Beach Boys vs. Beatles Album Covers

[Misterlou]

I could probably fit the Beatles songs that I like on one 60 minute album, whereas there are very few Beach Boys songs I don't like, but when it comes to album covers, the Beatles, IMO, win hands down over the Beach Boys. No other group beats or even comes close to my enjoyment of the Beach Boys music, which is what really matters, but many groups top them in the album cover design department. I think the first album cover they got right was SMiLE, which unfortunately of course wasn't released. I seem to remember reading years ago that one of the Beatles (Paul?) even told Brian that they should pay a little more attention to their album covers. As they were both with Capitol, why the stark differences in the "coolness" of the covers? The fab four sure knew how to market themselves. I wonder what different choices in terms of album cover design might have done to or for the Beach Boys image?

It seems easier to split an atom than it does to insert a photo in these threads, so I gave up and just changed my profile picture to show a very psychedelic looking photo of Brian from the back of the SMiLE box set book, which I think would have made a fantastic album cover, although I'm not sure which album. Pet Sounds perhaps? Although we've lived with the Pet Sounds cover for so long, it's difficult to imagine anything else but the boys and those goats. The SMiLE album cover in an alternate universe?

[GhostyTMRS]

If we're comparing American Beach Boys album covers to British Beatle album covers, yeah.

...but Capitol used the same tactics on the Beatles' early American releases, as the appalling covers for "Something New" and "Beatles VI" can attest.

..and then there was the whole "Yesterday and Today" debacle.

[Misterlou]

If we're comparing American Beach Boys album covers to British Beatle album covers, yeah.

...but Capitol used the same tactics on the Beatles' early American releases, as the appalling covers for "Something New" and "Beatles VI" can attest.

..and then there was the whole "Yesterday and Today" debacle.

Yeah, I can't argue that point. I guess my main point is, when the music was becoming art, the album covers of the Beach Boys were not at all artful... Smile would have been the exception up until that point. On the other hand, the Beatles album covers, beginning most especially with Rubber Soul, were very artistic and a good match with the music therein.

[27Derek]

It's a really tough call to say who "wins" as far as album covers go. For me, it's always been solely about the music. It's really up to the listener to decide how much of an impact the artwork will have on their perception and experience of the music.

[Cyncie]

I don't know. If a cover's point is to catch the eye and make you buy records, I don't think they did too badly.  I think the "Surfin' Safari," "Surfer Girl" and "Surfin' USA" covers are classic, and definitely reflect the music and the time. I think "Summer Days" perfectly captures the whole California feel. "Pet Sounds" was a head scratcher at the time, but has become an iconic cover/font. Of course, there's "Smile" and "Surf's Up" that are very evocative, cool covers.  I think the ones that tried to be arty, like "Smiley Smile" and "Endless Summer" turned out a bit weird. Sure there were bombs.  "Love You" and "50 Big Ones" are just ugly. But, overall the covers were pleasant and eye catching and did the job of selling the records to the intended audience.

[sockittome]

The Beach Boys actually had a pretty good share of "cool" covers.  The weirdness is that they would have a series of great covers...and then along comes a WTF cover.  I feel that from Safari to ASL they had some pretty decent covers that reflected the music pretty well.  Then there's Today, which features an oddly cropped photo of the group with a really clunky cover design.  Summer Days has a very cool cover, even if it's missing Al.  Party is ok, works for the type of album that it was.

But then there's PS, which I will go ahead and gloss over, since that cover has been thoroughly discussed on this forum.  Yeah, it coulda been so much better!

Smiley, WH, and Friends have some great artsy covers, IMO.  But then we have 20/20 with it's cheap, rushed looking design, as if nobody felt like putting a lot of thought into their last 60s album for Capitol (at least for the cover).  And then there's Sunflower, which baffles me as to why they couldn't come up with a cooler design.  There's no excuse for that!

[Misterlou]

The Beach Boys actually had a pretty good share of "cool" covers.  The weirdness is that they would have a series of great covers...and then along comes a WTF cover.  I feel that from Safari to ASL they had some pretty decent covers that reflected the music pretty well.  Then there's Today, which features an oddly cropped photo of the group with a really clunky cover design.  Summer Days has a very cool cover, even if it's missing Al.  Party is ok, works for the type of album that it was.

But then there's PS, which I will go ahead and gloss over, since that cover has been thoroughly discussed on this forum.  Yeah, it coulda been so much better!

Smiley, WH, and Friends have some great artsy covers, IMO.  But then we have 20/20 with it's cheap, rushed looking design, as if nobody felt like putting a lot of thought into their last 60s album for Capitol (at least for the cover).  And then there's Sunflower, which baffles me as to why they couldn't come up with a cooler design.  There's no excuse for that!

I don't really care for the ASL cover; Today is an albatross in cross purposes to the music on that album, especially side two, a precursor to PS... and I have no words to describe what must have been going through the minds of the designers of that cover (PS). It couldn't have been less hip at the time but has sort of, in a weird way, become iconic, but to think what they could have done.

[Hot Rod]

All Summer Long has one of my favorite covers ever

[Misterlou]

I found this quote from Mike Love online: "Paul McCartney mentioned that we ought to take more care with our album covers. Paul was the mastermind behind the Sgt. Pepper album cover, which was detailed and brilliant. Ours...was a photo taken at the San Diego Zoo.” I'm not sure how much credibility can be attached to that quote, but that's the one I was referring to in the OP. Anyone know the source?

[Lonely Summer]

If we're comparing American Beach Boys album covers to British Beatle album covers, yeah.

...but Capitol used the same tactics on the Beatles' early American releases, as the appalling covers for "Something New" and "Beatles VI" can attest.

..and then there was the whole "Yesterday and Today" debacle.

I have to disagree here. As a kid, looking at the records in the stores, I thought "Something New" was the best cover - the Fabs actually playing and singing live!
I do think there were some good albums covers for the Boys - "Surfin' Safari" is an iconic shot; "Surfer Girl"; "Summer Days" (despite being one BB short); "Pet Sounds"; and I love the artwork for "Smiley Smile".

[undercover-m]

I don't know. If a cover's point is to catch the eye and make you buy records, I don't think they did too badly.  I think the "Surfin' Safari," "Surfer Girl" and "Surfin' USA" covers are classic, and definitely reflect the music and the time. I think "Summer Days" perfectly captures the whole California feel. "Pet Sounds" was a head scratcher at the time, but has become an iconic cover/font. Of course, there's "Smile" and "Surf's Up" that are very evocative, cool covers.  I think the ones that tried to be arty, like "Smiley Smile" and "Endless Summer" turned out a bit weird.

Kind of random, but someone working at my college cafe was playing Pet Sounds. Of course I had to talk about the Beach Boys with him and he said his girlfriend's uncle did the art for Endless Summer... pretty rad.

Anyway, I kinda dig the Wild Honey art (Brian's stained glass window, right?). And Smiley Smile is set as one of my desktop backgrounds

[kwebb]

The artwork for Holland is pretty good.

[beatnickle]

I like the Wild Honey cover

[KDS]

I think the covers of the first six albums are pretty decent.

I think the Sunflower album was alright in that it tried to show a new Beach Boys image for the 1970s. 

Just about every post Holland cover is pretty generic, many of them look like the covers of compilations, especially KTSA. 

Looks like they phoned in the cover of TWGMTR. 

Personally, I think No Pier Pressure ranks up with the best album art of any Beach Boys related album. 

[kwebb]

I think the artwork for TWGMTR could have been a lot worse than it is.

[KDS]

I think the artwork for TWGMTR could have been a lot worse than it is.

This is true, they could've done something along the lines of KTSA.  But, it could've been a lot better too. 

I think the perfect cover for that album would've been a shot of the sun setting on the Pacific Ocean, with Brian, Mike, David, Al, and Bruce looking out onto the water with their backs to the camera. 

[drbeachboy]

The Beach Boys actually had a pretty good share of "cool" covers.  The weirdness is that they would have a series of great covers...and then along comes a WTF cover.  I feel that from Safari to ASL they had some pretty decent covers that reflected the music pretty well.  Then there's Today, which features an oddly cropped photo of the group with a really clunky cover design.  Summer Days has a very cool cover, even if it's missing Al.  Party is ok, works for the type of album that it was.

But then there's PS, which I will go ahead and gloss over, since that cover has been thoroughly discussed on this forum.  Yeah, it coulda been so much better!

Smiley, WH, and Friends have some great artsy covers, IMO.  But then we have 20/20 with it's cheap, rushed looking design, as if nobody felt like putting a lot of thought into their last 60s album for Capitol (at least for the cover).  And then there's Sunflower, which baffles me as to why they couldn't come up with a cooler design.  There's no excuse for that!

I don't really care for the ASL cover; Today is an albatross in cross purposes to the music on that album, especially side two, a precursor to PS... and I have no words to describe what must have been going through the minds of the designers of that cover (PS). It couldn't have been less hip at the time but has sort of, in a weird way, become iconic, but to think what they could have done.

If Pet Sounds has an "OK" cover, then what makes you think Today would have a better cover due to the precursor to Pet Sounds status that you give it? The guys at Capitol didn't have a crystal ball in their offices. At the time they had no idea that side two of Today was a glimpse into the future. Hindsight is great 50 years down the line, but back then I doubt they were even looking past the current album cover they were working on.

[Bean Bag]

I love Surfin' Safari.  So very iconic.  So perfect.  It's staged, but so is the music.  The overcast sky also works with the confined, cozy music.




Smiley Smile's cover is also awesome.  Lost in a damp overgrown jungle.  A cozy little shack.  Wonder what they're smokin' in there?

[drbeachboy]

Whatever they are smoking in there, it must be some smart sh*t that can bellow out and spell the album & group name.

[Bean Bag]

For the Beatles, I like Abbey Road.  Sunny summer day fits well with the golden sounding music therein.




Rubber Soul has a simple and striking composition.  Autumnal and askew.  They look totally in command, and the music proves it.

[Bean Bag]

Whatever they are smoking in there, it must be some smart sh*t that can bellow out and spell the album & group name.

Denny's hash-joints. 

[filledeplage]

For the Beatles, I like Abbey Road.  Sunny summer day fits well with the golden sounding music therein.




Rubber Soul has a simple and striking composition.  Autumnal and askew.  They look totally in command, and the music proves it.

Bean Bag - I'm looking at Rubber Soul right now, next to a "new vinyl" of SDSN gift from one of my kids! 

Only Lennon looking at the lens, on RS...interesting...

[Bean Bag]

Covers I don't like much... 20/20.  It doesn't exude much confidence and even less imagination.



A much, much better idea would have been the striking pick of Brian inside.





And Friends.  I like the concept -- soothing and pastoral -- it fits the album's peaceful vibe.  But I don't like the execution/artwork.  I don't mind the faces in the clouds, but I would have not included the "orange" Boys in the middle.  And I don't like the faces in the bushes - they're a little creepy, but really just unnecessary.  The clouds make sense. The rest are too busy.

[drbeachboy]

I like Brian & Bruce in bushes. The music surrounds land, sea and air. The group portrait drawing really captures the likeness of each band member. This has always been one of my favorite album covers.

[filledeplage]

Covers I don't like much... 20/20.  It doesn't exude much confidence and even less imagination.



A much, much better idea would have been the striking pick of Brian inside.



And Friends.  I like the concept -- soothing and pastoral -- it fits the album's peaceful vibe.  But I don't think the execution/artwork.  I don't mind the faces in the clouds, but I would have not included the "orange" Boys in the middle.  And I don't like the faces in the bushes - they're a little creepy, but really just unnecessary.  The clouds make sense. The rest are too busy.

Bean Bag - I think a green cover on Smiley was self-sabotage. It isn't a primary color. Red is the color to catch /draw in the eye in a sea of LP's.  The original artwork might have pulled in more sales...Smile vol. 1, perhaps.  

But I love 20/20. Including the inside gatefold.  The snellen eye chart came in very handy!