I always kinda wondered what exactly possessed the group to use "Had to Phone Ya" for 15 Big Ones. Did Brian suggest it while in the middle of crankin' out all of those oldies he was recording? It seems odd that he would pick out that random song that was already released and work on it. I wonder if that was a song the band coaxed him into recording because they wanted more Brian written material. Although it was just as odd that he would pick a song out from the early '60s ("Back Home") and work on that too. And it's kinda weird how differently produced it is, especially compared to the rest of the album. Its more akin to Pet Sounds than 15 Big Ones. Perhaps the instrumental was really tracked in 1973 or 1974 or something, and we don't know that?
Only shame is, if Brian and the boys were into using previously used American Spring material, I wish they would have used "Sweet Mountain", although I have the vibe that it was written more by Sandler than Wilson, especially with that melody of Sandler's from a few years before or something.
And I know it's lame of me to bring it up again, but I still just don't understand why "Good Timin'" and "California Feelin'" weren't used for their followup to Holland. I know Dennis and Mike both talked up "Good Timin'", and Brian even played "California Feelin'" to a writer in the studio during the sessions for 15 Big Ones, so it's not like they were forgotten or thought of as unworthy of release. I think it's possible that Brian knew when he had a great song, and by say, 1972 or so, he would rather not send that song out to the world to be judged, and would rather just leave it unreleased. Kinda like the "Surf's Up" scenario.
Not to mention the insanely catchy Rollin' Up To Heaven (a few lyric changes would've made it album-friendly) and the avalanche of amazing material Dennis was producing around this time.
Re: Everyone's In Love With You
Prior to 15 Big Ones, i can honestly say their isn't a single Beach Boys song that i
hate. Tears In The Morning, Student Demo Time, etc - they may not be entirely my cup of tea, but i can still at least see some merit in them. HOWEVER... Everyone's In Love With You - i can see absolutely no worth whatsoever in this song! It is absolutely ghastly - trite lyrics, vomit-inducingly twee singing, dreadful melody.