The album's title and cover artwork (a painting based on the 19th-century sculpture "End of the Trail") are an ironic, self-aware nod to the band's early surfing image. Originally titled "Landlocked", the album took its name from the closing track "Surf's Up", a song originally intended for the group's unfinished album "Smile". Most of "Surf's Up" was recorded from January to July 1971. In contrast to the previous LP "Sunflower", Brian Wilson was not especially active in the production, which resulted in thinner vocal arrangements.