Prog albums with conceptual fantastic story/art
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Recommendations/Featured albums
Forum Description: Make or seek recommendations and discuss specific prog albums
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=124564
Printed Date: August 17 2025 at 16:23
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Prog albums with conceptual fantastic story/art
Posted By: pepe_le_poo
Subject: Prog albums with conceptual fantastic story/art
Date Posted: November 14 2020 at 15:40
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(changed the title so i could get more views!) So lets take the two albums "Olias of Sunhillow" by Jon Anderson and "The Pentateuch of the Cosmogony" by Dave Greenslade and use them as examples or what im looking for. Can someone recommend me albums like those which are classic prog releases that have some really intensely thought out fantasy/sci-fi concept behind the whole thing and does a lot of nice stuff on the accompanying visual artwork? I wanna make trips to some wild places as far as concept albums and artwork goes!
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Replies:
Posted By: wiz_d_kidd
Date Posted: November 15 2020 at 07:38
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"Tale of the Golden King", by The Psychedelic Ensemble. It tells a story of a prosperous kingdom, whose king was visited by a spirit warning of his demise. The gods took the king's life, but turned him into gold. Henchmen, seeing a defenseless kingdom, invaded, disarmed and imprisoned the population. The people, hoping that their king would arise and bring them freedom, were sadly disappointed. The queen wept. Taking matters into their own hands, they fashioned his now gold being into swords and took their vengeance on the invading henchmen. They lived happily ever after. The music is superb symphonic prog, written and performed by an accomplished classical composer (and prog lover). The CD booklet tells the story and provides the lyrics. Every song has a different piece of art (by Yimin Li). Here's an example:  Artwork by Yimin Li.
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Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: November 15 2020 at 08:17
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"The Chronicle of the Black Sword" by Hawkwind tells the tale of the albino king Elric of Melniboné. -------------  BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: Awesoreno
Date Posted: November 16 2020 at 03:56
| The Dear Hunter. The Acts I-V are all part of one story, and I think the third act included a graphic novel summing up the previous two acts. Act VI will come soon. It's a really interesting story and the lyrical and musical motifs are really well-utilized. |
Posted By: pepe_le_poo
Date Posted: November 17 2020 at 08:20
| well... is there anything that is pre 90's??? |
Posted By: Awesoreno
Date Posted: November 17 2020 at 11:59
| Sure, but you're limiting your options. |
Posted By: pepe_le_poo
Date Posted: November 18 2020 at 06:50
OK but what are they? My first experience with perog was when my boomer parents handed me down their old Yes and ELP albums So i grew up enjoying the sound of early recordings and early music equipment more in prog. I did hear Porcupine Tree and the Mars Volta back then but i dint find them feeling the same. im very slowly trying to get into neo-prog but it doesnt hit me as well as older stuff does so far |
Awesoreno wrote:Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: November 18 2020 at 07:09
"The Chronicle of the Black Sword" by Hawkwind tells the tale of the albino king Elric of Melniboné.
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Posted By: Ronstein
Date Posted: November 18 2020 at 07:40
Gongs's Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy is very pre-90's and definitely a fantastical concept!! In addition, Magick Mother Invocation/Master Builder is one of the best pieces of music out there. Get a riff and explore it to the ultimate end 
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Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: November 18 2020 at 08:36
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I can't remember about artwork but ELOY's "Planets" and "Time to Turn" are a sci fi story More recently, HALLAS' 3rd album "Conundrum" completed a trilogy
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Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: November 18 2020 at 10:00
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http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=1235 This is one from 1984..a nice symphonic treatment of The Martian Chroncles by Ray Bradbury...  ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: November 18 2020 at 10:05
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Another obscure one I like quite a bit...Julians Trealment - A Time Before This, idea by sci-fi writer Julian Savarin....about two opposing alien regimes led by two women. http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=4425  ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: November 18 2020 at 11:34
| One of the main albums that got me into prog, and one of my favourites, Rick Wakeman's Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. And then, it was re-recorded with new tracks a few year ago, and those new tracks really do help to round up the story, given that the original release seemed to be just a collection of tracks about King Arthur... still, I do prefer the original versions of the original songs, and not all the new songs are at the same level from the original release... however, it's really worth to check out both versions. |
Posted By: Heart of the Matter
Date Posted: November 18 2020 at 18:34
Not being afraid of the obvious, I'd say that the first three albums by King Crimson are quite a trip...
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Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: November 18 2020 at 21:07
| There's an album called the pentateuch of the cosmogony by Dave Greenslade(of the band Greenslade) that seems to fit the description pretty well. Apparently it's not a very good album though. Anyone on here ever heard it? |
Posted By: ExittheLemming
Date Posted: November 19 2020 at 08:53
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Yes, I have. I think it sucks hugely but I think most things do, so go online and make your own decision based on what's available to listen to on something like You Tube. What other arbiter do you have apart from your own aesthetic values? ------------- 
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Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: November 19 2020 at 09:03
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The Pentateuch of the Cosmogony by David Greenslade was a double vinyl that came with a hardback book of art and story (Woodroffe) about an abandoned space craft found in orbit around Jjupiter and the attempt to decipher it;s secrets. It's electronica and keys for the most part and Phill Collins is on drums in places. Reminds me of Vangelis or Wakeman type projects....definitely fits the OP's genre request.  ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: November 19 2020 at 09:11
This was one of the two examples quoted in the OP.
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Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: November 19 2020 at 09:21
You are absolutely correct...I posted that since it seemed no one knew what it was....I missed his reference also.  I do like the art work...the music isn't any worse than half the stuff Wakeman's done imho. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: November 19 2020 at 17:15
Obviously I failed to read the fine print. My mistake(or as the kids might say "my bad"). Olias was also mentioned and imo might be one of the best examples of this.
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Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: November 19 2020 at 20:29
It is a very ambient album. ------------- BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: November 19 2020 at 20:33
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Simon Says - Tardigrade ------------- 
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Posted By: pepe_le_poo
Date Posted: November 21 2020 at 07:53
Umm that was in the main post
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Posted By: pepe_le_poo
Date Posted: November 21 2020 at 07:54
Thanks... youre recommendations look very ideal. Ill check them out!
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Posted By: pepe_le_poo
Date Posted: November 21 2020 at 07:57
I dont feel they classify as what im looking for but I do have all KC albums up to Starless. That stuff is where i cut my teeth on prog.
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Posted By: pepe_le_poo
Date Posted: November 21 2020 at 08:09
It also fits because I mentioned it in my opening post! But seriously it would be really cool to find another album like this that doubles as an art book.
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Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: November 21 2020 at 08:52
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"Rockpommels Land" by Grobschnitt should be up your alley. ------------- BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: Sacro_Porgo
Date Posted: December 05 2020 at 23:45
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Felona E Sorona by Le Orme tells the tale of star-crossed lovers living on two planets caught in some kind of equal but opposite revolution around the sun. One is always in the light and is a happy place while the other is always in the dark and is sad, but they switch halfway through the album, and then I think they switch back at the end. That's my understanding of it anyway, my Italian is pretty bad. The cover art is gorgeous but sadly I don't have a physical copy to see about any other art. ------------- Porg for short. My love of music doesn't end with prog! Feel free to discuss all sorts of music with me. Odds are I'll give it a chance if I haven't already! :) |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 01:02
Ha, I just picked up their two most popular (according to PA) albums! Did you see my thread or were you just also listening by coincidence? ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: Sacro_Porgo
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 01:20
I saw your thread, then this one, then realized FeS might be a decent rec for this one as well. So semi-coincidence, lol. I do love Le Orme. ------------- Porg for short. My love of music doesn't end with prog! Feel free to discuss all sorts of music with me. Odds are I'll give it a chance if I haven't already! :) |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 02:03
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Good stuff! I'm on a Prog Italiano kick as we speak! ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: HackettFan
Date Posted: December 08 2020 at 18:23
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Nektar - Journey to the Center of the Eye ------------- A curse upon the heads of those who seek their fortunes in a lie. The truth is always waiting when there's nothing left to try. - Colin Henson, Jade Warrior (Now) |