Sea of Tunes

Last updated
Sea of Tunes
StatusDefunct (1969)
Founded1962 (1962)
Founder Murry Wilson
Country of origin United States
Headquarters location Los Angeles
Publication types Songs

Sea of Tunes was a music publishing company founded in 1962 by Murry and Brian Wilson. [1] Murry was the first manager of the Beach Boys, the father of Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson and the uncle of Mike Love. The intention of Sea of Tunes was to publish and promote the songs written primarily by Brian.[ not verified in body ]

Contents

Sale to Irving Almo Music

After the Beach Boys dismissed Murry Wilson as their manager in 1964, he continued to serve as their publisher. [2] In July 1965, he sent a letter to Brian requesting sole ownership of the company per a verbal agreement that they had reached in 1962. [3] According to historian Keith Badman, "Brian allowed Murry to take total control to stop his father's continual hassling on the matter." [4]

In May 1969, Brian told the music press that the group's funds were so depleted that they were considering filing for bankruptcy at the end of the year, which Disc & Music Echo called "stunning news" and a "tremendous shock on the American pop scene." [5] In August (or November [4] ), Murry sold Sea of Tunes to Irving Almo Music for $700,000 (equivalent to $5.82 million in 2023), believing that the catalog's value had peaked. [6] [7] Brian, according to his wife Marilyn Wilson, was devastated by the sale. [8]

Mike Love wrote in his 2016 memoir that the group had signed away their rights to the songs under duress, and that in the late 1980s, it was discovered that the exchange was part of an elaborate plan orchestrated over two years by Abe Somer, the Beach Boys' lawyer. Somer concealed the fact that he was also Irving Music's lawyer, which was a conflict of interest. [9] Over the years, the catalog would generate more than $100 million in publishing royalties, none of which Murry Wilson or the band members ever received. [10] By 1994, the catalog was estimated to be worth $40 million ($82.2 million in 2023). [11]

In the early 1990s, years after Murry's passing, Brian claimed fraud and sued for the return of his song copyrights. [2] The suit suggested that Brian's signature may have been forged, "plus malpractice, misrepresentations, suppression of facts, breach of contract and conflicts of interest," making the sale illegal. [12] [13] While he failed to recover them in court, he was awarded $25 million in damages, including unpaid and underpaid royalties. [14] [ failed verification ]

Mike Love credits

Love v. Wilson
Court U.S. District Court
DecidedDecember 12, 1994 (1994-12-12)
Defendant Brian Wilson
Plaintiff Mike Love
Court membership
Judge sitting William J. Rea

Mike Love alleged that he was owed credit to 79 Beach Boys songs. [15] Love explained that Murry had never credited him for many of the songs that he had cowritten with Brian, and therefore, he had not been paid royalties. [11] Love said he "didn't know how badly I had been abused until I was deposed in Brian's pursuit of his claims against Irving Almo and Mitchell Silverburg and Nutt, which was the attorney representing the Beach Boys and Irving Almo. An inherent conflict of interest there." [16] Love hoped that "we don't have to go to trial because it's going to destroy Brian. He's going to be destroyed in depositions, first of all, let alone getting him in court." [16]

The parties were unable to reach a settlement, and Love filed suit against Wilson in 1992. [11] After an eight-week-long trial and eight days of deliberation, Love won the case on December 12, 1994. [11] The jury ruled that Love and Wilson were partners, that Wilson or his agents concealed material facts with the intention of defrauding Love, that they engaged in promissory fraud with respect to publishing credits and royalties and that Love was owed the 35 songs disputed. Love later called it "almost certainly the largest case of fraud in music history". [17] He was subsequently awarded a cowriting credit to 35 songs that were published from 1962 to 1966, as well as $13 million. [11]

Awarded credits [18]

Other disputed credits

Bootleg label

In 1997, a label named after the publishing company issued a slew of unauthorized bootleg recordings sourced from Beach Boys archives. [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Beach Boys</span> American rock band

The Beach Boys are an American rock band formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Distinguished by its vocal harmonies, adolescent-oriented lyrics, and musical ingenuity, the band is one of the most influential acts of the rock era. The group drew on the music of older pop vocal groups, 1950s rock and roll, and black R&B to create its unique sound. Under Brian's direction, it often incorporated classical or jazz elements and unconventional recording techniques in innovative ways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Wilson</span> American musician (born 1942)

Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often called a genius for his novel approaches to pop composition, extraordinary musical aptitude, and mastery of recording techniques, he is widely acknowledged as one of the most innovative and significant songwriters of the 20th century. His best-known work is distinguished for its high production values, complex harmonies and orchestrations, layered vocals, and introspective or ingenuous themes. Wilson is also known for his formerly high-ranged singing and lifelong struggles with mental illness.

<i>Sunflower</i> (The Beach Boys album) 1970 studio album by the Beach Boys

Sunflower is the 16th studio album by the American rock band the Beach Boys, released on August 31, 1970 by Reprise Records, their first for the label. It received favorable reviews, but sold poorly, reaching number 151 on the US record charts during a four-week stay and becoming the lowest-charting Beach Boys album to that point. "Add Some Music to Your Day" was the only single that charted in the US, peaking at number 64. In the UK, the album peaked at number 29.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Girls</span> 1965 song by the Beach Boys

"California Girls" is a song by the American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1965 album Summer Days . Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, the lyrics were partly inspired by the band's experiences touring Europe for the first time, detailing an appreciation for women across the world. It was released as a single, backed with "Let Him Run Wild", and reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also a top 10 hit in several other countries, becoming one of the band's most successful songs globally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brother Records</span> The Beach Boys record company

Brother Records, Inc. (BRI) is an American holding company and record label established in 1966 that owns the intellectual property rights of the Beach Boys, including "The Beach Boys" trademark. It was founded by brothers Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, and their cousin Mike Love. As of 2011, the corporation was equally owned by four shareholders and directors: Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, and the estate of Carl Wilson.

<i>Friends</i> (The Beach Boys album) 1968 album by the Beach Boys

Friends is the fourteenth studio album by the American rock band the Beach Boys, released on June 24, 1968, through Capitol Records. The album is characterized by its calm and peaceful atmosphere, which contrasted the prevailing music trends of the time, and by its brevity, with five of its 12 tracks running less than two minutes long. It sold poorly, peaking at number 126 on the Billboard charts, the group's lowest U.S. chart performance to date, although it reached number 13 in the UK. Fans generally came to regard the album as one of the band's finest.

<i>Carl and the Passions – "So Tough"</i> 1972 album by the Beach Boys

Carl and the Passions – "So Tough" is the 18th studio album by American rock band the Beach Boys, released May 15, 1972 on Brother/Reprise. The album is a significant musical departure for the band and is the first to feature the Flames' Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar as additions to their official line-up. It sold poorly and was met with lukewarm reviews, but later gained stature as a cult favorite among fans.

<i>15 Big Ones</i> 1976 album by the Beach Boys

15 Big Ones is the 20th studio album by the American rock band the Beach Boys, released July 5, 1976, by Brother/Reprise. It includes a mix of original songs and renditions of rock 'n' roll and R&B standards. The LP was the band's first album with production credited solely to Brian Wilson since Pet Sounds (1966). As such, its release was accompanied by a controversial media campaign that declared his comeback as an active member of the Beach Boys' recording and touring group.

<i>The Beach Boys Love You</i> 1977 studio album by the Beach Boys

The Beach Boys Love You is the 21st studio album by American rock band the Beach Boys, released April 11, 1977, on Brother/Reprise.

<i>M.I.U. Album</i> 1978 album by the Beach Boys

M.I.U. Album is the 22nd studio album by the American rock band the Beach Boys, released on September 25, 1978. Characterized for its easy-listening sound, the album was produced by Al Jardine and touring member Ron Altbach during one of the most acrimonious periods in the band's history. It sold poorly, peaking at number 151 in the U.S, and was met with confused reactions from critics and fans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murry Wilson</span> American songwriter

Murry Gage Wilson was an American songwriter, talent manager, record producer, and music publisher, best known as the father of the Beach Boys' Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson. After the band's formation in 1961, Murry became their first manager, and in 1962, he founded their publishing company, Sea of Tunes, with Brian. Later in his life, Wilson was accused of physically and verbally abusing his children, charges which he denied.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heroes and Villains</span> 1967 single by the Beach Boys

"Heroes and Villains" is a song by the American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1967 album Smiley Smile and their unfinished Smile project. Written by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks, Wilson envisioned the song as an Old West-themed musical comedy that would surpass the recording and artistic achievements of "Good Vibrations". The single was Brother Records' first release. While it failed to meet critical and commercial expectations, it was nevertheless a hit record, peaking at number 12 in the U.S. and number 8 in the UK.

<i>All Summer Long</i> (album) 1964 album by the Beach Boys

All Summer Long is the sixth album by the American rock band the Beach Boys, released July 13, 1964 on Capitol Records. Regarded as their first artistically unified collection of songs, as well as one of the first true concept albums, it marked the Beach Boys' first LP that was not focused on themes of cars or surfing. Instead, the songs are semi-autobiographical and relate to the experiences of a typical Southern Californian teenager, a theme encapsulated by the title track, "All Summer Long", and the often-imitated front cover, a modernist style photo collage depicting the band members fraternizing with young women on a beach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Never Learn Not to Love</span> 1968 single by the Beach Boys

"Never Learn Not to Love" is a song recorded by the American rock band the Beach Boys that was issued as the B-side to their "Bluebirds over the Mountain" single on December 2, 1968. Credited to Dennis Wilson, the song is an altered version of "Cease to Exist", written by the Manson Family cult leader Charles Manson. The blues-inspired song was written specifically for the Beach Boys, with Manson's lyrics addressing personal tensions that he had witnessed between Dennis and his brothers Brian and Carl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford</span> American singer and first wife of Brian Wilson

Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford is an American singer who is best known as the first wife of Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson. She was also a member of two girl groups, the Honeys in the 1960s and American Spring in the 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Love</span> American singer and songwriter (born 1941)

Michael Edward Love is an American singer and songwriter who was the lead vocalist of the Beach Boys which he co-founded with his cousins Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson and their friend Al Jardine. Characterized by his nasal tenor and occasional bass-baritone singing, Love has been one of the band's vocalists and lyricists for their entire career, contributing to each of their studio albums and serving as their frontman for live performances. During the mid-1960s, he was one of Brian's main collaborators, contributing lyrics to hit records such as "Fun, Fun, Fun" (1964), "I Get Around" (1964), "Help Me, Rhonda" (1965), "California Girls" (1965), and "Good Vibrations" (1966).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Get Around</span> 1964 song by the Beach Boys

"I Get Around" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys and the opening track from their 1964 album All Summer Long. Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, the autobiographical lyrics describe the group's reaction to their newfound fame and success, as well as their restlessness concerning the status quo, and their desire to find new places "where the kids are hip". It was released as a single on May 11, 1964, with the B-side "Don't Worry Baby".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Wilson is a genius</span> Promotional campaign for the Beach Boys leader

"Brian Wilson is a genius" is a line that became part of a media campaign spearheaded in 1966 by the Beatles' former press officer Derek Taylor, who was then employed as the Beach Boys' publicist. Although there are earlier documented expressions of the statement, Taylor frequently called Brian Wilson a "genius" as part of an effort to rebrand the Beach Boys and legitimize Wilson as a serious artist on a par with the Beatles and Bob Dylan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Beach Boys live performances</span>

The Beach Boys are an American rock band formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. Since then, the band has undergone many variations in composition, with representation by fill-ins onstage. As of 2021, the only principal members included in the Beach Boys' touring band are co-founder Mike Love and 1965 addition Bruce Johnston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surfin' U.S.A.</span> Single by the Beach Boys

"Surfin' U.S.A." is a song by the American rock band the Beach Boys, credited to Chuck Berry and Brian Wilson. It is a rewritten version of Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen" set to new lyrics written by Wilson and an uncredited Mike Love. The song was released as a single on March 4, 1963, backed with "Shut Down". It was then placed as the opening track on their album of the same name.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Badman 2004, p. 23.
  2. 1 2 Van Matre, Lynn (October 13, 1991). "Child Of Abuse: Beach Boy Brian Wilson Finally Tells His Story, And It Isn't Pretty". Chicago Tribune.
  3. ↑ Badman 2004, p. 95.
  4. 1 2 Badman 2004, p. 258.
  5. ↑ Wilson, Brian (May 31, 1969). "Why we're in such a struggle for cash". Disc & Music Echo . p. 7.
  6. ↑ Carlin 2006, p. 145.
  7. ↑ Love 2016, p. 226.
  8. ↑ Gaines 1986, p. 224–225.
  9. ↑ Love 2016, pp. 225–226, 376–377.
  10. ↑ Love 2016, p. 227.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 "Beach Boys' Mike Love Wins His Case, Stands to Collect Millions". Los Angeles Times. December 13, 1994. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  12. ↑ Letovski, Irv (September 19, 1989). "Brian Wilson Sues Music Publisher". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  13. ↑ Heller, Karen (October 23, 1991). "A Beach Boy's Blues For Brian Wilson, The Days Of "Fun, Fun, Fun" Have Ebbed. Although He Has A New Book, He's Also Involved In Several Lawsuits. "drugs," He Says, "put A Gash In My Mind."". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Archived from the original on December 22, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Beach Boy Wilson Sues Law Firm Over 1969 Sales". Los Angeles Times. September 18, 1990. Retrieved 2012-10-01.
  15. ↑ Bates, James (October 4, 1994). "COMPANY TOWN : No Harmony in Beach Boy Suit Between Cousins Love and Wilson". Los Angeles Times .
  16. 1 2 "Good Vibrations? The Beach Boys' Mike Love gets his turn". Goldmine . September 18, 1992.
  17. ↑ Love 2016, p. 373.
  18. ↑ Doe, Andrew G. "Album Archive". Bellagio 10452. Endless Summer Quarterly.
  19. ↑ Hedegaard, Erik (February 17, 2016). "The Ballad of Mike Love". Rolling Stone .
  20. ↑ Wilson, Brian (September 1974). "KRTH" (Interview: Audio). Interviewed by Jim Pewter. New York City.; Brian Wilson - Jim Pewter Interview 1974 (audio) on YouTube
  21. ↑ Dillon, Mark (2012). Fifty Sides of the Beach Boys: The Songs That Tell Their Story. ECW Press. p. 72. ISBN   978-1-77090-198-8.
  22. ↑ Carlin 2006, p. 278.
  23. ↑ Wilonsky, Robert (December 23, 1999). "The Forever Frown". Phoenix New Times Music. phoenixnewtimes.com. Retrieved July 29, 2013.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.