1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #52. Beach Boys - The Beach Boys Today! (1965)

Beach Boys - The Beach Boys Today! (1965)

Label - Capitol
Producer – Brian Wilson
Art Direction – Uncredited
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 28:42

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Do You Wanna Dance
2. Good To My Baby
3. Don't Hurt My Little Sister
4. When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)
5. Help Me Ronda
6. Dance Dance Dance
7. Please Let Me Wonder
8. I'm So Young
9. Kiss Me Baby
10. She Knows Me Too Well
11. In The Back Of My Mind
12. Bull Session With Big Daddy

For whatever reason – I just never got into the Beach Boys. They just seemed to campy for me – like it wasn’t ‘serious’ music. Nothing about this record changed my mind about that.
Today! is the ninth studio album by The Beach Boys, and their first of THREE that they released in 1965. On December 23, 1964, Brian Wilson had a nervous breakdown and had officially ‘retired’ from performing with the band (which was only the beginning of his problems as it turned out) and instead would just concentrate on studio recording and production for the group. To me I suppose that did help SOME with this record, as it does have a consistent feel about it from start to finish and not just a lot of filler to put around their current surfer hit on the charts. Again – not saying that makes this a great album – or even good for that matter – just bearable. Too harsh? Maybe.
This is another of those records which makes you yearn for the return of actual vinyl records. This record was another set up in two ‘sides’. One side of up-beat songs and the second side of melancholic ballads.
There are some decent tracks. There is a nice cover of "Do You Wanna Dance" with Phil Spectorish type arrangements. "When I Grow Up" is really good – and the best track on the record. The other track that stood out is "Please Let Me Wonder" just a nice delicate track with heartbreaking melodies and the classic Beach Boys harmonies. This record does include "Help Me, Rhonda" – but it is an earlier (and slower) rendition to the familiar hit single which was included on their next album.
Today! was a #4 gold-selling smash in the US, and the following year it would reach #6 in the UK. So it sold a ton – but I still do not recommend it.


You can purchase the CD here.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JANUARY 28
Dave Sharp from the Alarm is 50; Dan Spitz from Anthrax is 46;

On this date in 1965 The Who make their first TV appearance playing "I Can't Explain" on the British show Ready, Steady, Go. On this date in 1968 Jim Morrison of the Doors is arrested for vagrancy and public drunkeness. On this date in 2006 just before a concert here in Orlando Eddie Hawrysch, keyboardist for the Black Crowes, parts ways with the band after an argument about some long unresolved issues.

CONCERT NEWS
Tomorrow Night THE EAGLES St. Pete Times Forum Tampa
Sunday, February 22 TESLA House Of Blues Lake Buena Vista