Editing Brian Wilson (section)

===Home studio transition===
[[File:EastGateBelAir.JPG|thumb|left|upright=0.9|[[Bel Air, Los Angeles]], where Wilson relocated to in April 1967 and [[Beach Boys Studio|set up a home studio]].{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=180}}]]
''Smile'' was never finished, due in large part to Wilson's worsening mental condition and exhaustion.{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=204}} Associates often cite late 1966 as a turning point, coinciding with erratic behavior during sessions for the track "[[The Elements: Fire|Fire]]" (or "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow").{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=163}} In April 1967, Wilson and his wife relocated to a newly purchased mansion on 10452 Bellagio Road in [[Bel Air, Los Angeles|Bel Air]].{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=180}}{{sfn|Gaines|1986|p=180}}{{refn|group=nb|Marilyn cited Wilson's desire for a larger home,{{sfn|Gaines|1986|p=180}} while Badman writes that the move aimed to distance them from his entourage of "hanger-ons".{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=180}} Marilyn later installed security measures, including a brick wall and electronic gate.{{sfn|White|1996|p=270}} }} There, Wilson began constructing [[Beach Boys Studio|a personal home studio]].{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=180}} By this time, most of his recent associates had departed or been excluded from his life.{{sfn|Badman|2004|pp=153–180}}

{{Quote box|align=|quote= When I was younger, I was a real competitor. Then as I got older, I said, "Is it worth the bullshit? To compete like that?" And I said, "Nah." For a while there, I just said, "Hey, I'm going to coast. I'm going to make real nice music. Nothing competitive."|source=—Brian Wilson, 1994<ref name="IJWMFTT"/> |width = 25% }}

In May, Derek Taylor announced that ''Smile'' had been "scrapped".{{sfn|Badman|2004|pp=165, 185}} Wilson explained in a 1968 interview, "We pulled out [...] because I was about ready to die. I was trying so hard. So, all of a sudden I decided not to try any more."{{sfn|Dillon|2012|p=134}} That July, the Beach Boys released "[[Heroes and Villains]]" as a single; its mixed critical and commercial reception further strained Wilson's morale, with biographers citing it as a factor in his professional and psychological decline.{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=291}}{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=122}} He later acknowledged that upholding his industry reputation "was a really big thing for me" and that he had grown weary of demands to produce "great orchestral stuff all the time".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Hughes|first=Rob|title=Brian Wilson – Album By Album|url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/brian-wilson-album-by-album-28238/|magazine=Uncut|date=November 22, 2012}}</ref>

Beginning with ''[[Smiley Smile]]'' (September 1967), the band shifted recording operations to Wilson's studio, where they worked intermittently until 1972. The album marked the first time production was credited to the group collectively instead of Wilson alone.{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=200}}{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=124}} Producer [[Terry Melcher]] attributed this change to Wilson's reluctance to risk individual scrutiny, saying he no longer wanted to "put his stamp on records".{{sfn|Leaf|1978|p=169}} In August 1967, Wilson briefly rejoined the band for two live performances in Honolulu, recorded for an unfinished live album titled ''[[Lei'd in Hawaii]]''.{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=198}}

[[File:Three Dog Night 1969.JPG|thumb|Wilson produced recordings for the band Redwood, later known as [[Three Dog Night]] (pictured 1969).]]

During sessions for ''[[Wild Honey (album)|Wild Honey]]'' (December 1967), Wilson encouraged his brother Carl to contribute more to the record-making process.<ref name="MF1976"/> He also began producing tracks for [[Danny Hutton]]'s group [[Three Dog Night|Redwood]], recording three songs including "[[Time to Get Alone]]" and "[[Darlin' (The Beach Boys song)|Darlin']]", but the project was halted by Carl and Mike Love, who urged Brian to prioritize Beach Boys commitments.{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=130}} The band's June 1968 album ''[[Friends (The Beach Boys album)|Friends]]'' was recorded during a period of emotional recovery for Wilson.{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=210}} While the album featured increased contributions from other members, Wilson remained central, even on tracks he did not write.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Hermes |first1=Will |author-link=Will Hermes|title=How the Beach Boys' Lost Late-Sixties Gems Got a Second Life |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/how-the-beach-boys-lost-late-sixties-gems-got-a-second-life-779012/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=January 16, 2019 |date=January 15, 2019}}</ref> He later described ''Friends'' as his second "solo album" (after ''Pet Sounds'')<ref name="Oui"/> and his favorite Beach Boys album.{{sfn|Dillon|2012|pp=159–168}}{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=210}}