13 Surprising Brian Wilson Collaborations You Might Have Missed

Brian Wilson is remembered as the creative force behind the Beach Boys, but his work stretched far beyond the group. Over the decades, he teamed up with artists from rock, pop, TV, and even animation. These collaborations often showed new sides of his voice and arranging skills, reaching audiences far outside his usual circle.

In a 2016 interview with the Harvard Business Review, Wilson explained why he enjoyed both solo and group work. “Both,” he replied. “With other musicians, you can bounce ideas around. But there are times I like to work alone… It’s all still the creative process for me.”

1. “Just 14,” Tim Curry (1976 Single)

Tim Curry was already famous for his role in The Rocky Horror Picture Show when he released “Just 14” in 1976. Wilson joined the project to provide backing vocals, adding a surprisingly warm layer beneath Curry’s theatrical delivery. The pairing may have seemed unlikely at the time, but it showed Wilson’s openness to unusual projects.

This collaboration also reflected the broad reach of Wilson’s influence. Curry’s dramatic style contrasted with Wilson’s calm vocal tone, yet the combination created an interesting blend that fans of either artist might not have expected. It remains one of Wilson’s more overlooked contributions.

2. “Adios,” Linda Ronstadt (1989)

Linda Ronstadt’s “Adios” featured a vocal arrangement that sounded unmistakably like Wilson’s work. His backing vocals added depth and emotion to the track, and Ronstadt later spoke warmly about what she learned from him. She said, “I learned a tremendous amount about singing hearing Brian sing… I love Brian and I love his work.”

Ronstadt praised the honesty and structure of Wilson’s harmonies, saying they reminded her of classical techniques. To her, his ability to match words and melody felt natural and pure. Their collaboration showed how Wilson’s musical ideas reached well beyond the Beach Boys era.

3. “California Girls,” Nancy Sinatra (2002)

Nancy Sinatra’s long-delayed album California Girl finally arrived in 2002, and Wilson played a key role in shaping its sound. He sang backing vocals on her cover of “California Girls” and also received credit as a composer. His familiar harmonies added a nostalgic feel to a song closely linked to his past.

Sinatra began the project back in the 1970s, but the final version benefited from Wilson’s involvement decades later. The collaboration showed that Wilson remained connected to California-themed music while also supporting artists who shared his history in pop culture.

4. “California,” Belinda Carlisle (1996)

Belinda Carlisle invited Wilson to sing backing vocals on “California,” a track from her 1996 album A Woman & a Man. At first, she wasn’t sure how his early ideas would fit the song. Carlisle remembered thinking, “Oh my God, this is horrible… what are we going to do?” But everything changed once he stepped into the booth.

She said the final result moved her to near tears because Pet Sounds was her favorite album. Hearing Wilson’s harmonies on her track felt emotional and powerful. Carlisle later called it one of the best moments of her career.

5. “Love Is All That Matters,” Eric Carmen (1977)

Eric Carmen brought both Brian Wilson and Bruce Johnston into his 1977 solo album Boats Against the Current. Wilson sang on three songs, including “Love Is All That Matters.” Carmen often spoke about how much Wilson influenced him as a songwriter and arranger.

He explained that Wilson’s work pushed him to think differently about song structure. Carmen said Pet Sounds was the greatest pop album he had ever heard, and he admired the way Wilson wrote bridges that shifted the direction of a song. Their collaboration reflected that deep respect.

6. “Fooling Yourself (Palm of Your Hands),” Styx (2003)

Styx’s Glen Burtnik created a vocal arrangement for “Fooling Yourself (Palm of Your Hands)” that clearly drew from Wilson’s style. What he didn’t expect was drummer Todd Sucherman simply calling Wilson to join the recording — and Wilson agreeing. His addition gave the track a layered vocal sound reminiscent of his classic work.

Burtnik later told him, “I learned how to arrange vocals from you.” Wilson’s presence became a highlight of the album sessions. Even among rock musicians known for their harmonies, having Wilson involved added credibility and history to the track.

7. “Doin’ the Krabby Patty,” SpongeBob SquarePants (2006)

In 2006, Wilson appeared on the SpongeBob SquarePants soundtrack The Best Day Ever, singing backing vocals on “Doin’ the Krabby Patty.” Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob, said musicians enjoyed joining the project because of how popular the character was with children.

Kenny explained that even artists without kids knew someone young who would be impressed. He joked that for some kids, Wilson’s SpongeBob appearance might be more exciting than knowing he wrote “Smile.” This unexpected collaboration showed Wilson’s humor and willingness to try lighthearted projects.

8. “Right Where I Belong,” Brian Wilson & Jim James (2021)

Wilson teamed with Jim James of My Morning Jacket for “Right Where I Belong,” featured in the 2021 documentary Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road. It became the final song Wilson released before his passing in 2025, making it especially meaningful to fans.

James later said hearing Wilson sing during the session moved him to tears: “That VOICE… hearing it pop out of the speakers in real life brought me to tears.” The track brought together two generations of musicians who both valued emotional songwriting.

9. “I Won’t Stay Long,” David Crosby (2021)

David Crosby’s 2021 album For Free featured an appearance by Wilson, who counted Crosby in on the song “I Won’t Stay Long.” The contribution was brief, but fans noticed how tender and personal it felt coming from two artists who helped shape California rock.

Crosby gathered several friends for the album, including Donald Fagen and Michael McDonald. Wilson’s small role fit naturally into the project, giving the song a quiet moment of connection between longtime peers. Even a simple count-in carried emotional weight because of who delivered it.

10. “Without Understanding,” Ringo Starr (1998)

Ringo Starr’s 1998 album Vertical Man included Wilson on backing vocals for “Without Understanding.” Starr often invited well-known musicians to his projects, and Wilson had already worked with him on a song called “In a Heartbeat” in 1992.

Their continued collaboration showed the respect Starr had for Wilson’s voice and arranging style. Even brief vocal parts helped shape the sound of the album. The partnership also highlighted how easily Wilson blended with musicians from different eras of rock.

11. “Resentment,” Kesha (2019)

Kesha teamed up with Wilson, Sturgill Simpson, and Wrabel for the 2019 track “Resentment.” She described Wilson as “one of my personal musical heroes,” even though she was born decades after Pet Sounds was released. Their collaboration showed how Wilson’s influence reached well into the next century.

He supported newer artists with the same openness he showed earlier in his career. Kesha’s admiration made the project meaningful, and Wilson’s presence connected her modern pop sound to classic harmony-based songwriting.

12. “Dirty Computer,” Janelle Monáe (2018)

Janelle Monáe brought Wilson onto the title track of her 2018 album Dirty Computer, mixing her futuristic style with his signature harmonies. Wilson said, “I was thrilled she asked me to sing on her song. I love the melody on this track and the harmonies very much.”

Monáe expressed her excitement as well, saying she was honored to have him on the album. The collaboration proved that Wilson’s voice could adapt to modern production while still sounding familiar to longtime fans.

13. “When Love Is Dying,” Elton John & Leon Russell (2010)

Elton John and Leon Russell’s 2010 album The Union included Wilson on backing vocals for “When Love Is Dying.” John invited several guests to participate, but Wilson’s involvement held special meaning. After Wilson’s passing, John said he was “the biggest influence on my songwriting ever.”

John explained that Wilson changed how he understood songwriting and melody. Calling him “a true giant,” he highlighted the deep respect many musicians felt toward Wilson’s work. Their collaboration added another layer to the album that celebrated musical connections across generations.