The thing that Hurts me the most about the beach boys, is when people only recognise them as a simple pop up beat group, instead of as a serious and incredible band in the same manner as the Beatles.
Sadly they were not much more than average musicians. 90% of the studio recordings were done with the “wrecking crew” hired guns. In that sense , they weren’t really a good “band”. While they did perform live, they always had backup musicians on stage and it was the vocals that took them where they went. Lastly, without Brian Wilson teaching them the harmonies, they would have been lost.
@@jimmy5634 yes, they're live performances weren't on par with their studio work ofc. But that's not the lacking talent, that's the complicated manner of their music making it hard to play. On top of that, Brian's vocals where absent on the live shows, ofc the vocal department was lacking then. Carl's vocals are great live, it's when he has to play guitar and sing at the same time the problems start coming. Edit: Calling them not a good band? Really? Look at their work after Smile and Pet Sounds, there you find all their greatest recordings. And those records don't have a trace of the wrecking crew, by that point they had become ALOT more independent when it came to they're contribution, all of the members played their own instruments in that period. That's why I think your severely underrating them calling the " not a good band".
@@tivolidream9655 it’s hard to understand someone making a comment that theBeach Boys were not really a “good band!” Preposterous is the best word I can think of to answer such a claim. I guess Jimmy was commenting on their “musicianship” as far as instruments, but come on let’s be real! As you pointed out with “Pet Sounds” and “Smile,” they did some of their best work. Many consider PS to be one of the best Rand R albums ever produced. Brian Wilson was clearly a musical genius. But I guess that’s not good enough for jimmy5634 who says “sadly, they were average musicians.” I can’t wrap my head around that one!
I’m 70. I was 14 and a dedicated Beach Boy fan when this album came out and it’s still one of my favorites . The young lady that did this video captured so much of what many of us felt about it 55 years ago. Serious, silly, poignant. The video was intelligent, well done and brought back many memories.
I’m totally blown away that such a young woman is not just into the Beach boys but really understands what was going on at the time. I’m going to take another look at the “today” CD and you get credit for it
@@BBPalmer420So very true. In my family, there are and have been 4 generations of Beach Boys fans. There’s me, I’m 57, and then my teenage son, plus both of my parents and my paternal grandparents were also fans. I bet there’ll probably be kids listening to The Beach Boys a hundred years from now. It really is timeless music.
To hear a young person totally nail the importance of this album is mind blowing. Pet Sounds is a masterpiece, but it casts too long a shadow over Brian's other amazing tracks. Today! was/is astonishing. I was a teen musician who listened to it the night it came out. I almost threw my guitar away. I highly recommend these to you, Tex: Friends, Sunflower, Surf's Up, Smiley Smile, and Love You. Listen all the way through an album, in the dark (or eyes closed) and let the music take you away. It will affect you forever -- in the best way imaginable.
Thank you, Hugo. The highlight of posting this video, for me, has been seeing all of the awesome stories older people have about the impact Today! had on them personally. I'm glad you didn't throw your guitar away ;). We can't all be a Brian Wilson! God has given us individual, unique gifts for a reason. In our flawed, human perspective, we sometimes can't understand why others seem to be more talented than us. But maybe God doesn't see talent, maybe it all comes down to our sincerity.
@Hugo_Hackenbush, I appreciate your 5 choices as great Beach Boys albums. Two of my very favorites are: Smiley Smile and Love You b/c they are so often overlooked and under rated. IMO these two totally different sounds are examples of the breadth and depth of Brian's writing and the Boys collaborative music and singing skills. Both of which are the reasons that I have an undying Love for their sound as well as their total story (both the good and the bad/sad) since hearing them for the first time as an eleven year old boy in 1963. They are indeed "America's Band."
how is it mimd blowing? every postboomer youth that discivers the Beach Bous always talk about how profound it is. I for one think Sergeant Peppers by The Beach Boys gets too mich credit although it is good.
"Today" is more like two albums. Side 1 seems to be a slight change from a typical Beach Boys album, but side 2 is Brian turning into the artist who created "Pet Sounds".
Side 1 contained intentionally upbeat tracks, Side 2 ballads. Elvis did the same thing with Something For Everybody 4 years earlier. As for the Pet Sounds connection, 'In the back of my mind,' in particular, wouldn't have been out of place on that album.
I always felt that there was an anointing on Brian Wilson’s voice and music. When I listen to his music, I feel joy and peace. Thank you for giving thanks to Jesus!!!
I love this album because it's basically the bridge from the surf/car songs to Pet Sounds, especially the second half. Today! and Summer Days both have some of Brian's best arrangements
I thought I was the only one around this age who felt this passionate about The Beach Boys' music! I'm so glad there's other people out there, such as yourself.
"Today' was my first exposure to the Beach Boys. Denny opening and closing the show with "Do You Wanna Dance" and "In Back of My Mind". Two sides, completely different. Great production. I got hooked. Can you blame me? This would be a lot of other bands' best album. My rating: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
No joke... In Nov. 1975, I suddenly got an urge to listen to the Beach Boys and raided my older sister's room for any records she may have - and this was the one album I pulled from the destruction. I was 12. It remains one of my favorites!
The Beach Boys are an American treasure. Their importance in American culture is indescribable and that place in American culture could have only be filled by them. They provided the perfect sound at the perfect time. Their music makes my soul smile.
"Kiss Me Baby" is a masterpiece of love and regret, endless longing, and the existential emotional weariness with the brutal intensity of "all these feelings" teenagers are experiencing. Brian begins the song harmonizing "AHHHhhh-uh" with the Boys ending with an "OOOoooOOOooo" that turns into an open "oooWAHHHH. . ." And then there's a pause followed by a plea. "Please don't let me argue, any more...." It is such a brilliant Brian Wilson opening line; vulnerable, fragile even, a surrender and yet totally manipulative. She is responsible for him arguing. "Please don't let me argue any more\I won 't make you worry like before" All this with the layered "AHHHhhh-uh" background vocals building to a textured reprise "Kiss Me Baby Love to Hold You" and underneath that is barely audible repeated phrase "Kiss-a-little-bit.Fight-a-little bit.Kiss-a-little-bit.Fight a little bit." punctuated by a satisfying "WHOA BABY" three times before fading. And underneath that is the implied yet unspoken word "tight" at the end of "Love to hold you. . ." It's a gorgeous song about a sleepless night and two broken hearts wondering as the morning sun slipped through their bedroom windows, "Were you still awake like me. .? ." Whoa Baby.
Now we look back on the Beach Boys and remember how Mike Love was so against moving forward and away from the 'Surf Songs'. Mike didn't want to move towards Brians expanding universe of songwriting that rewrote music history. Yet for the rest of his life Mike Love sings the songs he was attempting to stop. Ive always found that awkward. Mike Love would be a nobody if it wasn't for Brians songwriting ability.
Don’t believe everything you’ve heard about Mike being against Brian. Mike’s involvement throughout The Beach Boys history (especially during the Pet Sounds era) had been very positive. He was against lyrics like Hang Onto Your Ego because they typically were dumb. And he questioned some others (and thank God he totally re-wrote the horrible lyrics that Brian and Tony Asher initially wrote for the verses of Good Vibrations). Mike didn’t always agree with Brian, but he gave 100% effort when called upon to sing on Pet Sounds and SMiLE.
@@tbirdtim Thank you. Mike Love gets too much blame and hate. He disapproved of Brian's LSD use, and disapproved therefore of Van Dyke Parks (an intellectual snob, although a gifted one) for his bad influence on Love's cousin. Van Dyke Parks gets only praise, while Mike Love gets only blame. Love was right: Brian became a paranoid schizophrenic (while Parks escaped that fate). How much grief did Brian's mental illness cause the group and his family, starting with his long-suffering wife, Marilyn? Further, Mike Love contributed enormously to their early success. After Goffin-King and Lennon-McCartney, Wilson-Love was one of the most successful songwriting duos in the early 60s; most of their greatest hits, including Good Vibrations, were Wilson-Love. Uncle Murray sold their 1960s Capitol catalog without their knowledge and consent (for a mere $90,000), and Love was effectively defrauded of the fruits of his success. Betrayal by family is severely traumatizing; Mike Love never fully recovered from that. Brian Wilson was not primarily a lyricist; he offered ideas and phrases, but wrote few solo lyrics ('Til I Die being a major exception). Brian withdrew from touring to invest all his time in the studio, and thus partnered with other lyricists: Tony Asher, Van Dyke Parks. But it was Mike Love, Carl & Dennis Wilson, Al Jardine, and Bruce Johnston who made that possible by keeping the band alive through constant touring. Without the band doing their part, Capitol would have stopped promoting them. Those who dismiss The Beach Boys as mostly Brian Wilson + The Wrecking Crew ignore several facts: The Beach Boys were touring (playing their own instruments live on stage) while the Crew were laying down instrumental tracks; band members did in fact contribute some instrumental flourishes later to Pet Sounds; studio instrumentalists were somewhat interchangeable (none of the bass parts recorded by the great Carole Kaye made it onto the finished Good Vibrations, despite many assuming it is she on the record), but the voices of the Boys could never be replaced by anyone (and singing - especially as synchronized harmony - does require musicianship); Carl Wilson in particular was a de facto member of the Crew when in town - and Carl - not one of the Crew (who were present) produced one of the most iconic guitar intros in rock history: California Girls. Tony Asher was a good lyricist on Pet Sounds, but his lyrics for Good Vibrations were indeed mediocre. Love, who was being dismissed and ignored, instantly saw that, and wrote his own: timelessly memorable lyrics. Brian Wilson was a musical genius and a gentle spirit, but he allowed drugs to permanently damage his life and the lives of those close to him, including his cousin, Mike Love.
Thank you. So many of these beautiful, complex songs could easily fit on Pet Sounds, especially Please Let Me Wonder and When I Grow Up, I was 10 and loved this LP!
Way to go! You really know your stuff and capture the Murray Wilson and Brian Wilson relationship well. I love your passion for music and the history of music. Keep going and doing such great work. You brought an intelligent examination that most rock writers would have missed of The Beach Boys. This is good rock writing.
I have been a Beach Boys fan since the early 60s. I remember buying the Today album and, as many have posted here, finding Side 2 a soulful look into the emotions of teenagers. It really struck home, as Pet Sounds would do shortly after. Great to see that young people appreciate that Brian and the boys were doing more than just singing about surfing and cars.
"Do You Wanna Dance?" By the Beach Boys: "KICKS SOME MAJOR ARSE." "Let Him Run Wild" Also one of my top 5 all time favorite Beach Boys songs. "The Little Girl I Once Knew" one of my top 3 favorites.
You made my day, hearing a young person captivated by the Beach Boys....I remember after Fun Fun Fun, I Get Around, excellent hits, I bought Today and something different was happening; and it was Brian flexing his creative muscles....thanks for putting this together....
I was 4 years old when I played on the floor while the woman who came to help in the house would be doing the ironing. Harry Belafonte, Judy Garland, Johnny Mathis...I loved it. And while I loved the Beatles and Beach Boys, Motown, folk, rock etc and I learned people never need to explain an artist, or apologetically call an solo or group,as a guilty pleasure.....guilt? Because I hear music and it resonates for m? You clearly love music, and are not concerned with what your peers might think. Do we defend the foods we like? My diet is better than yours? The food I like tastes better than yours? To me, yes, but I respect what you love; opera, Barry Manilow, hip hop, music is a blessing in Life,and for me it is like oxygen......my birthday is TODAY, so for 60 plus years, I was a radio do in the 70s, have had over 2000 LPs and over 2000 cds......that's a blessing, and The Beach Boys are musical heroes, especially Carl as he kept the group productive while Brian was in seclusion........stay this way for YOU, as you will live a happier Life, I feel, with music in your body and soul !
@@texvirgo9847 below I did write from my wife's account, and when I re read it, wow, loads of typos...but it was 4:30 am, my dog and I usually go out at 5:50-6 am, but he had an earlier need :-D
@@bazbear Thank you for these thoughtful comments! I pray your love for music will direct you towards Christ! Music used to be my god until I found Jesus-- he is THE best thing, better than even The Beach Boys ;)
@@texvirgo9847 I'm not a religious person, group religion, I live my live by respecting people, showing compassion....my background is Jewish, of which I'm proud, but I don't follow formal religous tenets. I admire your relationship with Jesus, that you've found a source of serenity, and a moral compass.
Love this! I was about 14 when I got in to the Beach Boys and for most of my teenage years I never met any other fans my age. It was the late 80s and we didn’t have the internet so I worked through the albums with not much information and most of my mates not liking the music. To this day they are the band I never get bored of. I love other bands but to this day the BBs are still more than just music to me. It’s great to see someone young being as in to the music as I was (and still am). Most of the people reviewing their music are adults but it’s easily forgotten that up until about 1967 Brian was writing for young people. The songs were directed at that age and held more meaning for the kids so who better to comment on the impact that the music has. You are exactly the kind of age that he was writing for. He had a sense of innocence and an optimism in his music that continues to resonate. I’d love to see you do some more album reviews. Your insight is as valuable as anyone else’s as music touches us all in different ways.
When I was 17, I was vacationing in the mountains and asked my father to bring me two things: The Beach Boys Today and Mao's Little Red Book. Crazy combo in retrospect. Please Let Me Wonder became one of my favorite Beach Boys songs of all time.
And we know which one has been a better influence on the world. It was almost as if two forces were pulling on you. Of course, some in the west (and I was an armchair Marxist myself) were infatuated with ideas we didn’t have to see enacted in the flesh.
Perceptive criticism and analysis. Particularly enjoyed learning your personal emotional bond to the music. And I loved the "Bull Session With Big Daddy" segment you did! That was brilliant.
Good work! I was 12 when I joined the Capitol Record Club in order to get their albums mailed to me;1963. In the 80’s I helped form a Beach Boys tribute band. Your video shows great maturity.
It's nice to hear such a thorough examination of their brilliant "The Beach Boys Today!" album. Yes, side two is brilliant. Nothing could be added to it. If I could only be allowed to hear one song off of side two, it would be "She Knows Me Too Well", for any number of reasons. The honesty and self-examination of the person's motives and reasons for treating their loved one the way they do. And how their loved one, the woman (the more honest of the two) sees right through them. Once again, self-examination..."I treat her so mean, I don't deserve what I have..." And as some sort of consolation to him for his his hurting conscience: "...she can tell I really love her." I also love how Brian's voice and the group's harmonies, and the music are so perfect at this point. I've listened to this song countless times because of those reasons. I've also thought about the meaning of the song on different occasions. But I've never really examined it, and written about it the way I have here, and I have you to thank for it. So, really, thank you very much!
I used to make this very argument at college parties! I said the true 60s music began with the Beach Boys Today! and that Revolver was far superior to Sgt Peppers... people would laugh at me... by and large my Revolver argument is now accepted wisdom, but the Beach Boys Today! is still underappreciated
@@texvirgo9847 My mom had an album collection. 90% of it was absolute dreck --- I think she might have had a Fabian album lol... but then there was The Beach Boys Today! and Meet the Beatles, and I used to play the grooves off those two albums. I think the Beach Boys Today! is not given its proper respect partially because of its silly title and its packaging -- the sweater look or whatever they were going for on the album cover was a bit "square"
I found the beach boys when I was younger and they had been out for 20 years at that time. I'm glad people are discovering them like I did. I love the deep dive. Thanks
Just happened upon your site. Loved listening to someone your age who loves these guys like I did back in the day. Ok, to be fair, I was 5 in '64. But I saw them at Anaheim Stadium in '75 & '76 and since they were locals, of course their music was on the radio quite often in the late '60's & well in to the '70's. My buddy & I always played their music going to the beach together in his VW. Put us in the right mood. Pet Sounds gets a lot of attention because of Brian's efforts to create his own "wall of sound" like Phil Spector did. He was very meticulous. Paul McCartney said it was a very influential album for him at the time. I know other well known musicians at the time who were also greatly influenced by its sound. I think also, culturally, America's innocence was lost in those years (JFK, Viet Nam, Kent State shootings, RFK & MLK...). I remember as a kid, it was all pretty heavy stuff. And the music reflected those changes. Really, it's a shame. Barry McGuire who had been with The (New)Christy Minstrals went off and recorded The Eve of Destruction. My mom liked TCM, and Barry had left his rebel days behind to come & speak & sing at a place in Anaheim called Melody Land. It was some sort of Christian church. My mom wanted to see him & wanted me to go with her. I think I was 17 or so. Glad I went. Nice to see someone who had been so restless with the Counter Culture settled down a bit and more at peace with the world, himself... and God! I used to work at Disneyland in the late '70's. I knew the Beach Boys spent time there in their early days. I'm glad they kept their barbershop roots and harmonization. I always thought it was their signature sound & what made them so unique and special. I could go on, but I'll just say thanks for your posting. I enjoyed hearing/seeing it. Brought back some memories for me. Best of luck to you, your channel, and God bless!
Hello sir! Absolutely loved your comment. I was raised on Barry McGuire's Christian albums and started listening to him, again, after returning to Christ in my high school years. My Dad actually met Barry :) . Glad to know the music of The Beach Boys blessed you, and I hope you are still walking with Christ! Jesus is so good, there's no one like him! Keep pressing in to his awesome love! Again thank you for your comment :)
@@texvirgo9847 My faith is what took me to Holland as a missionary in 1980. It's a long story, but I'd say half of the '80's I was there off & on. One divorce and 2 kids ( and now grandkids) later, I have a history in The Netherlands. I've learned that we really can't appreciate the good in life without the bad, too. The Beach Boys started a project in the mid - '90's called Stars & Stripes vol. 1 but never got past that. However, they focused on the harmonizations and invited other artists to sing the main vocals. Kathy Troccoli did "I Can Hear Music", among other well known names. I think for me, however, Timothy B. Schmit's "Caroline, No" hits close home for me. It was written and sung originally by Brian and was really about the loss of his wife (divorce is such a pervasive evil!). In so many ways, I've moved on musically. I remember one day in the late '80's, I was working on my 'ol '60 Willys Wagon and the station I had listened to for years (KMET), suddenly signed off and a new station (KTWV) took over. The Wave... Smooth jazz! Lol. Next thing I knew, I was liking it! Now, it's not only NOT called smooth, or jazz but ambient and "world" music. Some of those artists today (think "2002") were influenced by "YES" and Pink Floyd... while creating some truly beautiful music in the process. I'm not sure you can get much better than "Soon" the last, and shortest track on "Yes" 1974 "Relayer" album... but there is some really Spiritually inspired stuff out there today. It's still fun to go back, though, and remember (for me anyway) where it began. I don't know if you ever saw the movie "Almost Famous", but that was my era. I knew kids who'd go up to Hollywood to hang out at the Trubador. One guy I knew... in high school mind you... was a freelance photographer for Time-Life magazine among others. As good as all this great music is, I hear it doesn't hold a candle to the Heavenly Hosts! As much as we love this stuff... trust me, if it's good, I dig on it all from Mozart, Rachmaninoff piano concerto or Gordon Lightfoot's "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" or something from Kevin Keller... and of course, The Beach Boys and Barry! God bless you my friend! Once again, take very good care and all the best with your channel. Warmly, Allan Try this: th-cam.com/video/-zlUEhxDDhg/w-d-xo.html
‘Do you wanna dance’ is a BRILLIANT example of Brian’s powerful producing and arranging prowess. Fully worthy of its place on this album. Also one of Dennis’ most memorable singing performances.
A really interesting and watchable insight into such an important, undervalued and influential Beach Boys album. Without a doubt it was side two that set the tone for what was to become Pet Sounds. When I first heard In My Room at the age of 13 over here in the UK it blew me away, I thought Brian Wilson had written this song just for me. It was an amazing experience and I just had to hear more from this band whose songwriting and vocal harmonies made my ears melt. Exploring and listening to the Beach Boys music since hearing that song on my first Dansette way back in 1966 has been a joyful and fulfilling experience. Today and Pet Sounds still sound as good today as they did when I first heard and fell in love with them. It’s great that younger generations and teenagers such as yourself have learned to appreciate Brian Wilson’s music and have listened to albums like the Today album. I felt exactly the same when I first heard it. Many decades later I certainly don’t think that I could have articulated or interpreted the impact and meaning of this album in my youth as well as you have done. Well done and thank you for bringing this video to me. A most enjoyable watch that made me listen, laugh, SMiLE, appreciate and remember what a great album Today was. Stay safe and keep listening to good music 😊
Insightful comments, especially the appreciation of Side 2. Today is Brian opening the door to the production values found in Pet Sounds. His use of The Wrecking Crew for the tracking sessions is so clearly evident here and the musicianship is masterfully captured on tape. If you can get your hands on a copy of the Sea of Tunes boot for Today, you’ll hear Brian developing the songs to perfection while working directly with the various musicians. It’s revelatory and a window into Brian’s creative genius. For example, the vocal sessions for Please Let Me Wonder reveal Brian working with Mike on the lead on multiple attempts but Mike never quite sings it to Brian’s satisfaction, hence the final version has Brian singing the lead vocal, with just a part from Mike’s attempts. This is indicative of how Brian had the songs in his head before he ever sat down with the players in the studio to record them. In his prime, there was no equal to Brian’s genius. Today is a great album. Thanks for posting this vid. Nicely done!
Thank you so much! I love the classic story about how Brian, during the creation of Pet Sounds, made the cello players play over and over again to get the perfect sound. He was meticulous and thorough-- a real composer and genius. Thanks for watching and commenting ❤️ it means a lot.
Yes! Finally someone has said it. I have for years thought this gem has been overlooked even since it was released. I was actually 10 years old then and they were even then my favorite band. I have always considered this as generally the one other inspired "peak of musical beauty" in Brian's catalog before the later Pet Sounds and sort of a pre-cursor. Many of the harmonic ideas in the compositions on "Today", Side 2 are equally as genius as some of those on the revered Pet Sounds. So thanks after all these years for bringing this album the attention it truly deserves.
Now I recall playing Side A when friends and family were around and Side B when I was alone since many of the songs were so personal and struck chords in me that i didn't know how to share with others. Ha. I really dug When I Grow Up back then, and the lyrics still make me think and wonder what I've been making of my life..... Do You Wanna Dance was one of the first 45s I ever bought and it created new dreams in me as a Jr HS kid. Help Me Rhonda expresses a sort of male state of trying to get back in the game after a relationship breaks down... I stay out late at night and in the morning i just lie in bed.... It is eternally meaningful in that sense.... i rediscovered Kiss Me Baby a few years ago and still am blown away by the harmonies and sentiments, even at my advanced age.
Seeing someone so young devote this kind of loving attention and time to The Beach Boys gives me hope for the world! Great video and thank you for sharing. Chronically unhip, the BBs will forever be simultaneously legends and underdogs. Me, I love all the tracks on Today: Dennis's vocal on "Do You Wanna Dance" is solid gold and makes for a great album opener; and I love the strange and awkward (arguably problematic by today's standards!) lyrics of "Good to My Baby". When you've got those boys singing and such incredible instrumentation and big, lush production underneath, it almost doesn't matter what the song is! May your love of these guys take you to all of their records. There's so much to enjoy. Smiley Smile and Friends were my first and remain near the top though at this point it's impossible to pick a favorite. Thanks again and take care.
I think this is one of their best albums. It's like two albums. Side one: classic Beach Boys (but more complex). Side two: Pre Pet Sounds. Whenever I rank the BB albums it's been consistantly 1. Pet Sounds 2. Smile (if....) 3. Today 4. Sunflower 5. Summer Days (and Summer Nights)
This was the album which made me realise the depth of the Beach Boys' back-catalogue - I loved all their hits and I went in search of some more songs to love - and I found them here. I think I owned every Beach Boys album within about a year of discovering this classic!
This is a pretty fantastic video! I think The Beach Boys Today's reputation gets swallowed up a bit by how it pointed the band towards "Pet Sounds", but it really is fantastic music in its own right -not just as a transitional record. This might be Beach Boys blasphemy, but I actually prefer Today's follow-up: Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!), it just feels like the band is having their last hurrah before leaving behind this doey-eyed, happy-go-lucky Pop ingenieur phase of their career. Thanks for making this video, any conversation about the genius of Brian Wilson is always welcomed. Here's to hoping you'll make some more video essays.
I know, it's really hard for me to see Pet Sounds getting all the praise when, in my opinion, Today! is the better record. As for liking Summer Days more, you do you.😂 Admittedly, there's a lot of creativity hidden under the goofy lyrics. California Girls is a masterpiece, (I mean, let's talk about that introduction. . .) and Girl Don't Tell Me and Let Him Run Wild were so ahead of their time. I guess my whole thing was that Summer Days was not as authentically Brian-- it seemed that a lot of the positivity was forced. Thanks for watching! I plan to do more videos in this vein :)
I totally agree with you! Love this album and listen to it all the time. "Kiss Me Baby", "I'm So Young", and "Please let me Wonder" are a few of my favorites.
Please Let Me Wonder is one of my top three Beach Boys song; utterly amazing. Honestly, I think it's better than anything on Pet Sounds (aside from God Only Knows and Wouldn't it Be Nice)
on "today", brian's sweet falsetto was at it's peak. on pet sounds, and after that -not so much. nothing that special can last forever- that's why god made the radio!
Or maybe their Help, since I really feel like people underrate how that album represented a shift for The Beatles, and I think Summer Days (And Summer Nights!) is in some ways comparable to rubber soul, with things like California Girls that remained easily digestible and compact (a la Nowhere Man or Norwegian Wood) but were far more complex than the early surf hits).
Smile is more like the Beach Boy's White Album. They were so advanced they did everything Revolver and Sgt Pepper did on Pet Sounds and were already advancing beyond that. If you think about it, Wild Honey and Smiley Smile are both also comparable to the White Album in how they mix genres and experimental sounds.
Love coming across a video like this from someone with under 1k subs. I just listened to the album in its entirety and I wouldn’t fault anyone for choosing it over Pet Sounds. However one thing I noticed when playing them back to back is the immense leap in production quality from one to the next. Anyways keep up the great work!
Thank you! I don't really know what my age has to do with the validity of this video, though. The Beach Boys are a band primarily to be enjoyed by the lovesick teenager and the nostalgic elder. I think these two age groups will always understand The Boys best.
Today has been a favourite album of mine since I first heard it in the early 1980's and youre completely correct, it is criminally under appreciated. The Beach Boys have become pigeonholed as a singles band with endless greatest hits compilations released rather than promoting the original albums like the Beatles do. Youre a very perceptive young lady and I really enjoyed this video. Thank you so much, you give me hope for the future!
@@texvirgo9847 Brian's actually called this his favorite Beach Boys record on Larry King, I think it was? But he's also called PS & SMiLE his faves at different times, so.... But yeah, enjoyed it! Keep it up👍
@@texvirgo9847 also last thing, you have a great voice on you, I'd love to hear you sing a cover of please let me wonder, I'm sure you'd do it justice!
Today! is probably my favourite album by the Beach Boys, second is All Summer Long. I always thought Thank Him could have been such a great addition to the album. Would have sat perfectly with the sound. Today gets overshadowed by Pet Sounds, and even Summer Days. I'm so Young is a perfect cover. Beautiful melodies on this album.
According to Mike,"He'd started Screaming "LET ME OFF!" to which He'd had "Cool it Brian!" He'd finally lost it and started to sob uncontrollably,and buried his Face in a pillow and started sobbing without stopping!
Not to be yet another person commenting on the age of the uploader, but this really brings home the sense of just how timeless the Beach Boys’ music and appeal is. I think that more than any other band of their generation, the Beach Boys are a multigenerational phenomenon, and likely always will be, even long after they pass on to the other side. I always think about how even my grandparents, both of whom were born during the First World War, were both Beach Boys fans. So are my parents, who are in their 80’s, then myself (I’m 57), and then my teenage son. That’s four generations of fans in my family alone.
You did a great job putting this together, and providing your take on each song. Please Let Me Wonder is my favorite song on the album.. Something hauntingly beautiful in the angst / joy in conveys.
Great review, and I loved your creativity, as well into your insights into the songs. 1965 was a great year for The Beach Boys, Today and Summer Days and Summer Nights were both great records, minus the filler tracks. But of course Rubber Soul was coming soon and Brian had to step up his game.
I am 71 and from age 11 The Beach Boys have been a major passion. I remember my feelings when each album came out. You cover this album beautifully and with a lot of knowledge. I've read everything that ever came out on the subject, and you really get it.
This is an excellent review of the album. I love the BBoys. Have seen the Beach Boys with Brian in person, etc. And now, I will discover Today, thanks to you!!
on some days, Today surpasses Pet Sounds for me. Even Side A- Brian did pop exceptionally well and there's just enough melancholia bubbling beneath the surface to make the first side feel like something more, especially on repeat listens. I kinda refer to the two sides as 'Day' and 'Night' because that's how they feel to me
Help me Rhonda is a great song. The staccato punctuation of the word “help” it’s just got an amazing harmony and Melody to it and percussive quality of this song is unreal. Yeah the lyrics are not great but that isn’t the first thing you think of when you think of the Beach boys anyway. With the obvious exception of some of the songs on pet sounds
Bull Session was the best part of this video 😁 not to mention the album. I was so young, but my sisters were into The Beach Boys & I actually remember the Bull Session track! “You stepped on my French Fries!” So funny! And the part about the sheep’s head! 😩🤪
People need to realize that this album came out _before_ the Beatles Rubber Soul, which are both band's first true masterpieces. The difference is that Capitol let the Beatles progress artistically, while fighting to keep the Beach Boys to remain a surf band. I'd love to see you do a track for track comparison between the two albums. Maybe I'll do it.
Wow I really love this documentary about the Beach Boys. I really appreciate your deep thoughts about each song and what they meant to you from your perspective. Obviously you're a very smart young woman and I want to thank you for taking the time to do this. I really enjoyed it thanks again😃
@@texvirgo9847 Why yes I do know him and yes he does love me. It's so funny that you say that because I was going to ask you if you ever heard of Keith Green.? I think the way you delve into an artist music you would enjoy listening to him because he wrote from his heart. I'm not sure if you've ever heard of him he was popular when I was young . Between him and Phil Keaggy they got me through my teenage years unscathed. LOL Keith died in a plane crash in his prime. His story lives on through his music and it's always uplifting. Hope you have a good day and give it a listen😃
Do You Wanna Dance was written by Bobby Freeman in 1958 and it hit the charts a few weeks before he turned 18 ! It was nice hearing you go over this album cut by cut and to see that you, as young as you are, can be such a big BBs fan. I've always said that England had the Beatles and we had the Beach Boys. In fact, they influenced each other.
"Don't Hurt My Little Sister" was recorded again for a collaboration with Phil Spector. Brian was hoping the Ronettes would record it, but Phil nixed it. The backing track, however, was used for a Public Service Announcement, "Things Are Changing". There were three groups used: Jay and the Americans, the Ronettes and the Supremes. I found a copy of the Supremes' version for 10 cents.
@@texvirgo9847 I used to listen to Today! once a week on the way to school (I usually don’t listen to music more than once a month so that tells you how I feel about Today!) and I would usually get to school right at the Bull Session and I’d sit in my car and mouth the words with the recording. I probably looked just as dumb, if not dumber mouthing along, but that’s who we are: no reason to feel ashamed.
I love this video! Hard to find anything in this style on their career. Though, I have to disagree with the feelings towards Do You Wanna Dance, as much as the lyrics are very simplistic, the instrumental truly makes the song explode. That break in the song before going back into it is simply awesome. Looking forward to more uploads!
@@texvirgo9847 I got sad when it ended ahaha, simply loved it! (the rest of the video too, obviously) And thank you for talking about this beautiful album!
There’s a 20 minute full version of Bull Sessions on the Sea of Tunes Unsurpassed Masters bootleg. Great insight to the band at that time. Thanks for this video, I loved it! So cool that young people can understand the beauty and emotional honesty of this band.
thank you for making this. Brian Wilson is my favorite artist of all time. Today is the prequel to Pet Sounds - the greatest album of all time -- Friends and/or Surf's Up and/or Beach Boys Love You were the underrated sequels, and the Smile Sessions/Brian Wilson presents Smile are like the remakes that are a throwback to an era, that actually deserves to be made and adds something new and unique, unlike most modern day remakes. You should check out Gracia Rother's Beach Boy's covers. Her version of "Thank Him" is what I imagine heaven sounds like when you get accepted to go through the pearly gates
Love your analysis of Today, and agree that it could be considered the BBs' forgotten masterpiece! Although I understand why they did it, have felt that the band should not have recorded their Party album (which further cemented the BBs image as fun loving and not too serious, in the public's mind). Rather then Party, I imagine another Beach Boys complete studio album, released in December, 1965, which could have included their song The Little Girl I Once Knew and Sloop John B. This album could have had maybe a couple of more covers, and original songs style-wise like Little Girl. Coming about six months before Pet Sounds, it would have been about a half-way step in Pet Sounds direction, making Pet Sounds more acceptable to the public. Just my idea.
Please Let me Wonder - I completely agree with you about it being more in love with an idealistic image rather than a person . I’ve always found myself thinking it as a song about escapism. Another good example is Bruce’s Disney Girls In my opinion the narrator knows that the other doesn’t love them deep down but they have built up this “beautiful image “ in their mind that they do not want to corrupt. So rather facing the truth of the situation they choose to live in this fantasy world they have engulfed themselves into about their relationship so that they now just “wonder” instead of the reality of facing the truth as they write “for so long I’ve thought about it and now I just can’t live without it” .Turning a blind eye to it all as an alternative. They are not describing love but rather an idealisation of it ,as you said.However the “I love you” spoken at the end is not that of the narrators (but rather Carl’s) perhaps showing that either someone new is in the picture or that their partner does love them after all.
today is not only my favorite beach boys album, it is also my all time favorite album ... by anyone ever! please let me wonder is tied with the lonely sea as being my THIRD all time favorite song. kiss me baby is my FIFTH all time favorite song. while she knows me too well is my SIXTH all time favorite song.
my all time favorite songs 1. in my room 2. surfer girl 3. TIE the lonely sea + please let me wonder 4. don't worry baby 5. kiss me baby 6. she knows me too well 7. wouldn't it be nice 8. God only knows 9. girl don't tell me 10. let him run wild (which brian hates) 11. warmth of the sun ALL OF THOSE ^ ARE BY THE BEACH BOYS 12. walk away renee : the left banke 13. pretty ballerina : the left banke 14. love is all around : the troggs 15. maybe tonight : the knack 16. your number or your name: the knack 17. my sharona : the knack ...that is as far as my list goes ... for now ... After that i suspect there is a lot of CCR + DOORS + BYRDS + WHO + ANIMALS + KINKS + STONES + TROGGS + ZOMBIES + SMALL FACES + you guessed it ... More BEACH BOYS.
That's very cool to find a video about Today! I'm clearer about the meaning of all this songs and the stories behing them, I don't really know which is my favourite song into this album. But this is the kindest album i have ever heard in my life sincerly, all the subjects touch me I mean the beach boys is really about the youth and what they do during their free Time (races, love, etc.), it's not outdated at all. I'm so the first 10 seconds are awesome, i mean we feel really relaxed. (maybe it was the inspiration for Wouldn't it be nice in the meaning of the words) When I grew to be a man, is awesome beatween the voices announcing the ages, and the fact that the song is very fast, which inspires me that the youth and the life is short, we have to take the right choices before it's to late... Thanks for the review, here in France, the beach boys are known thanks to surfin'usa, good vibrations, i get around, Wouldn't it be nice, and kokomo. Just few people talk about pet sounds, and nobody will talk about all these other great albums...
This is such great content! I really loved the editing and script, although some audio spots were a little quieter than others. Subbed, please make more you like!
You are an old soul and definitely a talented young person ... I wish you much success in your life.. I hope you get to meet one of The Beach Boys one day ... I was able to see them minus Brian a couple of years ago in Biloxi... very good evening... would have been better ten fold if he would have been with them 👍
Young lady..you enjoy an insight unsurpassed among your contemporaries. Well done..especially the visual of the brothers in front of 3701 West 119th at the corner of Kornblum...Hawthorne, Ca...awesome production!
The thing that Hurts me the most about the beach boys, is when people only recognise them as a simple pop up beat group, instead of as a serious and incredible band in the same manner as the Beatles.
Sadly they were not much more than average musicians.
90% of the studio recordings were done with the “wrecking crew” hired guns.
In that sense , they weren’t really a good “band”. While they did perform live, they always had backup musicians on stage and it was the vocals
that took them where they went.
Lastly, without Brian Wilson teaching them the harmonies, they would have been lost.
I mean they seemed fine in the early 70s without Brian (Mostly) and the wrecking crew
@@jimmy5634 yes, they're live performances weren't on par with their studio work ofc. But that's not the lacking talent, that's the complicated manner of their music making it hard to play. On top of that, Brian's vocals where absent on the live shows, ofc the vocal department was lacking then. Carl's vocals are great live, it's when he has to play guitar and sing at the same time the problems start coming.
Edit: Calling them not a good band? Really? Look at their work after Smile and Pet Sounds, there you find all their greatest recordings. And those records don't have a trace of the wrecking crew, by that point they had become ALOT more independent when it came to they're contribution, all of the members played their own instruments in that period. That's why I think your severely underrating them calling the " not a good band".
@@asianonetap9258 Yes, they where great in the period from 1970-1974. It was when they gave up the experimental sound they started sucking.
@@tivolidream9655 it’s hard to understand someone making a comment that theBeach Boys were not really a “good band!” Preposterous is the best word I can think of to answer such a claim. I guess Jimmy was commenting on their “musicianship” as far as instruments, but come on let’s be real! As you pointed out with “Pet Sounds” and “Smile,” they did some of their best work. Many consider PS to be one of the best Rand R albums ever produced. Brian Wilson was clearly a musical genius. But I guess that’s not good enough for jimmy5634 who says “sadly, they were average musicians.” I can’t wrap my head around that one!
I’m 70. I was 14 and a dedicated Beach Boy fan when this album came out and it’s still one of my favorites . The young lady that did this video captured so much of what many of us felt about it 55 years ago. Serious, silly, poignant. The video was intelligent, well done and brought back many memories.
I'm honored by your comment. Thank you for taking the time! Blessed to know that this video brought you joy.
I'm 15 and I love The Beach Boys too! This album is so beautiful especially side b brings me to tears.
You are wonderful .
I can relate completely.
I am one year younger than you and have been a fan since 1963.
@@edwardtaylor8635 ❤️❤️ love that!!
I’m totally blown away that such a young woman is not just into the Beach boys but really understands what was going on at the time. I’m going to take another look at the “today” CD and you get credit for it
Thank you, Kit!! You're so kind. It blessed me so much to read this comment.
Love seeing young people dig this early Beach Boys stuff 👍
The Beach Boys are eternal. Doesn’t matter what age you are. Young, old, none of that matters
@@BBPalmer420 good music is good music. Their harmonies and melodies are in a league of their own.
@@BBPalmer420So very true. In my family, there are and have been 4 generations of Beach Boys fans. There’s me, I’m 57, and then my teenage son, plus both of my parents and my paternal grandparents were also fans.
I bet there’ll probably be kids listening to The Beach Boys a hundred years from now. It really is timeless music.
To hear a young person totally nail the importance of this album is mind blowing. Pet Sounds is a masterpiece, but it casts too long a shadow over Brian's other amazing tracks. Today! was/is astonishing. I was a teen musician who listened to it the night it came out. I almost threw my guitar away.
I highly recommend these to you, Tex: Friends, Sunflower, Surf's Up, Smiley Smile, and Love You. Listen all the way through an album, in the dark (or eyes closed) and let the music take you away. It will affect you forever -- in the best way imaginable.
Thank you, Hugo. The highlight of posting this video, for me, has been seeing all of the awesome stories older people have about the impact Today! had on them personally. I'm glad you didn't throw your guitar away ;). We can't all be a Brian Wilson! God has given us individual, unique gifts for a reason. In our flawed, human perspective, we sometimes can't understand why others seem to be more talented than us. But maybe God doesn't see talent, maybe it all comes down to our sincerity.
@Hugo_Hackenbush, I appreciate your 5 choices as great Beach Boys albums. Two of my very favorites are: Smiley Smile and Love You b/c they are so often overlooked and under rated. IMO these two totally different sounds are examples of the breadth and depth of Brian's writing and the Boys collaborative music and singing skills. Both of which are the reasons that I have an undying Love for their sound as well as their total story (both the good and the bad/sad) since hearing them for the first time as an eleven year old boy in 1963. They are indeed "America's Band."
how is it mimd blowing? every postboomer youth that discivers the Beach Bous always talk about how profound it is.
I for one think Sergeant Peppers by The Beach Boys gets too mich credit although it is good.
Sergent Peppers?
@@whatwouldbrianwilson 😅😆🙃
"Today" is more like two albums. Side 1 seems to be a slight change from a typical Beach Boys album, but side 2 is Brian turning into the artist who created "Pet Sounds".
So true! Great insight.
@@texvirgo9847 I've been a Beach Boys fan since the early 70s. If you haven't seen it, watch the concert in Central Park from 71/72.
@@MIKELIN8 So true, I've thought that forever about Today(:
Side 1 contained intentionally upbeat tracks, Side 2 ballads. Elvis did the same thing with Something For Everybody 4 years earlier. As for the Pet Sounds connection, 'In the back of my mind,' in particular, wouldn't have been out of place on that album.
I always felt that there was an anointing on Brian Wilson’s voice and music. When I listen to his music, I feel joy and peace. Thank you for giving thanks to Jesus!!!
I love this album because it's basically the bridge from the surf/car songs to Pet Sounds, especially the second half. Today! and Summer Days both have some of Brian's best arrangements
I thought I was the only one around this age who felt this passionate about The Beach Boys' music! I'm so glad there's other people out there, such as yourself.
We're definitely out there!! You're not alone❤️❤️
I’m a ‘99 born, I’m gonna keep this music alive with everyone I know whether they like it or not. Beach boys forever!
one of my favorite BB songs is She Knows Me Too Well. Brian's voice is so beautiful and their harmonies are just perfect. just a fantastic song.
"Today' was my first exposure to the Beach Boys. Denny opening and closing the show with "Do You Wanna Dance" and "In Back of My Mind". Two sides, completely different. Great production. I got hooked. Can you blame me? This would be a lot of other bands' best album.
My rating: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
No joke... In Nov. 1975, I suddenly got an urge to listen to the Beach Boys and raided my older sister's room for any records she may have - and this was the one album I pulled from the destruction. I was 12. It remains one of my favorites!
Awesome story!! So glad it was that record ❤️
"Help Me Rhonda" was a number one hit in 1965 during the middle of the British Invasion! Quite a feat!
True!
The Beach Boys are an American treasure. Their importance in American culture is indescribable and that place in American culture could have only be filled by them. They provided the perfect sound at the perfect time. Their music makes my soul smile.
'When I Grow Up to be a Man' went to #1 for three weeks here in Canada...we know quality when we hear it! 😅
❤️❤️ Canadians are dope. Keep representin'.
"Kiss Me Baby" is a masterpiece of love and regret, endless longing, and the existential emotional weariness with the brutal intensity of "all these feelings" teenagers are experiencing. Brian begins the song harmonizing "AHHHhhh-uh" with the Boys ending with an "OOOoooOOOooo" that turns into an open "oooWAHHHH. . ."
And then there's a pause followed by a plea. "Please don't let me argue, any more...." It is such a brilliant Brian Wilson opening line; vulnerable, fragile even, a surrender and yet totally manipulative. She is responsible for him arguing. "Please don't let me argue any more\I won 't make you worry like before" All this with the layered "AHHHhhh-uh" background vocals building to a textured reprise "Kiss Me Baby Love to Hold You" and underneath that is barely audible repeated phrase "Kiss-a-little-bit.Fight-a-little bit.Kiss-a-little-bit.Fight a little bit." punctuated by a satisfying "WHOA BABY" three times before fading. And underneath that is the implied yet unspoken word "tight" at the end of "Love to hold you. . ."
It's a gorgeous song about a sleepless night and two broken hearts wondering as the morning sun slipped through their bedroom windows, "Were you still awake like me. .? ." Whoa Baby.
Now we look back on the Beach Boys and remember how Mike Love was so against moving forward and away from the 'Surf Songs'. Mike didn't want to move towards Brians expanding universe of songwriting that rewrote music history. Yet for the rest of his life Mike Love sings the songs he was attempting to stop. Ive always found that awkward. Mike Love would be a nobody if it wasn't for Brians songwriting ability.
Don’t believe everything you’ve heard about Mike being against Brian. Mike’s involvement throughout The Beach Boys history (especially during the Pet Sounds era) had been very positive. He was against lyrics like Hang Onto Your Ego because they typically were dumb. And he questioned some others (and thank God he totally re-wrote the horrible lyrics that Brian and Tony Asher initially wrote for the verses of Good Vibrations). Mike didn’t always agree with Brian, but he gave 100% effort when called upon to sing on Pet Sounds and SMiLE.
@@tbirdtim Thank you. Mike Love gets too much blame and hate. He disapproved of Brian's LSD use, and disapproved therefore of Van Dyke Parks (an intellectual snob, although a gifted one) for his bad influence on Love's cousin. Van Dyke Parks gets only praise, while Mike Love gets only blame. Love was right: Brian became a paranoid schizophrenic (while Parks escaped that fate). How much grief did Brian's mental illness cause the group and his family, starting with his long-suffering wife, Marilyn?
Further, Mike Love contributed enormously to their early success. After Goffin-King and Lennon-McCartney, Wilson-Love was one of the most successful songwriting duos in the early 60s; most of their greatest hits, including Good Vibrations, were Wilson-Love. Uncle Murray sold their 1960s Capitol catalog without their knowledge and consent (for a mere $90,000), and Love was effectively defrauded of the fruits of his success. Betrayal by family is severely traumatizing; Mike Love never fully recovered from that.
Brian Wilson was not primarily a lyricist; he offered ideas and phrases, but wrote few solo lyrics ('Til I Die being a major exception). Brian withdrew from touring to invest all his time in the studio, and thus partnered with other lyricists: Tony Asher, Van Dyke Parks. But it was Mike Love, Carl & Dennis Wilson, Al Jardine, and Bruce Johnston who made that possible by keeping the band alive through constant touring. Without the band doing their part, Capitol would have stopped promoting them.
Those who dismiss The Beach Boys as mostly Brian Wilson + The Wrecking Crew ignore several facts: The Beach Boys were touring (playing their own instruments live on stage) while the Crew were laying down instrumental tracks; band members did in fact contribute some instrumental flourishes later to Pet Sounds; studio instrumentalists were somewhat interchangeable (none of the bass parts recorded by the great Carole Kaye made it onto the finished Good Vibrations, despite many assuming it is she on the record), but the voices of the Boys could never be replaced by anyone (and singing - especially as synchronized harmony - does require musicianship); Carl Wilson in particular was a de facto member of the Crew when in town - and Carl - not one of the Crew (who were present) produced one of the most iconic guitar intros in rock history: California Girls.
Tony Asher was a good lyricist on Pet Sounds, but his lyrics for Good Vibrations were indeed mediocre. Love, who was being dismissed and ignored, instantly saw that, and wrote his own: timelessly memorable lyrics. Brian Wilson was a musical genius and a gentle spirit, but he allowed drugs to permanently damage his life and the lives of those close to him, including his cousin, Mike Love.
Delusional Mike Love sympathizers
Thank you. So many of these beautiful, complex songs could easily fit on Pet Sounds, especially Please Let Me Wonder and When I Grow Up, I was 10 and loved this LP!
Way to go! You really know your stuff and capture the Murray Wilson and Brian Wilson relationship well. I love your passion for music and the history of music. Keep going and doing such great work. You brought an intelligent examination that most rock writers would have missed of The Beach Boys. This is good rock writing.
❤️❤️❤️ thank you so much!!
This was the first LP I bought in junior high school. Loved it.
I have been a Beach Boys fan since the early 60s. I remember buying the Today album and, as many have posted here, finding Side 2 a soulful look into the emotions of teenagers. It really struck home, as Pet Sounds would do shortly after. Great to see that young people appreciate that Brian and the boys were doing more than just singing about surfing and cars.
Thank you for your sweet comment, Marty
Please let me wonder best song on the album !
Such a killer track! I can't decide between that, I'm So Young, When I Grow Up to Be a Man and She Knows Me Too Well.
She knows me to well..that outtro by Brian is sick!!
It's definitely up there with God only knows
"Do You Wanna Dance?" By the Beach Boys: "KICKS SOME MAJOR ARSE."
"Let Him Run Wild" Also one of my top 5 all time favorite Beach Boys songs.
"The Little Girl I Once Knew" one of my top 3 favorites.
Thanks for spotlighting one of my favorite Beach Boys albums.
It was my pleasure, Paul❤️
You made my day, hearing a young person captivated by the Beach Boys....I remember after Fun Fun Fun, I Get Around, excellent hits, I bought Today and something different was happening; and it was Brian flexing his creative muscles....thanks for putting this together....
Thank you for your wonderful comment, Barry!
I was 4 years old when I played on the floor while the woman who came to help in the house would be doing the ironing. Harry Belafonte,
Judy Garland, Johnny Mathis...I loved it. And while I loved the Beatles and Beach Boys, Motown, folk, rock etc and I learned people never need to explain an artist, or apologetically call an solo or group,as a guilty pleasure.....guilt? Because I hear music and it resonates for m? You clearly love music, and are not concerned with what your peers might think. Do we defend the foods we like? My diet is better than yours? The food I like tastes better than yours? To me, yes, but I respect what you love; opera, Barry Manilow, hip hop, music is a blessing in Life,and for me it is like oxygen......my birthday is TODAY, so for 60 plus years, I was a radio do in the 70s, have had over 2000 LPs and over 2000 cds......that's a blessing, and The Beach Boys are musical heroes, especially Carl as he kept the group productive while Brian was in seclusion........stay this way for YOU, as you will live a happier Life, I feel, with music in your body and soul !
@@texvirgo9847 below I did write from my wife's account, and when I re read it, wow, loads of typos...but it was 4:30 am, my dog and I usually go out at 5:50-6 am, but he had an earlier need :-D
@@bazbear Thank you for these thoughtful comments! I pray your love for music will direct you towards Christ! Music used to be my god until I found Jesus-- he is THE best thing, better than even The Beach Boys ;)
@@texvirgo9847 I'm not a religious person, group religion, I live my live by respecting people, showing compassion....my background is Jewish, of which I'm proud, but I don't follow formal religous tenets. I admire your relationship with Jesus, that you've found a source of serenity, and a moral compass.
Love this!
I was about 14 when I got in to the Beach Boys and for most of my teenage years I never met any other fans my age. It was the late 80s and we didn’t have the internet so I worked through the albums with not much information and most of my mates not liking the music.
To this day they are the band I never get bored of. I love other bands but to this day the BBs are still more than just music to me.
It’s great to see someone young being as in to the music as I was (and still am). Most of the people reviewing their music are adults but it’s easily forgotten that up until about 1967 Brian was writing for young people. The songs were directed at that age and held more meaning for the kids so who better to comment on the impact that the music has. You are exactly the kind of age that he was writing for.
He had a sense of innocence and an optimism in his music that continues to resonate.
I’d love to see you do some more album reviews. Your insight is as valuable as anyone else’s as music touches us all in different ways.
Thank you for this thoughtful, kind comment! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video, Nick❤️
When I was 17, I was vacationing in the mountains and asked my father to bring me two things: The Beach Boys Today and Mao's Little Red Book. Crazy combo in retrospect. Please Let Me Wonder became one of my favorite Beach Boys songs of all time.
Yesss🤍 beautiful
And we know which one has been a better influence on the world.
It was almost as if two forces were pulling on you. Of course, some in the west (and I was an armchair Marxist myself) were infatuated with ideas we didn’t have to see enacted in the flesh.
Perceptive criticism and analysis. Particularly enjoyed learning your personal emotional bond to the music. And I loved the "Bull Session With Big Daddy" segment you did! That was brilliant.
Thank you, Rick!! This is such a kind comment.
Good work! I was 12 when I joined the Capitol Record Club in order to get their albums mailed to me;1963.
In the 80’s I helped form a Beach Boys tribute band. Your video shows great maturity.
Thank you, panzade :) I'm glad you enjoyed the video.
Cool that young people like yourself can understand the genius of 60s gems. Like Brians best work.
It's nice to hear such a thorough examination of their brilliant "The Beach Boys Today!" album. Yes, side two is brilliant. Nothing could be added to it.
If I could only be allowed to hear one song off of side two, it would be "She Knows Me Too Well", for any number of reasons. The honesty and self-examination of the person's motives and reasons for treating their loved one the way they do. And how their loved one, the woman (the more honest of the two) sees right through them. Once again, self-examination..."I treat her so mean, I don't deserve what I have..." And as some sort of consolation to him for his his hurting conscience: "...she can tell I really love her."
I also love how Brian's voice and the group's harmonies, and the music are so perfect at this point. I've listened to this song countless times because of those reasons. I've also thought about the meaning of the song on different occasions. But I've never really examined it, and written about it the way I have here, and I have you to thank for it. So, really, thank you very much!
Thank you, Chris, for this thoughtful comment! What a gift. God loves you ❤️
I used to make this very argument at college parties! I said the true 60s music began with the Beach Boys Today! and that Revolver was far superior to Sgt Peppers... people would laugh at me... by and large my Revolver argument is now accepted wisdom, but the Beach Boys Today! is still underappreciated
Awesome! You were ahead of your time.
@@texvirgo9847 My mom had an album collection. 90% of it was absolute dreck --- I think she might have had a Fabian album lol... but then there was The Beach Boys Today! and Meet the Beatles, and I used to play the grooves off those two albums. I think the Beach Boys Today! is not given its proper respect partially because of its silly title and its packaging -- the sweater look or whatever they were going for on the album cover was a bit "square"
Hey, I like those sweaters 🥰
This is so well done, put together and edited. The narration is excellent. I see a bright future for you. Great work.
Thank you, Bradley ❤️
So glad you covered this often overlooked gem that is my very favorite BB album 💿
Side Two was a harbinger of things to come. Utterly beautiful.
I found the beach boys when I was younger and they had been out for 20 years at that time. I'm glad people are discovering them like I did. I love the deep dive. Thanks
Thank you so much for watching and commenting❤️
Just happened upon your site. Loved listening to someone your age who loves these guys like I did back in the day. Ok, to be fair, I was 5 in '64. But I saw them at Anaheim Stadium in '75 & '76 and since they were locals, of course their music was on the radio quite often in the late '60's & well in to the '70's. My buddy & I always played their music going to the beach together in his VW. Put us in the right mood. Pet Sounds gets a lot of attention because of Brian's efforts to create his own "wall of sound" like Phil Spector did. He was very meticulous. Paul McCartney said it was a very influential album for him at the time. I know other well known musicians at the time who were also greatly influenced by its sound. I think also, culturally, America's innocence was lost in those years (JFK, Viet Nam, Kent State shootings, RFK & MLK...). I remember as a kid, it was all pretty heavy stuff. And the music reflected those changes. Really, it's a shame. Barry McGuire who had been with The (New)Christy Minstrals went off and recorded The Eve of Destruction. My mom liked TCM, and Barry had left his rebel days behind to come & speak & sing at a place in Anaheim called Melody Land. It was some sort of Christian church. My mom wanted to see him & wanted me to go with her. I think I was 17 or so. Glad I went. Nice to see someone who had been so restless with the Counter Culture settled down a bit and more at peace with the world, himself... and God! I used to work at Disneyland in the late '70's. I knew the Beach Boys spent time there in their early days. I'm glad they kept their barbershop roots and harmonization. I always thought it was their signature sound & what made them so unique and special. I could go on, but I'll just say thanks for your posting. I enjoyed hearing/seeing it. Brought back some memories for me. Best of luck to you, your channel, and God bless!
Hello sir! Absolutely loved your comment. I was raised on Barry McGuire's Christian albums and started listening to him, again, after returning to Christ in my high school years. My Dad actually met Barry :) . Glad to know the music of The Beach Boys blessed you, and I hope you are still walking with Christ! Jesus is so good, there's no one like him! Keep pressing in to his awesome love! Again thank you for your comment :)
@@texvirgo9847
My faith is what took me to Holland as a missionary in 1980. It's a long story, but I'd say half of the '80's I was there off & on. One divorce and 2 kids ( and now grandkids) later, I have a history in The Netherlands. I've learned that we really can't appreciate the good in life without the bad, too. The Beach Boys started a project in the mid - '90's called Stars & Stripes vol. 1 but never got past that. However, they focused on the harmonizations and invited other artists to sing the main vocals. Kathy Troccoli did "I Can Hear Music", among other well known names. I think for me, however, Timothy B. Schmit's "Caroline, No" hits close home for me. It was written and sung originally by Brian and was really about the loss of his wife (divorce is such a pervasive evil!). In so many ways, I've moved on musically. I remember one day in the late '80's, I was working on my 'ol '60 Willys Wagon and the station I had listened to for years (KMET), suddenly signed off and a new station (KTWV) took over. The Wave... Smooth jazz! Lol. Next thing I knew, I was liking it! Now, it's not only NOT called smooth, or jazz but ambient and "world" music. Some of those artists today (think "2002") were influenced by "YES" and Pink Floyd... while creating some truly beautiful music in the process. I'm not sure you can get much better than "Soon" the last, and shortest track on "Yes" 1974 "Relayer" album... but there is some really Spiritually inspired stuff out there today. It's still fun to go back, though, and remember (for me anyway) where it began. I don't know if you ever saw the movie "Almost Famous", but that was my era. I knew kids who'd go up to Hollywood to hang out at the Trubador. One guy I knew... in high school mind you... was a freelance photographer for Time-Life magazine among others. As good as all this great music is, I hear it doesn't hold a candle to the Heavenly Hosts! As much as we love this stuff... trust me, if it's good, I dig on it all from Mozart, Rachmaninoff piano concerto or Gordon Lightfoot's "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" or something from Kevin Keller... and of course, The Beach Boys and Barry! God bless you my friend! Once again, take very good care and all the best with your channel.
Warmly,
Allan
Try this:
th-cam.com/video/-zlUEhxDDhg/w-d-xo.html
‘Do you wanna dance’ is a BRILLIANT example of Brian’s powerful producing and arranging prowess. Fully worthy of its place on this album. Also one of Dennis’ most memorable singing performances.
Brian's greatet "Wall Of Sound" achievement, I believe. The outro is especially mind-blowing!!
A really interesting and watchable insight into such an important, undervalued and influential Beach Boys album. Without a doubt it was side two that set the tone for what was to become Pet Sounds.
When I first heard In My Room at the age of 13 over here in the UK it blew me away, I thought Brian Wilson had written this song just for me. It was an amazing experience and I just had to hear more from this band whose songwriting and vocal harmonies made my ears melt.
Exploring and listening to the Beach Boys music since hearing that song on my first Dansette way back in 1966 has been a joyful and fulfilling experience. Today and Pet Sounds still sound as good today as they did when I first heard and fell in love with them.
It’s great that younger generations and teenagers such as yourself have learned to appreciate Brian Wilson’s music and have listened to albums like the Today album. I felt exactly the same when I first heard it. Many decades later I certainly don’t think that I could have articulated or interpreted the impact and meaning of this album in my youth as well as you have done.
Well done and thank you for bringing this video to me. A most enjoyable watch that made me listen, laugh, SMiLE, appreciate and remember what a great album Today was. Stay safe and keep listening to good music 😊
Thank you Mike!! This is such a kind comment.
Insightful comments, especially the appreciation of Side 2. Today is Brian opening the door to the production values found in Pet Sounds. His use of The Wrecking Crew for the tracking sessions is so clearly evident here and the musicianship is masterfully captured on tape. If you can get your hands on a copy of the Sea of Tunes boot for Today, you’ll hear Brian developing the songs to perfection while working directly with the various musicians. It’s revelatory and a window into Brian’s creative genius. For example, the vocal sessions for Please Let Me Wonder reveal Brian working with Mike on the lead on multiple attempts but Mike never quite sings it to Brian’s satisfaction, hence the final version has Brian singing the lead vocal, with just a part from Mike’s attempts. This is indicative of how Brian had the songs in his head before he ever sat down with the players in the studio to record them. In his prime, there was no equal to Brian’s genius. Today is a great album. Thanks for posting this vid. Nicely done!
Thank you so much! I love the classic story about how Brian, during the creation of Pet Sounds, made the cello players play over and over again to get the perfect sound. He was meticulous and thorough-- a real composer and genius. Thanks for watching and commenting ❤️ it means a lot.
Yes! Finally someone has said it. I have for years thought this gem has been overlooked even since it was released. I was actually 10 years old then and they were even then my favorite band. I have always considered this as generally the one other inspired "peak of musical beauty" in Brian's catalog before the later Pet Sounds and sort of a pre-cursor. Many of the harmonic ideas in the compositions on "Today", Side 2 are equally as genius as some of those on the revered Pet Sounds. So thanks after all these years for bringing this album the attention it truly deserves.
Today, Summer Days and Little Deuce Coupe are my favorites pre-Pet Sounds albuns
Now I recall playing Side A when friends and family were around and Side B when I was alone since many of the songs were so personal and struck chords in me that i didn't know how to share with others. Ha. I really dug When I Grow Up back then, and the lyrics still make me think and wonder what I've been making of my life..... Do You Wanna Dance was one of the first 45s I ever bought and it created new dreams in me as a Jr HS kid. Help Me Rhonda expresses a sort of male state of trying to get back in the game after a relationship breaks down... I stay out late at night and in the morning i just lie in bed.... It is eternally meaningful in that sense.... i rediscovered Kiss Me Baby a few years ago and still am blown away by the harmonies and sentiments, even at my advanced age.
Seeing someone so young devote this kind of loving attention and time to The Beach Boys gives me hope for the world! Great video and thank you for sharing. Chronically unhip, the BBs will forever be simultaneously legends and underdogs. Me, I love all the tracks on Today: Dennis's vocal on "Do You Wanna Dance" is solid gold and makes for a great album opener; and I love the strange and awkward (arguably problematic by today's standards!) lyrics of "Good to My Baby". When you've got those boys singing and such incredible instrumentation and big, lush production underneath, it almost doesn't matter what the song is! May your love of these guys take you to all of their records. There's so much to enjoy. Smiley Smile and Friends were my first and remain near the top though at this point it's impossible to pick a favorite. Thanks again and take care.
Thank you, Brad, for your lovely comment.💕
I think this is one of their best albums. It's like two albums. Side one: classic Beach Boys (but more complex). Side two: Pre Pet Sounds. Whenever I rank the BB albums it's been consistantly 1. Pet Sounds 2. Smile (if....) 3. Today 4. Sunflower 5. Summer Days (and Summer Nights)
Do you wanna Dance was one of my favorites! and Dennis sang lead 😃... don't underestimate it's significance to the Beach Boys early success
This was the album which made me realise the depth of the Beach Boys' back-catalogue - I loved all their hits and I went in search of some more songs to love - and I found them here. I think I owned every Beach Boys album within about a year of discovering this classic!
This is a pretty fantastic video! I think The Beach Boys Today's reputation gets swallowed up a bit by how it pointed the band towards "Pet Sounds", but it really is fantastic music in its own right -not just as a transitional record.
This might be Beach Boys blasphemy, but I actually prefer Today's follow-up: Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!), it just feels like the band is having their last hurrah before leaving behind this doey-eyed, happy-go-lucky Pop ingenieur phase of their career.
Thanks for making this video, any conversation about the genius of Brian Wilson is always welcomed. Here's to hoping you'll make some more video essays.
I know, it's really hard for me to see Pet Sounds getting all the praise when, in my opinion, Today! is the better record. As for liking Summer Days more, you do you.😂 Admittedly, there's a lot of creativity hidden under the goofy lyrics. California Girls is a masterpiece, (I mean, let's talk about that introduction. . .) and Girl Don't Tell Me and Let Him Run Wild were so ahead of their time. I guess my whole thing was that Summer Days was not as authentically Brian-- it seemed that a lot of the positivity was forced.
Thanks for watching! I plan to do more videos in this vein :)
I totally agree with you! Love this album and listen to it all the time. "Kiss Me Baby", "I'm So Young", and "Please let me Wonder" are a few of my favorites.
Mhmm 😍 all wonderful songs.
Please Let Me Wonder is one of my top three Beach Boys song; utterly amazing. Honestly, I think it's better than anything on Pet Sounds (aside from God Only Knows and Wouldn't it Be Nice)
on "today", brian's sweet falsetto was at it's peak. on pet sounds, and after that -not so much. nothing that special can last forever- that's why god made the radio!
If Pet Sounds is their Revolver and Smile is their Sgt Pepper then Today! is their Rubber Soul...
Extremely well put. Really agree
Or maybe their Help, since I really feel like people underrate how that album represented a shift for The Beatles, and I think Summer Days (And Summer Nights!) is in some ways comparable to rubber soul, with things like California Girls that remained easily digestible and compact (a la Nowhere Man or Norwegian Wood) but were far more complex than the early surf hits).
@@sheatiller2465 Help is a great album (and film IMO) it's my favorite sub phase of them after Beatlemania but before (mostly) Psychedlia
Smile is more like the Beach Boy's White Album. They were so advanced they did everything Revolver and Sgt Pepper did on Pet Sounds and were already advancing beyond that. If you think about it, Wild Honey and Smiley Smile are both also comparable to the White Album in how they mix genres and experimental sounds.
Love coming across a video like this from someone with under 1k subs. I just listened to the album in its entirety and I wouldn’t fault anyone for choosing it over Pet Sounds. However one thing I noticed when playing them back to back is the immense leap in production quality from one to the next. Anyways keep up the great work!
Honestly when seeing your pic and hence age I wasn’t sure what to make of this vid.
But you definitely did Today! justice
Thank you! I don't really know what my age has to do with the validity of this video, though. The Beach Boys are a band primarily to be enjoyed by the lovesick teenager and the nostalgic elder. I think these two age groups will always understand The Boys best.
Today has been a favourite album of mine since I first heard it in the early 1980's and youre completely correct, it is criminally under appreciated. The Beach Boys have become pigeonholed as a singles band with endless greatest hits compilations released rather than promoting the original albums like the Beatles do. Youre a very perceptive young lady and I really enjoyed this video. Thank you so much, you give me hope for the future!
Thank you for your kind words! It's very uplifting to me. I'm so glad you enjoyed the video!
I think girl dont tell me is on this album. One of my favorites
Nice job, kid!!!👍 From a 39 yr old Brian Wilson superfan💯
Thank you, Matthew!! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
@@texvirgo9847 Brian's actually called this his favorite Beach Boys record on Larry King, I think it was? But he's also called PS & SMiLE his faves at different times, so.... But yeah, enjoyed it! Keep it up👍
Good to see there's people my age who love the beach boys and Brian wilson
Yes!! So glad you found this video 💜 God loves you.
@@texvirgo9847 aww thanks mate! you should make more of these!
@@cameronmac8928 ;) we'll see 🙈
@@texvirgo9847 also last thing, you have a great voice on you, I'd love to hear you sing a cover of please let me wonder, I'm sure you'd do it justice!
@@cameronmac8928 that's such a great idea!! I'll keep it in mind.
that thing you do starting at 13 minutes...so very good...god bless you kidd
Thank you, Bob!!
Today! is probably my favourite album by the Beach Boys, second is All Summer Long. I always thought Thank Him could have been such a great addition to the album. Would have sat perfectly with the sound.
Today gets overshadowed by Pet Sounds, and even Summer Days. I'm so Young is a perfect cover. Beautiful melodies on this album.
According to Mike,"He'd started Screaming "LET ME OFF!" to which He'd had "Cool it Brian!" He'd finally lost it and started to sob uncontrollably,and buried his Face in a pillow and started sobbing without stopping!
beach boys in knit wear is the cutest thing. whilst writing that out i realised beach boys in anything is the cutest thing. this is a great video btw
It's hard to beat Carl Wilson in a sweater.
Not to be yet another person commenting on the age of the uploader, but this really brings home the sense of just how timeless the Beach Boys’ music and appeal is. I think that more than any other band of their generation, the Beach Boys are a multigenerational phenomenon, and likely always will be, even long after they pass on to the other side.
I always think about how even my grandparents, both of whom were born during the First World War, were both Beach Boys fans. So are my parents, who are in their 80’s, then myself (I’m 57), and then my teenage son. That’s four generations of fans in my family alone.
@@Shikta-poobah67 love that. thank you for commenting.
You did a great job putting this together, and providing your take on each song. Please Let Me Wonder is my favorite song on the album.. Something hauntingly beautiful in the angst / joy in conveys.
One of the most beautiful and nice on the ears albums, like butter! Amazing album
Great review, and I loved your creativity, as well into your insights into the songs. 1965 was a great year for The Beach Boys, Today and Summer Days and Summer Nights were both great records, minus the filler tracks. But of course Rubber Soul was coming soon and Brian had to step up his game.
Thank you for your lovely comment, Ron!!
I am 71 and from age 11 The Beach Boys have been a major passion. I remember my feelings when each album came out. You cover this album beautifully and with a lot of knowledge. I've read everything that ever came out on the subject, and you really get it.
Thank you so much Jim🩷🩷🩷
This is an excellent review of the album. I love the BBoys. Have seen the Beach Boys with Brian in person, etc.
And now, I will discover Today, thanks to you!!
Wonderful! I'm so glad you are just being introduced to the album-- it sure is a treasure!
@@texvirgo9847 Keep up the good work!
Love your take on this, my favorite album. Bless you and good luck with your music!
May God bless you too❤️ so cool that this is your fave album!!
We all know the best track is the Bull Sessions
YES 😂
Once saw a post that if you didn’t remember Brian’s order you weren’t a real fan
And I live by that
on some days, Today surpasses Pet Sounds for me. Even Side A- Brian did pop exceptionally well and there's just enough melancholia bubbling beneath the surface to make the first side feel like something more, especially on repeat listens. I kinda refer to the two sides as 'Day' and 'Night' because that's how they feel to me
Mmmm, good insight. Thanks for this, definitely agreed. Today is the sun, Pet Sounds is moon.
Help me Rhonda is a great song. The staccato punctuation of the word “help” it’s just got an amazing harmony and Melody to it and percussive quality of this song is unreal. Yeah the lyrics are not great but that isn’t the first thing you think of when you think of the Beach boys anyway. With the obvious exception of some of the songs on pet sounds
Hahaha yes very true :)
Bull Session was the best part of this video 😁 not to mention the album. I was so young, but my sisters were into The Beach Boys & I actually remember the Bull Session track! “You stepped on my French Fries!” So funny! And the part about the sheep’s head! 😩🤪
HEHE! YES! I'm glad you enjoyed it, Trish❤️ you're sweet
People need to realize that this album came out _before_ the Beatles Rubber Soul, which are both band's first true masterpieces. The difference is that Capitol let the Beatles progress artistically, while fighting to keep the Beach Boys to remain a surf band. I'd love to see you do a track for track comparison between the two albums. Maybe I'll do it.
I was drawn into your story telling from the get-go! Well done, extremely insightful and I totally appreciate your production value!!! Big fan!
Thank you so much ❤️
Wow I really love this documentary about the Beach Boys. I really appreciate your deep thoughts about each song and what they meant to you from your perspective. Obviously you're a very smart young woman and I want to thank you for taking the time to do this. I really enjoyed it thanks again😃
Thank you so much! You're very kind. I hope you know how much Jesus loves you🧡
@@texvirgo9847 Why yes I do know him and yes he does love me. It's so funny that you say that because I was going to ask you if you ever heard of Keith Green.? I think the way you delve into an artist music you would enjoy listening to him because he wrote from his heart. I'm not sure if you've ever heard of him he was popular when I was young . Between him and Phil Keaggy they got me through my teenage years unscathed. LOL Keith died in a plane crash in his prime. His story lives on through his music and it's always uplifting. Hope you have a good day and give it a listen😃
@@miketheretiredplowguy1834 I love Keith! I covered one of his songs on my channel. So cool to meet another Christian in the comments!
I think Brian should See this!
That's kind of you to say, David! Thank you for commenting. I pray that if he saw it, it would direct him towards Christ :)
@@texvirgo9847 God only knows.
Do You Wanna Dance was written by Bobby Freeman in 1958 and it hit the charts a few weeks before he turned 18 !
It was nice hearing you go over this album cut by cut and to see that you, as young as you are, can be such a big BBs fan.
I've always said that England had the Beatles and we had the Beach Boys. In fact, they influenced each other.
you are so cool and I enjoyed your analysis of each song.
❤️😆 thank you, Mark!
I was so happy that the Beach Boys was able to get it together to perform at Live Aid.
You did a GREAT job. Thanks for sharing your insights
Thank you for watching, Mitchell! I appreciate your comment.
"Don't Hurt My Little Sister" was recorded again for a collaboration with Phil Spector. Brian was hoping the Ronettes would record it, but Phil nixed it. The backing track, however, was used for a Public Service Announcement, "Things Are Changing". There were three groups used: Jay and the Americans, the Ronettes and the Supremes. I found a copy of the Supremes' version for 10 cents.
Your bull sessions scene was exactly what I needed today!
HAHA 😆 I wasn't sure if I went too far. I can't watch it, myself, without getting really embarrassed. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
@@texvirgo9847 I used to listen to Today! once a week on the way to school (I usually don’t listen to music more than once a month so that tells you how I feel about Today!) and I would usually get to school right at the Bull Session and I’d sit in my car and mouth the words with the recording. I probably looked just as dumb, if not dumber mouthing along, but that’s who we are: no reason to feel ashamed.
I love this video! Hard to find anything in this style on their career. Though, I have to disagree with the feelings towards Do You Wanna Dance, as much as the lyrics are very simplistic, the instrumental truly makes the song explode. That break in the song before going back into it is simply awesome.
Looking forward to more uploads!
its a cover
I can't stop watching the Bull Session part, great job!!
I'm glad you enjoyed it!😆
@@texvirgo9847 I got sad when it ended ahaha, simply loved it! (the rest of the video too, obviously) And thank you for talking about this beautiful album!
There’s a 20 minute full version of Bull Sessions on the Sea of Tunes Unsurpassed Masters bootleg. Great insight to the band at that time. Thanks for this video, I loved it! So cool that young people can understand the beauty and emotional honesty of this band.
Thank you, Jeff! Your comment is greatly appreciated.
You hit this spot on. One of my personal favorites.
Thank you so much, Charlie!
whatttt? Do You Wanna Dance is one of the breakthrough productions on the album. In many ways it's the sonic precursor to Wouldn't It Be Nice
Yeah, I guess my opinion is a lil controversial. I know you can make a case for that song, but I just don't like it, lol.
@@texvirgo9847 the ramones liked it. their cover version pretty much uses the same arrangement
Do you wanna dance has Marilyn singing background harmony!
thank you for making this. Brian Wilson is my favorite artist of all time. Today is the prequel to Pet Sounds - the greatest album of all time -- Friends and/or Surf's Up and/or Beach Boys Love You were the underrated sequels, and the Smile Sessions/Brian Wilson presents Smile are like the remakes that are a throwback to an era, that actually deserves to be made and adds something new and unique, unlike most modern day remakes. You should check out Gracia Rother's Beach Boy's covers. Her version of "Thank Him" is what I imagine heaven sounds like when you get accepted to go through the pearly gates
Love your analysis of Today, and agree that it could be considered the BBs' forgotten masterpiece! Although I understand why they did it, have felt that the band should not have recorded their Party album (which further cemented the BBs image as fun loving and not too serious, in the public's mind). Rather then Party, I imagine another Beach Boys complete studio album, released in December, 1965, which could have included their song The Little Girl I Once Knew and Sloop John B. This album could have had maybe a couple of more covers, and original songs style-wise like Little Girl. Coming about six months before Pet Sounds, it would have been about a half-way step in Pet Sounds direction, making Pet Sounds more acceptable to the public. Just my idea.
I'm also not a Party! fan, this is a good hypothetical idea :)
I always thought this was their best album . Thanks for taking the time to honor it.
Thank you for commenting ❤️
Please Let me Wonder - I completely agree with you about it being more in love with an idealistic image rather than a person .
I’ve always found myself thinking it as a song about escapism. Another good example is Bruce’s Disney Girls
In my opinion the narrator knows that the other doesn’t love them deep down but they have built up this “beautiful image “ in their mind that they do not want to corrupt. So rather facing the truth of the situation they choose to live in this fantasy world they have engulfed themselves into about their relationship so that they now just “wonder” instead of the reality of facing the truth as they write “for so long I’ve thought about it and now I just can’t live without it” .Turning a blind eye to it all as an alternative. They are not describing love but rather an idealisation of it ,as you said.However the “I love you” spoken at the end is not that of the narrators (but rather Carl’s) perhaps showing that either someone new is in the picture or that their partner does love them after all.
This such an insightful comment. Thank you!
Today kicks ass. I discovered it while in college back around 2009 or so, and have the album sleeve currently hanging on my bedroom wall.
today is not only my favorite beach boys album, it is also my all time favorite album ... by anyone ever! please let me wonder is tied with the lonely sea as being my THIRD all time favorite song. kiss me baby is my FIFTH all time favorite song. while she knows me too well is my SIXTH all time favorite song.
my all time favorite songs 1. in my room 2. surfer girl 3. TIE the lonely sea + please let me wonder 4. don't worry baby 5. kiss me baby 6. she knows me too well 7. wouldn't it be nice 8. God only knows 9. girl don't tell me 10. let him run wild (which brian hates) 11. warmth of the sun ALL OF THOSE ^ ARE BY THE BEACH BOYS 12. walk away renee : the left banke 13. pretty ballerina : the left banke 14. love is all around : the troggs 15. maybe tonight : the knack 16. your number or your name: the knack 17. my sharona : the knack
...that is as far as my list goes ... for now ... After that i suspect there is a lot of CCR + DOORS + BYRDS + WHO + ANIMALS + KINKS + STONES + TROGGS + ZOMBIES + SMALL FACES + you guessed it ... More BEACH BOYS.
That's very cool to find a video about Today! I'm clearer about the meaning of all this songs and the stories behing them, I don't really know which is my favourite song into this album. But this is the kindest album i have ever heard in my life sincerly, all the subjects touch me I mean the beach boys is really about the youth and what they do during their free Time (races, love, etc.), it's not outdated at all. I'm so the first 10 seconds are awesome, i mean we feel really relaxed. (maybe it was the inspiration for Wouldn't it be nice in the meaning of the words) When I grew to be a man, is awesome beatween the voices announcing the ages, and the fact that the song is very fast, which inspires me that the youth and the life is short, we have to take the right choices before it's to late... Thanks for the review, here in France, the beach boys are known thanks to surfin'usa, good vibrations, i get around, Wouldn't it be nice, and kokomo. Just few people talk about pet sounds, and nobody will talk about all these other great albums...
Hi Théo! I'm so glad people from France are watching. Today! truly is a "kind" album-- great word choice :) I'm glad you enjoyed the video.
This is such great content! I really loved the editing and script, although some audio spots were a little quieter than others. Subbed, please make more you like!
I loved pet sounds . And good vibrations
You are an old soul and definitely a talented young person ... I wish you much success in your life.. I hope you get to meet one of The Beach Boys one day ... I was able to see them minus Brian a couple of years ago in Biloxi... very good evening... would have been better ten fold if he would have been with them 👍
Thank you, Steve. I appreciate the warm wishes.
Young lady..you enjoy an insight unsurpassed among your contemporaries. Well done..especially the visual of the brothers in front of 3701 West 119th at the corner of Kornblum...Hawthorne, Ca...awesome production!
Thank you SO much for your kind comment. It means the world.
So glad this amazing album is getting the love it deserves!
💕💕💕
I imagine B.W dancing would look something like a friendly escaped circus bear trying to blend in as a human.
That's a cute thought. Thank you.