Fifty Years of the Concept Album in Popular Music

Eric Wolfson is the author of the critically acclaimed 33 1/3 book From Elvis in Memphis. He runs the accompanying website, www.fromelvisinmemphis.com, and is active on Twitter (@EricWolfson) and Instagram (@EricWolfson). He lives in Washington, D.C., and works in the Performing Arts Division of the U.S. Copyright Office.

Fifty Years of the Concept Album in Popular Music is a rich, valuable piece of modern music education, a deep dive into the might and worth of the album versus the single, and a chance for music fans unfamiliar with certain genres to gain a new level of open-mindedness, as this work provides an opportunity to explore what may be outside one's comfort zones. Wolfson levels the playing field – it's all music.

• Introduction: Ramblin' on my MindPart 1: The Psychedelic Era (1967-1969)1. We Hope You Will Enjoy the Show: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles (1967)2. This Day Will Last a Thousand Years: Days of Future Passed by the Moody Blues (1967)3. We Are the Other People: We're Only in it for the Money by The Mothers of Invention (1968)4. The One That Rambles on for a Million Miles: Electric Ladyland by Jimi Hendrix (1968)5. Amazing Journey: Tommy by the Who (1969)Part 2: The Progressive Era (1970-1974)6. God Know Where We're Heading: What's Going On by Marvin Gaye (1971)7. I Am on a Lonely Road and I Am Traveling: Blue by Joni Mitchell (1971)8. We'll Have Superman for President: Thick as a Brick by Jethro Tull (1972)9. Like a Regular Superstar: The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders From Mars by David Bowie (1972)10. And if the Band You're in Starts Playing Different Tunes: The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd (1973)Part 3: The Modern Era (1975-1989)11. Tear the Roof Off the Sucker: Mothership Connection by Parliament (1975)12. Fairy Tale High: Once Upon a Time by Simple Minds (1985)13. There's No Returning on this Chartered Trip Away: Zen Arcade by Hüsker Dü (1984)14. As Soon as You're Born You're Dying: Seventh Son of a Seventh Son by Iron Maiden (1988)15. This Is a Recording: 3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul (1989)Part 4: The Postmodern Era (1990-1999)16. I Wanna Be Mesmerizing Too: Exile in Guyville by Liz Phair (1993)17. I Am the Silencing Machine: The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails (1994)18. I Feel LIke Death is Fuckin' Callin' Me: Ready to Die by The Notorious B.I.G. (1994)19. A Handshake of Carbon Monoxide: OK Computer by Radiohead (1997)20. I Chose to Use My Heart: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998) Part 5: The New Millennium (2000-2016)21. Been Taken for Lost and Gone and Unknown for a Long, Long Time: Smile by Brian Wilson (2004)22. All Across the Alien Nation: American Idiot by Green Day (2004)23. If You Want to Be Free: The ArchAndroid by Janelle Monáe (2010)24. The One in Front of the Gun Lives Forever: Good Kid, m.A.A.d City by Kendrick Lamar (2012)25. Won't Let My Freedom Rot in Hell: Lemonade by Beyoncé (2016)Conclusion: When Everybody Who Is Lonely Will Be Free Works CitedIndex