Concept Albums - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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Dragon Phoenix View Drop Down

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Joined: August 31 2004
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Posted: October 12 2004 at 05:49

Kayak - Merlin, Bard of the Unseen.

richardh

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Posted: October 12 2004 at 02:54

Works Volume One is ELP's concept album ..the concept being themselves! (anyone dare say ''self indlugent''?? )

IQ's 'The Wake' is probably my favourite concept album closely followed by The Wall.I like concepts with dark themes personally.'Airy fairy stuff' like Tales From Topographic Oceans doesn't do it for me.And sorry Ivan but Jeff Wayne's WOTW is awfull!

Velvetclown View Drop Down

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Posted: October 12 2004 at 01:44

Dream Theater " Scenes From A Memory "

pfontaine2 View Drop Down

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Posted: October 12 2004 at 00:40

Hmmm...I'm not certain Brain Salad Surgery counts as a concept album, though Karn Evil 9 is certainly ranks amongst the greatest prog compositions. However, Olias Of Sunhillow is certainly a great album. I've always been most impressed that Jon Anderson played nearly everything on that album himself. I'm also partial to Patrick Moraz's "i".

I also enjoy Misplaced Childhood and Brave by Marillion, Thick As A Brick by Tull, Lamb by Genesis, Pompeii and Spartacus by Triumvirat, and Journey To The Center Of The Earth by Wakeman.

I can think of a number of rock operas that should count as concept albums. Tommy by the Who, Jesus Christ Superstar by Webber & Rice, and Chess by the guys from Abba & Rice.

Garion81

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Posted: October 11 2004 at 22:12

I think you have most of them here already. Gdub I agree Quad over Tommy.

One no prog I didn't see was Paul Kantners 1970 "Blows Against The Empire". Listed as an album by Jefferson Starship. It has all the right elements and some very interseting music and ideas.

Other than that

OK Frosty the Snowman by Burl Ives.

Bryan

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Posted: October 11 2004 at 22:03

Is Brain Salad Surgery really considered a concept album?

Lunarscape View Drop Down

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Posted: October 11 2004 at 21:49

Absolutely correct Threefates....

_______

Lunar

Music Is The Soul Bird That Flies In The Immense Heart Of The Listener . . .

Ivan_Melgar_M View Drop Down

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Posted: October 11 2004 at 21:17

666 - Aphrodite's Child: The most controversial and terrifying book of the Holy Bible is a strong concept to develop, and the band did it well.
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway - Genesis: Complex story about the man and his inner problems, full of symbolism.
Quadrophenia - The Who: Four personalities of a man or four faces of The Who?
The War of the Worlds - Jeff Wayne: Sci-Fi from the XIX Century and one of the best interpretations of a literature piece with music, more faithful to the book than any Hollywood movie.
Thick as a Brick - Jethro Tull: A strong satire against British ethics (or hypocrisy), brilliant.

Iván

penguindf12 View Drop Down

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Posted: October 11 2004 at 21:17

"Thick as a Brick"! I'm learning to play it on bass... I know all of part one and can play it all (almost) perfectly.

"The Wall". My first prog love...

any other Floyd albums

more later

threefates View Drop Down

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Posted: October 11 2004 at 21:01

Lunarscape wrote:

and well, I've never listened to The Dark Side Of The Moon from a concept album point of view (considering the perfect timing as a soundtrack to Alice In Wonderland.)

Actually I think you mean soundtrack to "The Wizard of Oz"....

THIS IS ELP

Lunarscape View Drop Down

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Posted: October 11 2004 at 20:13

The finest concept-albums are Snowgoose - Camel, The Six Wifes Of Henry VIII - R. Wakeman, Journey To The Centre Of The Earth - R. Wakeman, Tales From Topographic Ocean - Yes, Olias Of Sunhillow - J.Anderson, The Wall - Pink Floyd, Amused To Death - Roger Waters, Space Ritual - Hawkwind, Warriors At The Edge Of Time - Hawkwind, The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway - Genesis, Brain Salad Surgery - ELP, Istória di Un Minuto - PFM, Spartakus - Triumvirat, Towards The Sun - Druid, Thick as a Brick - J.Tull, Aqualung - J.Tull, Canyon Dreams - Tangerine Dream. Now, some non-prog albums could be considered such as Todd Rundgreens Utopia, The Who's Tommy, and well, I've never listened to The Dark Side Of The Moon from a concept album point of view (considering the perfect timing as a soundtrack to Alice In Wonderland.)

_________

Lunar

Music Is The Soul Bird That Flies In The Immense Heart Of The Listener . . .

gdub411

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Posted: October 11 2004 at 19:26

I'VE always Liked Quadrophenia better than Tommy

Roger Waters Amused to Death

Carlos

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Posted: October 11 2004 at 19:06

THICK AS A BRICK- JETHRO TULL

THE WALL - PINK FLOYD

NON - PROG CONCEPT RECORD: TOMMY - THE WHO

Democracy=A form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people...

threefates View Drop Down

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Posted: October 11 2004 at 17:30

ELP : Brain Salad Surgery

"Rejoice, glory is ours. Our young men have not died in vain. Their graves need no flowers, the tapes have recorded their names. I'm all there is..........."

And he is all there is!! Best climax on any concept album!

Pink Floyd : Dark Side of the Moon

I think me and half the world thinks this is a stellar concept album. Probably the best one to survive the test of time.

Pink Floyd: The Division Bell

See I think this album is genius. It has lyrics that cover Pink Floyd's entire career including the loss of Syd, the loss of Roger, the marriage breakups, the expectations of the fans... it weaves thru the Pink Floyd tapestry with precision.

Jon Anderson : Olias of Sunhillow

I love the sound and feel of this album. I love the concept.. the whole album package.. and Jon sounds great...

THIS IS ELP

The Hemulen View Drop Down

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Posted: October 11 2004 at 17:00

Favourites? To make it an interesting angle, don't just choose concept albums with the best music, but look at them in terms of the concept as well. In my opinion, if you're going to do a decent concept album you've got to get the idea/theme/story right, regardless of the music or you might as well not bother. With that in mind, here's some personal favourites:

Jethro Tull - A Passion Play

Very meaty sound for Tull, and a meaty story too.

"And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision!" Hehe... sublime.

Robert Calvert - Captain Lockheed & The Starfighters:

Okay, so it's not the most complex, boundary breaking music, but it DOES have Viv Stanshall and Brian Eno on board, and the concept works remarkably well. Who'd have thought crap planes and German politicians would be a good premise for a comedy space rock album?

Frank Zappa & The Mothers - We're Only In It For The Money

Berrrilliant.

Any more?