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Draft:Today (The New Christy Minstrels album)

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Today, and Other Songs Featured in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Presentation Advance to the Rear
Studio album by
The New Christy Minstrels
ReleasedMarch 24, 1964 (1964-03-24)[1]
Recorded1963–1964
GenreFolk
Length26:57
LabelColumbia
ProducerJim Harbert, Randy Sparks
The New Christy Minstrels chronology
Merry Christmas!
(1963) 		Today, and Other Songs Featured in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Presentation Advance to the Rear
(1964) 		Land of Giants
(1965)
Singles from Today
  1. ""Today" (A-side)
    "Miss Katy Cruel" (B-side)"
    Released: 1964

Today, officially released as Today, and Other Songs Featured in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Presentation Advance to the Rear, is the sixth studio album and sole soundtrack album by the American folk music group the New Christy Minstrels. It was recorded between 1963 and 1964, and was released by Columbia Records in March 1964.

Background

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The album was especially directed by Randy Sparks, after being contracted by Ted Richmond to compose a film soundtrack for the upcoming Advance to the Rear. The supergroup incorporated an array of instruments, such as marxophones, Jew's harps, piccolos, and ukelins.[2][3]

Reception

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On its original release, The Charlotte Observer deemed Today "a big boost" for its performers, and "quite a good record for the folk music fan's collection", despite the stereo mix's shortcomings in comparison to an earlier release of theirs, Ramblin'.[4] The Daily Nonpareil of Iowa considered it as "delightfully zany" as its companion film, and complemented the group for carrying on the "high art" of folk singing.[5] "The Christy album," wrote The Troy Record's Bob Fusco, "does a remarkable job of providing the comedy [sic], or at times the dramatic, mood for action."[6] In a retrospective Allmusic review, Bruce Eder awarded Today two stars out of five. "Musically, it was not the group's strongest album, comprised as it was primarily of period and period-style songs that weren't always the wisest choices," he wrote, "[but the titular song] is the standout track."[7]

Track listing

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All tracks composed and directed by Randy Sparks.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Company of Cowards"2:08
2."This Ole Riverboat"2:41
3."Love Theme"2:04
4."Whistlin' Dixie"1:47
5."Anything Love Can Buy"2:53
6."Ladies"2:01
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Charleston Town"2:20
2."Company Q Whistle March"2:27
3."Way Down in Arkansas"1:57
4."Brackenby's Music Box"1:50
5."Riverboat Theme"2:05
6."Today"2:44

References

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  1. ^ "Christy Minstrels Album Released". The Morning Call. March 25, 1964. p. 20. Retrieved June 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Abramson, Martin (December 8, 1964). "Hootenanny, Fad or Fixture--V: 1842 Minstrel Started Folk-Singing Groups". Under Twenty. The Evening News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. United Feature Syndicate. p. 47. Retrieved June 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Eichelbaum, Stanley (March 31, 1964). "New Christy Minstrels Break Into Films--but Only Vocally". San Francisco Examiner. p. 24. Retrieved June 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Denning, James (May 10, 1964). "Some New Sounds in Stereo Music". The Charlotte Observer. p. 5-B. Retrieved August 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Bev (May 24, 1964). "Bev's DISK-covery in New Records & Tapes". Council Bluffs Iowa Nonpareil. p. 7-B. Retrieved August 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Fusco, Bob (May 16, 1964). "Seasoned Pros Turn Out Quality Music on Records". The Troy Record. p. B-17. Retrieved August 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Eder, Bruce. "Today – The New Christy Minstrels". Allmusic. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
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