Jimmy Page Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Paul Rodgers Jimmy Page/CA,USA 12.5.1983

The ZEP rare sound source excavation team “Dogs of Doom”, who had not been heard from recently, released a stereo soundboard recording of Jimmy Page’s set from the 1983 ARMS tour for the first time in a long time. Moreover, the surprising discovery of the LA Forum performance from the American leg. The ARMS American leg has long been dominated by the familiar MSG leaked pro shot footage and various good audiences, and now the soundboard has come out, even though it is only Jimmy’s part. Moreover, speaking of the LA Forum of the ARMS tour, it is still fresh in my memory that last year’s Mike Millard recording of “L.A. FORUM 1983 2ND NIGHT: MIKE MILLARD FIRST GENERATION TAPES” sold out in an instant, but while that captured the live performance on December 6th, this is the first day, the 5th. If you have that, you can compare it and see that Jimmy’s MC after playing “Prelude” is completely different, and I think you will realize that this alone is a meaningful excavation. At the Albert Hall in September, which has been familiar to us for a long time, Jimmy was on stage for the first time since the breakup of ZEP, so he was very nervous, but in the American leg, he seemed to be having fun like a different person and was very talkative, as the MSG video proved. If it’s a return to his favorite LA Forum, Jimmy’s mood is quite good, and you can clearly feel it just by listening to the exchange before and after “Prelude”. It’s only natural that he appeared on stage in such a good mood, and Jimmy’s playing here is surprisingly great. Of course, this is the time when his rehabilitation as a live performer began thanks to the ARMS series of stages, so his touch of play is rough. However, it is surprising how realistically Jimmy is playing so vividly despite his roughness. There is probably no other day where he could play so well at this time. Moreover, the sound source excavated this time is a PA out sound board, but the sound quality is very good in stereo. Therefore, the direct feeling is strong, but still, the playing that Jimmy played here has a dignified strength different from other days. Only the instrumental “Stairway to Heaven” has a scene that makes you feel cold from the intro, probably because he started to sweat and his hands became slippery (and his mood was also getting excited), and the roughness is noticeable, but that is also charm. Also, Paul Rodgers participated in Jimmy’s part in the American leg of ARMS, which was the foreshadowing of the later The Firm, but compared to the time at the Albert Hall before that, his stage act is suddenly refined. It can be said that this sound source reminds us that Jimmy needs a good vocalist. Interestingly, Jimmy’s playing improved even more after he appeared, and he even interrupted Rodgers’ MC. Anyway, he looks really happy here. So even though it’s only Jimmy’s part, it’s well worth listening to. On the contrary, this is the most fulfilling performance he’s had since ZEP broke up and Farm was formed. In addition, the set list unique to Jimmy at this time, including “Midnight Moonlight,” is now valuable. And for this release, the pitch, which was 70% higher, was strictly adjusted. When this sound source appeared on the Internet in September, there were probably many enthusiasts who gave up because the pitch was too high. By adjusting this problem, the ease of listening was improved at once. The Forum, Inglewood, CA, USA 5th December 1983 STEREO SBD ★First appearance (39:11) 1. Intro 2. Prelude 3. Who’s to Blame 4. City Sirens 5. Boogie Mama 6. Midnight Moonlight 7. Stairway to Heaven (with Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck) Jimmy Page – Guitar Andy Fairweather Low – Guitar Chris Stainton – Keyboards Fernando Saunders – Bass Simon Phillips – Drums Paul Rodgers – Vocal, Guitar Eric Clapton – Guitar Jeff Beck – Guitar STEREO SOUNDBOARD RECORDING