Beach Boys Cover Reviews: Surfin' Safari (1962)

The Beach Boys are, without question, one of my favorite bands. Their story is complex, unpredictable, and ultimately tragic, and it represents almost everything quintessential about mainstream rock music.

But who wants to hear about that? I do, but I'd rather talk about their album covers instead. So, over the next while, I am going to review each of their album covers in chronological order, on a scale of 1 to 5 (or possibly some ratings system based on the [core five] members' beards, from 1 [Brian Wilson] to 5 [Carl Wilson]). So, let's start with the 1962 debut, Surfin' Safari.

I really enjoy this album cover. It is their debut, and introduces the band's 1962 persona, five sun-drenched young Californians singing about the beach (but foreshadowing that they would eventually sing about cars!). Whereas the Beatles were just four okay-to-good-looking Brit dudes grinning (or not), here we have a statement of purpose. The Boys generally look youthful, Denny still has his bleach blond, actual-surfer hair falling to the side, and everyone is looking forward--what does the future hold? The next big wave? A sea of tunes? Seclusion, drug-addiction, in-fighting, a struggle to stay relevant in a changing world? The future is out there in the distance, but they are mostly thinking of cool plaid, sand, and being rowdy. So suggests this album cover.

I also like the choices in typeface here. It looks casual (such as in the lowercase title and apostrophe on surfin') and distinctive, looking a little different than most other album covers you'll see from the same time. When I first came across it, I thought maybe it was some reissue. But this is the cover issued in 1962, and it still looks good today.

Which is not to say it's prefect. Mike and Brian look a little hammy and out of place (go figure), and the whole scene looks kind of dreary, despite the subject matter. This was probably a rushed photoshoot, as everything was rushed back then. There was no time to wait for the perfect day or perfect shot, so they just went for it and it came out pretty well. It could be better, but it'll do. You know, like the early, unrefined Beach Boys it portrays.

This one is a success. I'll give it 4 out of 5, or Alan Jardine on the beard scale. Stay tuned for 1963's Surfin USA.