For me it is Deep Purple all day long. Five of the best musicians ever assembled, all extremely talented. Deep Purple in rock was way ahead of its time.

Given that I play In Rock much more often than Led Zep One, my vote is for Deep Purple.

In Rock. Superb album. Powerful. Paice and Glover driving the band to this day. Incredible.

My vote is for In Rock, Deep Purple. Loved this album since I first heard it.

Both great albums, but In Rock is almost alive and imparts its energy to the listener, making you part of the performance.

"In Rock" for me, an absolutely groundbreaking album in my opinion.

It's got to be In Rock. IMO the greatest hard rock album ever, an album I still love to listen to.

Amazing drummers in each band bring both albums to another level.

Gots to go with Zeppelin. "In Rock" is great, no doubt, but I feel the dynamics of the Zep album are hard to beat. "How many more times" rocks, and builds up so amazingly, it is an explosion that set many little guitar heads into overdrive!!!!! Me amongst them!

In Rock all day long and tomorrow too!

LZ did this great album of covers with a tribute Steve Marriott singer. Deep Purple did a masterpiece with original tunes, singer and great musicianship by all members.

In each case and to be fair, In Rock was a PURE rock album while Led Zeppelin I was mostly a blues album with some heavy rock but not the main emphasis. I love them both but In Rock is my favorite DP album after Machine Head.

For me they are quite different albums and shouldn’t be compared as to which is best. Led Zep 1 is rooted in the Blues a real passion for the band . Deep Purple in Rock is a totally different album. All about power and a wonderful mix of John Lord on Hammond organ and Richie Blackmore on lead guitar. Both great albums in their own right .

Deep Purple was great, but I remember where I was and what I was doing when I first heard Zepp1 on the radio in 1969. Zepp1 was such a refreshingly new sound. It was almost a religious experience for me.

In Rock - when it came out I was at school & it was loud and heavy and exploding with virtuosity - for our ears it was a new music - Zeppelin 1 was a great listen but was largely a reimagining of the Chicago blues (as Willie Dixon was to successfully claim)

I love both albums. No denying that LZ1 was great but it had more foreshadowing of greater things to come. Deep Purple In Rock is just sexy power to 11. The sound swaggers into the amps and doesn't let go of your ears until it's done. My vote is Deep Purple.

In Rock! 🤘

In Rock, because hearing those screams on Child in Time used to freak me out. I was eight years old at the time and my father had got a tape (on EMI's budget reissue label Fame) among others.

I went to see Deep Purple play at the St. Georges Hall in Liverpool back in 1970. Sadly, they had a breakdown on the M1 motorway, turned up late and couldn't play. Fortunately, me and a few others were invited backstage. Ritchie Blackmore sat mysterious and unapproachable, albeit present, in a corner dressed entirely in black fringed suede with a wide black suede hat, with what you could barely see of his ashen face looking down at the floor (naturally P.O'd) ..reminded me of Strider at the Prancing Pony when he was first approached by Frodo (LOTR) Conversely, Ian Paice was buzzing and showed us how to play drum rolls on a table top,.. flam paradiddles and ratamacues.. It certainly took the sting out of our disappointment!

I'd say "In Rock" at the time was a lot more radical. I prefer later Zeppelin albums.

Deep Purple in ROCK, imo.

A better battle would be Deep Purple in Rock with Led Zeppelin II surely as the debut Zeppelin album is blues orientated! I love both bands!

Led Zeppelin 1 has some of my favorite songs. Dazed and Confusion, You Shook Me, How Many More Times, etc. I grew up listening to Deep Purple In Rock, Blood Sucker, Speed King, Child In Time and many more. Add King Crimson debut album would compliment 1969 very well indeed...

In The Court of the Crimson King gets my vote.

No contest, In Rock. It doesn't have Plant wailing like a cat being castrated.

On the strength of "Babe I'm gonna leave you" got to give to Zep

There was actually over a year between Led Zeppelin, January (US) March (UK) 1969, Deep Purple in Rock June 1970. It was about 6 months between Led Zeppelin II and In Rock. The things is, if it were perhaps not for Led Zeppelin, there might have been no Deep Purple or Black Sabbath as we know them, as the members of both bands have stated on record, that it was Led Zeppelin and Plants voice, that turned their heads and made them want to pursue a heavier sound and that Led Zeppelin really opened the door for them. As for the albums, Deep Purple in Rock, Led Zeppelin II and Fire and Water were my seminal albums, that changed my musical landscape and future. In Rock really blew me away when I first heard it, as did II, not so much I but over time Led Zeppelin became my favourite band and nowadays and for decades, I definitely listen to Led Zeppelin I way more than In Rock, but In Rock definitely had the greater affect on me originally, just not quite as great as II did.

Definitely In Rock.

Both amazing albums. I think Page’s production and the ambience of Zep 1 gives it the edge.

LED ZEPPELIN. But both great. I would have compared IN ROCK to LED ZEPPELIN 2.

"In Rock" gets my vote too. There's no denying the power of LZ1 but that squalling intro to "Speed King" is a great statement of intent. While Jimmy Page was more consistent, Ritchie Blackmore was my first guitar hero and remains my top hard rock guitarist. "In Rock" and "Rising", which I got to see Rainbow touring, are the best examples of his studio playing. I've watched countless live clips of the Mk II Purple line-up from the early '70s, before the rifts started to appear, and they're off the charts especially the interplay between Blackmore and Jon Lord.. My favorite Zep albums are the more diverse ones, namely LZ3 and "Physical Graffiti".

Deep Purple's In Rock Kicks Ass!!!

In Rock is my choice 👍 great new Video to start the New Year 🎉 I’ve been a member at the 35,000 mark. Congratulations on surpassing 50,000. This is my first comment on a video. Thank you for your stellar work and fantastic ideas for new shows onwards and upwards. Cheers from Houston TX🇺🇸🎼🎸🎶🎵✌️

DeepPurple any and every day of the week for me. Page certainly has his strengths (especially when it comes to production and orchestration) but as he himself admits when it comes to soloing ability and virtuosity he can't even get close to Blackers, and that's before you even start to consider the immense contribution of Jon's organ sound. Always preferred Paicey's style over Bonham's and when you look at the vocal department for me Gillan wins hands down. In all their incarnations I love Purple and they are still with us producing great music after over 50 years. Zeppelin did some truly great stuff (especially on Houses of the Holy), but they came and went in such a short time. I have everything by both bands but to this day play Purple probably 10 times more than Zeppelin.

Both are wonderful. Each band has superb musicians. I prefer Blackmore's superb technique over Page's The other musicians are pretty much equal - overall I prefer Deep Purple

In rock for me easily

.Deep Purple's In Rock Kicks Total Butt!!!

Don’t touch my plums……..brilliant! Great compare and contrast, as ever. I love both albums, but I think In Rock edges it. Child In Time is awesome.

With a foot in both camps, I’ve got to say I favour ‘In Rock’…

Absolutely in rock Then, now and always

In Rock all the way. Purple any day for me over Zep though.

'In Rock' for me, 2 or 3 years ahead of it's time really.

I could listen to you talk about anything and it would calm me. You not only have a wonderful voice but a spectacular vocabulary.

I have deep affection for both albums from my teen years. In Rock must have the edge here because the core band of Purple had been maturing over a number of albums, finally unleashing this beast. Led Zep 1 was a band finding its feet after being together for less than 6 months. Little did we know they would morph into the juggernaut they became,, eclipsing all others.

Okay -- the opening 50 seconds of "In Rock" kicks ass! That's it for me. I have always found Gillian's wailing worst that Platt's. Give me "Zeppelin #1" anytime. Excellent blues originals and interpretations. Superior engineering mix.

Zep 1 was 75% cover tunes, so purple win on originality but overall id rather listen to zep. Child in time is still awesome though kinda like an early prototype for Achilles last stand and i still love the intro to speed king, a cacophony of noise heralding the age of the power chord.

Love both albums, On a scale of heavy have to give it to Deep Purple.

I love classic rock. My parents taught me well!😊😊. Funny, but I own deluxe editions of both those albums. They're both excellent albums! I would give the nod to Led Zeppelin I, but just barely.

Every song on in rock is rock music pure.Lz deviated on this album with a few hated songs. But in rock every song is rockin and i love all of them was 12 yrs old and i could hum all the songs in rock everyday.

For decades I would have said Zeppelin 1, I always thought it more inventive and expansive; but now interestingly, after all these years, I would definitely go for "In Rock", and by some distance. It's suddenly become cooler, rockier, groovier, more unhinged and vital and a hundred times more exciting. In fact, it makes Zeppelin's album sound a bit twee in comparison. Yep, it blows it out of the water. In the audience of the broader rock world, Zeppelin would win hands down, and they're definitely the historical darlings for your average rock critic, but for the committed fan of heavy rock, it's In Rock all the way. Purple rule! Footnote: I believe that "Look at Yourself" is an even better album, and that's by the eternally unfashionable 'Heep.

"In Rock" for me. More original and interesting song ideas. The murky production sounds old as f***, but it's part of the charm, I guess. Zeppelin got better on subsequent albums, Purple not so much (very arguably).

The "squeeze my lemon ..." lyric from The Lemon Song is also used word-for-word in Robert Johnson's Traveling Riverside Blues recorded in 1937 (which Zeppelin also covered), a typical Blues double-entendre or innuendo of the period. I don't know if this predates the British 'lemon/plums' phrase. Given Zeppelin's early and frequent appropriation of American Blues, I'm more inclined to believe Johnson was their primary inspiration.

Man...that's the best description of both albums I've ever heard...I'm going home now to crank both them up in vinyl in my man cave.

Both fabulous albums, but a few decades down the line from when I first heard them in the 70's Led Zeppelin is the one I return to the most.

Both are astounding but prefer Deep Purple

0:03 Excellent video. Thanks!!! I have to say that fireball is one of my favorite purple recordings. The other day I couldn't get fools out of my head. I feel this album is so underated. In rock is a gem and led zeppelin s first album is stunning!! My vote is deep purple.

In rock ..such a wonderful colourful and dangerous sound

Gotta go with Zeppelin. The 1st 2 notes of Good Times Bad Times shake the ground and soul. Deep Purple is great too. Speed King opening with Blackmore’s blistering guitar grabs you and they’re off. Can’t go wrong with either album.

The Led Zeppelin's debut album is a brilliant declaration of intent and foreshadows what a dangerous band to reckon with they would become later. However, I would prefer Deep Purple In Rock, it is a mature album from the band that found their feet and spearheaded with the fiery and explosive rock

For pure polish and consistent energy, by comparison, 'In Rock' nails it for me. Even though it was DP's second iteration, there aren't many bands who enter a debut lead singer with practically every song a blistering chart stopper AND an established signature sound. From '71 on though, all bets were off and Led Zep gave DP a run for their money. One thing that is overlooked today is that Deep Purple more often than not made very danceable party records.

Both are Great Masterpieces.

I think this discussion very much depends on which side of the atlantic your on Barry. Zeppelin I feel, were always the more diverse of the two bands however, lets bare in mind that the first Zeppelin album consisted of a throw back from the Yardbirds days, with dazed and confused, and is pretty much a heavy blues album following on from Cream. In rock on the other hand, I feel is more origional and a more interesting listen and for me, is more of a blue print for modern day hard rock.

Thank you for the analysis! I have been a purple fan since I was gifted machine head when I was 4:years old. I feel they are ignored by most people and zepplin is more marketed especially in the states. But zepplin is very based in blues, even many plagiarism of such, while purple is very hard and unique with the keyboards and guitar other bands didn't use.

LZ 1. In Rock is great, but there's less memorable songs on In Rock. ( except Child In Time and Speed King) But that first raw bluesy, h e a v y, Page-powered first album I just think is better because of the production. Bottom heavy, emotional, OMG vocals from Plant. LZ 1 by a hair. as much as I love Deep Purple their magnum opus would be Machine Head. Which I believe is a perfect album.

"In Rock" by a country mile. LDZ 1 is a tad derivative and bombastic lacking the textures of the later albums. Arguably Beck's "Truth" is a better template but Plant was was waiting in the wings.

In Rock

Child in Time on In Rock makes that album the winner over the first Led Zep album for me even if the beginning was lifted from It's A Beautiful Day's Bombay Calling.

It's like trying to choose between your children, but I go with Deep Purple if only because I listen to it more.

In Rock wins. Don't ask why. Just accept it.

Deep Purple for me.

In Rock for me too. A good analysis of the positive vibes in each album in your video. Blackmore's wish to create drama was well and truly put into practice despite that rather Iron Butterfly style production which you mention. Page deserves credit for his strategic nurturing of his project whilst Purple, were at the mercy of record company executives, dark forces and two alpha males who just needed to talk more. Nevertheless this inherent anger came through on vinyl, particularly on In Rock and later on the visceral classic which was Made in Japan. Damn shame in my opinion because Purple, blessed with Jon Lord's finesse, had the potential to become the primary driving force in the burgeoning rock scene. That didn't stop them releasing another beaut in the shape of Machine Head, every bit as good as ZOSO in my opinion. Perhaps worth your nine yards on these two?

I got into both these bands later and IMO did better albums. However, for me you can't beat the sound of JL's Hammond organ and RB's guitar so Purple gets my vote.

Better Battle: 'In Rock' vs 'Led Zeppelin II', 'Let It Bleed' and 'Paranoid'.

Definitely In Rock. You only have to listen to Speed king and especially the intro and your eardrums blown away. Flight of the rat, child in time and hard lovin man. All in all a powerhouse of an album. LZ1 is an album full of old blues songs, revamped and sounding heavier.

LZ are great, but DP have a craziness to their sound that I've always loved. That coupled with the fact that prime Ian Gillan was an absolute beast, and Ritchie Blackmore is a genius, and DP is the clear winner for me. I even prefer Ian Paices drumming honestly, but it's sacrilegious to say that

You nailed it. In Rock hands down. If they switched managers back then I feel Purple Mk2 would have lasted much longer and their success even greater. Purple made it in spite of bad management.

In Rock all the way. I can't say anymore than what others have said.

Interesting take on it. Nice one. Must admit I don't compare albums much but you really know your stuff. My own preference is Deep Purple in this case, thought theur early albums were great. Didn't really get into Zep till album 3 and 4. Music is great, love it.

Deep Purple just shades it because Zeppelin would make an even better follow-up to their debut. The Purple album has real feral energy, attitude and attack. They're off the leash from the get-go and it never lets up. Really impressive statement of intent, and Child in Time is a rock masterpiece. Arguably their best studio album.

Deeple Purple and Uriah Heep along with Wshbone Ash always seemed to take 2nd, 3rd and 4th fiddle. Over the years and reapraising everything, Zepplin was the first and gereatest band I have ever seen, but I have enjoyed Deep Purple better. Wishbone Ash are totally underated, but Uriah Heep in all its forms still kicks ass and makes albums as good as if not as better as Demons and Wizards and Magicians Birthday, Take a look at Yourself and Salisbury. In Rock takes this by a mile, it was so ground breaking and yes Keyboard do make hard, heavy an metal music.

Deep Purple in Rock for me. Great album recently rediscovered 😀

If you were to ask teenager me, I would have said Zep but with time DP passed Zep in terms of being a favorite band. So, my choice would be In Rock.

Both these albums set my musical compass for the next fifty years, bolstered by Uriah Heep and to a lesser extent, Black Sabbath. I went off these bands after 5 or so albums as their sound changed to suit the times, particularly the eighties. But I still love that raw early-70s hard rock sound, sadly missing in the NWOBHM era, but resurrected in more recent albums by new bands, and of course the eternal U-Heep!

I don't understand the hate that "Fireball" gets. "Shoe-shine music"? I don't know what that means but I'm sure it's not a compliment! Fireball is by far my favourite Deep Purple album - maybe just because it's not as overplayed as the others but that said it's ALWAYS been my favourite. "Fools" is definitely my favourite song by DP.

great video. you could put the Heep debut in the same league i think

Both great albums. I vote in Rock for Jon Lord. He was the advantage over Zep

Love Led but I always return to Deep Purple 💜

Ritchie Blackmore only went along with John Lord's Concerto project in return for an agreement to turn the heavy dial up to 11 on their next record. The result was In Rock - in my humble opinion the greatest true rock statement ever committed to vinyl. The production is perfect for the material (less is more). From the moment the cacophony of Speed King shakes the room, you are under assault. The technical skill, call-and-return, eccentric English lyricism, banshee wailing and staggering lead guitar add up to something life changing and honestly magical. Every song is stupendous, raw, indelible ... Gotta black breast, Chinese eyes ... Got an English brain gonna make me wise ... Baby I'm a mystery but you know I gotta live ...

In Rock for me

I agree wirh your choice of In Rock

Sweet Child in Time was/is a rock masterpiece. But for me, I loved Led Zeppelin back in the day. Maybe because I saw them, and Jon Bonham was so (blanked) up he literally passed out at the drums! Another memorable event at this concert was Jimmy Page bowed his guitar with a violin bow, it was so amazing to a 16-year-old kid. I'd never seen anything like that before. Thanks for your thoughts.

At the time I listened to both albums when they were released. I preferred the Deep Purple as it was something a bit different from the standard blues form of rock which John Mayall, Free, Taste etc were also producing. However, with Led Zeppelin 2, all that changed. All hail the New King.

Zep one sounds unlike any other album imo there is an atmosphere to it that I can't really put into words

Deep purple in rock has real street cred,,, If I wanted to impress musically, look no further,,, Vocals are a game changer,,,,,,

In Rock gets my vote, my favorite Purple album. Hard Lovin' Man is proto-thrash metal, with its galloping guitar riff and harmonized guitar solo.

Led Zeppelin by a hair for me, I loved both for sure. At the end of the Day, Zeppelin was just a slightly better band for me but really, they are both in my top 10 Rock Bands. How does Black Sabbath 1 match up with both? A debate for another day but they rank in there, too.

Deep Purple rules 😊

Oh so many years ago, the dawn of my love of British Rock. These were embryo albums that spawned the birth of so many great bands of the era. Uriah Heep, Jethro Tull, Judas Priest, Free and so many more. We were spoiled for choice in those late 60s, 70s years. Which one album is the best, does it really matter? Just enjoy both, and the many classics that followed. Halcyon days.

In Rock. Next question.

I dont even need to brace a tight fist on this one waiting to see which is throwing a punch first.Easily DP if only for "Child In Time" In fact that could have been the only track on In Rock and would have beaten Zep into a mushy pulp within a matter of seconds and then finished its pint as if nothing happened.As usual I walk into your room and speak as I feel .( Hang on....this isnt a prog rock upload?.I must be in the wrong room sorry)