Editing Brian Wilson (section)

===Sea of Tunes sale and Reprise signing===
Early in 1969, the Beach Boys commenced recording ''[[Sunflower (The Beach Boys album)|Sunflower]]'' (August 1970).{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=240}} Wilson contributed numerous songs, though most were excluded from the final track selection.{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=151}} He co-wrote and produced the single "[[Break Away (The Beach Boys song)|Break Away]]" with his father in early 1969, after which he largely withdrew from studio work until August.{{sfn|Matijas-Mecca|2017|p=93}} The group faced difficulties securing a new record deal, attributed by Gaines to Wilson's diminished standing in the industry.{{sfn|Gaines|1986|pp=221–222}} In May 1969, Wilson disclosed the band's near-bankruptcy to reporters, which derailed negotiations with [[Deutsche Grammophon]] and nearly jeopardized their upcoming European tour.{{sfn|Badman|2004|pp=243–244}}{{sfn|Gaines|1986|p=222}} That July, he opened a short-lived health food store, the [[Radiant Radish]], with cousin Steve Korthof and associate Arny Geller.{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=252}}

In August, the Beach Boys' publishing company, [[Sea of Tunes]], sold their song catalog to Irving Almo Music for $700,000 (${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|700000|1969|end_year={{Inflation-year|US}}}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}}).{{sfn|Love|2016|p=226}} Wilson signed the consent form under pressure from his father.{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=145}} Marilyn later stated that the sale emotionally devastated him: "It killed him. ''Killed'' him. I don't think he talked for days. [...] Brian took it as Murry not believing in him anymore."{{sfn|Gaines|1986|pp=224–225}} During this period, Wilson reportedly engaged in self-destructive behavior, including an attempt to drive off a cliff and a demand to be buried in a backyard grave he had dug.{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=288}}{{refn|group=nb|David Leaf, writing in his 1978 biography of the band, said that Wilson's family and friends had dismissed these incidents as jokes.{{sfn|Leaf|1978|p=147}}}} He channeled his despondence into writing "[['Til I Die]]", later calling the song a summation of "everything I had to say at the time."{{sfn|Badman|2004|pp=257, 288}}

Later in 1969, Wilson produced poet [[Stephen Kalinich]]'s spoken-word album ''[[A World of Peace Must Come]]''.{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=253}}{{sfn|Matijas-Mecca|2017|p=93}} That November, the Beach Boys signed to [[Reprise Records]], a subsidiary of [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]],{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=258}} with contractual terms requiring Wilson's active participation in their albums.{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=150}}{{refn|group=nb|Though Wilson never personally signed the agreement, the band's corporate structure allowed it to pass with three of five member votes.{{sfn|Gaines|1986|p=233}} }} In March 1970, Wilson briefly substituted for Mike Love on tour.{{sfn|Leaf|1978|p=132}} In April, he attempted to produce a [[country and western]] album for co-manager Fred Vail, later known as ''[[Cows in the Pasture]]''.{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=266}}