features in: Album Chart of 1965 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1960s ● 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die  |
Following a particularly stressful 1964, group leader Brian Wilson retired from touring, citing nervous exhaustion. Results from the new studio full-timer are immediate on “The Beach Boys Today!”, which includes a strong set of 10 new songs and 2 cool covers. The backing tracks are becoming ever-more complex, even as the stylings remain basically entrenched in the simple roots of R n B. The cover of Bobby Troup’s “Do You Wanna Dance” is particularly demonstrative of this, fusing Rock n Roll with Phil Spector to great effect. Those Ramones knew the score. The big hitters all appear on Side 1, including the best version of “Help Me Ronda” which is just that bit more raw and raucous than the rerecorded (and respelled) “Help Me Rhonda” single (which would also appear on the next album, “Summer Days”). Side 2 favours the balladeering approach and, although it doesn’t turn me on as much, it often serves up some decent offerings with the likes of “Kiss Me, Baby” hitting me hardest with its melancholy Shangri-Las vibe. More than anything at this stage, this album cements The Beach Boys as survivors, and a band that have the potential to continue onwards and upwards…
The Jukebox Rebel
02–Jan–2013
| Tracklist |
| A1 | [02:19]  The Beach Boys - Do You Wanna Dance? (Bobby Freeman) Pop |
| A2 | [02:16]  The Beach Boys - Good To My Baby (Brian Wilson, Mike Love) Pop |
| A3 | [02:07]  The Beach Boys - Don’t Hurt My Little Sister (Brian Wilson, Mike Love) Pop |
| A4 | [02:01]  The Beach Boys - When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (Brian Wilson, Mike Love) Pop |
| A5 | [03:08]  The Beach Boys - Help Me, Ronda (Brian Wilson, Mike Love) Pop |
| A6 | [01:59]  The Beach Boys - Dance, Dance, Dance (Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Carl Wilson) Rock n Roll / Rockabilly |
| B1 | [02:45]  The Beach Boys - Please Let Me Wonder (Brian Wilson, Mike Love) Pop |
| B2 | [02:30]  The Beach Boys - I’m So Young (William Tyus) Rock n Roll Ballad |
| B3 | [02:35]  The Beach Boys - Kiss Me, Baby (Brian Wilson, Mike Love) Pop Ballad |
| B4 | [02:27] The Beach Boys - She Knows Me Too Well (Brian Wilson, Mike Love) Pop |
| B5 | [02:07]  The Beach Boys - In The Back Of My Mind (Brian Wilson, Mike Love) Pop Ballad |
| B6 | [02:10]  The Beach Boys - Bull Session With The ‘Big Daddy’ (Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson) Sketch / Skit |
