I have another contribution.
Girls Aloud – Chemistry
I’ve seen one review that calls it a “concept album about fame”, and that is probably just about the most accurate way of describing it. Possibly the only concept album that has ever appeared in that specific genre of music. It’s also genius.
Beat me to it. I was just listening to this album on my run yesterday. What a perfect, great concept album. You can throw Arthur in there as well.
Not mentioned yet:
Kayak - Merlin, bard of the unseen
A gorgeous rendition of the Arthur saga, one of my 5 favourite albums of all time.
See also Hype by Robert Calvert.
(Warning: Sound auto-plays when you hit that site and links therein)
My drama teacher in high school introduced me to this album. We had just put on Tommy, and he was talking about how it was his dream to do a staged version of The Lamb. I had never heard it before, but was so interested I went out and bought the album and have loved it (and Genesis) ever since.
infinitii, I’m pretty sure I misread your post (this is was I get for reading the boards pre-caffeine). I thought you were claiming that it might be “the only concept album about fame.” :smack:
Apologies for the misunderstanding.
Village Green and Arthur are both brilliant, as is Lola vs. Powerman and the Moneygoround. Their later concept albums from the 70s, not quite so much, but I still really enjoy them (Schoolboys in Disgrace, Soap Opera, Muswell Hillbillies, Preservation Acts 1 and 2).
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is a great concept album, and IMHO Bowie’s best.
I also love the Parsons Project albums.
But my favorite concept album is Songs of the Heart by the band Daniel Amos. Inspired by the cover photo of an early sixties album by a gospel-singing couple (which they stole for their own album cover), the concept album follows the old couple Bud and Irma Ackendorf through life and along Route 66 (one of songwriter Terry Taylor’s obsessions), with songs that range from deeply quirky to deeply moving (or sometimes both), starting with a kick-ass cover of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” and ending with Bob saying his deathbed goodbyes to Irma, in a song that always brings tears to my eyes.
Hey, I just found out that both of her albums can be heard via streaming audio on her MySpace page! You have to stop the player and scroll down. The albums are in players on the left side. I just listened to “Trigger Happy Jack” again because I haven’t heard it for awhile and I just LOVE how she sings that line (“You can’t talk to a psycho like a normal human being”).
I was listening to Poe and Zoe (Pollock) at about the same time, and I almost wrote in my response to you that “Trigger Happy Jack” was on Poe’s album Hammer (which is actually Zoe’s album, which I desperately love, so it’s terrible that I almost mixed them up). Have you heard Zoe? Hammer is a freaking brilliant album, very very eclectic, ranging from rock out delicious Fuck off before I kill youness of the song “Hammer” (“If I had a hammer, I’d hit you on the head. I wouldn’t stop my pounding till I knew that you were dead”) to various celtic-flavored songs like “The Lion Roars” to the gorgeous “Virgin Snow.” There’s not a bad song, in my very not so humble opinion, on the album. It might take some getting used to, especially her voice and how the album goes all over the place genre-wise, but it’s worth the effort.
Anyway, I’m listening to the Poe album now, and…yeah, I like!
I’ve never been all that clear on what a concept album is.
But I think Ween’s “The Mollusk” is one of the best albums ever, and it is supposed to be a concept album. It’s like all oceanic and stuff.
Some oddball ones that I love:
Harry Nilsson The Point. Wonderfully catchy songs and a fun morality tale.
Men Without Hats Pop Goes the World. Great 80’s anti-apocalypse melodrama.
Alice Cooper Goes to Hell. Great little tale of his going to hell and pleading for his return.
Blue Oyster Cult Imaginos. Gothic lovecraftian mood with a glitz-metal sound.
Jethro Tull Too Old To Rock n Roll. Thick as a Brick gets all the love, but Tull did many concept albums and this is still one of the best.
Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds. Great music, and great story.
Preservation Act I by the Kinks. The second part is so-so, but the first album is one of their best.
Also
Thick as a Brick
Tommy Quadrophrenia is OK, but not one of the Who’s best.
Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (about his feelings for Patti Harrison)
Sgt. Pepper (can’t avoid listing it).
I’m surprised nobody has mentioned the Jon Anderson solo project “Olias of Sunhillow”
When I hear the words “concept album” that’s the first thing that comes to mind.
The songs segue into one another seamlessly. The album jacket folds open and has an extra ‘page’ for all the eye-popping art and accompanying text. It’s all integrated into an overall story set in a fantastic, otherworldly milieu.
I’m going to go listen to it again, now!
I’ve never heard of her, but I will definitely check it out. If I’m not mistaken, you are one of the people I look for posts for in order to determine music to check out here one the Dope. I can’t think of anything specific, because it’s been over a period of years, but I definitely think that you are one of those people. Just thought you would like to know.
Sorry about the hijack everyone.
I’ll go with a couple of Townshend efforts, “Lifehouse” and “Psychoderelict” .
Seventh Son of the Seventh Son by Iron Maiden
oh yeah, and Quadrophenia
Dark Side of the Moon
Wish You Were Here
The Wall
The Final Cut
Sgt. Pepper’s
Zooropa
Songs for Swinging Lovers
Sticky Fingers
Layla
I’ve got ONE more to contribute: somehow this one also escaped me.
Donna Summer – I Remember Yesterday
Moroder and Donna Summer do a concept album with each song standing for a decade, from the 20s to the future, with them predicting electronic music with “I Feel Love” very presciently.
We’re Only In It For The Money - Frank Zappa and The Mothers
This is definitely the best concept album I’ve run across in the past 25 years, and probably in the top 5 for all albums in that time. Although it’s got some great individual songs it is truly meant to be listened to in its entirety.
I’m also glad someone listed Alice Cooper Goes to Hell, although Welcome to My Nightmare is my personal favorite from him.
I love a lot of Jethro Tull but their concept albums generally were not their best–I like War Child, Songs from the Wood and Minstrel in the Gallery best so if you want to call those concept albums, OK.
And yes, the Pink Floyd albums named.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: QUEENSRYCHE: Operation Mindcrime. Big Brother recruits a young anarchist wannabe with the help of a nun and mind altering science.