# Best concept album ever? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 4, 2003, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-concept-album-ever/172991 "2003-05-04T08:17:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RexDart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@RexDart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RexDart)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-concept-album-ever/172991/1 "2003-05-04T08:17:07Z")
As I write this, I’d have to go with _Operation: Mindcrime_ by Queensryche. Nice coherent storyline, interesting characters, and the character made a good try at learning something from his ordeal. Also, it was pretty much the only time that hard rock gave a shot at doing something interesting. There really hasn’t been an interesting concept album since this time, and rock has slid into stupidity quite rapidly since 1988. After this one, I’d fill out the top 5 of concept albums with… 2.) Genesis - _The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway_ 3.) Jethro Tull - _A Passion Play_ 4.) Moody Blues - _To Our Childrens’ Childrens’ Children_ 5.) Pink Floyd - _The Wall_ ---
**Author:** ![TJ555\_The\_Golfer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@TJ555\_The\_Golfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJ555_The_Golfer)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-concept-album-ever/172991/2 "2003-05-04T09:49:39Z")
I like the one about double posts. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=181696](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=181696) ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-concept-album-ever/172991/3 "2003-05-04T10:11:45Z")
The Roger Waters albums _Amused to Death_ and _Pros and Cons of Hitch-hiking_. I’m a shill for those… ---
**Author:** ![Wristy\_McSlashalot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Wristy\_McSlashalot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wristy_McSlashalot)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-concept-album-ever/172991/4 "2003-05-04T10:25:56Z")
The Who - Quadrophenia ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-concept-album-ever/172991/5 "2003-05-04T13:24:44Z")
Depends on what you call a concept album. Radiohead’s _OK Computer_ and _Kid A_, Weezer’s _Pinkerton_ and Cursive’s _The Ugly Organ_ are all great albums that have been often described as concept albums. ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-concept-album-ever/172991/6 "2003-05-04T13:32:22Z")
The Kinks’ **Arthur** and **Village Green Preservation Society**. The Who’s **The Who Sell Out.** Brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![Convict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Convict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Convict)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-concept-album-ever/172991/7 "2003-05-04T14:07:11Z")
I agree with _Operation:Mindcrime_. An amazing album, especially if you consider the genre it came from. I also think _Three Sides to Every Story_ by **Extreme** is a great album. Not so much from the storyline, but some of the music (particularly part three) is captivating and a departure for a hard rock band. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-concept-album-ever/172991/8 "2003-05-04T14:30:13Z")
I’d go with _Arkansas Traveller_ by **Michelle Shocked.** It’s basically a primer on the history of Southern music. I’d assumed that “Come a Long Way” was tacked on as a sop to the label (i.e. a salable single that had nothing to do with the album’s premise), but it wasn’t; it was part of the greater story. She had to get out of LA to rediscover her weird Southern musical roots. ---
**Author:** ![robgruver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@robgruver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robgruver)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-concept-album-ever/172991/9 "2003-05-04T16:10:43Z")
**Savatage** - _Streets: A Rock Opera_ is one of my favorites, and it tells a really good story. **Eminem** - _The Eminem Show_ and _The Marshall Mathers LP_: Both albums are excellent tools that Eminem uses to get his story across. Both records together tell a really good story, although not as traditional as others in the thread. **Incubus** - _The Morning View Sessions_: While not a story exactlly the songs have a path through them that you can follow if you listen closely enough. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-concept-album-ever/172991/10 "2003-05-04T16:48:15Z")
Probably the best executed concept was Jeff Wayne’s **War of the Worlds** – a fine retelling of Wells. However, there is better overall music in **Aqualung** and, of course **Tommy** ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-concept-album-ever/172991/11 "2003-05-04T16:56:48Z")
Radiohead- Kid A Deltron 3030- Deltron 3030 Handsome Boy Modeling School- So… How’s Your Girl? Prince Paul- A Prince Among Thieves Yes- Closer to the Edge Pink Floyd- Darkside of the Moon, The Wall Beastie Boys- The In Sound From Way Out Gorillaz- Gorillaz Tenacious D- Tenacious D Beatles- White Album The Who- Tommy ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-concept-album-ever/172991/12 "2003-05-04T18:09:11Z")
Willie Nelson… **Redheaded Stranger** Close second… Rick Wakeman… **Journey to the Centre of the Earth.** ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-concept-album-ever/172991/13 "2003-05-04T18:26:18Z")
Best? Matter of opinion, probably. But one of my early favorites was **[Spartacus](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000068QEN/102-5483307-7207340)** by the German ELP clone [Triumvirat](http://www.triumvirat.net). Based on the Roman slave revolt, I think it slightly edges out their other concept endeavour, **[Pompeii](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000068VNY/ref=m_art_li_6/102-5483307-7207340?v=glance&s=music)**, strangely mistitled on Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![japatlgt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@japatlgt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/japatlgt)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-concept-album-ever/172991/14 "2003-05-04T18:42:23Z")
and an odd vote for **Tubular Bells** Mike Oldfield. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-concept-album-ever/172991/15 "2003-05-04T19:47:35Z")
I _ **KNOW** _ I posted it yesterday, but now it’s not here: _OK Computer_ by Radiohead. ---
**Author:** ![A\_wizard\_song\_for\_thee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/46a35a/32.png) [@A\_wizard\_song\_for\_thee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_wizard_song_for_thee)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-concept-album-ever/172991/16 "2003-05-04T19:52:20Z")
**Berlin** by Lou Reed was so far ahead of its time that we’re all still trying to catch up! That, and, uh, **Metal Machine Music** , but I’m not sure we _want_ to catch up with that one… ---
**Author:** ![desdinova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@desdinova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desdinova)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-concept-album-ever/172991/17 "2003-05-04T20:02:58Z")
All good suggestions, so far. **Operation Mindcrime** is absolute genius, and I can’t argue with Savatage’s **Streets** or the epic **Aqualung**. But The Amazing Blue Oyster Cult’s **Imaginos** owns you all 😃 H.P. Lovecraft, voodoo, John Dee, this album’s got it all. “At the terminal point of the cul-de-sac Patient’s are dyin’ the horses are dazed from the glare of stars starry wisdom owned by the Baron and he’s got the cure… a drug by the name of WORLD WITHOUT END!” ---
**Author:** ![yawndave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/43a26b/32.png) [@yawndave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yawndave)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-concept-album-ever/172991/18 "2003-05-04T20:43:34Z")
What, no mention of SGT PEPPER? ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-concept-album-ever/172991/19 "2003-05-04T20:49:20Z")
Frank Zappa’s _Freak Out!_, _Absolutely Free_, _We’re Only In it For the Money_, _Lumpy Gravy_, _Cruising with Ruben and the Jets_, _Uncle Meat_, _Joe’s Garage_, _Thing-Fish_, _Civilization Phaze III_, and probably some others that are escaping me. Perhaps Devo’s first album, _Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!_ counts. Perhaps not. ---
**Author:** ![Daoloth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@Daoloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daoloth)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-concept-album-ever/172991/20 "2003-05-04T20:50:15Z")
_Southern Rock Opera_ by Drive-by Truckers is pretty good. I’m listening to it right now, in fact. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-concept-album-ever/172991.md?page=2)