LOS ANGELES : Beach Boys’ Singer Testifies in Suit Against Brian Wilson

Beach Boys lead singer Mike Love testified Friday that he was told he would not get proper credit for the songs he co-wrote if he failed to sign a 1969 agreement to sell the group’s 140-song catalogue.

“I signed it under duress, “ Love testified in Los Angeles Superior Court. Both the group’s manager and its attorney, Abraham Somer, told him to sign the agreement, Love said at the end of the fourth week of testimony in his suit.

The controversy began with the sale of the band’s songs, known as Sea of Tunes, to Irving Music, a division of A & M Records. The late Murry Wilson, father of co-founder Brian Wilson and owner of the publishing rights, got $700,000 for the songs. The sale was negated in a 1992 settlement that netted Brian Wilson $10 million. Love, 53, sued his cousin, Brian Wilson, to obtain a share of royalties he claims he is owed for songs including “California Girls,” “Dance, Dance, Dance” and “Help Me Rhonda.”