Beach Boys, Family & Friends Re-Record a 1970 Classic

“The world could come together as one.”

These lyrics are from the 1970 Beach Boys composition “Add Some Music to Your Day,” and they are the inspiration for a new Omnivore Recordings album, California Music Presents Add Some Music, due out April 23, 2021, on CD and digital. The project was initiated by Beach Boys historian and documentarian David Beard.

In 2020, Beard re-recorded the classic 1970 Beach Boys song “Add Some Music to Your Day” (written by Brian Wilson, Mike Love and Joe Knott) with Beach Boys members Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks and the children of the Beach Boys, including Carnie and Wendy Wilson (Brian Wilson’s daughters); Christian, Hayleigh and Ambha Love (Mike Love’s children); Justyn Wilson (son of Carl Wilson); and Matt Jardine (son of founding Beach Boys member Al Jardine). Their new rendering of “Add Some Music to Your Day” was arranged and produced by Rob Bonfiglio (member of the Brian Wilson Band and husband to Carnie Wilson).

Mike Love from the “Add Some Music” video

From Beard’s liner notes: “Gathering together these incredible talents in order to help those in need is as good as it gets, and when it comes to the music of the Beach Boys, it makes sense. We get to listen to music while helping others. It’s ventures like this one that make the future a little brighter.”

Said Mike Love, who turned 80 on March 15, “’Add Some Music to Your Day’ brings to mind almost a decade ago when Brian, Alan, Bruce, David and I gathered around the piano during the 50th Reunion Tour. It’s a real joy to listen to this new incarnation of the song recorded with so many family members. The hope expressed in the lyric of the song is that music can bring people together. The world in harmony—something that is desperately needed. It’s a sweet song with an uplifting message. A special thanks to David Beard for all his work in getting us all together for this sweet song with a purpose. Peace and Love.”

Added Al Jardine, “It’s been a great pleasure to be involved in this new version of ‘Add Some Music to Your Day,’ something we should always be doing and having the proceeds go to the charity Feeding America to help feed the hungry is something I truly believe in. Thank you, David Beard, and everyone involved!”

Watch the official video below the track listing.

Track Listing:

1) Add Some Music To Your Day – California Music
2) Ram Raj – Mike Love
3) Jenny Clover – Al Jardine
4) She Believes in Love Again – Bruce Johnston
5) Long Promised Road – David Marks
6) Friends – Christian Love, Matt Jardine, Carnie Wilson, Wendy Wilson, Justyn Wilson, Ambha Love, Adam Jardine, Carl B. Wilson
7) Get Together – Jeffrey Foskett
8) Golden State – Rob Bonfiglio
9) Add Some Music to Your Day (A Capella Version) – California Music
10) Add Some Music to Your Day (Instrumental) – California Music

Good with the Soul: “California Music Presents Add Some Music” Features Beach Boys, Friends, Family

March 1, 2021

BY  Joe Marchese

“Add Some Music to Your Day,” The Beach Boys’ paean to the power of music, anchored the group’s 1970 album Sunflower.   The song’s imagery conjures music from the seemingly mundane to the undeniably transcendent, expressing the belief that “the world could come together as one/If everybody under the sun” would add some music to their day.  Now, the gentle, uplifting Brian Wilson-Mike Love-Joe Knott anthem is anchoring a new album for a very worthy cause.

On April 23, Omnivore Recordings will release California Music Presents Add Some Music, featuring the participation of Beach Boys Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, and David Marks as well as members of the extended Beach Boys family: Brian Wilson’s daughters Carnie and Wendy; Carl Wilson’s son Justyn; Mike Love’s children Christian, Hayleigh, and Ambha; and Al Jardine’s son Matt.  Spearheaded by David Beard, the editor and publisher of the long-running Beach Boys journal Endless Summer Quarterly, this special record will benefit Feeding America at a time when so many families in the U.S. are in need.

Previously, California Music was the moniker of the Bruce Johnston and Terry Melcher-led group that briefly recorded for their Equinox label in the mid-1970s.  It’s certainly an apropos name for this Beach Boys supergroup.  Their new rendition of “Add Some Music to Your Day” has been produced and arranged by Rob Bonfiglio, husband of Carnie Wilson and a multi-talented member of the Brian Wilson Band.  Carnie and Rob’s daughter Lola Bonfiglio even joins in on the track.  It’s featured in three distinct mixes on the album: the final one, an a cappella one, and an instrumental one.  A single edit of “Add Some Music” is currently streaming at all of the usual services, and there’s no doubt that there’s something special about hearing Messrs. Love, Jardine, and Johnston together again with so many family members and friends.

The collection is rounded out by contributions from many of the key artists.  Mike Love supplies “Ram Raj,” a version of which appeared on his 2017 album Unleash the Love.  Al Jardine offers “Jenny Clover,” previously a digital-only single from earlier this year.  Bruce Johnston delivers “She Believes in Love Again” which he first wrote for The Beach Boys’ 1985 self-titled LP and recorded again in 2006.  (It’s unclear whether the latter version is the one which will appear here.)  David Marks pays homage to the late Carl Wilson with “Long Promised Road” which he performed on the 2006 tribute to Carl, Under God.  Longtime Beach Boys and Brian Wilson sideman Jeffrey Foskett lends his cover of the Youngbloods hit “Get Together” (from his 2000 solo album Twelve and Twelve).  Rob Bonfiglio brings his solo talents, too, with “Golden State.”  A version of the song appeared on his 2014 LP Freeway.  A cover of The Beach Boys’ 1968 “Friends” is also featured.

A portion of the proceeds from Add Some Music will go to Feeding America.  David Beard comments in the press release, “Getting together these incredible talents in order to help those in need is as good as it gets, and when it comes to the music of The Beach Boys, it makes sense.  We get to listen to music while helping others.  It’s ventures like this one that make the future a little brighter.”  Mike Love adds, “‘Add Some Music to Your Day’ brings to mind almost a decade ago when Brian, Alan, Bruce, David, and I gathered around the piano during the 50th reunion tour.  It’s a real joy to listen to this new incarnation of the song recorded with so many family members.”  Al Jardine concurs: “It’s been a great pleasure to be involved in this new version of ‘Add Some Music to Your Day,’ something we should always be doing – and having the proceeds go to the charity Feeding America to help feed the hungry is something I truly believe in.”  David Marks notes, “I am honored to be part of this worthwhile project, especially with the other Beach Boys.”

The full album arrives from Omnivore on CD and digitally on April 23.  You’ll find the track listing and pre-order links to Add Some Music just below.  Don’t forget to watch the music video for “Add Some Music to Your Day” here!

Various Artists, California Music Presents Add Some Music (Omnivore OV-421) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Omnivore)

1. Add Some Music to Your Day – featuring Mike Love, Al Jardine, and Bruce Johnston
2. Ram Raj – Mike Love
3. Jenny Clover – Al Jardine
4. She Believes in Love Again – Bruce Johnston
5. Long Promised Road – David Marks
6. Friends
7. Get Together – Jeffrey Foskett
8. Golden State – Rob Bonfiglio
9. Add Some Music to Your Day (A Cappella Version) – featuring Mike Love, Al Jardine, and Bruce Johnston
10. Add Some Music to Your Day (Instrumental Version)

Preview: Members of the Beach Boys Along With Their Children to Release “California Music Presents Add Some Music”

March 1, 2021

These lyrics are from the 1970 Beach Boys composition “Add Some Music to Your Day,” and they are the inspiration for a newOmnivore Recordings album, California Music Presents Add Some Music, due out April 23, 2021 on CD and Digital. Initiated by Beach Boys historian and documentarian David Beard, California Music Presents Add Some Music is an uplifting collection celebrating all that is good about one of California’s greatest exports … music!

In 2020, Beard re-recorded the classic 1970 Beach Boys song “Add Some Music to Your Day” (written by Brian Wilson, Mike Love and Joe Knott) with Beach Boys members Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks and the children of the Beach Boys, including Carnie and Wendy Wilson (Brian Wilson’s daughters), Christian, Hayleigh and Ambha Love (Mike Love’s children); Justyn Wilson (son of Carl Wilson); and Matt Jardine (son of founding Beach Boys member Al Jardine). Their brilliant new rendering of “Add Some Music to Your Day” was arranged and produced by Rob Bonfiglio (member of the Brian Wilson Band and husband to Carnie Wilson).

Filling out the ten tracks are recordings by Love, Jardine, Johnston, Marks longtime Beach Boys associate Jeffrey Foskett, Bonfiglio, and a previously unreleased recording of The Beach Boys’ classic ‘Friends” from the next generation. A portion of the proceeds of this release will be donated tohttp://www.feedingamerica.org.

From Beard’s liner notes: “Gathering together these incredible talents in order to help those in need is as good as it gets, and when it comes to the music of The Beach Boys, it makes sense. We get to listen to music while helping others. It’s ventures like this one that make the future a little brighter.”

Quotes from The Beach Boys:

“‘Add Some Music to Your Day’ brings to mind almost a decade ago when, Brian, Alan, Bruce, David and I gathered around the piano during the 50th Reunion Tour. It’s a real joy to listen to this new incarnation of the song recorded with so many family members. The hope expressed in the lyric of the song is that music can bring people together. The world in harmony — something that is desperately needed. It’s a sweet song with an uplifting message. A special thanks to David Beard for all his work in getting us all together for this sweet song with a purpose. Peace and Love.”
—Mike Love

“It’s been a great pleasure to be involved in this new version of ‘Add Some Music to Your Day,’ something we should ALWAYS be doing and having the proceeds go to the charity Feeding America to help feed the hungry is something I truly believe in. Thank you, David Beard, and everyone involved!”—Al Jardine

“I’ve always loved ‘Add Some Music to Your Day’ as a wonderful sweet song to have originally recorded and I’m honored to be part of this new ‘next century’ recording. I also think that the additional vocals from our close family and friends sounds great!