Led Zeppelin, known for nearly flawless studio albums, still had a few songs that gave even them pause. One such track was “Down By The Seaside”, recorded during the making of Led Zeppelin IV in 1971. Though Robert Plant wanted it included, his bandmates weren’t convinced. In fact, he recalled, “Everybody laughed when I suggested to include ‘Down By The Seaside’ on Physical Graffiti.”
The track eventually appeared on their 1975 double album Physical Graffiti, pulled from earlier sessions. Page later explained the hesitation: the leftovers “couldn’t have substituted anything off the fourth album,” meaning IV was so cohesive, adding “Down By The Seaside” would have disrupted its vibe.
Even for a band as prolific and daring as Zeppelin, not every song made the final cut. “Down By The Seaside” serves as a reminder that artistic decisions often come from what fits—not just what’s great on its own.
