10 Timeless Thought-Provoking Concept Albums

1. The Who €“ Tommy (1969)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOUqRZkR8dE The first work of its kind; that being the first active effort from a rock and roll band to create a stage production which is soundtracked by their own music, The Who's phenomenal rock opera 'Tommy' tells the story of a 'deaf, dumb and blind boy' who is miraculously cured only to become a figure of guru status, having ultimately become enlightened by his tiresome ordeal. The album challenges the whole idea of 'see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil', and at various times over the course of its 21 tracks, plunges into the extreme darkness of topics such as child abuse and torture. As a direct result of this, the album received a mixed reception upon its release, with some claiming it to be a step in the right direction for rock music and others believing it to be exploitative of issues which should not be subject to judgement by musicians. Either way, it's an intriguing album which soundtracked some of the 20th centuries most well-remembered live performances. Oh yeh, they made a film out of it too, a film with one of the most insane casts ever.