Deep Purple (1968-1974) vs EL&P (1970 - 1980)

Ah the headliner from Cal Jam 74 and one of the warm acts. Like the best material from both. ELP' s Works is about 50% of one really fine album (the band tracks and Piano Concerto). I like Works 2; very eclectic. The second version of Purple's Concerto is sublime and a big improvement on the first.  the performance by the orchestra is more in tune with a rock band rather than displaying a snobbishness for a genre outside their own. The ballads Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming and Watching the Sky sound absolutely powerful and full with the orchestra. Purple are very versatile and the first CD goes through all the other aspects of the musical facets (jazz orchestras for example) that put Purple right at the forefront of progression rather than being summarily dismissed as a mere hard rock band.

One should not forget the Gemini Suite either; Purple's or Lord's. They both give very fine concert too. Welcome Back versus Made In Japan...? Probably go with the ELP as the jam at the end of Space Truckin' is a bit noisy and monotonous for me. Purple were a bit inconsistent with their live albums; I thought Made In Europe sounded very desultory, a bit like the oddly disappointing Yesshows. Live In London (touring after Burn) is far more incendiary.

ELP's classical rock is fine; probably go for the debut out of them all but I'd include Pictures in there as it is a perfectly valid album no matter it's recording circumstance.

I could imagine Blackmore with ELP actually. Might have been worth an album and tour - I think it is a very good idea and muso / personality match more so than if Hendrix joined up with the disintegrating Nice. Hendrix was possibly a bit more blues oriented to Emerson's Bach which makes Blackmore a more logical inclusion. Which probably will never happen.

man I love both.. but I have never voted 'both' in 11 years around this forum. That is a option for pussies and the weak minded.  Sometimes you have to make a choice damnit...

in that... the choice is easy.  Carl Palmer was slightly hotter and definitely had better hair than Ian Paice. Not to mention a smidge better drummer.

ELP baby.. but no slight on D.P which is one of the top 5 most played bands here in our home. Even more than ELP in fact...

dr wu23 wrote: Guldbamsen wrote: The first three Deep Purple albums smoke anything I've ever heard from ELP....maybe except for Tarkus.   The actual first 3...or do you mean 4, 5, and 6.....?

Deep Purple. In other words the band that doesn't make me want to blow up my speakers.

Guldbamsen wrote: The first three Deep Purple albums smoke anything I've ever heard from ELP....maybe except for Tarkus.

The first three Deep Purple albums smoke anything I've ever heard from ELP....maybe except for Tarkus.

I love both bands but ELP takes it easily for me. Deep Purple had a good tune or two from each of the early albums up until Fireball which I found to be a stellar album at the time as well as Machine Head (obviously). But ELP's first 5 LP's are phenomenal IMHO. And as much as it gets maligned, I really liked works Vol 1 and about half of Works Vol 2. We won't discuss Love Beach.

Deep Purple wins this one for me!!  Prog or not, I can only stomach ELP until all of the "Works" and "Love Beach" nonsense began!  I think Deep Purple were a bit more consistent, and for that, they get my vote!

ELP and it's not even close.
Self-titled, Tarkus, BSS, Trilogy and Pictures at an Exhibition are better albums than Machine Head (the best DP record).

Deep Purple have recorded great music, one of my favourite songs of theirs is this one:



They are not so far away from ELP in terms of style, due to their prominent keyboard playing, and both bands repeatedly merged rock with classical music.

Still, I prefer ELP overall because their music is more complex than DP's, but not without emotion.