Los Angeles, CA (Top40 Charts/ American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles) Al Jardine unites band-mates Brian Wilson, Mike Love & Bruce Johnston, to release new music to aid Red Cross relief effort in Japan.
In response to the devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster that struck Japan, March 11th, 2011, Al Jardine of the Beach Boys has asked his fellow Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame pals, Brian Wilson, Mike Love & Bruce Johnston to lend their name and voices to a new benefit release. Two songs will be made available for the first time on a 7" vinyl single. The first one thousand records will be pressed on limited edition White vinyl, with a Red label (resembling the Japanese flag), with 100% of the proceeds going to the Red Cross aid to Japan. Fans that purchase the single, "will support disaster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific," according to the Red Cross. After the first thousand records, the remaining discs will be pressed on limited edition black vinyl. About 90 of the first run will have sleeves signed by all four of the Beach Boys, which will be auctioned off.
The A-side of the record is the environmentally conscious "Don't Fight the Sea," composed by Al Jardine and Terry Jacks, a track from the new album A Postcard From California. The song features Jardine, Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Bruce Johnston and a vocal from the late Carl Wilson. The flip side of the record is an unreleased Beach Boys a capella mix, from a 1968 recording of the song "Friends." "We felt that the song had a nice basic message of friendship," said Al Jardine. "I also like the idea of that song, because the vocals are a bit underappreciated. So this release was a perfect place to showcase the idea of harmony and friendship. Everybody is behind it 100%, that's the nice part."
The single will be available on Tuesday, April 19th. With some advanced copies being brought to International Record Store Day appearances by Al Jardine, where he will be signing the new Beach Boys SMiLE vinyl release on April 16th...and auctioning off a few of the Red Cross singles.
For more information on how to purchase "Don't Fight The Sea" / "Friends (a capella)" for Japan, please visit www.AlJardine.com or www.TheBeachBoys.com. For information on how to donate to the Red Cross, visit www.RedCross.org.
