Today!

by The Beach Boys

Overview

Brian Wilson's retirement from performing to concentrate on studio recording and production reaped immediate dividends with Today!, the first Beach Boys album that is strong almost from start to finish. "Dance, Dance, Dance" and "Do You Wanna Dance" were upbeat hits with Spector-influenced arrangements, but Wilson began to deal with more sophisticated themes on another smash 45, "When I Grow Up," on which these eternal teenagers looked forward to the advancing years with fear and uncertainty. Surf/hot rod/beach themes were permanently retired in favor of late-adolescent, early-adult romance on this album, which included such decent outings in this vein as "She Knows Me Too Well," "Kiss Me Baby," and "In the Back of My Mind." The true gem is "Please Let Me Wonder," one of the group's most delicate mid-'60s works, with heartbreaking melodies and harmonies. Be aware that the version of "Help Me, Rhonda" found here is an inferior, earlier, and slower rendition; the familiar hit single take was included on their next album, Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!). [Capitol's 2012 reissue, mastered by Mark Linett earlier that year, contained mono and stereo versions of the original album; new stereo mixes were produced for "Do You Wanna Dance?," "Don't Hurt My Little Sister," "Help Me, Ronda" [sic], and "She Knows Me Too Well."] ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	10/09/2012
Label:	Capitol / Emi
UPC:	5099940443720
Rank:	53396

Tracks

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"
13. Do You Wanna Dance? [Stereo]
14. Good to My Baby [Stereo]
15. Don't Hurt My Little Sister [Stereo]
16. When I Grow Up (To Be a Man) [Stereo]
17. Help Me, Ronda [Stereo]
18. Dance, Dance, Dance [Stereo]
19. Please Let Me Wonder [Stereo]
20. I'm So Young [Stereo]
21. Kiss Me, Baby [Stereo]
22. She Knows Me Too Well [Stereo]
23. In the Back of My Mind [Stereo]
24. Bull Session with "Big Daddy" [Mono]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Beach Boys   Primary Artist
Steve Douglas   Sax (Tenor)
Billy Lee Riley   Harmonica
Jack Nimitz   Sax (Baritone)
Carl Wilson   Lead Guitar,Spoken Word,Handclapping,Guitar (Rhythm),Vocals (Background),6-String Electric Bass,Guitar (12 String Electric)
Dennis Wilson   Drums,Hi Hat,Tambourine,Lead Vocals,Spoken Word,Handclapping,Vocals (Background)
Ray Pohlman   Bass (Electric),6-String Electric Bass,Guitar (Electric Baritone)
Mike Love   Lead Vocals,Spoken Word,Handclapping,Vocals (Background)
Al Jardine   Lead Vocals,Handclapping,Bass (Electric),Guitar (Rhythm),Vocals (Background)
Tommy Tedesco   Autoharp,Mandolin,Guitar (Rhythm)
Brian Wilson   Tack Piano,Lead Vocals,Spoken Word,Handclapping,Farfisa Organ,Piano (Grand),Bass (Electric),Piano (Upright),Vocals (Background),Electric Harpsichord,6-String Electric Bass
Hal Blaine   Drums,Timbales,Triangle,Castanets,Conductor,Tambourine,Wood Block,Sleigh Bells,Temple Blocks
Glen Campbell   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (12 String Acoustic)
Carl Fortina   Accordion
Billy Strange   Ukulele,Lead Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Electronic Mandolin
Bill Pitman   Lead Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm),Guitar (Acoustic)
Barney Kessel   Guitar (Classical),Guitar (12 String Acoustic)
Earl Palmer   Drums,Timbales
Don Randi   Tack Piano,Piano (Grand)
Jay Migliori   Sax (Baritone)
Leon Russell   Wurlitzer,Piano (Grand)
Julius Wechter   Claves,Congas,Timpani,Bell Tree,Tambourine,Vibraphone
Plas Johnson   Sax (Tenor)
Murry Wilson   Co-Producer
David Duke   French Horn
Marilyn Wilson   Spoken Word,Vocals (Background)
Peter Christ   Horn (English)
Jerry Williams   Timpani,Vibraphone
Carroll "Cappy" Lewis   Harmonica
Earl Leaf   Spoken Word
John Gray   Piano (Grand)
Ron Swallow   Tambourine,Spoken Word
Larry Knechtel   Bass (Electric)
Carol Kaye   Bass (Electric)
Russ Titelman   Percussion

Technical Credits

Bobby Freeman   Composer
Billy Burnette   Composer
Carl Wilson   Composer
David Malloy   Composer
Dennis Wilson   Composer
Mark Linett   Mixing,Producer,Mastering
Mike Love   Composer,Vocal Arrangement
Al Jardine   Composer
Alan Boyd   Producer
Brian Wilson   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Mixing Engineer
William "Prez" Tyus   Composer
David Hassinger   Engineer
W. H. Tyrus Jr.   Composer
Dennis Wolfe   Producer
Michael Edward Love   Composer
John Engstead   Cover Photo
Elliott Lott   Producer
Chuck Britz   Editing,Engineer,Assistant Producer
Larry Levine   Engineer