3 Classic Rock Records That Are Secretly Concept Albums

Alright, maybe these concept albums aren’t total secrets. However, many listeners have missed the core concepts behind them. I can understand why, considering the instrumentation and overall composition of these three classic rock albums are distractingly good. Let’s take a look at three classic rock records you may not have known were concept albums! Each of these records is worth a thorough re-listen, in my opinion.

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‘Hounds Of Love’ by Kate Bush (1985)

Am I stupid for not realizing that this album, which I have listened to about a hundred times at this point, is actually a concept album? Maybe! Either way, Hounds Of Love by Kate Bush is a gorgeous concept album, one that marked her return to the music world after the lackluster release of The Dreaming in 1982. 

Side Two of this album is considered a concert suite about female passion, visions, death, and rebirth. It’s a sharp juxtaposition to male points of view from similar prog-rock albums around that time.

‘Joe’s Garage’ by Frank Zappa (1979)

Frank Zappa was such an odd musician that you might have missed the core concepts behind many of his albums if you were too distracted by the weirdness of it all. Joe’s Garage by Frank Zappa is certainly a satirical and comedic album. But it’s also a concept album that criticizes American politics and general society. 

Zappa tackles quite a few themes on this concept album, from individualism to censorship to religion to the government. It’s not for everyone and is quite a vulgar and lewd piece of work, but it’s an important part of late-1970s transgressive music nonetheless.

‘Welcome To My Nightmare’ by Alice Cooper (1975)

The shock rock grandfather himself dished out a concept album back in 1975, and it’s a little surprising that so many fans don’t really see it as such. However, the album covers a linear story, and I would definitely consider that conceptual. It’s one of the most notable classic rock concept albums on this list, in my opinion.

Welcome To My Nightmare by Alice Cooper follows the nightmares of a child named Steven in sequences. Interestingly enough, this record came to be because Cooper wanted to put out an album on another label. A clause in his existing contract noted that he could technically produce a soundtrack for another label. All that was really needed for an album to be considered a “soundtrack” was a storyline that could be adapted to film or TV. So, Cooper came up with the nightmarish story of Welcome To My Nightmare, and the album was eventually adapted into a TV show titled Alice Cooper: The Nightmare.

Photo via ‘Hounds of Love’ Album Cover