Concept albums?

=^-..-^= · Post by **=^-..-^=** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 6:18 pm

Well, we might have to go to Professor Minton on this one, but. . .

What was the very first of what we consider the 'concept album?'

Loose definition: Group of songs MEANT TO BE RECORDED, centered around a common theme/story (not a Soundtrack, or Pictures at an Exhibition, etc)

â€¢Would it be 'A Love Supreme' by Coltrane?

â€¢'Days of Future Passed' Moody Blues? (First Rock concept album, possibly?)

I dunno - tell me

Silencio · Post by **Silencio** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 7:08 pm

Gordon Jenkins, featuring Judy Garland and John Ireland: "The Letter." A album of new songs that tell the complete story of a brief romance between the two lead vocalists. Recorded in two days in 1959, this seems to me to be the first true concept album of the pop era.

http://www.judy-garland.org/discography ... etter.html

adam atherton · Post by **adam atherton** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:07 pm

Operation Mindcrime....

my first "concept" experience.

still holds up, IMHO.

haven't heard OM2 yet, tho.

=^-..-^= · Post by **=^-..-^=** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 11:33 pm

Guess I shoulda looked here first:

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

That Judy Garland thing looks interesting, though.

Silencio · Post by **Silencio** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:32 am

What is largely being dicussed on that Wiki page are "thematic" records. I grew up listening to SInatra's "Only The Lonely," and it's a awesome example of a record that maintains a specific mood for 37 minutes, but it's not a "concept" album. I stand by my assertion that the Gordon Jenkins album "The Letter" was the first to truly deserve the title "concept," as it was constructed to tell a story from beginning to end... it beats "Sgt. Pepper" by 8 years.

I only know about it because it was my mother's favorite album... in the early 80's I scoured the country for a copy to replace the one my brother destroyed in the late 60's.

=^-..-^= · Post by **=^-..-^=** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 4:33 pm

You're probably right.

Oh, and Sgt Pepper was released about 4 months before Days of Future Passed in 67, so it beats it. 'Days' was was more of a cohesive concept than St Pepper, though.

WBOB · Post by **WBOB** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:32 am

=^-..-^= wrote: 'Days' was was more of a cohesive concept than St Pepper, though.

Partly cause Pepper, when it was in the process of being recorded,
wasn't even thought of as a concept album, until about 1/2 way through.

=^-..-^= · Post by **=^-..-^=** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 5:10 pm

WBOB wrote:
=^-..-^= wrote: 'Days' was was more of a cohesive concept than St Pepper, though.
Partly cause Pepper, when it was in the process of being recorded,
wasn't even thought of as a concept album, until about 1/2 way through.

WBOB, do you want to give your two cents about what you think was the first ROCK concept album?

Silencio · Post by **Silencio** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 5:28 pm

The Pretty Things "S.F. Sorrow" gets my vote as the first true rock concept album.

WBOB · Post by **WBOB** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 8:51 am

=^-..-^= wrote:
WBOB wrote:
=^-..-^= wrote: 'Days' was was more of a cohesive concept than St Pepper, though.
Partly cause Pepper, when it was in the process of being recorded,
wasn't even thought of as a concept album, until about 1/2 way through.
WBOB, do you want to give your two cents about what you think was the first ROCK concept album?

I sense misinterpretation (no way,.. not on these boards) of my comment.
I should've stated that when it was released, in those days, the term
"concept" album wasn't used yet. So,.. yes it was a concept album,
just saying it wasn't considered or planned to be at the time.

I'm thinking Pet Sounds could be considered closer to being 1st.
(it strongly influenced McCartney)

Sorry Catman!
Is that better?

=^-..-^= · Post by **=^-..-^=** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 4:50 pm

Awww shoot! I was just asking your opinion; I wasn't trying to be nasty, and I didn't take your comments as nasty.

I rereas my post, and I guess it could come off that way. . . stoopid nonverbal communication!

WBOB · Post by **WBOB** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 8:17 am

=^-..-^= wrote:Awww shoot! I was just asking your opinion; I wasn't trying to be nasty, and I didn't take your comments as nasty.

I rereas my post, and I guess it could come off that way. . . stoopid nonverbal communication!

I didn't take it that way either...

your good!

Morphine Child · Post by **Morphine Child** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 4:17 pm

adam atherton wrote:Operation Mindcrime....

my first "concept" experience.

still holds up, IMHO.

haven't heard OM2 yet, tho.

*riiiing....riiiing*

"Hello?"

"Duh dunt duh dah! MINDCRIME."

God, I worshiped that album in High School. And I also used that clip for many prank calls. haha!