Greatest Concept Albums

gminer · **Joined:** Mon Oct 11, 2010 5:17 pm **Posts:** 2561

Rick wrote:

gminer wrote:

Rick wrote:

Mass In F Minor by The Electric Prunes

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images ... 74&s=music

... I have mentioned these fellows a number of times in guitarist thread for their use of feedback etc ... but I believe you might be the first to mention them in regards to an album ... excellent ... so staying with that theme how about ... Renaissance by Vanilla Fudge ...... Take care

Renaissance is their best work IMO
but consider this for this list

The Beat Goes On - Vanilla Fudge

SIDE ONE
[2:55] Sketch
PHASE ONE:
[1:57] Intro: The Beat Goes On
[0:46] 18th Century: Variations on a Theme by Mozart (Divertimento #13 in F Maj.)
[0:46] 19th Century: Old Black Joe
[3:09] 20th Century: Don't Fence Me In; 12th Street Rag; In The Mood; Hound Dog
[1:45] The Beatles: I Want To Hold Your Hand; I Feel Fine; Day Tripper; She Loves You
PHASE TWO:
[1:32] The Beat Goes On
[6:33] Beethoven: Fur Elise and Moonlight Sonata
[1:05] The Beat Goes On

SIDE TWO
[1:00] The Beat Goes On
PHASE THREE:
[8:09] Voices in Time: Neville Chamberlain; Winston Churchill; Franklin Roosevelt; Harry Truman; John Kennedy (and other voices)
PHASE FOUR:
[1:50] The Beat Goes On
[8:57] Merchant/The Game Is Over
[2:20] The Beat Goes On

... ahh the memories ... will have to start digging through the vinyl ... Take care

gminer · **Joined:** Mon Oct 11, 2010 5:17 pm **Posts:** 2561

Timitzii wrote:

Raw version of top 50:

1. The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
2. Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (Yes, it is a concept album)
3. Joe Meek and The Blue Men - I Hear a New World: An Outer Space Music Fantasy
4. The Who - Tommy
5. David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust
6. Pink Floyd - The Wall
7. The Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed
8. Elton John - Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
9. The Mothers of Invention - Freak Out!
10. The Who - The Who Sell Out
11. Jethro Tull - Aqualung
12. The Who - Quadrophenia
13. Frank Zappa - Joe's Garage: Acts I, II & III
14. Green Day - American Idiot
15. XTC - Skylarking
16. The Ventures in Space - The Ventures
18. Vanilla Fudge - The Beat Goes On
19. Randy Newman - Good Old Boys
20. The Electric Prunes - Mass in F Minor

Jackson Browne - Running on Empty (Should this qualify? It is a live album but it has a concept.)

I'm not sure about Tonight's the Night by Neil Young or An Innocent Man by Billy Joel...

Keep up the good suggestions, people!

.... will start adding some more if you wish ..... here is one that is outstanding and one of the biggest selling albums in the UK ... War of the Worlds by Jeff Wayne .... give a listen to the vocals on this track ... Take care

Forever Autumn ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GUI9W4G3jY

Rick · **Joined:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:21 pm **Posts:** 458

Tales From Topographic Oceans - Yes

Disc: 1
1. The Revealing Science Of God Dance Of The Dawn
2. The Remembering High The Memory
3. The Ancient Giants Under The Sun
Disc: 2
1. Ritual Nous Sommes Du Soleil
2. Dance Of The Dawn (Studio Run-Through)
3. Giants Under The Sun (Studio Run-Through)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images ... 74&s=music

very complex but could qualify...................

Rick · **Joined:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:21 pm **Posts:** 458

and one more to think about

Voyage 34 - Porcupine Tree

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images ... 74&s=music

piper · **Posted:** Sun Jan 30, 2011 3:18 pm

a couple suggestions:

Frank Sinatra - In the Wee Small Hours
The Pretty Things - S.F. Sorrow
The Kinks - The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
The Alan Parsons Project - Eye in the Sky
Kate Bush - Hounds of Love (well, technically only half of it is, I don't know whether it could really count)
The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Husker Du - Zen Arcade
The Mountain Goats - Tallahassee
Marillion - Misplaced Childhood
The Mars Volta - Frances the Mute
The Moody Blues - Days of Future Past
Roger Waters - The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking
Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime

There's a Wikipedia page called List of Concept Albums that those interested can browse through. While some of the included albums arguably are not concept albums, most of them are.

Brian · **Joined:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 1:52 pm **Posts:** 2387

piper wrote:

Kate Bush - Hounds of Love (well, technically only half of it is, I don't know whether it could really count)

I think if only half is, that's not enough. The same is true of the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour. One side is a concept album, but the other is a singles compilation.

Good call on the Kinks. The follow-up, Arthur (or the decline and fall of the British Empire), should also qualify.

piper · **Posted:** Sun Jan 30, 2011 3:28 pm

The Kinks released several concept albums throughout the late 60's, and such releases dominated their recorded output in the 70's. Most of their more acclaimed concept records should fall somewhere on this list. Village Green and Arthur are their two most critically acclaimed concept albums, and those should certainly be the highest of their releases on the list.

Timi · **Posted:** Sun Jan 30, 2011 3:35 pm

Raw version of top 50:

1. The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
2. The Who - Tommy
3. Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (Yes, it is a concept album)
4. Andrew Lloyd Webber - Jesus Christ Superstar
5. Pink Floyd - The Wall
6. Joe Meek and The Blue Men - I Hear a New World: An Outer Space Music Fantasy
7. Queensrÿche - Operation Mindcrime
8. Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell
9. David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust
10. The Mothers of Invention - Freak Out!
11. The Who - The Who Sell Out
12. Jethro Tull - Aqualung
13. The Who - Quadrophenia
14. Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick
15. Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
16. Elton John - Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
18. The Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed
19. Frank Zappa - Joe's Garage: Acts I, II & III
20. Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger
21. Green Day - American Idiot
22. Yes - Tales from Topographic Oceans
23. The Goats - Tricks of the Shade
24. Harry Nilsson - The Point
25. Pretty Things - SF Sorrow
26. The Ventures in Space - The Ventures
27. The Coolies - Doug
28. The Alan Parsons Project - I Robot
29. Styx - Kilroy Was Here
30. Jethro Tull - A Passion Play
31. Paul Kantner - Blows Against
32. Jeff Wayne - War of the Worlds
33. The Alan Parsons Project - Tales of Mystery and Imagination
34. Vanilla Fudge - The Beat Goes On
35. XTC - Skylarking
36. Drive-by Truckers - Southern Rock Opera
37. Porcupine Tree - Voyage 34: The Complete Trip
38. Mike Watt - Contemplating The Engine Room
39. Randy Newman - Good Old Boys
40. The Electric Prunes - Mass in F Minor
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.

To be added:
The Kinks - Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory
Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral
The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon
Husker Du - Zen Arcade
The Mountain Goats - Tallahassee
Marillion - Misplaced Childhood
The Mars Volta - Frances the Mute
The Moody Blues - Days of Future Past
Roger Waters - The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking
The Alan Parsons Project - Eye in the Sky
Frank Sinatra - In the Wee Small Hours (Should this one count?)
The Pretty Things - S.F. Sorrow
The Kinks - The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society
Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Superstar

Jackson Browne - Running on Empty (Should this qualify? It is a live album but it has a concept.)

Keep up the good suggestions, people!

Brian · **Joined:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 1:52 pm **Posts:** 2387

Timitzii wrote:

Frank Sinatra - In the Wee Small Hours (Should this one count?)

Is this a rock list or an all-genre list? If it's the former, then no. It might not really be a concept album anyway.

If this is an all-genre list, there are a lot of great jazz albums that would probably qualify. For openers:

A Love Supreme - John Coltrane
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady - Charles Mingus
Porgy and Bess - Miles Davis
Way Out West - Sonny Rollins

piper · **Posted:** Sun Jan 30, 2011 4:00 pm

Several academic books on pop music I own list "In the Wee Small Hours" as one of the earliest concept albums, and indeed one of the earliest albums that were meant to be listened to in full.

If this is supposed to be rock album list than it shouldn't be listed, but otherwise it absolutely should.

Village Green, Dark Side of the Moon and Zen Arcade are three albums in the To Be Added section that should definitely find a home in the Top 50 of this list. Probably Arthur, The Downward Spiral and Days of Future Past as well.

gminer · **Joined:** Mon Oct 11, 2010 5:17 pm **Posts:** 2561

Timitzii wrote:

Raw version of top 50:

1. The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
2. The Who - Tommy
3. Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (Yes, it is a concept album)
4. Andrew Lloyd Webber - Jesus Christ Superstar
5. Pink Floyd - The Wall
6. Joe Meek and The Blue Men - I Hear a New World: An Outer Space Music Fantasy
7. Queensrÿche - Operation Mindcrime
8. Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell
9. David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust
10. The Mothers of Invention - Freak Out!
11. The Who - The Who Sell Out
12. Jethro Tull - Aqualung
13. The Who - Quadrophenia
14. Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick
15. Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
16. Elton John - Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
18. The Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed
19. Frank Zappa - Joe's Garage: Acts I, II & III
20. Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger
21. Green Day - American Idiot
22. Yes - Tales from Topographic Oceans
23. The Goats - Tricks of the Shade
24. Harry Nilsson - The Point
25. Pretty Things - SF Sorrow
26. The Ventures in Space - The Ventures
27. The Coolies - Doug
28. The Alan Parsons Project - I Robot
29. Styx - Kilroy Was Here
30. Jethro Tull - A Passion Play
31. Paul Kantner - Blows Against
32. Jeff Wayne - War of the Worlds
33. The Alan Parsons Project - Tales of Mystery and Imagination
34. Vanilla Fudge - The Beat Goes On
35. XTC - Skylarking
36. Drive-by Truckers - Southern Rock Opera
37. Porcupine Tree - Voyage 34: The Complete Trip
38. Mike Watt - Contemplating The Engine Room
39. Randy Newman - Good Old Boys
40. The Electric Prunes - Mass in F Minor
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.

To be added:
The Kinks - Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory
Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral
The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon
Husker Du - Zen Arcade
The Mountain Goats - Tallahassee
Marillion - Misplaced Childhood
The Mars Volta - Frances the Mute
The Moody Blues - Days of Future Past
Roger Waters - The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking
The Alan Parsons Project - Eye in the Sky
Frank Sinatra - In the Wee Small Hours (Should this one count?)
The Pretty Things - S.F. Sorrow
The Kinks - The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society
Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Superstar

Jackson Browne - Running on Empty (Should this qualify? It is a live album but it has a concept.)

Keep up the good suggestions, people!

... very good... lots of material rolling in for you and Machine Head to pick from ... this should be a very interesting list ... and maybe clarify if this is a rock list ... I was assuming it was rock as it had evolved the the idea of a Greatest Rock Opera list to a Greatest Concept album ... anyway your call ..... Take care

Echoes · **Joined:** Wed Oct 27, 2010 11:43 pm **Posts:** 3816

I don´t know if Sgt Pepper is a concept album.

Dark Side of the Moon for #1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Timi · **Posted:** Mon Jan 31, 2011 12:19 pm

Echoes wrote:

I don´t know if Sgt Pepper is a concept album.

Dark Side of the Moon for #1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sgt. Pepper is definitely concept album, maybe hte most important one of all time.

Dark Side will surely be in top 5, we will check it later!

Echoes · **Joined:** Wed Oct 27, 2010 11:43 pm **Posts:** 3816

Timitzii wrote:

Echoes wrote:

I don´t know if Sgt Pepper is a concept album.

Dark Side of the Moon for #1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sgt. Pepper is definitely concept album, maybe hte most important one of all time.

Dark Side will surely be in top 5, we will check it later!

In later years John commented that, although ‘Sgt Pepper’ is referred to as the first concept album, "it doesn’t go anywhere." He pointed out that his contributions to the album have absolutely nothing to do with the idea of Sgt Pepper and his band. "It works", John said, "because we said it worked." He went on to say that the album was not put together as a concept album. The idea of presenting the album as a ‘concept’ was an after-thought. Apart from the intro and reprise, according to John, "every other song could have been on any other album."

Timi · **Posted:** Mon Jan 31, 2011 12:31 pm

It doesn't matter, John's opinion is only 25% of the whole band. Also, the album is widely held as the greatest (concept) album released, and it still keeps on influencing people. The album flows really well and has everything needed to be concept album.

Greatest Concept Albums

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