Which Beach Boys Album Cover Is Your Favorite & Why?

[Newguy562]

They all have merit.  For some reason, when this question comes up, I always think of LA.   Maybe cause of the colorful postcard array.  Also liked KTSA when it came out.  Seemed really cool (NPI) at the time.  MIU isn't bad..at least the cover isn't.

yes la was a nice cover but the album was ughhhh :/

[Mikie]

The Shut Down Vol. II cover is boss. The Boys looked like bad asses in the Capitol Records parking lot with Murry's white '63 Ford T-Bird, Dennis' '63 Corvette Stingray, and Carl's '64 Pontiac Grand Prix.

[busy doin nothin]

Great thread.  My faves are All Summer Long, Summer Days, Party -- all three for the candid shots.  Then Sunflower -- I love the cover photo of the band with the kids, and also the inside shots of the boys on the Hollywood backlot (Brian as Good Humor man).  Surf's Up is awesome and evocative.

The Holland cover photos are cool, but seem really disconnected from the music.  CATP is one of my favorite albums, but I think the cover hurt its reception (and still does).  It was the first sort of "retro" Beach Boys cover, and suggests "Kokomo"-style music -- which CATP most assuredly is not.

[SBonilla]

The Shut Down Vol. II cover is boss. The Boys looked like bad asses in the Capitol Records parking lot with Murry's white '63 Ford T-Bird, Dennis' '63 Corvette Stingray, and Carl's '64 Pontiac Grand Prix.

Yea, great cover. The Beach Boys had this west coast version of  Dion & The Belmonts thing going on in their music, hair dos and dress.

[Austin]

My three favorites would have to be Smile, Sunflower, and Love You. The latter in particular has grown on me over time -- it's the kind of design you could use today with very little updating. The little tiles are just great; it's like proto-pixel art.

[runnersdialzero]

Because look at it.

*shakes fist at server*

[rab2591]

'Friends'....it fits the album so well - it's very dreamy and mellow.

Close second is the 'Summer Days' album cover....it's an excellent photo - no other album cover really expresses the guys so well, imo.

[PhilSpectre]

My favourite album cover is "Looking Back With Love".

Indeed. A true, ironic masterpiece  .

More seriously - BB Today, Smile, Sunflower, LA Light Album, KTSA, Summer in Paradise. Yep, think BBs albums should be colourful lol.

Solo - GIOMH (Peter Blake of Sgt Pepper fame), POB, TLOS, ITKOD

[southbay]

FWIW, the Boys themselves seem to like Sunflower, or at least the inner gatefold. I have been fortunate enough to have various albums signed by all of the guys (save for Dennis) over the years. Without exception they all made some comment about the photos in the Sunflower gatefold.

[Dave in KC]

20/20 because it signifies a point in time of my life when I realized that my favorite group was indeed still relevant and a whole new era of BB music was ahead and I was fully on-board. Also, it was the gateway to a future relationship with those pictured that I could never have imagined. What a rush just thinking about it.

[Newguy562]

20/20 because it signifies a point in time of my life when I realized that my favorite group was indeed still relevant and a whole new era of BB music was ahead and I was fully on-board. Also, it was the gateway to a future relationship with those pictured that I could never have imagined. What a rush just thinking about it.

the album 20/20 to me was awesome ..but the cover was boring and seemed like something rushed.

[Mahalo]

Shut Down Vol. 2
Friends
Pet Sounds

...(Good Call, Mikie!) 

[Sie W]

Have always liked the cover of the 1966 Best of The Beach Boys LP, with photos from Pet Sounds vocal sessions.

[runnersdialzero]

20/20 because it signifies a point in time of my life when I realized that my favorite group was indeed still relevant and a whole new era of BB music was ahead and I was fully on-board. Also, it was the gateway to a future relationship with those pictured that I could never have imagined. What a rush just thinking about it.

the album 20/20 to me was awesome ..but the cover was boring and seemed like something rushed.

No.

[myonlysunshine]

I like the Surfer Girl, Pet Sounds, SMiLE, and Wild Honey covers.

From a graphic design/artistry standpoint, there's a lot of interesting things going on with the Wild Honey and SMiLE covers.

[armona]

Wild Honey - vibrant color
Smiley Smile - beautiful artwork

Also like the Smile cover for it's great lettering on top.

Favorite in terms of cleverness is the b00t w/the Smiley vegetation superimposed over an abandoned Smile Shop.

[Bill Ed]

My favorite is Sunflower's cover. To me it somehow conveys that the band has once again found its footing.

[Aegir]

Favorite in terms of cleverness is the b00t w/the Smiley vegetation superimposed over an abandoned Smile Shop.

That seems really cool, I've never seen that.

[shelter]

Best:

Smile
Smiley Smile
Friends
Surf's Up
Summer In Paradise
Best Of The Brother Years
back cover of the Warmth Of The Sun compilation
Marcella 7" from Spain
Here Comes The Night 7" from Italy

Worst:

What I Really Want For Christmas
Any post-1964 cover with a surfboard on it

[bossaroo]

Favorite in terms of cleverness is the b00t w/the Smiley vegetation superimposed over an abandoned Smile Shop.

That seems really cool, I've never seen that.

it is cool.

[Ron]

Gotta go with



Always thought it was pretty cool, lol.

[Newguy562]

Favorite in terms of cleverness is the b00t w/the Smiley vegetation superimposed over an abandoned Smile Shop.

That seems really cool, I've never seen that.

it is cool.

this is a strange yet fascination album cover
i wish someone fused wild honey and smiley smile 2gether i bet id look oddly beautiful.

[PhilSpectre]

Wow I like that for a cover. Kinda says it all really, how the glorious Smile Shop was closed and got all over grown with 40 years worth of weeds. Until recent times anyway.

[phirnis]

Best:

Smile
Smiley Smile
Friends
Surf's Up
Summer In Paradise
Best Of The Brother Years
back cover of the Warmth Of The Sun compilation
Marcella 7" from Spain
Here Comes The Night 7" from Italy

Worst:

What I Really Want For Christmas
Any post-1964 cover with a surfboard on it

Would love to see those!

[Melt Away]

Friends and Love You!