I've always quite liked Never Say Die.

Led Zeppelin -  In Through The Out Door

AtomicCrimsonRush wrote: Neither are any good- but Zeppelin ismy choice

Bought both these lps when they first came out.Sabbath came first and I thought it was great lp despite the title track ripping off Thin Lizzy and Hard Road sounding like Status Quo.I thought Juniors Eyes,Johnny Blade ,Air Dance and Over to You were great.Even I thought the dissonant brass on Break out was interesting then leading into Swinging the Chain though sounding unfinished and throwaway was still a thumper.When ITTOD came out I was initially disappointed.My favorites being Carouslambra and All My Love.In the Evening sounds a mess,Fool in the Rain never liked and Hot Dog a messy knees up.But I play the album a lot now and i am a huge zep fan but i am going for the under dog (Never Say Die) on this one,but only just.

I love both bands, and both albums. The final proper studio album from LZ. And the final studio album with the original lineup of the Sabs (until last year's reunion album).

I don't know Never Say Die that well apart from the title track. I can remember someone lending it to me at school but I didn't think a lot of it. Probably the most interesting thing apart from the title track was some keyboards from Don Airey. Great keys man.

I need to relisten to ITTOD....but it never struck me as being that proggy nor interesting...and most of the  Zep fans I know don't really care for it that much.

Atavachron wrote: I don't care what anyone says, Out Door is a great album, one of their best.

amen brother.

Rather thought the first album refects the times as much as ITTOD well, really didn't. Not disco, punk new wave or metal of any sort, A C and W joke number, some prog, a sophisticated blues, soytern rock and latin music and a touch of heavy rock.

I think the negative view of ITTOD and Never Say Die and so many late 70s albums  says more aout the audience perceptions of their own poular culture environmental change than anything. To take another example ACDC put out the same album every time nad have millins of fans - very reassuring consistency to the rock and roll rebellious crowd. Bit like Tommy Vance (RIP) saying on a doco that Def Leppard will never change (spots?) and he said it as though it were a good thing.

So really it's not so much about music quality as their vhicle for a dislike of changing times -  getting old inside a world where they have to now play catch up. Roughly for the same reasons modern pop is slated and vinyl is actually popular now (when every release probably should be a Blu Ray Audio or the equivalent). We're about 50 years behind our own times now. People should be well happy... living in the past.