A selection of bold concept albums in the history of music

Concept albums - it's a real rock phenomenon. When done right, they are a moving musical journey, bringing the story together through song... When done wrong, they are just... bad. It's worth noting that the big risk lies in the concepts themselves. Some lyrical and thematic concepts make a real statement and can have lasting cultural impact, but sometimes even the most ambitious of concepts fail. Regardless of the level of success, there have been some truly bizarre concept albums throughout history. Created by legendary artists such as. Frank Sinatra, Frank Zappa, Genesis. and others - they all have crazy themes. And the most interesting thing is that these albums - bold and quite unorthodox - hit right "in the bull's-eye". We'll talk about them below...

Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon

Despite being one of the most recognisable and beloved albums of all time, listeners often miss out on contributions The Dark Side of the Moon into the world of concept albums. Released in 1973 year, the eighth album Pink Floyd is an ambitious and philosophical record that deals with the idea that modern life drives people crazy... Whether or not the band came up with a storyline to tie the album together lyrically, fans believe there is an underlying theme and message. "Dark Side of the Moon." Is known for the mystery and mythology that surrounds it.....

https://youtu.be/hsr4PmeEocE

This concept album is like life: the tracks follow you as you travel through your own life. First you "breathe" (you are born and manoeuvred through the early stages of life). Then you grow up and face crazy, more serious issues such as "Time," "Money," "Religion," "War." and... trying to find answers.

David Bowie: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

Brilliant character David Bowie, Ziggy Stardust., has become a rock legend today and was completely groundbreaking when the musician first introduced his alter ego in the early 1970s. Telling the story of an alien rock star sent to save Earth, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. ends with the protagonist dying due to the excesses of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle.

https://youtu.be/rfrOlB6pXNI

The album was a big breakthrough for Bowie.

Alice Cooper: Welcome to My Nightmare

Welcome to My Nightmare was a commercially successful venture into the world of concept albums. The songs centre around a boy named Stephen and the nightmares he suffers. They were born out of Cooper's love of the horror genre. He later said:

"I used to love horror films! I still do. I also love theatre and musicals. And I always had this grand idea that we could take a basic album and create a stage show out of it, which we ended up doing. I saw it as something between a ghoulish fairy tale and something like West Side Story..."

The album was a proud moment for Cooperwho said:

"The record had all the elements I wanted. And for a first solo album, it's not a bad start!"

Genesis: The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

Genesis' last album with Peter Gabriel was also their most ambitious. Lamb Lies Down on Broadway tells the story of Rael, a former gang member, half Puerto Rican, who travels around New York in search of his missing brother and sister... Quite a strange concept, but it proved successful and eventually became a prog rock classic!

After the release of the album. Gabriel decided to leave the band, concluding that he had now done everything he wanted to do with Genesis. He went on to a successful solo career.

The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

Possibly the craziest thing in history Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots - is that it was not originally conceived as a concept album! Only after they started recording did the band members realise that the musical and lyrical thread was enough to create a story from a collection of songs...

https://youtu.be/HCTP8bn5MdM

According to the frontman. Wayne Coyne, the very first song they wrote for the record, was not just the title track, but helped the band realise that they had a real story on their hands....

Frank Sinatra: Watertown

Watertown 1970 - little-known masterpiece Frank Sinatra, one of the greatest singers and performers who ever lived on Earth... The action takes place in the title Watertown, a fictional New England town where the album's protagonist is forced to care for his two children after his wife leaves him....

Sinatra wasn't known for being conceptual or experimental in his recordings, but the Watertown changed his approach to studio work. He was completely different musically, with completely new arrangements and approaches to instrumentation. "Michael And Peter", one of the most musically ambitious songs on the album, became a classic in the decades that followed....

Frank Zappa: Thing-Fish

Ambitious and seemingly insane. Frank Zappa's Thing-Fish was to be a cast recording accompanying the musical of the same name. The production was eventually shelved, but the album lives on!

Thematically, the album tells the story of an evil prince who creates a dangerous virus similar to a AIDSto destroy certain segments of the population. Those who survive are severely deformed.....