I love the "concept" of there being concept albums, but I think there is a lot of gray area when it comes to defining what a concept album is. Like Lennon said in this article, Sgt Pepper wasn't even really a concept album. With that said, The Who Sells Out comes to mind as an obvious classic.
I experience "Ziggy Stardust" as a concept album even though maybe it isn't really. I have to listen all the way through in order, and then I feel like I went somewhere.
I'd totally consider Ziggy Stardust a concept record. A lot of Bowie's records are even if there isn't a specific theme beyond whatever persona.hes adopted for that record.
I don't have a single favorite concept album, but two of my all-time favorites deserve mention.
First is What's Going On by Marvin Gaye, a masterpiece that captures the spirit of its era while sounding every bit as relevant and fresh today as it did upon release.
From the world of progressive rock, I'd choose Tales from Topographic Oceans by Yes. Often unfairly maligned, it's a genuinely ambitious concept album inspired by Hindu scriptures. Over the years, I've found it only grows more beautiful, even as it deliberately meanders through long, contemplative passages that owe more to the architecture of a classical symphony than to conventional rock. For those willing to surrender to its pace, its rewards are profound.
I used to be in a band with a guy who was really into that record and while I think I listened once I never really.absorbed it. Maybe I'll have to give it a second listen, especially since I'm Buddhist curious.
Oh yes, I completely understand. It's quite the commitment—four album sides, each running around 15–20 minutes long, with lyrics that are often mystical and abstract. It's also one of those albums that probably isn't fully appreciated in a single listen.
After listening to it many times over the years, though, the musical architecture, recurring themes, and individual movements have come into sharp focus for me. That has allowed me to move beyond simply following the music and appreciate the album's deeply beautiful concept, not to mention the astonishing virtuosity of the musicians, who were among the finest I've ever heard. Oh, and the album cover (4-sided) added to the sensory experience.
Thanks for writing this - it drives me bonkers when people claim Sgt Pepper's is the first concept album. Besides the examples you site, let's not overlook jazz records like Max Roach's "We Insist!", Charles Mingus's "Black Saint and the Sinner Lady," and John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme." Later than Guthrie and Sinatra, but well ahead of the rock records that are often cited.
Thanks for reading! There were several jazz records I considered but they were all post-Sinatra so I didn't write about them. Great records though to be sure!
The point about Guthrie's comedic songs carrying a dark undercurrent is the thing I'd underline—“Dust Pneumonia Blues” gets a laugh out of a disease that was killing people, which is a hard trick and a deliberate one. The funny delivery is how he gets the grief past your defenses. As it happens, I just published a piece on the most misunderstood song in his catalog: “This Land Is Your Land,” which most of the country sings as a patriotic anthem even though Guthrie wrote it as a pointed answer to “God Bless America,” with verses about private property and relief lines that usually get dropped. Same instinct as Dust Bowl Ballads—the bright surface doing the heavy lifting. Strong choice of guest piece, and the Sinatra-to-Guthrie excavation is well done.
Thank you JP! I was pretty blown away after digging into Guthrie's stuff and when I first started working on the piece, I really WANTED the answer to be Sinatra, but alas... Thanks for reading!
Great dive into musical history! But I think that the term concept album really applies to rock music specifically because the popularity of the album format when rock music took over from the older style of pop (like Sinatra)! And after sargeant pepper we had a lot of concept albums like The Who Tommy and the Stones Satanic Majesties Request 😎
I think the concept was "We gotta make a psychedelic album quick before we get left in the dust." (Said affectionately! There's a lot of great stuff on that album, but it's maybe the clearest example of the Stones trying to catch up with the Beatles.)
Maybe this one doesn't count since it's spoken word and not music, but it's got to be a contender for something in this category: Firesign Theatre's third album, "Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers." It's a full length 40-minute narrative, written and produced from scratch for the purpose of being heard on a phonograph record and nowhere else. In other words, a concept album. Also, by the way, the most brilliant and innovative writing and audio production in the history of the world.
Firesign Theatre is an acquired taste. You might hate them. At the very least they require your undistracted attention, and usually multiple listenings before you really grasp what's going on. I recommend starting with something more accessible: "The Further Adventures of Nick Danger." It's on YouTube and is only 28 minutes long. Enjoy the ride.
Is that one of the ones with Peter Gabriel? I'll have to give that one a listen, I passed it up in favor of Trick Of The Tail back in the day when I bought some Genesis. I didn't know any better though lol
There are a few different ways to get into the band. The Afterman is the earliest album in the chronology, Second Stage Turbine Blade is the first album they made, and From Fear Through The Eyes of Madness is their breakout album (it's got Welcome Home and Wake Up)
Great article! I'd add Orff's Carmina Burana to your classical list. And Donald Fagen's The Nightfly and Kamakiriad have always seemed like concept albums to me. Still just love the former (probably a time of life thing) and appreciate the latter.
I think the greatest albums of all time are concept albums. Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall, Dream Theater's Scenes from a Memory, and almost everything from Coheed & Cambria is one concept.
Definitely agree with you about the Floyd records, haven’t heard the DT one in a long time so I should give that one another listen. Not familiar enough with Coheed to know for sure, but which one of theirs would be a good starting point?
Thank you Chris for letting me do this, I much appreciate it!
It was my pleasure!
I would put in a vote from some of Willie Nelson’s 1970’s albums like “Red Headed Stranger”, and my favorite “Phases and Stages”.
I didn't know about Phases and Stages, but yes, Red Headed Stranger is a great one!
I love the "concept" of there being concept albums, but I think there is a lot of gray area when it comes to defining what a concept album is. Like Lennon said in this article, Sgt Pepper wasn't even really a concept album. With that said, The Who Sells Out comes to mind as an obvious classic.
Great article, thanks for sharing it!
I experience "Ziggy Stardust" as a concept album even though maybe it isn't really. I have to listen all the way through in order, and then I feel like I went somewhere.
Super interesting about Woody Guthrie!
I'd totally consider Ziggy Stardust a concept record. A lot of Bowie's records are even if there isn't a specific theme beyond whatever persona.hes adopted for that record.
I don't have a single favorite concept album, but two of my all-time favorites deserve mention.
First is What's Going On by Marvin Gaye, a masterpiece that captures the spirit of its era while sounding every bit as relevant and fresh today as it did upon release.
From the world of progressive rock, I'd choose Tales from Topographic Oceans by Yes. Often unfairly maligned, it's a genuinely ambitious concept album inspired by Hindu scriptures. Over the years, I've found it only grows more beautiful, even as it deliberately meanders through long, contemplative passages that owe more to the architecture of a classical symphony than to conventional rock. For those willing to surrender to its pace, its rewards are profound.
I used to be in a band with a guy who was really into that record and while I think I listened once I never really.absorbed it. Maybe I'll have to give it a second listen, especially since I'm Buddhist curious.
Oh yes, I completely understand. It's quite the commitment—four album sides, each running around 15–20 minutes long, with lyrics that are often mystical and abstract. It's also one of those albums that probably isn't fully appreciated in a single listen.
After listening to it many times over the years, though, the musical architecture, recurring themes, and individual movements have come into sharp focus for me. That has allowed me to move beyond simply following the music and appreciate the album's deeply beautiful concept, not to mention the astonishing virtuosity of the musicians, who were among the finest I've ever heard. Oh, and the album cover (4-sided) added to the sensory experience.
Thanks for writing this - it drives me bonkers when people claim Sgt Pepper's is the first concept album. Besides the examples you site, let's not overlook jazz records like Max Roach's "We Insist!", Charles Mingus's "Black Saint and the Sinner Lady," and John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme." Later than Guthrie and Sinatra, but well ahead of the rock records that are often cited.
Thanks for reading! There were several jazz records I considered but they were all post-Sinatra so I didn't write about them. Great records though to be sure!
The point about Guthrie's comedic songs carrying a dark undercurrent is the thing I'd underline—“Dust Pneumonia Blues” gets a laugh out of a disease that was killing people, which is a hard trick and a deliberate one. The funny delivery is how he gets the grief past your defenses. As it happens, I just published a piece on the most misunderstood song in his catalog: “This Land Is Your Land,” which most of the country sings as a patriotic anthem even though Guthrie wrote it as a pointed answer to “God Bless America,” with verses about private property and relief lines that usually get dropped. Same instinct as Dust Bowl Ballads—the bright surface doing the heavy lifting. Strong choice of guest piece, and the Sinatra-to-Guthrie excavation is well done.
Thank you JP! I was pretty blown away after digging into Guthrie's stuff and when I first started working on the piece, I really WANTED the answer to be Sinatra, but alas... Thanks for reading!
Great dive into musical history! But I think that the term concept album really applies to rock music specifically because the popularity of the album format when rock music took over from the older style of pop (like Sinatra)! And after sargeant pepper we had a lot of concept albums like The Who Tommy and the Stones Satanic Majesties Request 😎
Was Satanic Majesties a concept record too? I didn't know that
I think the concept was "We gotta make a psychedelic album quick before we get left in the dust." (Said affectionately! There's a lot of great stuff on that album, but it's maybe the clearest example of the Stones trying to catch up with the Beatles.)
Maybe this one doesn't count since it's spoken word and not music, but it's got to be a contender for something in this category: Firesign Theatre's third album, "Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers." It's a full length 40-minute narrative, written and produced from scratch for the purpose of being heard on a phonograph record and nowhere else. In other words, a concept album. Also, by the way, the most brilliant and innovative writing and audio production in the history of the world.
Can't say as that I'm familiar with that but "Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me The Pliers" sounds like an interesting way to spend a Saturday night 😂
Firesign Theatre is an acquired taste. You might hate them. At the very least they require your undistracted attention, and usually multiple listenings before you really grasp what's going on. I recommend starting with something more accessible: "The Further Adventures of Nick Danger." It's on YouTube and is only 28 minutes long. Enjoy the ride.
I'll put that on my listening list. If nothing else, the title has me curious lol
GENESIS The lamb lies down on Broadway is my favorite I think :)
Is that one of the ones with Peter Gabriel? I'll have to give that one a listen, I passed it up in favor of Trick Of The Tail back in the day when I bought some Genesis. I didn't know any better though lol
The very last album with Peter, two discs long, very interesting story about a boy discovering himself in New York City
Interesting. Guess I've got some listening to do this week!
There are a few different ways to get into the band. The Afterman is the earliest album in the chronology, Second Stage Turbine Blade is the first album they made, and From Fear Through The Eyes of Madness is their breakout album (it's got Welcome Home and Wake Up)
Great article! I'd add Orff's Carmina Burana to your classical list. And Donald Fagen's The Nightfly and Kamakiriad have always seemed like concept albums to me. Still just love the former (probably a time of life thing) and appreciate the latter.
I think the greatest albums of all time are concept albums. Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall, Dream Theater's Scenes from a Memory, and almost everything from Coheed & Cambria is one concept.
Definitely agree with you about the Floyd records, haven’t heard the DT one in a long time so I should give that one another listen. Not familiar enough with Coheed to know for sure, but which one of theirs would be a good starting point?