Concept Albums. Does the concept matter?

[billybunter]

Tommy & Quadrophenia have a musical theme throughout. From the first track onwards.

[NIN]

Neon Neon made a decent concept album of recent years. "Stainless Style" was written around inspiration from John DeLoreans' escapades & his Iconic Car (which was built in Dunmurry, Ireland of course BB )

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stainless_Style

[winebeavis]

The first one that I ever noticed was side 2 of Odgen's Nut Gone Flake.



From Wiki:
"Side Two is based on an original fairy tale about a boy called Happiness Stan, narrated in his unique ‘Unwinese’ gobbledegook by Stanley Unwin, who picked up modern slang from the band and incorporated it into the surreal narrative.


The plot of the fairy tale is that Stan looks up in the sky and sees only half the moon, he sets out on a quest to search for the missing half. Along the way he saves a fly from starvation, and in gratitude the insect tells him of someone who can answer his question and also tell him the philosophy of life itself. With his magic power Stan intones, "If all the flies were one fly, what a great enormous fly-follolloper that would bold," and the fly grows to gigantic proportions. Seated on the giant fly's back Stan takes a psychedelic journey to the cave of Mad John the hermit, who explains that the moon's disappearance is only temporary, and demonstrates by pointing out that Stan has spent so long on his quest that the moon is now full again. He then sings Stan a cheerful song about the meaning of life. Due to the album's complexities, Ogdens' was never performed live; it was performed as a whole once on the BBC's television programme Colour Me Pop on Friday 21 June 1968. Songs featured were "Song of a Baker", "Happiness Stan", "Rollin' Over", "The Hungry Intruder", "The Journey", "Mad John" and "Happydaystoytown". Although the band mimed to the studio recordings, their microphones were left on to capture little ad libs."


My dad turned me on to the Small Faces and The Who at an early age.

[imtrying]

People keep mentioning "Tommy" and Quadrophenia" but how about The Who's first concept album "The Who Sell Out"? OK, it doesn't carry the concept through both sides, but side one, with it's radio station IDs and commercials is great fun. I also love The Turtles' "Battle Of The Bands" album. Each track is a different style of music (protest, pop, surf, etc.) and each tune is credited to a different band (all The Turtles, of course). If you've never heard it, check it out.

[howerd]

This little know concept album is something of a masterpiece! created by the Greek progressive rock band Aphrodyte's Child.



If you've not heard of this album check it out! It's loosely based on The Book of Revelations & it is in equal measure: weird / psychedelic / whacky / poetic / atmospheric / profound / funny / ...& highly musical.

Two of the bands better known members include Vangelis & Demis Roussos on vocals & bass & he does a bloody good job in both roles - don't let his solo career material put you off: this album is extraordinary!

Another performer on this album is the Greek actress Irene Papas who's deeply disturbing & erotic performance on the track "∞" (Infinity) made a lot of radio stations ban it because the track is so sexually explicit . I guarantee you will never have heard anything quite like it in your life! Listen to it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ra2xYKdP8w

If that sounds too hectic to listen too then check out one of the many melodic rock tracks instead: The Four Horsemen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KCbqhJt16k

[NIN]

If you allow the minor religious aspects to wash over you , & this Album is one of the very few Albums I can constantly re-visit & enjoy as a whole album, listening from start to end.
Funky, Jazzy, Intricate & with well intentioned, utopian messages, Prince demonstrates some of his finest songwriting

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rainbow_Children

[billybunter]

And the Kinks' Village Green Preservation Society.

[victor meldrew]

Never worried too much about concept, story line albums, but as long as I enjoy the music to me that is all that matters.

The Beatles Sgt Pepper album was considered a form of concept album as was the Beach Boys Pet Sounds which was inspired by the Beatles Revolver. The Moody Blues always produced albums to have been loosely based on the idea with the exception od Days of Future Passed which I thought was. The Pretty Things SF Sorrow was an early example for me. in later days perhaps Alice Cooper, Groundhogs and others mentioned already in this thread.

Does a concept album actually have to have or story line or can it be a loosely based idea.

[KingKeigh]

I couldn't care less about an album's concept especially if the songs aren't any good. Im more into music than lyrics but I can respect a good lyricist like Paul Simon, Prince or Elvis Costello. Otherwise, Im more likely to lean toward albums with a theme more than a concept. Each or the majority of Vangelis' albums feature a theme.

I did enjoy many of the concept albums of Parliament-Funkadelic and Frank Zappa back in the day.

[tygrkhat40]

Originally Posted by billybunter

Tommy & Quadrophenia have a musical theme throughout. From the first track onwards.

Quadrophenia even moreso than Tommy, as Townshend wove the four "themes" ("Helpless Dancer," Roger; "Is it Me," John, "Bell Boy," Keith and "Love Reigh O'er Me," Pete) for each member of the Who throughout the album.