Tonight Today

"Tonight Today"
Cover of the single released in Germany
Single by D. B. M. & T.
B-side	"Bad News"
Released	7 November 1969 (1969-11-07)
Recorded	8, 9 and 16 September 1969[1]
Studio	De Lane Lea Studios, London
Genre	Pop rock
Length	3:16
Label	Fontana
Songwriter(s)	Ken Howard Alan Blaikley
Producer(s)	D. B. M. & T.
D. B. M. & T. singles chronology
"Snake in the Grass" (1969) "Tonight Today" (1969) "Mr. President" (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.[2] "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.[3] 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".[2]

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

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".[6] 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".[7]

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".[8] 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".[9]

Track listing

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

Charts

Chart (1970)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10]	17
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[11]	49
Germany (GfK)[12]	39
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13]	3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[4]	4

References

1. "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick, & Tich – September 1969". 11 November 2016. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
2. "Band Biography part 4 - 1969-1978". www.dddbmt.com. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
3. "Dozy, Beaky, Mick And Tich - Tonight-Today". 45cat. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
4. "Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – Tonight Today" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
5. "mr. president | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
6. "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick, & Tich – Bad News". 15 May 2016. Archived from the original on 15 May 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
7. "Vinyl Album: Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick And Tich - Greatest Hits (1970)". Discogs. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
8. "Derek Johnson (on singles) tips seven new hits" (PDF). New Musical Express. 8 November 1969. p. 8. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
9. "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick, & Tich – November 1969". 11 November 2016. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
10. "Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – Tonight Today" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
11. "Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – Tonight Today" (in French). Ultratop 50.
12. "Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – Tonight Today" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
13. "Nederlandse Top 40 – DBM & T" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.