Best Ever Albums

Re: Are musical soundtracks technically concept albums?

RockyRaccoon — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 11:12:03 GMT

Author: RockyRaccoon

Posted: 07/30/2014 15:12

Well sometimes concept albums become musicals, like Jesus Christ Superstar, but I would say that the soundtrack to a musical wouldn't necessarily be a concept album because it doesn't definitively tell the story (depending on the musical).

I mean, if I listened to the soundtrack of West Side Story, would I be aware of the plot? Not really. I'd maybe have a vague idea, but it'd be almost impossible to decipher because there's dialogue throughout the show that advances the plot. However in the instance of Jesus Christ Superstar, you can get the plot from the album but that's because it was initially just a concept album before it was a musical.

Re: Are musical soundtracks technically concept albums?

Mdemauri — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 10:56:11 GMT

Author: Mdemauri

Posted: 07/30/2014 14:56

qwert9579 wrote:

I more meant soundtracks for musicals. Songs that literally follow a story.

Sorry. I misunderstood. But to answer THIS question. Musicals are musicals. I wouldn't consider them concept albums at all.

Is Les Mis a concept album? Oklahoma? Singing in the Rain? West Side Story? Wizard of Oz? Wait, that last one has Dark Side of the Moon as a soundtrack... 🤣 🤣

Anyway, I don't know of anyone who would consider these concept albums at all.

Re: Are musical soundtracks technically concept albums?

qwert9579 — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 10:43:20 GMT

Author: qwert9579

Posted: 07/30/2014 14:43

I more meant soundtracks for musicals. Songs that literally follow a story.

Re: Are musical soundtracks technically concept albums?

Mdemauri — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 10:39:39 GMT

Author: Mdemauri

Posted: 07/30/2014 14:39

qwert9579 wrote:

Are musical soundtracks technically concept albums?

If it's a collection of songs that follows a single narrative, does that make it a concept album, even if it's intention is to have acting and dancing to go along with it?

Good question but I would say, not necessarily. Various artist soundtracks tend to be a collection of songs that aren't written specifically for that movie. But a single artist soundtrack could be a concept album, when the artist is commissioned to write songs specifically for that movie.

How about examples of soundtracks that are considered concept albums?

Like this:

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

Head by The Monkees

But is this a concept album? My opinion, it is not.

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

Flash Gordon by Queen

Are musical soundtracks technically concept albums?

qwert9579 — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 05:54:17 GMT

Author: qwert9579

Posted: 07/30/2014 09:54

Are musical soundtracks technically concept albums?

If it's a collection of songs that follows a single narrative, does that make it a concept album, even if it's intention is to have acting and dancing to go along with it?