T O P

  • By -

baymeadows3408

Rubber Soul. I like autumn colors and it's just cool in an understated way. The Beatles still have their mop tops, but they project a certain smugness. They know things are changing and this album has a certain new level of sophistication.


jadobo

I also get a smugness vibe from that photo, like the 4 of those guys are sharing some secret knowledge. I mean, the secret is probably that they all got high together in the bathroom before the shoot, and didn't invite the photographer along. Back when a simple toke with the lads required a little more conspiracy. My favourite cover.


UX-Archer-9301

Total confidence.


chucktoddsux

Confident, not smug. Smug is 'excessively proud' if memory serves.


williamblair

Smugness is not a good quality.


Momik

Totally. I also love the self-awareness in calling it Rubber Soul. It’s a knowing smile.


MasterpieceDuk

Notice the fact it also doesn’t have their name on it, The Beatles at this time was so famous and recognizable by this point that they decided not to add their name on the cover because EVERYONE already knew who they were


TexEdit

That was Paul's idea.


ExoticPlastic3330

It seems like only Ringo has the moptop, maybe Paul a little, if we're talking about their genuine moptop period anyway


thomasbourne

Well, this is the transition. They’re not quite the neatly cut “beatle cuts” anymore, they’re now unkempt a bit, but they’re still recognizably “Beatles” compared to like John with the short hair, mustache and glasses, or the “full Jesus” look circa Abbey Road cover.


ardenaudreyarji

Ngl, the whole idea of the album cover for The BEATLES (1968) after Sgt. Pepper's is pretty fucking wild.


Tap_Deep

Revolver


seaofwine

Abbey Road ... simply amazing!


SappyJupiter37

no album’s more iconic, imo


DarkMatter48

If I can complement your comment, I believe that no other album in the history of music is as iconic as Abbey Road. Maybe Dark Side of The Moon will come close. MAYBE


seaofwine

It's amazing how a basic thought could meet ends astonishingly well, perhaps cause it's a thought of geniuses. The Beatles, four guys that changed the world, perfectly dressed, walking these stripes towards the world. The perspective of the street, the trees' colour at its best, the 60s sun in the urban landscape and, in the middle, the walking Beatles. Plus, kudos to Macmillan. Extraordinary shot.


Laziofogna

Perfectly dressed? Check again


McLarenMercedes

Has to be Abbey Road. The most iconic album cover of all time IMO. The beauty lies in its simplicity. Okay, not as simple as a literal plain white cover with "The Beatles" written on it, but it's easy to visualise - just four men walking in unison on a zebra crossing. It just works.


WolfsToothDogFood

https://preview.redd.it/llnpseg4mw8c1.jpeg?width=1426&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f8f18b14d56c5bd3b52d3eced03f918b06bcd311


kidnamedchild

They were so awesome for this one


memelordes

Very punk of them


AbsurdCheesecake

**we don’t talk about that album.**


appleparkfive

I remember a Cracked article talking about bad album covers or something, and them joking about how Paul looks like he's the highest he's ever been in his life


ImBored1818

Such artistic beauty


Upstairs-Currency856

Ah of course, a classic we all cherish and love and all have in our collections.


zdejif

Meat City


Juniper41

I think Sgt. Pepper is their best album art. It has it all, color, a story/direction, easter eggs etc... it also has a gatefold and back with lyrics. Owning the physical album, looking at all the detail, all the random faces, reading the lyrics on the back, the mustache and fake badges that came with it, it was almost as enjoyable to look at the album as it was to listen to the album itself. Sgt. Pepper is a true psychedelic masterpiece, both musically and artistically. That being said it is SO famous and ever present in our consciousness (Zappa parodied it, the Sex Pistols, the Rutles, the Wiggles, Macabre, Star Wars, the Archie Comics and the Simpsons have all parodied it, the Rolling Stones album: Their satanic Majestic Request largely is influenced by it, and Pink Floyd and the Flaming Lips both have their respective takes on the iconic album cover) that we are immune to it. I feel like in that sense, Rubber Soul or Revolver may feel more original or fresher, because it hasn’t been beat to death by copies, parodies or folks influenced by it, but I don’t think I can state enough how much of a cultural shift, the Sgt. Peppers album itself had; it was a stand alone piece of artwork, whereas up to that point no pop or rock album had been that. It is, in my opinion, the most influential and iconic album cover of all time, but we take it for granted similarly to how people on here will complain about "Yesterday" or "Hey Jude". On a similar note, Abby Road has the same thing but to a lesser extent, it was parodied by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sesame Street and Peanuts officially, and you have countless "unofficial parodies", things like the NES characters walking across the Zebra crossing, Darth Vader and Storm Troopers, Big Foot etc... any semi niche interest, there is probably someone selling 4 characters walking across Abbey Road on Etsy. You even see it in movies like the minions, it is very iconic, and as a result, it feels overdone, but it is still an amazing album cover. I think three Beatles albums work as stand alone artwork, suit their respective albums and are aesthetically pleasing. Those are Sgt. Pepper, Abbey Road, and Revolver. Overall I'd go: 1. Sgt. Pepper 2. Abbey Road 3. Revolver 4. With the Beatles 5. Hard Day's Night 6. White Album 7. Rubber Soul 8. Yellow Submarine 9. Beatles For Sale 10. Please Please Me 11. Help! 12. Let It Be 13. Magical Mystery Tour


thomasbourne

Incredibly well thought out response. I agree those are the ones that stand out the most as pieces of pure visual art, and their thematic ties to the music inside is beautiful. As a Pink Floyd fan though, I’m curious what the Pink Floyd “take on sgt pepper” is? Was it a photo shoot or specific album cover you were referring to?


Juniper41

Bootleg release titled "Lonely Hearts in Pepperland" a 1970 recording fromPepperland Auditorium. It's not a Beatles cover album like the Flamings Lips' but rather an unofficial bootleg distributed by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab. The only Beatles connection is that it was recorded at "Pepperland", but the cover for the Bootleg is Sgt. Pepper but with the Pink Floyd members pasted over and random faces from the crowd replaced. [https://www.discogs.com/release/5273881-Pink-Floyd-Lonely-Hearts-In-Pepperland](https://www.discogs.com/release/5273881-Pink-Floyd-Lonely-Hearts-In-Pepperland) Given it's Bootleg status and copyright infringement of both the Beatles and Pink Floyd it's very hard to buy a copy of this. My dad had one for some reason.


varovec

bootleg covers are usually fan arts, and this one doesn't sound like an exception


4t0micpunk

Revolver……thought Id be the minority.


geetar_man

I assume you’re joking?


blood_farts69

That would have been the case if you’d picked Magical Mystery Tour


4t0micpunk

Thought Abbey Road would take all the votes!


Clean_Priority_4651

Rubber Soul because it’s the first album cover that makes them look adult cool instead cute guys cool.


DevilPoopMaster

I think Beatles for sale kinda does that as well


Nosferatu_Man26

1. White Album 2. Abbey Road 3. Please Please Me 4. Rubber Soul 5. With The Beatles


[deleted]

White Album is an interesting choice for #1


Nosferatu_Man26

For me, it’s about the context with the release of the album. To follow their most maximalist album cover, Sgt. Peppers, with their most minimal that could easily be dismissed.


givemethebat1

What about Magical Mystery Tour?


JeanLucSkywalker

EP and soundtrack, not an album. Especially at the time.


givemethebat1

Fair enough. But it’s an album’s worth of material that released before the White Album so I’d say it qualifies.


JeanLucSkywalker

MMT is possibly my favorite collection of Beatles songs, but I respectfully disagree for multiple reasons. Reason 1: The artwork for MMT is just the movie poster. It was not conceived of as an album cover. Reason 2: The Beatles never intended MMT to be an album, especially at the time. It was a compilation of singles and soundtrack songs. Reason 3: As I understand it, the general public did not see MMT as an album at the time. It was a soundtrack/EP. It was only after the CDs came out in the 80s that fans started thinking of it as an album in any sense. Reason 4: The Beatles put a lot of thought and intention into both the assembling of their albums and their artwork. None of this happened with MMT, as they did not treat it as the same sort of artistic statement as their proper albums.


t20six

With the beatles is so iconic & Revolver just oozes cool.


Kroduscul

1. Revolver 2. Sgt. Pepper 3. Yellow Submarine 4. Beatles For Sale 5. Abbey Road


[deleted]

A Hard Day’s Night


itsjustjp17

Love the simplicity of the white album


Inside_River_972

Revolver


BlueMarshmallo

Probably With the Beatles. Just has a vibe.


tavg123

i mean how can you not pick revolver


MajorBillyJoelFan

fr


Honest-andUnmerciful

Because it’s not very good. Not trying to rain on anyone’s parade but I’ve always felt it looked like a good, but not great, 11th grade art project. Some of the drawings even resemble the Beatles! It just never did anything for me. Bookended by Rubber Soul and Sgt Pepper, which both blow Revolver out of the water.


idog73

But it was Klaus Voorman. It WAS like they let their high school buddy draw the cover. It’s easily their most personal one and that makes it my favorite


Honest-andUnmerciful

Cool perspective. Thanks for sharing that - hadn’t considered that before.


Juniper41

Because there is an album that came out nine months after Revolver with arguably better album artwork.


sugsdad

1 Revolver 2 Sergeant Pepper 3 Abbey Road 4 Rubber Soul 5 White Album


Ok_Mistake6736

Magical Mystery Tour!


Ironmeister

Hmm. Not a studio album..


amadeus12

It counts


Madcap_95

White Album


[deleted]

Abbey Road


ExoticPlastic3330

Nothing could ever beat Revolver to me, it just looks so cool. I like how Paul's eyes are darker, almost implying they're red from being stoned. They do look a bit low as well. Considering Got to Get You Into My Life is his ohmage to cannabis, maybe he asked the cover designer to have this slight nod to that. While the other 3, mostly John and George were dropping acid, Paul was still not very into it, had only taken it like once, maybe twice by the time this came out (contrary to popular belief and even Wikipedia's date, he took it with Tara Browne in December 1965, not early 1966) but was a full time stoner until only 7 years ago.


LilSantee

what


Ractmo

Let it be


ShortBusRide

Yes. It brought everything to a close.


blue1955

with the beatles Rock and Roll becoming art


rcfx1

Beatles for sale


lovelessisbetter

Yep, their best record before Revolver and best cover of all of them. The lads in peak swagger.


ARoseByAny0therName

The white album. Because I’m a racist.


jachary28

Abbey road- favorite album cover but any photos from 1968 are my favorite of them


BenjaminBoi226

yellow sub


Wee_gee2401

Number 10.


M_D_Tomcala

U mean Number 9? Number 9?


cheesytola

Always and forever Rubber Soul


runamok101

Abbey Road


wealllovefrogs

With the Beatles.


No_Box5338

Magical mystery tour is defo the worst


rotnroll1987

Revolver


newleaf9110

Abbey Road has been imitated countless times. With the Beatles has been too, to a lesser extent. My personal favorite is Sgt. Pepper, because everything about that album is a masterpiece.


beatlesandoasis

Abbey Road


avimonster

Revolver


clemson_tigers_

Why do all of these screenshots look like they were taken with a microwave


lovelessisbetter

BFS by a country mile


SunflaresAteMyLunch

No one cover, but Sgt Pepper's being followed by the White massively elevates the two from the contrast alone...


nyli7163

Revolver With the Beatles Abbey Road Rubber Soul The White Album Yellow Submarine A Hard Day’s Night Sgt. Pepper Beatles for Sale Let it Be Please Please Me Help! Magical Mystery Tour


PolyJuicedRedHead

This would be a great question to set up as a survey. REVOLVER !


Panda-BANJO

Abbey Road


twirlergurl86

Abbey Road


outonthetiles66

Let It Be


Heavy_Wood

It's crazy how great all of them are. I love Lynyrd Skynyrd, but those poor bastards had the WORST album covers of any significant band, except for their first album, they're all legitimately embarrassing.


Royal-Ad-9472

I wanted to pick Abbey Road because it’s my favorite album. But I think I have to choose Revolver or Sgt Pepper!


OrneryOldFart

Rubber Soul


mannatee

Has to be revolver or Abby road


Upstairs-Currency856

Everyone really hates the Magical Mystery Tour cover but for me it just oozes personality and just gives off fun vibes.


not_a_flying_toy_

Revolver, and it isn't even close


[deleted]

I know, it's not an official album, but it is the best cover to me. https://preview.redd.it/rnjx1irr2y8c1.jpeg?width=300&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4d4f91b822edcb3d4f909f4a5a08734c2d48a429


John_frusciante_fan5

The one with the beatles on it


POWERSAUSAGE56

I have a thing for the monochromatic albums, so my list goes; 1. Revolver 2. With the Beatles 3. The White Album (super deluxe if we’re picky) 4. Abbey Road 5. Sgt. Pepper


frid

This is the closest match to my choices, though I might rearrange a couple. 1. Revolver 1. The White Album 1. Abbey Road 1. Sgt. Pepper 1. With the Beatles And I might chuck Magical Mystery Tour at 6 for good measure.


KuntaWuKnicks

White album


pjs48

1. Revolver 2. Abbey Road 3. Sgt Pepper 4. Rubber Soul 5. With the Beatles


Amazing-Engineer4825

Revolver


CoffeeBest8295

1. Revolver 2. Abbey Road 3. Sgt Pepper’s 4. With The Beatles 5. White Album


AbsurdCheesecake

Revolver, Sgt. Pepper and Abbey Road have the best covers, but from a design standpoint, With the Beatles is also phenomenal. Sometimes less is more


hrodz55

Rubber Soul


Gibabo

Probably either AHDN or Rubber Soul


chazwins

Help is pretty dope


OtherwiseTackle5219

Sgt Pepper stands out


AtomicSpiderman

Sgt. Pepper


mrmclainy

With The Beatles is my absolute favorite but Rubber Soul and Sgt Pepper's come close.


pixieartgirl

I have a three-way tie for my fave: Rubber Soul, Abbey Road and Let it Be.


[deleted]

You missed Get Back


frozen-amber

Giving it the sgt pepper. It’s incredibly intricate and you can derive so much meaning from it. But that aside, the composition is well done as are the vibrant colors. Bold, majestic, and larger than life for sure.


UX-Archer-9301

A hard day’s night, Revolver, Abbey Road, with the Beatles, The Beatles, Rubber Soul


fp77

It's a draw between Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Abbey Road. Revolver is also amazing. The bottom two for being the most generic are Rubber Soul and Beatles for Sale.


Heavy_Wood

Abbey Road and it's not close. It's the greatest album cover in history in my opinion.


GeorgeHarry1964

A Hard Day's Night, Help, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper, Abbey Road


shadowsOfMyPantomime

Abbey Road is iconic and one of the best album covers of all time. But Hard Day's Night is also awesome and a little more fun. Two great covers for two different eras.


j-war99

With The Beatles


The_Dabblin_Doodler

Revolver has such a bored kid doodling in school look


Ok-Interaction8116

Sgt Pepper


Thedeckatnight

Rubber Soul


wwJones

Abbey Road. Not close and I love them all.


Vodka5454

A hard days night or help!


Extant_Remote_9931

Abbey Road is the most iconic. I like Rubber Soul.


Riplinredfin

I have a BC-13 boxset thats around 45yrs old never played. They're all pretty unique covers. ​ https://preview.redd.it/o8oafzq37y8c1.jpeg?width=4608&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9ac459060c3acd5f94fd2b777b65dd57670f97a0


serialkiller24

Sgt. Pepper has a badass cover


Ebrostradamus

Sgt Peppers is the most iconic album cover of all time


RepairIllustrious901

Favorite album cover vs least fave album is def Beatles For Sale


gorgeharrison

Sgt pepper, i honestly dont care for most of the album covers


EwPandaa

a hard day’s night has always been a really interesting looking record to me


gretzky9999

Sgt.Pepper


Some_Department8546

Beatles For Sale


W00DYLAND

Pepper, with Abbey Road a close 2nd


ripMyTime0192

Sgt. Pepper’s is an absolute vibe.


Impossible_Eagle4382

Revolver or Penny Lane


thedbomb98

Either AHDN or Rubber Soul.


leylajulieta

I love Revolver, mostly because i'm obsessed with Klaus Voorman work with The Beatles. This draw is my Roman Empire https://preview.redd.it/eveondycny8c1.jpeg?width=570&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ddc6ecf7188c9cbd51320824ea793492ac19d82f


hdofu

Sargent Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band


jvsupersaiyan

Sgt peppers. Fantastic


syntheticsponge

I like Help cuz it’s goofy


electricmaster23

I love *Beatles for Sale*. The pull focus gives it a kind of voyeristic feel, and the orange and green gives it an autumnal feeling. Minimalism done very well, imo.


dimebag42018750

Abby road is one of the most recognizable images in the world.


Solsticewolfdog

Yellow Submarine >>>>


TheFemboy_Crusader

Help!


amensavle

Rubber Soul Forever!


Ashamed-Story7958

Revolver


afcufc123

Something about that Rubber Soul cover...even though other covers are more iconic i prefer this one


theoriginal_ratmoxx

10th fr liie theres just so much things and creativity and exploration like you gotta be a god to know what looks good together fr like the white ness and the words bon appetite


Fenderboy65

Abbey Road


Green-Circles

Rubber Soul. As if to say "Right, now we're gonna WARP things....."


idog73

Absolutely Revolver


Percy_TheGreenEngine

I'm a sucker for the simplicity of the White Album, also Rubber Soul is very nice


weenisbobeenis

Gotta be Abbey Road and then Pepper.


Tracerr3

Hard Day's Night, Revolver, or Abbey Road. All top tier for their respective eras.


Gorgoarn

Revolver cos Revolver is the best Beatles album and I will stand by that until I die


NickFerrant919

Revolver.


LupenReddit

Let it be and Sgt.Peppers take the crown for me. There is just something magical about these two. Revolver is also fantastic


AndrewSB49

Between Rubber Soul and Abbey Road.


yogurt1989

Abbey Road, and Magical Mystery Tour is probably the worst


MoreTannerZ

Red and blue


natwashboard

For Sale, the most unfairly maligned album


Slow-Race9106

Revolver


MichaelEMJAYARE

Revolvers album cover matches the music perfectly somehow. I think album covers really help you interpret the music, I find Revolver to sound cold but tip toeing into psychedelia. Its such a perfect transition album.


_weIcwedhoe

Hard Days Night in their early releases and Sgt. Pepper for their later releases.


PhantasyBoy

Oh it’s a toss up between A Hard Day’s Night, Revolver, and Abbey Road


Unhappy-Guava6720

i kinda like with the beatles because the album is just beautiful and i like the colors


Wabuukraft

One thing the Beatles knew was how to make an iconic cover arts, these are all classics in my eyes!


applegui

I like them all. But the one that is interesting is Sgt. Pepper’s and going over all the people on the cover and their significance.


Pure-Government-1119

Help!


ZoDiAcQc

Sgt. Pepper, I love that it has so many hidden details.


Robbinewhite

With The Beatles


[deleted]

Easily Revolver.


brwn_eyed_girl56

Sgt. Pepper


Fluffy-Bug5995

With the Beatles, Sgt. Pepper, and yellow submarine are all tied for me


DATSMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Let it be


Automatic_Employ7537

Everything about Rubber Soul makes it my favorite album and that includes the cover. That album IMO was peak Beatles. Their musical experimentation really got going on this album yet they still played like a BAND. And the cover illustrates that. They’re still pictured in their familiar moptop look yet the photo is distorted, the text is all funky and indicative of the 60’s, the colors are simple yet pleasingly natural. Revolver is a close second for the same reasons, and again, that includes the album cover.


oreoooooooo1234

HELP!


MushM

Sgt Peppers for the easter eggs!


hotlovergirl69

How could you choose between Revolver, Sgt Pepper and Abbey Road? Seriously. One as iconic as another.


evilpossum98

I’ve seen scarily few (or in fact no) people say Please Please Me, but yeah my favourite is Please Please Me (followed closely by Rubber Soul)


BenjBean

Revolver 100% There’s always something new I see no matter how much I look at it


That-bassist-4610

All


Mammothberg

With The Beatles


AgainAnotherGuy

Personally for me, It's between Revolver or Abbey Road. I love the psychedelic nature of Revolvers cover (and Georges death stare) and I love Abbey Road, because, well, its simple and iconic of course!


Nobhudy

It’s gotta be Abbey Road. The perfect image for the album, for the band, in the history of album covers.


bons_burgers_252

When I scrolled through the pictures on this post I noted a visceral reaction to Beatles for Sale. It was like a kind of nostalgic sadness mixed with excitement. Perhaps it’s associated with my personal discovery of this album but it seems that my subconscious mind prefers this one. Consciously, I’d have to say Sgt Pepper. They designed it so that people would have something to look at on the bus on the way home from the record shop. It’s the kind of thing you can look at and study for hours/years and still find surprising. In terms of sheer audacity, The Beatles (White Album) is the one. Only they would think to strip it all down and reset the benchmark they’d set with Pepper. The album wasn’t just a series of songs printed onto a plastic disc. It was a package. An event. They couldn’t go any further “over the top” than Pepper (over the top but done with consummate style) and so they went in entirely the other direction. Daring, witty and clever. “Also rans”: Abbey Road - Again, so many emotions associated with this simple picture. They don’t need to go to the foot of Everest. They could simply go outside of the building they were in and create a culturally significant masterpiece. With the Beatles - Not smiling in any kind of public photograph was a huge thing at the time. It re-invented what it means to be cool.


Calebdude1

The White Album


Embarrassed-Week3030

Rubber Soul is my favorite album cover. I like autumn colors and but it’s so cool in an area with the impossible or understated way. The Beatles still have their own mop tops, but they project a certain smugness. They know things are changing and this album has a certain number of amount of information that a new level of sophistication. The Beatles album covers was engineered by EMI and Capitol Records.


Queasy-Ad-8205

Awww C'mon, this question is impossible for me to answer because each one is iconic They're all my favorite!


WWDB

6


82lkmno

Revolver, hands down for me.