An article from American Songwriter highlights the contribution of Carl Wilson, the late Beach Boys member, whose backing vocals enriched several well-known songs beyond his own band's catalogue. While Brian Wilson was seen as the group's creative genius and Mike Love its frontman showman, Carl Wilson is credited with providing much of The Beach Boys' vocal soul, and this legacy extended to collaborations with other prominent artists across different genres and decades.

The piece lists four examples: Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," on which Wilson sang alongside fellow Beach Boy Bruce Johnston and Toni Tennille; Warren Zevon's 1976 track "Desperados Under the Eaves," where Wilson both performed and arranged the closing backing vocals; Chicago's 1977 hit "Baby, What a Big Surprise," which reached number four on the charts; and David Lee Roth's cover of "California Girls," recorded for his 1985 solo EP Crazy from the Heat.