Motivation behind "Loop De Loop," "Feet," etc

[Gabo]

Jack Rieley described Al as a member of the straight "teetotalling triumvirate" in the late 60s/early 70s, concerned more with commercial rather than artistic success. What motivated him to record these strange ditties? Certainly he did not think they would have made an impact on the charts?

[runnersdialzero]

Same goes for "Looking At Tomorrow", really. I don't think Jack's description of Al during thiis time seems especially fair, all evidence considered. Even Mike and Bruce weren't rigidly going solely for commercial success at the time, it would seem - their songwriting from this era shows that.

[Don Malcolm]

Well, Al is a strange guy in many ways, but let's face it, he really just doesn't hold a candle to those who were (as the Lovester said so well...) "tainted by the Wilson blood." 

[MBE]

Jack is a shaky source. His stories are fun but true? "Feet" was to get Brian working on something fun. Loop De Loop was another attempt at the same but Brian wouldn't sing it.  The entire band was behind being a contemporary group until 1974 (actually early in the year there was already a turn).

[phirnis]

To me, Loop De Loop definitely sounds like an attempt at a hit single; a very desperate attempt I should add.

Feet sounds like something that might've been created with stuff like Vegetables in mind.

[Gertie J.]

feet is meh.

[MBE]

Desper's book turned me on to Feet. Still don't love it but it was a genuinely fun session with Brian interested.

[phirnis]

I think Feet is very good for what it is. The production is sort of gimmicky but in a way that's still charming. Always found it weird how Brian is sometimes credited as co-writer and sometimes not.

[Ovi]

To me it seems that until the M.I.U covers, he always wrote what felt the most natural at the time. From a conceptual point of view, the California trilogy he wrote with Mike on 'Holland' is the most interesting idea he came up with, in my opinion. A heartfelt, healthily-nostalgic, homesick-generated tribute to the places/culture that directly-influenced their music in the first few years, that offers an excellent and needed counterpoint to the more current* themes addressed by the rest of the group.

*by current I don't necessarily mean socially relevant, but rather current to the situation they were in - i.e. travelling to a different country.

[Lowbacca]

Desper's book turned me on to Feet.

[MBE]

Desper's book turned me on to Feet.

Not THAT way

[The Shift]

Loop de loop started out as Sail Plane Song, right?

I always thought Sail Plane Song captured some of the essence of Richard Bach's The Reluctant Messiah. And yup, that's a good thing!

[Gabo]

To me, Loop De Loop definitely sounds like an attempt at a hit single; a very desperate attempt I should add.

Feet sounds like something that might've been created with stuff like Vegetables in mind.

Al has always had good intentions, but frequently questionable taste

[Wrightfan]

I like Loop de Loop but Al's rerecorded vocals are horrible.

I do think Sail Plane is better.

[Quzi]

I've always liked the mix that combines Sail Plane Song and Loop De Loop. Can only find this version of it on youtube and it has video game noise over the top... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1veTbgWHzww

[Alan Smith]

Has the 1980 version of Loop De Loop been booted? I remember it getting a mention in the Byron Priess book (I no longer have a copy to refer to), as was initially expecting the EH version to be said item

[hypehat]

Well Loop De Loop was Al turning a BW composition into 'a hit', right?

[Mr. Cohen]

To me it seems that until the M.I.U covers, he always wrote what felt the most natural at the time.

As we all know, "Susie Cincinnati" was about Al's second life as a taxi driving drag queen.

[Wrightfan]

Has the 1980 version of Loop De Loop been booted? I remember it getting a mention in the Byron Priess book (I no longer have a copy to refer to), as was initially expecting the EH version to be said item

There's a 1980 version?

Well, I guess it's better then "Santa's Got an Airplane"...why Mike, why? 

[Alan Smith]

Has the 1980 version of Loop De Loop been booted? I remember it getting a mention in the Byron Priess book (I no longer have a copy to refer to), as was initially expecting the EH version to be said item

There's a 1980 version?

Well, I guess it's better then "Santa's Got an Airplane"...why Mike, why? 

No, sorry  .  There isn't a 1980 version. I'm a muppet - the above came about from me not reading properly. 

The following is a lift/summary from AGD's tome, p130 of the '04 edition (Blue Cover). 

Sail Plane Song - "this is an embryonic "Loop de Loop" performed by the band a good 9 months before the "final" version was realised"

Loop de Loop - recorded March 5/6 1969. "it was...played on London's Capital Radio during the band's 1980 UK tour".  Features Al on lead vocal although everyone thought it was Brian for years and years and years.

 

[RangeRoverA1]

Loop De Loop - recorded March 5/6 1969. "It was...played on London's Capital Radio during the band's 1980 UK tour". Features Al on lead vocal although everyone thought it was Brian for years and years and years.

That's odd, I immediately recognized it's Al on lead. Btw, speaking of Loop De Loop, this is superior to Sail Plane Song. The song's video clip with "Batman" Mike was quite entertaining too!

[Bicyclerider]

Following 20/20 the Beach Boys were negotiating with Capitol for another contract and there is paperwork about Capitol being excited by 'Loop de Loop" as a potential single.  Hard to believe but true.  Of course WarnerReprise would have rejected it immediately as a single.