‘Beach Boys Today! Turns 50 years old , To call the Beach Boys prolific in their early years hardly does justice to an output of eight studio records in their first two and a half years of making albums. The last in that sequence, the fondly-remembered ‘Beach Boys Today!’ is marking its half-century today, released on March 8, 1965.
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Also known simply as Today!,was the eighth studio album by the American group the Beach Boys, and their first of three releases that came out in 1965. It peaked at number four on US Charts and included the top 10 singles “When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)” and “Dance, Dance, Dance“, along with “Do You Wanna Dance?“ which reached number 12 later that year. The album marked a major transition point for the band through Brian Wilson‘s sophisticated, orchestral approach. In December 1964, Wilson suffered a nervous breakdown while on a plane, and was then introduced to marijuana as a stress reliever. He then became a regular user after he realized the profound effect it had on the way he perceived music, subsequently resigning from touring with the group in order to focus solely on songwriting and producing. The tracks on the first half of Today! feature an electric guitar-rock oriented sound that contrasts the second half consisting of ballads, showing an increased mature lyrical depth that would foreshadow the future efforts Pet Sounds. The second side marks Wilson’s continuing maturation as a recording artist; all the songs showcase creatively developed vocal & instrumental arrangements,with a complex Wall of Sound production, and lyrically introspective subject matter.
The LP hit record stores as the group were climbing the American charts with their latest single, which showed both their feelgood side, on Bobby Freeman’s ‘Do You Wanna Dance’ (with lead vocals by Dennis Wilson) and brother Brian’s increasingly thoughtful and inventive songwriting, on the lovely ‘Please Let Me Wonder.’
Beach Boys When I Grow Up
Both tracks were included in ‘Today!,’ which showcased Brian’s ever more sophisticated production skills. The album also featured the Beach Boys’ two previous hits, the equally reflective ‘When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)’ and the upbeat ‘Dance, Dance, Dance.’
Firmly established as the group’s creative inspiration, Brian Wilson was now making ever more use of the studio as a palette for his imagination. The album featured such exotic instrumentation as harpsichords, oboes, cellos, French horn and all manner of percussion, such as timbales, sleigh bells and even triangle.
‘Today!’ also featured the album version of ‘Help Me, Ronda,’ soon to be released as a single in an alternative recording, spelled ‘Help Me, Rhonda,’ which topped the US charts. Among the other highlights was another gorgeous, introspective Wilson composition, ‘She Knows Me Too Well.’ ‘Beach Boys Today!’ entered Billboard’s Top LPs chart at the end of March at No. 149 and went on to a No. 6 peak, staying on the bestsellers for two weeks short of a year.
The Fat Angel Sings 