Just Today is the seventeenth studio album by American singer Bobby Vee[1] and released in April 1968 by Liberty Records.[1] Dallas Smith arranged and produced the album.
According to Robert Reynolds, in The Music of Bobby Vee, the executives at Liberty Records believed they were on to something with Bobby's Rhythm and blues hit medley and several Motown flavored tunes were recorded. However instead of releasing an entire R&B album, they put out a disjointed mix of similar Motown-like recordings and the rest more in line.[2]
The album debuted on the Billboard Top LPs chart in April 28, 1968, remaining on the album chart for seven weeks and peaking at No. 187.[3] It was Vee's last album to make it onto the Billboard charts.[2]
The album was released on compact disc for the first time by Beat Goes On on February 14, 2001, as tracks 1 through 11 on a pairing of two albums on one CD with tracks 12 through 22 consisting of the other album being Vee's Other album from October 1968, Do What You Gotta Do.[4]
Singles
The first single from the album, "Beautiful People", made its debut on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on November 18, 1967, spending three weeks at No. 37 during its seven-week stay,[5] No. 27 on the Cash Box singles chart.[6] The second single, "Maybe Just Today", debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on February 10, 1968, spending one week at number forty-six during its six-week stay,[5] and No. 38 on the Cash Box singles chart.[6] The third single, "Medley: My Girl/Hey Girl" made its debut on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on April 20, 1968, spending one week at No. 35 during its nine-week stay[5] and No. 17 on the Cash Box singles chart.[6] Vee's Medley Cover Version's of those song marked his last of fourteen appearances in the US top-forty singles Billboard charts, the first being "Devil or Angel" in 1960.[5]
Bruce Eder of AllMusic said that the album "showed [Vee's] sincere cover of "Sealed with a Kiss," which is his look back on his own early-'60s past. "Beautiful People" is an upbeat piece of late-'60s pop/rock with a catchy melody, and "Maybe Just Today" and "Sunrise Highway" are nicely contemporary (yet gently nostalgic) pieces by an artist a decade out of his era and still competing for a softer listenership".[1]
Billboard called it "His tribute to durability", and stated that "[Vee] has a disciplined style and incorporates the best features of the rock and standards singer."[9]
Record Mirror wrote that "Bobby retains his some what courteous charm and knack of dealing with a tuneful song in straight forward and ungimmicky style".[7]
Meriden Journal called it "a good listening in the pop music vein. and stated that "he sings well, read lyrics well, is very good looking, and a pleasant performer".[10]
The Surrey Mirror and County Post stated that "it follows recent visit to this country and his voice is improving all the time and his relaxed vocal style comes over well".[11]
