Editing Brian Wilson (section)

==Musical influences==
===Early influences===
[[File:George Gershwin 1937.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|[[George Gershwin]] was one of Wilson's main formative influences.]]

Wilson's chordal vocabulary derived primarily from [[rock and roll]], [[doo-wop]], and vocal [[jazz]].{{sfn|Lambert|2016|p=65}} At age two, he heard [[Glenn Miller]]'s 1943 rendition of Gershwin's ''[[Rhapsody in Blue]]'', an experience that left a lasting emotional impact{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=10}}{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=20}}—later saying, "It sort of became a general life theme".{{sfn|Leaf|1978|p=17}} As a child, his favorite artists included [[Roy Rogers]], [[Carl Perkins]], [[Bill Haley]], [[Elvis Presley]], [[Henry Mancini]], and [[Rosemary Clooney]].{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=23}} He recalled Haley's "[[Rock Around the Clock]]" (1954) as the first music he felt compelled to learn and sing.<ref name="B&N01" /> His education in music composition and [[jazz harmony]] largely came from deconstructing the vocal harmonies of the Four Freshmen, whose repertoire included works by Gershwin, [[Jerome Kern]], and [[Cole Porter]].{{sfn|Lambert|2007|pp=5–6}}{{refn|group=nb|Lambert noted that if Four Freshmen singer [[Bob Flanigan (singer)|Bob Flanigan]] "helped teach Brian how to sing, then Gershwin, Kern, Porter, and the other members of this pantheon helped him learn how to craft a song."{{sfn|Lambert|2007|p=6}} Tony Asher recalled that Wilson had minimal familiarity with [[Tin Pan Alley]] songs beyond the Four Freshmens' repertoire during the creation of ''Pet Sounds''.{{sfn|Dillon|2012|p=93}}}}

Wilson credited his mother with introducing him to the Four Freshmen,{{sfn|Murphy|2015|p=59}} attributing his love for harmonies and the human voice to their "groovy sectional sound".<ref name="PopGenius">{{cite magazine|title=Brian Pop Genius!|magazine=Melody Maker|date=May 21, 1966|url=http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd420/kwan_dk/MMMay211966.jpg}}</ref> Their 1956 album ''Freshmen Favorites'' was the first pop album that Wilson listened to in its entirety{{sfn|White|1996|p=93}} and he regarded ''[[Voices in Love]]'' (1958) as "probably the greatest single vocal album I've ever heard".{{sfn|Lambert|2007|p=5}} He greatly admired the group's arrangers, [[Pete Rugolo]] and [[Dick Reynolds (musician)|Dick Reynolds]],{{sfn|Love|2016|p=55}} the latter's services he later employed for the Beach Boys' Christmas album and ''Adult/Child''.{{sfn|Lambert|2007|pp=8, 148, 314}} It is likely that Wilson learned nearly the entirety of the Four Freshmen's recorded repertoire through 1961, after which his obsession with the group diminished.{{sfn|Lambert|2007|p=6}} In addition to the Four Freshmen, Mike Love recalled Wilson "playing and studying a lot of [[Ricky Nelson]], [[the Four Preps]], and [[the Hi-Los]]".{{sfn|Love|2016|p=55}}{{refn|group=nb|The Four Preps' influence has been "largely underappreciated" by journalists and historians, according to Murphy.{{sfn|Murphy|2015|p=20}}}}

Inquired for his music tastes in 1961, Wilson replied, "[[top 40|top 10]]".{{sfn|Lambert|2007|p=11}} Particular favorites included [[Chuck Berry]], [[the Coasters]], and [[the Everly Brothers]].{{sfn|Lambert|2007|pp=11–13}} He particularly admired Berry's "rhythm and lyrical thoughts".<ref name="Sharp09"/> Carl said that he and his brother "were total Chuck Berry freaks" and together sang Coasters songs with Four Freshmen-style arrangements before the Beach Boys formed.{{sfn|Lambert|2007|pp=11–12}}

Wilson disliked surf music. In the estimation of biographer [[Timothy White (writer)|Timothy White]], he instead sought a "new plateau midway between Gershwin and the best Four Freshmen material" when forming his band.{{sfn|White|1996|p=162}} Gershwin's influence became more pronounced later in his career, particularl after the 1970s when he dedicated himself to learning the violin parts from ''Rhapsody in Blue''.{{sfn|Dillon|2012|p=290}} In 1994, he recorded a choral version of the piece with Van Dyke Parks.{{sfn|White|1996|p=357}}

===Spector and Bacharach===
[[File:Phil Spector.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|left|Wilson said of [[Phil Spector]], "I really respect him as a producer — so I just copied him."<ref name="Oui" />]]
[[Phil Spector]]'s influence on Wilson is widely acknowledged.{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=36}}{{sfn|Sanchez|2014|pp=52–53}} In 1966, he referred to Spector as "the single most influential producer",<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Grevatt|first=Ron|title=Beach Boys' Blast|magazine=Melody Maker|date=March 19, 1966|url=http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd420/kwan_dk/MMMarch191966.jpg}}</ref> and in 2000, "probably the biggest influence of all", noting, "Anybody with a good ear can hear that I was influenced by Spector."{{sfn|Thompson|2004|p=103}} He particularly admired his method of treating "the song as one giant instrument", valuing the enormous, spacious sound, with "the best drums I ever heard".{{sfn|Wilson|Greenman|2016|p=73}} Upon hearing [[the Ronettes]]' 1963 hit "[[Be My Baby]]" on his car radio, he immediately pulled over and declared it the greatest record he had ever heard.{{sfn|Howard|2004|pp=56–57}}{{refn|group=nb|Carlin describes the song as having become "a spiritual touchstone" for Wilson,{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=44}} while music historian Luis Sanchez states that it formed an enduring part of Wilson's mythology, being the Spector record that "etched itself the deepest into Brian's mind [...] it comes up again and again in interviews and biographies, variably calling up themes of deep admiration, a source of consolation, and a baleful haunting of the spirit."{{sfn|Sanchez|2014|pp=52–53}} Spector acknowledged, "I'd like to have a nickel for every joint he smoked trying to figure out how I got the 'Be My Baby' sound."<ref>{{cite web|date=October 25, 2008|title=First major TV interview with legendary Phil Spector screened on BBC Two|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/10_october/25/spector.shtml|website=BBC|access-date=June 2, 2011}}</ref>}} Record producer [[Lou Adler]] personally introduced them only a few days later.{{sfn|Wilson|Greenman|2016|p=77}}{{sfn|Murphy|2015|p=294}} 

Contrary to many accounts,{{sfn|MacLeod|2017|pp=138–139}} Spector's engineer, [[Larry Levine]], recalled that Spector held Wilson in high regard and was openly effusive in his praise.<ref name="Levine1997">{{cite AV media notes|chapter=Musician Comments: Larry Levine|title=The Pet Sounds Sessions|others=The Beach Boys|year=1997|publisher=[[Capitol Records]]|type=Booklet|chapter-url=http://albumlinernotes.com/Larry_Levine.html}}</ref> Levine said that the two producers "had a good rapport", with Wilson often attending Spector's recording sessions and consulting him about his production methods.{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=120}}{{refn|group=nb|Wilson played piano at a recording session for Spector's [[A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector|1963 Christmas album]], often cited as Wilson's favorite album of all time.<ref>{{cite press release |publisher=Legacy Recordings |title=A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector Marks Its 50th Anniversary |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/a-christmas-gift-for-you-from-phil-spector-marks-its-50th-anniversary-232906421.html |date=November 21, 2013}}</ref> }} After Spector's "[[You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin']]" (1964) became a hit for [[the Righteous Brothers]], Wilson called co-writers [[Barry Mann]] and [[Cynthia Weil]] to laud the record as the greatest ever and expressed his desire to work with them in the future.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303343404577519042622092010 |title=The Song That Conquered Radio |work=The Wall Street Journal |first=Marc|last=Myers|date=July 12, 2012|url-access=subscription}}</ref> He submitted "[[Don't Worry Baby]]" and "[[Don't Hurt My Little Sister]]", both written with the Ronettes in mind, but Spector declined.{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=45}}

[[File:Burt Bacharach 1972.JPG|thumb|upright|Wilson cited [[Burt Bacharach]] as "probably the greatest songwriting genius of the 20th century, and that includes...even better than George Gershwin."<ref name="Lester98"/>  ]]
Asked for songs that he wished he had written, Wilson listed three: "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'", "Be My Baby", and [[Burt Bacharach]]'s "[[Here I Am (Dionne Warwick album)|Here I Am]]",<ref name="Sharp09" />{{refn|group=nb|Wilson said that [[Dionne Warwick]]'s singing on "Here I Am" was like "the voice of God".<ref>{{cite book|last=Dominic|first=Serene|title=Burt Bacharach, Song by Song: The Ultimate Burt Bacharach Reference for Fans, Serious Record Collectors, and Music Critics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cz5bAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT397|year=2003|publisher=Music Sales Group|isbn=978-0-8256-7280-4}}</ref>}} the latter composer being often overlooked by scholars as an influence.{{sfn|Matijas-Mecca|2017|p=37}} Wilson named Bacharach, alongside Spector and Chuck Berry, as his main chordal influences,<ref name="Sharp09">{{cite news |last1=Sharp |first1=Ken |title=Brian Wilson: God's Messenger |url=https://americansongwriter.com/brian-wilson-gods-messenger/2/ |website=[[American Songwriter]] |date=January 2, 2009}}</ref> and said that Bacharach had a "profound" influence that "got me going in a direction."<ref name=BrianWilson1997/>{{refn|group=nb|In 1966, he said, "Burt Bacharach and [[Hal David]] are more like me. They're also the best pop team—per se—today. As a producer, Bacharach has a very fresh, new approach."{{sfn|Priore|2005|p=64}}}} Wilson produced renditions of Bacharach's "[[My Little Red Book]]" and "[[Walk on By (song)|Walk On By]]" in 1967 and 1968, respectively, but left the recordings unreleased.{{sfn|Lambert|2007|pp=284, 352, 354–355}}{{refn|group=nb|Music journalist [[Domenic Priore]] believed that Bacharach's "Walk on By" was possibly as influential to Wilson as "Be My Baby".{{sfn|Priore|2005|p=29}} Wilson said that Bacharach was a direct influence on "[[She Knows Me Too Well]]",<ref name="Benci"/> "[[Let's Go Away for Awhile]]",<ref name=BrianWilson1997>{{cite AV media notes|chapter=Interview with Brian Wilson|title=The Pet Sounds Sessions|others=[[The Beach Boys]]|year=1997|publisher=[[Capitol Records]]|type=Booklet|chapter-url=http://albumlinernotes.com/Interview_w_Brian_Wilson.html}}</ref> and "[[Love and Mercy]]".<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Brian Wilson |others=Brian Wilson |year=2000 |first=David |last=Leaf  |author-link=David Leaf|type=[[Liner notes]]|url=http://albumlinernotes.com/Brian_Wilson__Reissue_.html|publisher=[[Rhino Entertainment|Rhino]]/Atlantic}}</ref> Writers have variously attributed Bacharach influence on Wilson's "[[Guess I'm Dumb]]",{{Sfn|Howard|2004|p=59}} "[[Let Him Run Wild]],{{sfn|Hoskyns|2009|p=105}}{{sfn|Kent|2009|p=14}} and "[[The Little Girl I Once Knew]]".<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Today/Summer Days |others=[[The Beach Boys]] |year=1990 |first=David |last=Leaf|author-link=David Leaf|publisher=[[Capitol Records]]|type=CD Liner|url=http://albumlinernotes.com/Today_Summer_Days.html}}</ref> }}

===Others===
Wilson's other significant musical influences include [[Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons]],{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=36}} [[Nelson Riddle]],{{sfn|Toop|1999|p=134}} the [[Motown sound]],<ref name="Sharp09"/>{{refn|group=nb|Regarding his increasingly melodic bass lines in the mid-1960s, Granata speculated that Wilson "may have taken a cue" from Motown's [[James Jamerson]].{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=65}}}} [[Disney]] film soundtracks such as ''[[Mary Poppins: Original Cast Soundtrack|Mary Poppins]]'' (1964),{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=148}} and [[soul music|soul]] musicians such as [[Smokey Robinson]] and [[Stevie Wonder]].<ref>{{cite magazine|title='Head' Games With Brian Wilson|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/67452/head-games-with-brian-wilson|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=July 8, 2004}}</ref> [[Wendy Carlos]]' 1969 album ''[[Switched-On Bach]]'', described by Wilson as "one of the most electrifying records" he had ever heard,{{sfn|Wilson|Greenman|2016|p=79}} influenced his use of synthesizers.<ref name="Caroline"/>

{{Quote box
|align=left
|quote=The Beatles ''inspired'' me. They didn't influence me.
|source=—Brian Wilson, 2015<ref name="beatlesinfluence"/>
|width = 25%}}

It is often reported that the Beach Boys and the Beatles influenced each other,{{sfn|Jones|2008|p=56}} although Wilson rejected the notion.<ref name="beatlesinfluence">{{cite web|last1=Mettler|first1=Mike|title=Brian Wilson Feels No Pressure When Creating His Sonically Beautiful Pocket Symphonies|work=Sound Bard|date=May 13, 2015|url=http://www.soundbard.com/soundbard/brian-wilson-feels-no-pressure-when-creating-his-sonically-beautiful-pocket-symphonies/}}</ref>{{refn|group=nb|Carl supported that Brian had preferred Spector over the Beatles, although his brother "loved the Beatles' later music when they evolved and started making intelligent, masterful music".<ref name=HimesSurf/> Mike Love remarked of the Beatles' influence on Wilson in 1969, "Brian was in his own world, believe me."<ref>{{Gilliland |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19796/m1/ |title=Show 37 – The Rubberization of Soul: The great pop music renaissance. [Part 3] }}</ref>}} He acknowledged that he had felt threatened by the Beatles' success{{sfn|Love|2016|p=107}} and that this awareness drove him to concentrate his efforts on trying to outdo them in the studio.<ref name="MSLE">{{cite book |year=2002 |title=Mojo Special Limited Edition: 1000 Days That Shook the World (The Psychedelic Beatles – April 1, 1965 to December 26, 1967)|location=London |publisher=Emap|page=4}}</ref> He praised Paul McCartney's stylistic versatility and commended his bass playing as "technically fantastic".{{sfn|Barrow|Bextor|2004|p=72}}

In 1976, Wilson commented that he felt contemporary popular music had lacked the artistic integrity it once had,<ref name="Oui" /> with [[Queen (band)|Queen]]'s "[[Bohemian Rhapsody]]" (1975) being one exception.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Cromelin|first=Richard|author-link=Richard Cromelin|title=''Pet Sounds'' & The California Consciousness|magazine=Sounds|date=August 8, 1976|url=http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/brian-wilson-part-2|url-access=subscription|via=[[Rock's Backpages]]}}</ref> In a 1988 interview, he named the 1982 compilation ''[[Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I]]'' and [[Paul Simon]]'s 1986 release ''[[Graceland (album)|Graceland]]'' among his ten favorite albums of all time.<ref name="Contrast88"/> In 2007, he cited [[Billy Joel]] as his favorite pianist.<ref name="Kub07">{{cite web |last1=Kubernik |first1=Harvey |author1-link=Harvey Kubernik |date=July 2, 2021|title=Beach Boys "Feel Flows" Box Set |url=https://www.musicconnection.com/kubernik-beach-boys-feel-flows-box-set/ |website=Music Connection |access-date=April 25, 2022}}</ref> By 2015, Wilson maintained that he does not listen to modern music, only "oldies but goodies".<ref name=LVRJ>{{cite news|last1=Herrera|first1=Dave|title=A Q&A with Brian Wilson|work=[[Las Vegas Review-Journal]]|date=July 10, 2015|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/music/qa-brian-wilson}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Charlton|first1=Lauretta|title=Brian Wilson on His New Album and Biopic|magazine=[[Vulture (magazine)|Vulture]]|date=March 26, 2015|url=http://www.vulture.com/2015/03/brian-wilson-interview.html}}</ref>