Firm/London,UK 1985 Rehearsals

This is a rare and precious jam album by THE FIRM. This album was recorded at Nomis Studios, London on June 20, 1985. Although the details of the sound source are not clear, they toured with their debut album until May of the same year, so it is thought to be a rehearsal session in preparation for their second album. This album is a studio recording of that session. Although Paul Rodgers did not participate, Jimmy Page, Tony Franklin, and Chris Slade are jamming freely. The sound is full of a direct feeling and a closed room feeling as if they were all in the studio together, and the rawness is completely different from the variously decorated studio albums and live performances. The master is a cassette recorded by the people involved for playback, and the sound quality is just “perfect”. And the density of the jam is also wonderful. THE FIRM shocked the rock scene with the “combination of Page & Rodgers”, but Tony Franklin & Chris Slade are also masters among masters. In this jam, the skills and sense of the two are vividly conveyed. Especially wonderful is Franklin, who manipulates the fretless bass like magic. He constantly plays unique phrasing at any tempo and key, and freely intertwines with the riffs and phrases that Page plays to create a mysterious world. On the other hand, Chris Slade is not to be outdone. His groove, backed by a diverse career from Tom Jones in the early 60s to AC/DC later, is very rich and vivid. Although he is a power hitter, the way he adds color to the ever-changing jams is not surprising to be praised on par with Cozy Powell and Carmine Appice. Page & Rogers could have chosen any drummer, and it is no wonder that he was chosen as a bandmate. It is a difficult position where fans all over the world would want to see a trace of Bonzo, and in that respect, it seems that he was at a disadvantage… Anyway, this is a two-disc set filled with rich jams by three virtuoso musicians that will make you feel good just by listening to them. It’s full of the reality that makes it seem like the three are having a conversation through their instruments. It’s nice to feel like you’re in the studio with them, but it’s also a piece that makes you want to bring this album to the studio, play it at high volume with your instrument in hand, and join in the jam. Of course, one way to listen to it is to analyze, such as “That riff in that song!” or “This melody is from that live performance…”, but since they thoroughly unfold a pleasant groove and jam, it would be a waste to be just a studio audience member. Why not try jamming with the three legendary musicians? This work is rich enough to do that, and is full of intimacy. Nomis Studios, London, UK 20th June 1985 STUDIO RECORDING Disc 1(46:28) Jam 1 Jam 2 Jam 3 Jam 4 Jam 5 Disc 2(45:59) Jam 6 Jam 7 Jimmy Page – Guitar Tony Franklin – Bass Chris Slade – Drums