Tag Archives: concept album

Bo Hanson: Music Inspired by Lord of the Rings

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In December 1970, “Silence” label released “Music Inspired by Lord of the Rings”, the debut Bo Hansson album. It is a concept album based on author J. R. R. Tolkien’s novel, The Lord of the Rings. It was recorded 1969 – 1970, at “Studio Decibel” in Stockholm, Bo Hanson’s House on Älgö in the Stockholm archipelago, and was produced by Bo Hanson and Anders Lind.

Personnel:

  • Bo Hansson – organ, guitar, Moog synthesizer, bass guitar
  • Rune Carlsson – drums, congas
  • Gunnar Bergsten – saxophone
  • Sten Bergman – flute
  • Peter Lindholm – cover painting

Track listing:

All tracks by Bo Hansson.

  1. Leaving Shire
  2. The Old Forest & Tom Bombadil
  3. Fog on the Barrow-Downs
  4. The Black Riders & Flight to the Ford
  5. At the House of Elrond & The Ring Goes South
  6. A Journey in the Dark
  7. Lothlórien
  8. Shadowfax
  9. The Horns of Rohan & The Battle of the Pelennor Fields
  10. Dreams in the House of Healing
  11. Homeward Bound & The Scouring of the Shire
  12. The Grey Havens

Glass Hammer: Perelandra

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On November 1, 1995, “Arion Records/Sound Resources” label released “Perelandra”, the second Glass Hammer studio album. It was recorded in 1995, and was produced by Steve Babb and Fred Schendel, “Perelandra” is a concept album inspired by C. S. Lewis’ “The Chronicles of Narnia” and “Space Trilogy” book series.

Personnel:

  • Fred Schendel – lead and backing vocals, keyboards, acoustic and electric guitars, drums, programming, Mellotron
  • Steve Babb – lead and backing vocals, keyboards, bass, taurus pedals, Mellotron, zoominator, rhythm programming
  • Walter Moore – lead vocals, 12-string acoustic guitar, mo-better electric guitar
  • Michelle Young – lead vocals
  • Milton Hamerick – steel guitars
  • Randy Burt – saxophone
  • Tracy Cloud – backing vocals, spoken vocals
  • David Carter – 12-string guitar

Track listing:

  1. Now Arriving
  2. Time Marches On
  3. Lliusion
  4. The Way to Her Heart
  5. Felix the Cat
  6. Now Departing
  7. Perelandra
  8. Le Danse Final
  9. That Hideous Strength
  10. Enda the Lion
  11. Into the Night
  12. Heaven

Paul Beaver, Mort Garson, Jacques Wilson and Faryar: The Zodiac:Cosmic Sounds

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In May 1967, “Elektra” label released “The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds”, concept album on the theme of the signs of the Zodiac, by Paul Beaver, Mort Garson, Jacques Wilson and Cyrus Faryar. It was recorded in 1967, and was produced by Alex Hassilev.

Personnel:

  • Cyrus Faryar– narration
  • Paul Beaver– Moog, electronic instruments
  • Mike Melvoin– keyboards
  • Carol Kaye– bass guitar
  • Hal Blaine– drums
  • Emil Richards– exotic percussion
  • Bud Shank– bass flute

Track listing:

All music by Mort Garson, all lyrics by Jacques Wilson

  1. Aries – The Fire-Fighter
  2. Taurus – The Voluptuary
  3. Gemini – The Cool Eye
  4. Cancer – The Moon Child
  5. Leo – The Lord of Lights
  6. Virgo – The Perpetual Perfectionist
  7. Libra – The Flower Child
  8. Scorpio – The Passionate Hero
  9. Sagittarius – The Versatile Daredevil
  10. Capricorn – The Uncapricious Climber
  11. Aquarius – The Lover of Life
  12. Pisces – The Peace Piper

The Moody Blues: Days Of Future Past

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days-of-the-futurem-passed

On November 10, 1967, “Deram” label released “Days of Future Passed”, the second Moody Blues (The) album. It was recorded October – November 1967, at “Decca Studios” in London, and was produced by Tony Clarke and Michael Dacre-Barclay. It was band’s first concept album, with mixture of classical and rock elements, and is widely regarded as one of the first progressive rock albums at all.

Personnel:

  • Mike Pinder – vocals, mellotron, piano, tambura
  • Ray Thomas – vocals, flutes, percussion, piano
  • Justin Hayward – vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, piano, sitar
  • John Lodge – vocals, bass
  • Graeme Edge – vocals, drums, percussion
  • Peter Knight– conducting, arrangements
  • The London Festival Orchestra
  • Derek Varnals – engineer
  • David Anstey – design, cover painting
  • Hugh Mendl– executive production, liner notes

Track listing:

  1. The Day Begins
  • The Day Begins – Peter Knight, Mike Pinder, Ray Thomas, Justin Hayward, John Lodge, Graeme Edge
  • Morning Glory – Graeme Edge
  1. Dawn: Dawn Is a Feeling
  • Intro – Peter Knight
  • Dawn Is a Feeling – Mike Pinder
  1. The Morning: Another Morning
  • Intro – Peter Knight
  • Another Morning – Ray Thomas
  1. Lunch Break: Peak Hour
  • Intro – Peter Knight
  • Peak Hour – John Lodge
  1. The Afternoon: Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?) / Time to Get Away
  • Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?) – Justin Hayward
  • (Evening) Time to Get Away – John Lodge)
  1. Evening: The Sun Set: Twilight Time
  • Intro – Peter Knight
  • The Sunset – Mike Pinder
  • Twilight Time – Ray Thomas
  1. The Night: Nights in White Satin
  • Nights in White Satin – Justin Hayward)
  • Late Lament – Graeme Edge, Peter Knight

The Kinks: Arthur

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arthur

On October 10, 1969, “Pye” label released “Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)” the seventh Kinks (The) studio album. It was recorded May–July 1969, at “Pye Studios” in London, and was produced by Ray Davis.

Personnel:

  • Ray Davies– lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards
  • Dave Davies– lead, co-lead vocal and backing vocals, lead guitar
  • John Dalton– bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Mick Avory– drums, percussion
  • Pete Quaife– bass guitar
  • Lew Warburton – horn and string arrangements
  • Andrew Hendriksen – engineer
  • Brian Humphries – engineer
  • Bob Lawrie – album art
  • Austin Sneller – album tester

Track listing:

All tracks by Ray Davis.

  1. Victoria
  2. Yes Sir, No Sir
  3. Some Mother’s Son
  4. Drivin’
  5. Brainwashed
  6. Australia
  7. Shangri-La
  8. Churchill Says
  9. She’s Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina
  10. Young and Innocent Days
  11. Nothing to say
  12. Arthur