This Day in History: The Beach Boys album "20/20" was released on this day in 1969. It has a song co-written by Phil Spector, another written by Lead Belly, and a third written by Charles Manson.
The song "Never Learn Not to Love" was originally written by Charles Manson under the title "Cease to Exist". According to Carlin, Manson penned "Cease to Exist" specifically for the Beach Boys to record, and biographer Steven Gaines said that Manson "reportedly" wrote the song to help ease tensions within the group. Dennis produced the Beach Boys' version in September 1968, reworking the song's bluesy structure and altering its lyric (the opening lyric "Cease to exist" modified to "Cease to resist"). The title was also changed to "Never Learn Not to Love", much to Manson's indignation.
The song "Cotton Fields" was written by Lead Belly who was convicted of murder in 1918.
"I Can Hear Music" was co-written by Phil Spector. On February 3, 2003, Spector shot actress Lana Clarkson in the mouth while in his mansion.
This may not be the Beach Boys best album, but it has to be the only album in history featuring songs by three different murderers.
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