Editing Brian Wilson (section)

===Early productions and freelancing===
In 1962, Wilson and the Beach Boys signed a seven-year contract with Capitol Records under producer [[Nick Venet]].{{sfn|Badman|2004|pp=24, 28}}{{sfn|Murphy|2015|p=206}} During sessions for their debut album, ''[[Surfin' Safari]]'', Wilson negotiated with Capitol to record the band outside the label's [[Capitol Studios|basement studios]], which he deemed ill-suited for his group.{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=26}}{{refn|group=nb|Their rooms had been designed for large orchestras and ensembles of the 1950s, not small rock groups.{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=26}}}} At Wilson's insistence, Capitol permitted the Beach Boys to fund their own external sessions while retaining all rights to the recordings.{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=26}} He also secured production control over the album, though he was not credited for this role in the liner notes.{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=26}}{{sfn|Murphy|2015|p=300}}

Inspired by producer [[Phil Spector]], whose work with [[the Teddy Bears]] he admired, Wilson sought to emulate Spector's career path.{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=43}}{{sfn|White|1996|pp=111, 172}} Wilson reflected, "I've always felt I was a behind-the-scenes man, rather than an entertainer."{{sfn|Murphy|2015|p=286}} Collaborating with songwriter [[Gary Usher]], he composed numerous songs patterned after the Teddy Bears' style and produced records for local talent, though without commercial breakthrough.{{sfn|White|1996|pp=146, 161}} His first uncredited production outside the Beach Boys was Rachel and the Revolvers' "The Revo-Lution", co-written with Usher and released by [[Dot Records]] in September.{{sfn|Murphy|2015|pp=227–228}} Interference from Wilson's father eventually led to the dissolution of his partnership with Usher.{{sfn|Dillon|2012|p=20}}{{sfn|Murphy|2015|pp=215, 217–218, 254–255, 300}}  

By mid-1962, Wilson was writing with disc jockey [[Roger Christian (songwriter)|Roger Christian]],{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=24}} whom he met via Murry or Usher,{{sfn|Murphy|2015|p=199}} and with guitarist [[Bob Norberg (songwriter)|Bob Norberg]], who later became his roommate.{{sfn|Murphy|2015|pp=216–218}} In October 1962, Safari Records—a short-lived label founded by Murry{{sfn|Murphy|2015|p=243}}—released the single "[[The Surfer Moon]]" by [[Bob & Sheri (band)|Bob & Sheri]], the first record to credit Brian as producer.{{sfn|Leaf|1978|p=26}}{{sfn|Murphy|2015|pp=228, 243}} The label's only other release was Bob & Sheri's "Humpty Dumpty",{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=27}} with both songs written by Wilson.{{sfn|White|1996|p=161}}

[[File:The WIlson Brothers 1962.jpg|thumb|left|Wilson (top) with his brothers [[Carl Wilson|Carl]] (middle) and [[Dennis Wilson|Dennis]] (bottom) at a Beach Boys photoshoot, early 1963{{sfn|Murphy|2015|p=271}}]]

From January to March 1963, Wilson produced the Beach Boys' second album, ''[[Surfin' U.S.A. (album)|Surfin' U.S.A.]]'', limiting his public appearances with the group to television gigs and local shows to prioritize studio work.{{sfn|Badman|2004|pp=32–34}} [[David Marks (musician)|David Marks]] substituted for him on vocals during other performances.{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=34}} In March, Capitol released  "[[Surfin' U.S.A. (song)|Surfin' U.S.A.]]", the Beach Boys' first top-ten single.{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=32}} The accompanying album peaked at number two on the ''Billboard'' charts by July, cementing the Beach Boys as a major commercial act.{{sfn|Gaines|1986|p=40}}

Against Venet's wishes, Wilson collaborated with artists outside Capitol, including the [[Liberty Records]] duo [[Jan and Dean]].{{sfn|White|1996|p=172}} Wilson co-wrote "[[Surf City (song)|Surf City]]" with [[Jan Berry]], which topped U.S. charts in July 1963, his first composition to do so.{{sfn|Badman|2004|pp=34, 37, 39}} The song's success revitalized Jan and Dean's faltering career.{{sfn|Murphy|2015|p=322}} Capitol and Wilson's father disapproved of the collaboration; Murry demanded his son cease working with the duo, though they continued to appear on each other's recordings.{{sfn|Badman|2004|pp=34, 37, 39}}

Around this time, Wilson began producing [[the Honeys|the Rovell Sisters]], a girl group consisting of sisters [[Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford|Marilyn]] and Diane Rovell and their cousin Ginger Blake, whom he met at a Beach Boys concert the previous August.{{sfn|Murphy|2015|p=275}} Wilson pitched the group to Capitol as "the Honeys", a female counterpart to the Beach Boys. The company released several Honeys records as singles, though they sold poorly.{{sfn|Gaines|1986|pp=98–99}} He grew close to the Rovell family and resided primarily at their home through 1963 and 1964.{{sfn|Gaines|1986|pp=99, 119}} The group's fourth single "[[He's a Doll]]", released in April 1964,{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=52}} exemplified his attempts to become an entrepreneurial producer like Spector.{{sfn|Lambert|2007|p=149}}

Wilson was first officially credited as the Beach Boys' producer on their album ''[[Surfer Girl]]'', recorded in June and July 1963 and released that September.{{sfn|Badman|2004|pp=37–41}} This LP reached number seven on the national charts, with similarly successful singles.{{sfn|Badman|2004|pp=40–41}} He also produced the car-themed album ''[[Little Deuce Coupe]]'', released just three weeks after ''Surfer Girl''.{{sfn|Badman|2004|pp=39–42}} Still resistant to touring, Jardine was his live substitute. By late 1963, Marks' departure necessitated Wilson's return to the touring lineup.{{sfn|Badman|2004|pp=39–42}}{{sfn|Murphy|2015|p=315}} By the end of the year, Wilson had written, arranged, or produced 42 songs for other acts.{{sfn|Murphy|2015|p=322}}{{refn|group=nb|This includes records by the Honeys, Jan and Dean, the Survivors, Sharon Marie, the Timers, the Castells ("[[I Do (The Castells song)|I Do]]"), Bob Norberg, Vickie Kocher, Gary Usher, Christian, [[Paul Petersen]] ("She Rides with Me"), and Larry Denton ("[[Endless Sleep]]").{{sfn|Murphy|2015|p=322}} He also founded Brian Wilson Productions, a record production company with offices on Sunset Boulevard, and Ocean Music, a publishing entity for his work with artists outside the Beach Boys.{{sfn|Murphy|2015|p=318}}}}