As far as influential for me, 2112 was IT. Joe's Garage gave me little bits of vocabulary I still use today (much of which cannot be repeated here). Lamb Lies Down is cool (I may pull that one out tonight and reaquaint myself). I'd chose The Wall anyday over Darkside. How about On The Inside by Alice Cooper (about the patients in an insane ward). Days of Future Past (Moody Blues). Seems like all the ones I know are old. I think the first Prince cd when he bacame a symbol is sort of a concept thing, as is Purple Rain. Oh, a true classic is David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars (I hope I got that right...its been sooo long). One of the songs on Ziggy may have THE original punk riff.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
best concept album of all time
- Thread starter Dragonlord
- Start date
Holy Zombie thread, Batman! 
In light of the concept of zombies, I would have to say La Sexorcista, by White Zombie.
Also:
ANIMALS -- Pink Floyd
HYPNO PUNKO -- The Vindictives
IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS -- Frank Sinatra
In light of the concept of zombies, I would have to say La Sexorcista, by White Zombie.
Also:
ANIMALS -- Pink Floyd
HYPNO PUNKO -- The Vindictives
IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS -- Frank Sinatra
Operation Mindcrime....my all time favorite album
And as a die-hard KISS fan...I love "Music From The Elder"..go ahead, cast your stones... LOL... not because it was an alleged concept album....but because it was such a freakish departure from their other stuff..and because "Dark Light" is one of my favorite Ace songs...and because it ushered in Eric Carr...what an amazing drummer....R.I.P. brother
And as a die-hard KISS fan...I love "Music From The Elder"..go ahead, cast your stones... LOL... not because it was an alleged concept album....but because it was such a freakish departure from their other stuff..and because "Dark Light" is one of my favorite Ace songs...and because it ushered in Eric Carr...what an amazing drummer....R.I.P. brother
A Perfect Circle's Thirteenth Step is also worth a mention. It's main discourse is dealing with drug addiction, and handled beautifully. Songs like "The Noose" and "Gravity" are just so emotive, and with "The Outsider" (love it!) and "Pet" you get the heavier edge. Then you have stuff a little more out on a limb with "The Nurse Who Loved Me". Great album.
i'm going to be the young guy who everybody despises here and say 'what to do when your dead' by Armor for sleep. pretty good bass on it 
The Black Parade- My Chemical Romance.... sounds like a Queen album a bit to me- & was produced by Roy Thomas Baker who did A night at the Opera etc... I'm not even into them as a band but I think it's a good album NOT-definately NOT the BEST concept album but a good one none the less.
The Acacia Strain-Continent
I've always been a fan of end-of-the-world movies. Then, one of my favorite bands puts out an extrordanary end-of-the-world themed album!
I've always been a fan of end-of-the-world movies. Then, one of my favorite bands puts out an extrordanary end-of-the-world themed album!
For me I'd have to say the greatest concept albumn is/was The Wall by Floyd. And I love that albumn.
But my favorite is Rush 2112. I can honestly say that reflecting on the messages in that albumn had a real, positive effect on my life. Thank you Neil.
But my favorite is Rush 2112. I can honestly say that reflecting on the messages in that albumn had a real, positive effect on my life. Thank you Neil.
Arcadia - So Red the Rose
//Musicians who contributed to the album included guitarists David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) and Carlos Alomar, pianist Herbie Hancock, Sting (who provided backing vocals on "The Promise"), Grace Jones (who provided brief but dramatic spoken-word interludes on "The Flame" and "Election Day"), bass player Mark Egan of the Pat Metheny Group (whose very distinctive fretless sound can be recognized in "The Promise", "El Diablo" and "Lady Ice") and David Van Tieghem, a percussionist from New York.//
//Musicians who contributed to the album included guitarists David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) and Carlos Alomar, pianist Herbie Hancock, Sting (who provided backing vocals on "The Promise"), Grace Jones (who provided brief but dramatic spoken-word interludes on "The Flame" and "Election Day"), bass player Mark Egan of the Pat Metheny Group (whose very distinctive fretless sound can be recognized in "The Promise", "El Diablo" and "Lady Ice") and David Van Tieghem, a percussionist from New York.//
I'd narrow it down to :
The Who -Tommy
Pink Floyd- The Wall
Jethro Tull-Passion Play
The Beatles-Magical Mystery Tour /Sgt Peppers
The Who -Tommy
Pink Floyd- The Wall
Jethro Tull-Passion Play
The Beatles-Magical Mystery Tour /Sgt Peppers
A couple +1's here:
Rift (Phish) - Often overlooked as a concept album
Amimals (Pink Floyd) - Often overshadowed by The Wall
Rift (Phish) - Often overlooked as a concept album
Amimals (Pink Floyd) - Often overshadowed by The Wall
As big a 70s Prog head I am, I feel must drop some contemporary love for Mastodon's astonishing 'Leviathan' and 'Blood Mountain'.
And I love 'The Elder' too, so there.
And I love 'The Elder' too, so there.
