Beach Boy Al Jardine Teams
With Sons, Matt And Adam On First Solo Effort
Environmental Theme Includes
Benefit for the Manatee FoundationBig Sur, CA (June 8, 1998) Al Jardine, of the legendary Beach Boys, is collaborating with his two oldest sons Matt, 31 and Adam, 27 to record an album that will encourage listeners to live in better harmony with their natural surroundings. The project, co-produced by the Jardine's and executive producer Michael Utley (who produced more than nine albums for Jimmy Buffett), has yet to be named. Although Matt has toured with The Beach Boys since 1988, singing Brian Wilson's falsetto parts and now the late Carl Wilson's vocals, this is the first time Al has formally recorded a solo project and also a first with his sons.
Looking to a Spring '99 release, 'The Jardines' album will include uniquely personal songs written and performed by all three men. The synergistic glue lies within their agreement on a harmonic focal point, which is punctuated with each of their unique musical influences. Al's love for folksy, classic rock ën roll mixed with Matt's adult contemporary light rock bent and youngest collaborator Adam's edgy angst-tinged writing flavor blend into a smoothly appealing artistic endeavor. All three will contribute their own penned songs and provide vocals. Several members of The Beach Boys band (Mike Kowalski, Mike Meros, Ed Carter, Billy Hinsche) are on stand by to begin recording late June or early July. Three members of the Buffett's Coral Reefer Band, Greg 'Fingers' Taylor, Robert Grinwich and Michael Utley will sweeten some of the tracks with their unique Caribbean flavored character sound.
Al was inspired to put the project together when last in Florida he saw a public service announcement on which Jimmy Buffett was speaking of the endangered Floridian manatee. During a visit in Key West with his family, the trio put down a few vocal tracks in Buffett's studio. The song, penned by The Jardines, is a 'Kokomo' flavored up-tempo ballad titled 'Islands in the Sun.' Matt's lead vocals not remind us of a romantic getaway to the Caribbean, but remind us that we need to 'live in harmony with the fishes in the deep blue sea.' The Jardine's have been discussing a possible benefit with Key West City officials and are looking to produce a concert for the Manatee Foundation, for which Jimmy Buffet serves as spokesperson.
Recording is currently underway at the Jardine's Big Sur ranch studio and some cuts will be produced in Buffet's Florida studio. The Jardine album will include a remake of Jimmy Buffet's 'Pirate Looks at 40,' which reminisces of a man's first encounter with the ocean. A new version of Al's 'California Saga' (The Beach Boys ëHolland,' 1970), which he originally wrote as an ode to author John Steinbeck whose classic stories took place in Jardine's native northern California, will also be recorded. 'Wish' is a cut that Larry D'Voskin and Al wrote together (D'Voskin's penning of 'Stop,' recorded by Meredith Brooks, is currently the #1 requested song on Top 40 radio). The ballad was inspired by Jardine's wish to fulfill the band's relationship with Brian when he decided to cease touring with the band in 1966.
Both Jardine sons have not only grown up around the business, but have been musically creative in their own rights. Matt claims that his younger brother is an undiscovered talent. 'He's just beginning to step into his own style of creativity. We made music in different ways. He stayed home and wrote songs; I was on the road and interacting with other musicians. He' s got incredible songwriting ideas. He has the potential to really be a force in the future of music. We both do.' Adam's original contemporary songs include 'Tell Me,' 'Shooting Star' and 'Beauty Day.' Each are up-tempo ballads, which his dad explains are 'written with a mix of teenage angst and tortured lyrics that make you remember all you went through in high school.'
Aside from touring with The Beach Boys, Matt has an ongoing collaboration with Beach Boys sax player Ritchie Canata. The duo have been recording what Matt describes as some 'pretty edgy stuff,' although they have never put it together into an album. 'One of songs from those sessions, 'Middle of Nowhere' is a persona favorite of mine,' says Al, 'it could be a real hit recorded as a Jardine-family project.' Matt is an accomplished percussionist who says that his memories of being a five-year old banging a tambourine on the stage with his dad is what gave him the performance bug. 'My mother told me that when I got on the stage to sing 'Barbara Ann' with the guys, I would purposely ignore her frantic gesturing stage-side to come back. There's something about the energy I really loved. It was just magical. '
Al Jardine met Brian Wilson at Hawthorne High School in Southern California in 1961, when together with brothers Carl, Dennis and cousin Mike Love, they formed The Beach Boys. One of the world's most loved and popular rock ën roll bands in history, the band has toured consistently for 36 years, through the passing of drummer Dennis and recently his brother Carl. Today, the Beach Boys songs receive more airplay than even The Beatles. Coincidentally, Paul McCartney claimed that The Beach Boys' 'Pet Sounds' album inspired them to record 'Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band.' Al Jardine has communicated his concern for the environment throughout his career through his song writing and alignment with organizations that include GreenPeace, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Pfeiffer Beach Defense Fund, the Natural Resource Defense Fund and Robert Redford's 'Save the Redwoods.' Both Adam and Matt are graduates of Carmel High School the classes of '89 and '85, respectively.
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