In the Back of My Mind

It is one of the group's songs that most heavily draw from the Tin Pan Alley style of songwriting, while the chord patterns were virtually unprecedented in Brian's music at the time.

[3] It is one of the group's songs that most heavily draw from the Tin Pan Alley style of songwriting,[4] and in musicologist Phillip Lambert's assessment, the chord patterns "are virtually unprecedented in Brian's work.

[1] In the bridge, pizzicato strings underscore a passage in which the narrator expresses, "I try to run far away from thoughts I shouldn't try to keep away, but they just keep coming back to me".

"[9] Music historian Charles Granata described the track as "disturbing" and "the antithesis of any prescribed commercial formula—a curious experiment marking an extreme deviation from the band.

"[11] "In the Back of My Mind" was recorded over two dates at Western Studios, both produced, arranged and conducted by Brian Wilson.

"[14] In his review for AllMusic, Matthew Greenwald offered praise of the song and its lyrics, saying that the choice of lead singer was good and that Dennis' performance is "wonderfully fragile.

"[15] Biographer David Leaf wrote, "Dennis’ soulful lead vocals helps bring out the jazzy feel of a song that is really unique in the Brian Wilson catalogue.