Great concept albums that are worth a listen

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

One of the most famous concept albums of all time, the story of this alien rock star is legendary. David Bowie's persona is one of the most remarkable in music and this concept album is a reflection of his genius. 

'Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band' by The Beatles

The Beatles released one of the most popular concept albums of all time. Sgt. Pepper and his bandmates are indeed great songwriters!

'The Dark Side of the Moon' by Pink Floyd

The concept of Pink Floyd's 1973 album remains ambiguous. It has been suggested that it's a journey from life to death. Each side of the record is essentially a continuous piece of music as well. 

'Welcome to My Nightmare' by Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper's debut studio album takes us on a journey through the nightmares of a child named Steven. "I loved horror movies. Still do. And I also love theatre and musicals. And I always had the grand idea that we could take the basic album and create a stage show from it, which is what we ultimately did," he said.

'The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway' by Genesis

The band's last album with Peter Gabriel tells the story of Rael, a former gang member who goes looking for a missed sibling in New York City.

'Desperado' by Eagles

If you can envision the Eagles as a band of Old West outlaws, then this is the perfect record for you. 

'The Black Parade' by My Chemical Romance

My Chemical Romance's album follows a terminal cancer patient on his journey towards death. 'The Black Parade' is an emo rock classic definitely worth a listen. 

'Lemonade' by Beyoncé

Queen Bey took her husband's infidelity and turned it into a record. She reflects on themes such as blackness and feminism in this deeply personal album. The 2022 follow-up, 'Renaissance,' is also a concept album. The tracks are lined up as if they were part of a DJ set.   

'Seventh Son of a Seventh Son' by Iron Maiden

Maiden always had a knack for storytelling, and 'Seventh Son of a Seventh Son' is no exception. The band's seventh album is inspired by Orson Scott Card's novel 'Seventh Son' and takes us on a journey, touching on themes such as clairvoyance. 

'Joe’s Garage' by Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa's three-part concept album tells the story of Los Angeles teen Joe and delves deep into a number of themes, including censorship, individualism, religion, and sexuality, among others.

'Watertown' by Frank Sinatra

'Watertown' is not your average Sinatra album. It tells the story of a man who is abandoned by his wife. 

'The ArchAndroid' by Janelle Monáe

'The ArchAndroid' is heavily inspired by the dystopian vibes of Fritz Lang’s 1927 classic, 'Metropolis.' 'Dirty Computer,' released in 2018, can also be interpreted as a concept album.  

'Quadrophenia' by The Who

Concept album masters The Who released the double album 'Quadrophenia' in 1973. The album is a rock opera about the struggles of Jimmy, a working-class mod who becomes a fan of the band after seeing them live.