Top rock albums with story line

SouthSideoftheSky wrote:   Thanks at lot TGM: Orb for your very interesting thoughts concerning these albums!! I will re-listen to these albums soon and see if I can see it your way, so to speak .   I have never owned a copy of Lamb Lies Down so I didn't know there was a written introduction. I am waiting to buy it until it is released in the new SACD/DVD-Audio version, and hope that the introduction will be re-printed in the booklet.   BTW, there is also a written thing in the Quadrophenia booklet that forms no part of the lyrics. When they played it live in the 90's as is shown on the live DVD I have, they brought this text too life, showing pre-recorded bits of video between the songs featuring an actor reading it. Maybe something similar could be made with The Lamb?   Also on Camel's Nude album (nobody has mentioned it yet ) there are additional text passages in the booklet telling the story without being part of the actual lyrics.

If I'm right, Gabriel did read out bits of his story between the songs on the '74 tour. Could be wrong, though.

What about Jesus Christ Superstar ? Although Jesus Christ was a composite the movie and the play sort of follow his life. Ian Gillian was great in the original.

Dream Theater's Scenes From a Memory.. Bash it all you want >_> It truly is epic.

[/dreamtheaterfanboyness]

SF Sorrow  must surely be up there among the very best story based rock albums. 

Still Life - Opeth
I think every Opeth fan knows the story of the protagonist's love of Melinda and keeping her safety in the wilderness. It's a great storyline with great music, so that deserves a mention.

Pawn Hearts - Van Der Graaf Generator
Now it is arguable that this has no storyline linking the songs, but i would have to say there is. There are three seperate storylines that symbolise the same factor: insignificance. They don't interwind physically, but morally they're almost colliding. As i said though, it is debateable.

De-loused in the Comatorium - The Mars Volta
Another one of favourites, this particular storyline is as trippy as hell and probably one of the hardest concepts to grab due to Cedric Bixler's bizarre lyrics. However they do, strangely enough, portray the storyline if you look at them on paper for long enough. The actual storyline is excellent and original, and the music is said to be TMV's best work.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles
NOT PROG. But a fantastic storyline nonetheless. It takes a while to get the gist of, but the music is enjoyable so there's no need to worry! I think Mcartney and Lennon were at their songwriting peak at this stage, as well as creative peak.

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust-David Bowie

Carheart wrote: And speaking of Deep Purple, Roger Glover's "Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast" is excellent as well.

TGM: Orb wrote: If I'm right, Gabriel did read out bits of his story between the songs on the '74 tour. Could be wrong, though.

The Doctor wrote: Floyd - Wish you were here Blue Oyster Cult - Imaginos Marillion - Clutching at Straws Mandalaband - Eye of Wendor: Prophecies Arena - Contagion Caamora - She Camel - Nude Nektar - Remember the Future Spock's Beard - Snow Salem Hill - The Robbery of Murder Roger Waters - The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking Roger Waters - Radio KAOS Gong - The Flying Teapot Trilogy Genesis - We Can't Dance Jon Anderson - Olias of Sunhillow David Bowie - Ziggy David Bowie - 1. Outside Camel - The Snow Goose Dreamship - Ancestral Voyage DT - Scenes from a Memory Eloy - Ocean IQ - Subterranea Paul Kantner - Blows Against the Empire Oh, yeah, and there's that other Genesis album too.

You mean the working title was "We can't Write?"

Or even better "We can't Prog" No more, no more...........No more, no More........

Edited by tszirmay - July 30 2008 at 19:46