Sail Plane Song v. Loop de Loop

[sockittome]

Sail Plane sounds too doped out for my tastes.  Yeah, yeah I know that was the point, etc, etc!  Between that and the unfinished production, I find it to be nothing more than a curiosity.  

Loop de Loop goes for a more whimsical, light hearted sound, and it almost succeeds.  I say almost, because I find the EH mix to be a little too busy.  Ok, I'd even venture to say overblown.  I can see (hear) what Al was going for, and there's some pretty cool stuff going on in there (I like that Leslie effect on the guitar, for example), but all those sound effects practically hijack the song.  

Back to SPS, I'm curious.  What are people's thoughts on what they did to the drums on the MiC mix?  I know the whole song is loaded with effects now, but the drum effect puts me in a bad mood!  

[Fro]

I really like the fan mix someone made that takes the verses from Sail Plane Song and the choruses from Loop De Loop.  It works very well together.

[Magic Transistor Radio]

I want to know the facts about the new mix of Sail Plane. How much of that was new, and how much was taken from the original tapes?

[Peter Reum]

I love Brian's demo...had they put it on 20/20, it would have spun some heads

[Amy B.]

Brian's demo is the only version of SPS I've heard. It's so great that I'd kind of hate to hear it changed.

[runnersdialzero]

Sail Plane sounds too doped out for my tastes.  Yeah, yeah I know that was the point, etc, etc!  Between that and the unfinished production, I find it to be nothing more than a curiosity.

"Doped out"? Intentionally? Can't say I hear that at all.

[Gertie J.]

qwerty

[Andrew G. Doe]

I want to know the facts about the new mix of Sail Plane. How much of that was new, and how much was taken from the original tapes?

I'm thinking nothing is new except the mixing. I like both versions, although coming to "Loop" first in 1978 gives that an edge: in general I prefer the 'finished' product over a demo, but truthfully, I prefer the live version. Now that is something special.

[Magic Transistor Radio]

I want to know the facts about the new mix of Sail Plane. How much of that was new, and how much was taken from the original tapes?

I'm thinking nothing is new except the mixing. I like both versions, although coming to "Loop" first in 1978 gives that an edge: in general I prefer the 'finished' product over a demo, but truthfully, I prefer the live version. Now that is something special.

I love the new SPS! Even if it isn't what Brian originally intended. Fan mixes can be cool. But this is an official fan mix.

[chrs_mrgn]

Sail Plane sounds too doped out for my tastes.  Yeah, yeah I know that was the point, etc, etc!  Between that and the unfinished production, I find it to be nothing more than a curiosity.

"Doped out"? Intentionally? Can't say I hear that at all.

I think he's referring to the baseline during the chorus of SPS. How it sort of just glugs along. The feel of the song is pretty dopey when put up against LDL though in general.

[RangeRoverA1]

Tbh, never cared much for Sail Plane Song. But the new, Made In California mix totally changed my mind! So cool & hypnotic, the whistling now sounds more like UFO! I'll tell you what, if SPS was released with those "ahead-of-its-time" studio effects in the 60s, it would have made any psychedelic band famous in no time! 

That being said, I'll still go for goofy & whimsical Loop De Loop. As was noted earlier, the vocals are great there! Arrangement-wise, I'm especially fond of the honky tonk piano; it adds some humorous tinge. Though the whole arrangement is 1 Xtended entertainment.

[D Cunningham]

Oh dear.  Sail Plane Song is the greatest of the formerly unreleased by Brian.

It's a pure and perfect transport to a zeitgeist.  You are back there...seeing the fly resting on the window sill
and the quality of the sunlight on that particular day.

And the harmonics. Brilliant.

[JK]

"Loop De Loop" is a bit like going to the circus and seeing all the acts performed simultaneously. Too busy. Hearing "Sail Plane Song" on Endless Harmony was a revelation.

[RangeRoverA1]

"Loop De Loop" is a bit like going to the circus and seeing all the acts performed simultaneously.

Excellent description, Mr. K! Wouldn't say it better & in such a tasteful laconic style.

IIrc, the circus is a crowded & noisy place in itself, so the song's "busyness" perfectly fits it.

[Dancing Bear]

Since they messed up with the original demo, I think flying in mike's "Loop de Loop" chant would be interesting.