Tonight Today Explained

Tonight Today
Cover:DBM&T Tonight Today.jpg
Caption:Cover of the single released in Germany
Type:single
Artist:D. B. M. & T.
B-Side:Bad News
Recorded:8, 9 and 16 September 1969[1]
Studio:De Lane Lea Studios, London
Genre:Pop rock
Label:Fontana
Producer:D. B. M. & T.
Prev Title:Snake in the Grass
Prev Year:1969
Next Title:Mr. President
Next Year:1970

"Tonight Today" is a song by the remaining members of Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich after the departure of Dave Dee. It was released as a single in November 1969.

Release

In September 1969, frontman Dave Dee decided to leave Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich in order to pursue a solo career. The remaining members decided to continue performing today under the shortened name D. B. M. & T. Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley also remained as the managers and songwriters for the group. "Tonight Today", recorded in September, was the group's first record, released in November 1969. It was released in the US and Canada in February 1970 by Cotillion Records.[2] The song uses a "clever canon arrangement for the song, with Dozy, Beaky and Tich each singing one tongue-twisting section counterpart to one another".[3]

The single failed to chart on the UK Singles Chart, but was very successful in the Netherlands, where it was a top-5 hit. The group's follow-up single, "Mr. President" was more successful in the UK, peaking at number 33.[4]

The B-side, "Bad News" became a hit in Mexico when Radio Capital disc jockey César Alejandre liked the song so much that he frequently played it on his programme "Estudiantes 1260".[5] A Greatest Hits album of Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, including several D. B M. & T. songs, was released in Mexico after the success of "Bad News".[6]

Reception

Reviewing for New Musical Express, Derek Johnson described "Tonight Today" as "a bubbling Howard-Blaikley number very much in the tradition already established by the Dee outfit. There's an interesting solo that sounds like a cross between Val Doonican and Johnny Cash, plus a sing-along chorus by the rest of the boys and a bouncy beat. A cheerful blues chaser".[7] For Record Mirror, Peter Jones wrote: "Clever use of voices, including an unidentified bass gimmick. Song is definitely strong enough and the more I hear it the more I commend it for the sheer cleverness in the harmonies. Like cascades of sound".[8]

Track listing

  1. "Tonight Today" – 3:16
  2. "Bad News" – 3:26

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2016-11-11. Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick, & Tich – September 1969. 2021-08-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20161111133946/http://davedeedozybeakymickandtich.nl/september-1969/. 11 November 2016.
  2. Web site: Dozy, Beaky, Mick And Tich - Tonight-Today. 45cat. 2021-08-23.
  3. Web site: Band Biography part 4 - 1969-1978. 2021-08-23. www.dddbmt.com.
  4. Web site: mr. president full Official Chart History Official Charts Company. 2021-08-23. www.officialcharts.com. en.
  5. Web site: 2016-05-15. Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick, & Tich – Bad News. 2021-08-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20160515075518/http://davedeedozybeakymickandtich.nl/bad-news/. 15 May 2016.
  6. Web site: Vinyl Album: Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick And Tich - Greatest Hits (1970). Discogs. 2021-08-23.
  7. 8 November 1969. Derek Johnson (on singles) tips seven new hits. New Musical Express. 8. 23 August 2021.
  8. Web site: 2016-11-11. Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick, & Tich – November 1969. 2021-08-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20161111134442/http://davedeedozybeakymickandtich.nl/november-1969/. 11 November 2016.