As previously mentioned, the beatles claimed they invented the concept album with Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Lets try and look at this from a different angle. What exactly is a concept album and did the bealtes even release one? They stuck a bunch of songs together, and two of them were about a fictitious guy named Billy Shears so I guess that is a concept, but it could also be called a record.

There were cutouts to play with and a bunch of people on the cover to look at, but that’s more of what we call an album cover.
The definition of concept is ‘something conceived in the mind…’ So it’s a thought. This was the first thought album?
What the hell does that mean?!?!

Well, as Paul so eleoquently described it:
“a complete thing that you could make what you liked of—just a little magical presentation.”

Thanks a lot, fairy.