The entire notion of the concept album is often a slippery grab even for the most hardcore fans. Since the term first came into rock 'n' roll orbit, usually attributed to the Beatles' 1967 classic Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album, being conceptual became a real happening thing, or in 21st century terminology, it was heavily trending.
But the concept album really wasn't anything new. Frank Sinatra had already got there with albums like In the Wee Small Hours (1955), Sings for Only the Lonely (1958) and No One Cares( 1959), each of which contained recurring lyrical and musical themes. Sinatra even returned to the format in 1970 with Watertown. Poet Ken Nordine was also ahead of the game with his 1966 album Colors.
