Though Brian Wilson and Dennis Wilson never shared a co-writing credit on any Beach Boys songs, brother Carl did write several songs with their older brother. “Carl was a very, very sensitive writer,” said Brian Wilson in 2007. “He was a sensitive person. He was a very good artist.”
Outside of the handful of collaborations with Brian, Carl also co-wrote songs with Geoffrey Cushing-Murray, in “Angel Come Home”, “Full Sail”, and “Goin’ South” from their 1968 album Friends, and Jack Rieley (“Feel Flows,” “The Trader”), along with other collaborators and members of the group, including Dennis.
By the mid-1960s through late ’70s, Brian and Carl co-wrote a handful of songs, including two they penned together. Here’s a look behind five Beach Boys co-writes by Brian and Carl Wilson.
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“Dance, Dance, Dance” (1965)
Written by Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, and Mike Love
Produced and predominantly written by Brian, the Beach Boys’ eighth album, The Beach Boys Today! featured the group’s second No. 1 “Help Me Rhonda” and several more Top 20 hits, including “When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)” peaking at No. 9 and their cover of Bobby Freeman’s 1958 hit “Do You Want to Dance” renamed “Do You Wanna Dance?” which went to No. 12.
A third track that made it to No. 8 was one Brian and Carl co-wrote with Mike Love, “Dance Dance Dance.” Sung by Love and Brian, the song marked Carl’s first writing contribution to a Beach Boys song.
“Friends” (1968)
Written by Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, and Al Jardine
On the Beach Boys’ fourteenth album, Friends, Brian and Carl shared several co-writes with other members and writers credited, including “Be Here in the Mornin’,” “When a Man Needs a Woman,” and the title track, which they shared credit with brother Dennis and Al Jardine on. The lead single, “Friends,” was sung by Carl and became a favorite of Brian’s from the album.
“‘Friends’ is great,” said Brian Wilson. “I thought there was a lot of humor in it, and I thought songs usually don’t have that much kinda humor, but ‘Friends’ had a lot of humor in it. So that’s why I like it.”
“I Went to Sleep” (1969)
Written by Brian Wilson and Carl Wilson
By the time the Beach Boys started working on their fifteenth album, 20/20, Brian Wilson occasionally contributed to tracks and had already begun retreating from the group due to his mental health issues and addiction, leaving more of the production duties to other members. As a result, 20/20 was pieced together mostly by a collection of outtakes, including one song Carl and Brian wrote and sang together, their drearier psychedelic waltz, “I Went to Sleep.”
“Our Sweet Love” (1970)
Written by Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, and Al Jardine
When the Beach Boys began working on their 1970 album Sunflower, Brian Wilson had a song he had never completed, “Our Sweet Love.” It was later completed with the help of Carl and Jardine. “‘Our Sweet Love’ was one we finished with Brian,” said Jardine. “He just didn’t want to finish it. So we kind of helped. We became completers of ideas.”
“Good Timin’” (1979)
Written by Brian Wilson and Carl Wilson
Released as the second single from their Beach Boys’ 1979 album L.A. (Light Album), “Good Timin’” was originally recorded in 1974 and was originally set to appear on the group’s 15 Big Ones, but was held over for two more albums until L.A. was released. Sung by Carl, “Good Timin’” made it to No. 40 while it was on the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks.
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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