By 1965, the world of Brian Wilson started to change radically. After a half dozen or so albums that primarily contained beach music, he recognized that if the band wanted longevity, then a change was necessary.

The Beatles provided both inspiration and a source of competition for Brian, and as a result he started to expand his palette. An emotional breakdown during the previous tour led him to make a radical decision that would allow him to concentrate on production. He would no longer tour with the band. Someone else could go on the road and sing his parts, while he stayed home and worked on developing songs for the next record.

“Today” marks the starting point for Brian Wilson’s orchestral approach to rock and roll music. Side One contains mostly straightforward rock and roll, with arrangements that would satisfy his bandmates, while side two introduced more contemplative material, with lyrics that addressed personal themes rather than universal statements (“She Knows Me Too Well” vs. “Do You Wanna Dance”). This is the album that marks a considerably large step in the maturation of the Beach Boys sound.

Featured tracks include;

1) Do You Wanna Dance

2) Good to My Baby

3) Don’t Hurt My Little Sister

4) When I Grow Up to Be a Man

5) Help Me Ronda

6) Dance, Dance, Dance

7) Please Let Me Wonder

8) I’m So Young

9) Kiss Me, Baby

10) She Knows Me Too Well

11) In the Back of My Mind

12) Bull Session with ‘Big Daddy’

March 1965 - Billboard Charted #4