Bands that had a "masterpiece", w/ common theme

A'feil- Haven't read the McCartney interviews you reference so will glady defer to you in that regard. The OP asked about a "common theme" not necessarily concept albums. Based on tracks 1, 2, 7, and 12 I'd argue there is a "common theme" to SPLHCB. (though many of the tracks are "off theme"). At the least that's my view. FWIW - I'd consider Pink Floyd's "Ummagumma" another entry for this thread. By the way, if you're willling, I'm interested in understanding more about what you mean regarding, "The Beatles playing themselves is the gimmick." Ciao.

'Elizium' by Fields of the Nephilim.

Ghosthouse,
From the Playboy December 1984 interview (McCartney):

"Sgt Pepper was an idea I had, I think, when I was flying from LA to somewhereville. I thought it would be nice to lose our identities, to submerge ourselves in the persona of a fake group, us. We would make up all the culture around it and collect all our heroes in one place. So I thought, a typical stupid sounding name for a Dr. Hook's Medicine Show and Traveling Circus kind of thing would be Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Just a word game really."

There is plenty written on the album. The best, IMO, are "The Beatles: 10 Years That Shook The World" and "The Beatles Anthology". They are my personal favs and I have a fairly extensive collection of Beatles resource material.

07-25-10: Timrhu
How could I forget Sufjan Stevens - Come On Feel The Illinoise

And...Greetings From Michigan The Great Lakes State

07-25-10: Timrhu
How could I forget Sufjan Stevens - Come On Feel The Illinoise

And...Greetings From Michigan The Great Lakes State
Richard_stacy

Illinoise = Masterpiece
Michigan = exellent album
Just my opinion of course as I have read others feel Michigan is Sufjan's best effort.