# Stories developed through multiple songs/albums **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 17, 2011, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-developed-through-multiple-songs-albums/599962 "2011-10-17T21:32:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-developed-through-multiple-songs-albums/599962/21 "2011-10-18T14:37:28Z")
Magma was already mentioned, but there’s also the prog band [Ayreon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayreon) (really a solo project under a band name), whose entire catalog tells a single story. ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-developed-through-multiple-songs-albums/599962/22 "2011-10-18T14:42:29Z")
Oh yeah, and there’s Dream Theater’s “[Twelve-step Suite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve-step_Suite),” which spans five albums, but I’m not sure how well it fits the requirements of the OP, as the songs are more a reflection on Mike Portnoy’s experiences than an actual story. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-developed-through-multiple-songs-albums/599962/23 "2011-10-18T14:44:49Z")
The musical Annie had two sequels: Annie 2: Miss Hannigan’s Revenge and Annie Warbucks. ---
**Author:** ![President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/President_Johnny_Gentle)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-developed-through-multiple-songs-albums/599962/24 "2011-10-18T15:10:09Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Man, those are some tough requirements! I didn’t this want to evolve into “name your favorite concept album,” otherwise the requirements would have been a bit loser. I’m pleased with the number of examples so far though. > [@installLSC](#): > > The entire output of prog band [Coheed and Cambria](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coheed_and_Cambria). This example is exactly what I was looking for. Despite mentioning Queensrÿche in the OP, I stupidly forgot to consider heavier bands. I was unfamiliar with Coheed and Cambria, so I’m very grateful for this mention. > [@Apollyon](#): > > Would you allow the “character” of the father of _Pink Floyd’s_ Roger Waters? > > At the very least – and off the top of my head – he features in “When the tigers broke free” (released on Echoes (?) and The Wall soundtrack, though not album), and the “Fletcher Memorial Home” (on the Final Cut)… but I’m sure more knowledgable people could name other references (rather than just serving as the inspiration for the bitterness of the Final Cut). The bitterness of the Final Cut, the Wall, Animals, etc., etc., … 🙂 I wasn’t sure what to think of Pink Floyd. I never thought about Roger’s father as a character. I did think of mentioning the school master from the Wall, since he shows up in three songs there, and then seems to appear on the Final Cut as well. As an aside, “When the Tigers Broke Free” has actually been included on newer copies of the Final Cut, where it’s included after “One of the Few”. This placement bugs me because it splits up the school master’s lament. > [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > Iron Maiden has Charlotte the Harlot on 3-4 different albums through about 10 years. Though I’m not 100% sure it’s supposed to be her most people agree that it is. I can’t remember them all off the top of my head though. I had completely forgotten about Charlotte. > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > So no Richard Wagner, eh? 🙂 No. I thought including opera might make it too easy. Plus, I wouldn’t be motivated to go out and seek some of the music mentioned. > [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > The musical Annie had two sequels: Annie 2: Miss Hannigan’s Revenge and Annie Warbucks. I wasn’t aware of this. Then again, my exposure to the movie Annie was less than pleasant. It’s the only movie that I’ve ever seen more than 30 times, and, not so coincidentally, it’s one of my least favorite movies. (The original Star Wars may have surpassed it in viewings recently). ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-developed-through-multiple-songs-albums/599962/25 "2011-10-18T15:34:01Z")
I had always heard that the first couple waves of albums from the Wu Tang Clan (the Wu Tang Clan albums and the individual member’s albums) create a consistent mythology throughout. While I listened and enjoyed many of them, I never really concentrated on the lyrics enough to verify that, but I wanted to throw it out there in case someone else knows more about it. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-developed-through-multiple-songs-albums/599962/26 "2011-10-18T16:15:31Z")
[Gong,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gong_%28band%29) with their Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy of LPs. One continuing (if meandering) storyline, compete with characters. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-developed-through-multiple-songs-albums/599962/27 "2011-10-18T16:48:09Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > [Gong,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gong_%28band%29) with their Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy of LPs. One continuing (if meandering) storyline, compete with characters. Missed edit window… Be sure to scroll down that Wikipedia article for a detailed description of the Radio Gnome Invisible story. Also… how could I forget Parliament/Funkadelic and the [P-Funk mythology](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-Funk_mythology). ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-developed-through-multiple-songs-albums/599962/28 "2011-10-18T17:48:30Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > [Gong,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gong_%28band%29) with their Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy of LPs. One continuing (if meandering) storyline, compete with characters. I hereby kick myself for not thinking of Zero the Hero, the Octave Doctors, and the Pot Head Pixies myself! ---
**Author:** ![HookerChemical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@HookerChemical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HookerChemical)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-developed-through-multiple-songs-albums/599962/29 "2011-10-18T18:12:44Z")
I assume we’re not including characters in concept albums or single compositions with multiple movements (i.e. Rush’s 2112). Blue Oyster Cult’s Astronomy and Subhuman/Blue Oyster Cult songs from previous albums were both drawn into the mythology of the Imaginos album. Jethro Tull’s Auqalung character appears in Aqualung, Cross-eyed Mary and is possibly referenced in Strange Avenues (looking like a record cover from 1971 [the year Aqualung was released]). To be fair, the last reference may be more self-referential than a reference to the character. ---
**Author:** ![aerodave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f08c70/32.png) [@aerodave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aerodave)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-developed-through-multiple-songs-albums/599962/30 "2011-10-18T18:35:25Z")
They’re not exactly my thing, but Insane Clown Posse’s entire discography (at least before the last album) it building up one big mythology, the “Dark Carnival.” I don’t know if specific characters appear across albums, but when I think of bands developing a thematic universe, ICP comes to mind right away. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-developed-through-multiple-songs-albums/599962/31 "2011-10-18T18:35:40Z")
**Ween _The Stallion_** ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-developed-through-multiple-songs-albums/599962/32 "2011-10-18T18:43:14Z")
**Jethro Tull** has several that qualify. “Jeffrey” shows up on at least 4 albums that I know of. Certain background characters also show up on _Passion Play_, _Aqualung_ and _Thick As A Brick._ ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-developed-through-multiple-songs-albums/599962/33 "2011-10-18T18:57:43Z")
Prince By-Tor appears on Rush’s second album, Fly By Night, in By-Tor and the Snow Dog. He appears again on their third album, Caress of Steel, in The Necromancer. In the former he is the bad guy, in the latter, the good guy. Rush has never said which story comes first. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-developed-through-multiple-songs-albums/599962/34 "2011-10-18T19:03:47Z")
Jane Siberry has three songs, on three different albums: “Map of the World, Pt. 1” on her 1984 album _[No Borders Here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Borders_Here)_, “Map of the World (Part II)” on her 1985 album _[The Speckless Sky](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Speckless_Sky)_ and “Are We Dancing Now? (Map III)” on her 1995 album _[Bound by the Beauty](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bound_by_the_Beauty)_. Like most of Jane’s work, it’s hard to definitively state that they are a continuing story, but they seem to meet the criteria of the OP. ---
**Author:** ![AndyPolley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@AndyPolley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyPolley)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-developed-through-multiple-songs-albums/599962/35 "2011-10-18T20:35:37Z")
Phish has the concept album (never been officially released) that tells the story of Gamehenge and the many characters from that world including the bad guy there named Wilson. Over the years, a bunch of other Gamehange-inspired songs have come out on a few of their studio albums… Junta: Icculus, Divided Sky A Picture of Nectar: Llama Hoist: Axilla, Part 2 There’s also been a bunch of songs that haven’t appeared on any studio release… McGrupp & the Watchful Hosemasters, Punch You in The Eye, Harpua and Axilla (part 1) > **[Gamehendge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamehendge)** > > Gamehendge is the fictional setting for a number of songs by the rock band Phish. Most of the songs can be traced back to The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday (or TMWSIY), the senior project of guitarist and primary vocalist Trey Anastasio, written while he attended Goddard College in 1987. The recording of TMWSIY has been heavily circulated among fans and is considered by some to be an unreleased Phish album. Outside of the songs from TMWSIY, there are numerous other songs set in the fictional un... Does the “Fear Trilogy” from Rush count? ---
**Author:** ![Cryptic\_C62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cryptic\_C62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cryptic_C62)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-developed-through-multiple-songs-albums/599962/36 "2011-10-18T21:22:56Z")
> [@GESancMan](#): > > Oh yeah, and there’s Dream Theater’s “[Twelve-step Suite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve-step_Suite),” which spans five albums, but I’m not sure how well it fits the requirements of the OP, as the songs are more a reflection on Mike Portnoy’s experiences than an actual story. They’ve also got the Metropolis storyline. “Metropolis Part 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper” is a track off of the album _Images and Words_. The story is continued with the band’s concept album _Metropolis Part 2: Scenes From a Memory_. I’ve actually got some interweaved story lines in my own music, though I doubt anyone cares. The fifth chapter of [Formation and Evolution](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kJTk2pQiJQ) is about how I encountered Special K (see [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14303613&postcount=39) thread for background), and one of the last lines is “But I swear I’m coming back for you.” [Coming Back for You](http://ryanmalloy.bandcamp.com/track/coming-back-for-you) is about the time I went to visit Special K, in which one of the lines is “I’m [Orlando Bound](http://ryanmalloy.bandcamp.com/track/orlando-bound)”, which is a reference to an instrumental piece I wrote _while_ I was visiting her. The most recent chapter is the as-yet-unrecorded “One Last Lullaby”. Some of the connections were unintentional, so I was pretty proud of myself once I figured it all out 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-developed-through-multiple-songs-albums/599962/37 "2011-10-18T22:52:59Z")
There’s quite a few examples in metal. [Rhapsody Of Fire](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhapsody_of_fire) (formerly just Rhapsody) have to be the best example though. The [Emerald Sword](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerald_Sword_Saga) saga is an epic fantasy story told over their first 5 albums, and the[Dark Secret](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Secret_Saga) saga over the next five. It’s all exactly as ridiculous as you’d imagine. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-developed-through-multiple-songs-albums/599962/38 "2011-10-18T23:21:10Z")
I don’t know if this quite counts, but there’s _Be My Yoko_ - The Bobs (1983) _Be My Yoko Ono_ - Barenaked Ladies (1989) _I Won’t Be Your Yoko Ono_ - Dar Williams (2000) I don’t know if there’s any explicit connection between them all, but it doesn’t seem like it could be a complete coincidence. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-developed-through-multiple-songs-albums/599962/39 "2011-10-19T00:55:25Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > “Three or more” is the hard part. If two occurrences were enough… …my entry would still be lightweight compared to most of those already offered. Nonetheless: “It’s My Party” \> “Judy’s Turn To Cry” . ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-developed-through-multiple-songs-albums/599962/40 "2011-10-20T17:53:14Z")
Hank Ballard did a song called “Work With Me Annie”; Etta James replied with “Roll With Me Henry”; and Hank did “Annie Had A Baby”. I don’t think anyone’s mentioned Pete Townshend’s _[Lifehouse](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifehouse_%28rock_opera%29)_ project yet. Originally intended as a follow-up to _Tommy_, it didn’t appear in finished form until Townshend’s _Lifehouse Chronicles_ in 2000, but songs from the project appeared on _Who’s Next_, _Who Came First_, _Odds and Sods_, _The Who By Numbers_, and _Hooligans_, and a revised version of the story was presented in _Who Are You_. (By the way, I think it’s interesting how certain elements of _Tommy_ show up in the Who’s earlier work… for example, the “Tommy” leitmotif is basically the three-chord sequence that plays under the last part of “My Generation” (where Pete sings “Talkin’ 'bout my generation” over and over while Roger yells “This’s my generation!”). Also, “Rael” on _The Who Sell Out_ is a clear foreshadowing of _Tommy_… I like to think of it as the story of why Captain Walker didn’t come home.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-developed-through-multiple-songs-albums/599962.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-developed-through-multiple-songs-albums/599962.md?page=3)