Music / A Postcard From California

A Postcard From California is the debut (and sole) studio album of American artist Al Jardine, released in 2010.

Similar to other solo albums of The Beach Boys, this LP talks about California and contains a few Beach Boys covers as well as being home to many previously unreleased Beach Boys songs: "Don't Fight The Sea", "Looking Down The Coast" and "California Feelin'" were written decades ago before getting an official release on this album. It also features many special guests ranging from Brian Wilson to Neil Young.

Tracklist

1. "A Postcard From California"
2. "California Feelin'"
3. "Looking Down The Coast"
4. "Don't Fight The Sea"
5. "Tidepool Interlude"
6. "Campfire Scene"
7. "A California Saga"
8. "Help Me, Rhonda"
9. "San Simeon"
10. "Drivin'"
11. "Honkin' Down The Highway"
12. "California Dreamin'"
13. "And I Always Will"

Bonus tracks

1. "Waves Of Love"
2. "Sloop John B"
3. "The Eternal Ballad"

Tropes from California:

• Album Title Drop:
  And I'll be sending you a postcard from California
  And I'll be missing you each and every day
• Cover Version: Al covers "Help Me Rhonda" and "Honkin' Down The Highway".
  • "A California Saga" is a cover of "California Saga (California)", the third part of a trilogy featured on The Beach Boys' album Holland.
  • "California Dreamin'" (originally by The Mamas & the Papas).
• Face on the Cover
• Green Aesop: "Don't Fight The Sea".
• Location Song: California is mentionned four times in the tracklist.
  • "San Simeon", an area located in California.
• Lyrical Cold Open: "California Dreamin'".
• One-Woman Song: "Help Me, Rhonda".
• The Power of Love: "And I Always Will"
  I was down and felt so small
  But you were there to break my fall
  Without you darling, life just can't go on
• Radio Voice: On the title track and "Honkin' Down The Highway".
• Shout-Out: "Drivin'" mentions "a horse with no name" (which also references the presence of America on the album).
• Special Guest: Fellow Beach Boys Brian Wilson and David Marks appear on "Drivin'" while Brian sings backing vocals on "Honkin' Down The Highway" and former touring member Glen Campbell (who originally replaced Brian on tour) sings lead on the title track and "California Dreamin'".
  • The Beach Boys are featured on "Don't Fight The Sea" with Carl Wilson singing the lead vocals with Al.
  • Alec Baldwin narrates on "Tidepool Interlude".
  • Neil Young sings on "Campfire Scene" and "A California Saga".
  • The band America appears on "San Simeon" and Steve Miller co-leads on "Help Me, Rhonda".
  • "The Eternal Ballad" is a song co-written by Al and Ching Hai.
• Spoken Word in Music: "Tidepool Interlude" is a narrated track about California's nature.
  • Al talks near the end of "Drivin'".
• Title Track