Led Zeppelin-a-Day: "What Is and What Should Never Be"


I actually think this was snapped at the first LZ sessions, which would make it irrelevant to this song. But even if so, woo history!

"What Is and What Should Never Be", Led Zeppelin II
One of my favorites off II, which you may recall, I once deemed one of the sexiest albums of all time. Particularly favorable are the delicate guitar stylings of JP on the verses, coupled with JPJ's tastefully melodic bass lines. Robert Plant's phased vocals bounce elegantly from subdued to lively, as everything suddenly explodes on the chorus. "What Is and What Should Never Be" is apparently one of JP's first times using a Les Paul in the studio, to blatantly striking results. Finally, he also shows his chops as a producer. Between riffs alternating to and from each sides of the stereo, I believe a hear a gong... A fun number.