An album musical is a type of recording that sounds like an original cast album but is created specifically for the recording medium and is complete entertainment product in itself, rather than just promoting or reflecting an existing or planned musical theatre production or revue. Although there has been no one term consistently used to describe this type of recording, the genre predates the use of the term "concept album" by several decades, dating back to the era of 78-rpm records with such original works as Gordon Jenkins' Manhattan Tower (1946, expanded in 1956) and The Letter (1959) starring Judy Garland, and Stan Freberg's Stan Freberg Presents the United States of America, Volume One: The Early Years (1961). On most contemporary concept albums, the performers or bands sing as themselves, whereas on an album musical the performers are playing characters in a story.

Originalmente, un álbum es un conjunto de hojas encuadernadas para recoger dedicatorias, dibujos o versos escritos por los amigos a petición del propietario (alba amicorum) y por extensión un cuaderno de hojas dispuesto para recoger una colección de piezas de cualquier tipo, por ejemplo álbum de sellos postales, álbum de fotos, álbum de postales, álbum de historieta, etc.