this could be fun.” So, he came up to my studio here, laid down a track, and it held up pretty good. I did it quite a while ago on a four-track machine. I added some Beach Boys harmonies of course to fill it out because it was pretty plain. I think it sounds great. I guess, now, everything stands on its own merit. I didn’t have a theme (for this EP), rather than to do stuff that I wanted to do. I performed “Highway 101” and “Crumple Car” at a benefit concert for The Big Sur Congregation on Sunday, Aug. 11th at the Henry Miller Memorial Library in Big Sur, CA. The songs went over very well.
[Note: Islands In The Sun was produced by Al Jardine with Stevie Heger (co-producer of A Postcard from California), longtime Beach Boys/Brian Wilson sound engineer Jeff Peters, and mastered by David Glasser.]
UPCOMING TOUR WITH THE PET SOUNDS BAND
What can fans expect from a setlist standpoint on your upcoming tour?
Al: A sampling of the rarer things that haven’t been performed before. A few songs from the Love You project. I was just informed that the Love You set will be issued in September. I’d like to perform “Honkin’ Down the Highway,” “Ding Dang,” “The Night Was So Young,” and possibly “Roller Skating Child” and “I’ll Bet He’s Nice.” There’s also “Airplane” and “Solar System” … so who knows? We are also considering “She’s Got Rhythm” and “Peggy Sue.” We still haven’t nailed it down.
What about “Winds of Change”?
Al: I’d like to but it’s pretty droll. It’s beautiful but …
I haven’t thought of it as droll before [laughing].
Al: It has a beautiful arrangement behind it but I’m not sure we could pull off the arrangement.
I want to hear “Cabin Essence.” Any chance you’ll add that?
Al: Wow! [Laughs] No, that’d be going off in a whole different direction. I know that they [Universal] are planning on doing something like that next year that will include SMiLE and Pet Sounds music.
I’m always taken aback by Matt on stage because he’s such a great vocalist.
Al: Yeah … he’s grown into it – the whole thing. He sings, introduces everybody … he’s just a good front man. He really carries his weight. I really love working with the Endless Summer Band, so I’ll miss working with Bobby Figueroa and Randell Kirsch because I’ll have Debbie Shair and Matt with me. I really hope people will come out to see this little experiment of ours.
Upcoming shows:
• July 4 – Lake, MN @ Mystic Amphitheater at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
• July 18 – Cohasset, MA @ South Shore Music Circus
• July 23 – Phoenix, AZ @ Musical Instrument Museum
• July 24 – Phoenix, AZ @ Musical Instrument Museum
• August 23 – Des Plaines, IL @ The Des Plaines Theatre
• August 24 – St. Charles, IL @ The Arcada Theatre
• September 5 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
• September 7 – Concord, NH @ Chubb Theatre at Capitol Center for the Arts
Visit Al’s official website for more information: www.aljardine.com.
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