Surprise! Al Jardine, the beloved co-founding member of The Beach Boys, has returned with his first collection of new, original material since 2010. Titled “Islands in the Sun”, it’s a four-song EP featuring some truly special guests, as Neil Young, Flea (bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Jardine’s Beach Boys band mate Bruce Johnston all lend a hand to the lively songs.
Here’s the title track, which features lead vocals from both Al Jardine and his son Matt Jardine, as well as Johnston on backing vocals and the help of a children’s choir from three different elementary schools.
The pleasant vibes of this one help it sound like the not-too-distant cousin of “Kokomo”:
A news release tells its story: Neil recorded his vocals at the same session that he recorded Postcard’s “A California Saga” with his old bandmates, David Crosby and Stephen Stills. In the song, Al and Neil share the same sentiment about sending our troops off to foreign wars. The track includes a portion of the melancholy military bugle call “Taps,” performed by Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who laid down his contribution when he also provided bass for “Help Me Rhonda” for the Postcard album.
This new EP out in the wild, Al Jardine will reconvene with some of his friends from Brian Wilson‘s longtime touring band for a new run of dates, billed as The Pet Sounds Band.
Al Jardine’s “Islands In The Sun” from the 4-track digital EP “Islands In The Sun”, now available to buy and stream from Universal Music
The Fat Angel Sings 