Listmania!
Albums based on a story or concept
The Hunting of the SnarkThe Hunting of the Snark by Various
Buy used from: £42.00
Mike Batt's masterpiece - with lots of great songs and famous people - faithfully captures the nonsensical adventure by Lewis Carroll
Days Of Future PassedDays Of Future Passed by The Moody Blues
Buy new: £8.79 / Used from: £4.90
songs interspersed with almost classical orchestral links representing stages in an average day
TommyTommy by The Who
Buy new: £3.98 / Used from: £2.89
surprising variety of melodic songs considering the music is mostly guitar-based
The Myths and Legends of King ArthurThe Myths and Legends of King Arthur by Rick Wakeman
Buy used from: £6.73
nicely majestic in places - Rick Wakeman's best album
The Turn of a Friendly CardThe Turn of a Friendly Card by Alan Parsons Project
Buy new: £6.78 / Used from: £3.75
Alan Parsons has produced many great concept albums - this one is generally about gambling, with an excellent sequence of songs to finish with
CasanovaCasanova by The Divine Comedy
Buy used from: £2.92
I'm not sure if this is strictly a concept album but many songs are about love, France or both - and there's a good mix from the pretentious and wierd to the mellow and sublime
TarkusTarkus by Emerson Lake & Palmer
Buy used from: £4.49
only the first half is a story - or at least a series of illustrations as an excuse for some dynamic prog rock
Journey to the Centre of the Earth: Live+DVDJourney to the Centre of the Earth: Live+DVD by Rick Wakeman
pretentious narration and strained vocals but excellent melodies and wild flights on the keyboard
PyramidPyramid by Alan Parsons
Buy new: £6.37 / Used from: £2.86
another concept album by Alan Parsons - terrific stuff
From the DiscworldFrom the Discworld by Dave Greenslade
Buy new: £5.88 / Used from: £3.69
mostly instrumental and very evocative of Terry Pratchett's discworld series - The Wizard's Staff is exactly as single-entendre as the books suggest
The Snow GooseThe Snow Goose by Camel
Buy new: £4.37 / Used from: £2.69
ethereal instrumental music inspired by Paul Gallico's classic story
The War of the WorldsThe War of the Worlds by Jeff Wayne
Buy used from: £7.50
based loosely on H G Wells novel, an epic interpretation with some catchy songs and some evocative themes
Solar FireSolar Fire by Manfred Mann`s Earthband
Buy new: £8.88 / Used from: £8.87
a kind of modern version of the planet suite - only loosely inspired by astronomy
The Six Wives of Henry VIIIThe Six Wives of Henry VIII by Rick Wakeman
Buy used from: £5.98
Wakeman's first solo album - not very Tudor in atmosphere, but six fine instrumental tracks
NudeNude by Camel
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £4.24
the story of a soldier (called Nude for some reason) left behind after the war - mostly instrumental
The Pentateuch of the CosmogonyThe Pentateuch of the Cosmogony by Dave Greenslade
Buy new: £13.18 / Used from: £51.29
it's actually called Pentateuch of the Cosmogony (not Cosmology) and the music is based on a story book brilliantly illustrated by Patrick Woodroffe (included at least with the LP version)
Middle EarthMiddle Earth by Bob Catley
Buy used from: £25.27
musically a bit heavy but the tunes do grow on you - inspired by Tolkien of course
Greatest Hits LiveGreatest Hits Live by Alan Parsons Project
Buy used from: £20.49
the history of aviation is one of Alan Parson's more recent offerings
Into the Electric CastleInto the Electric Castle
Buy used from: £33.29
you have entered the cranial vistas of psychogenesis - bold if pretentious concept, some memorable moments, slightly marred by occasional screeching instrumentals