martes, febrero 11, 2025

Rocktrospectiva: The Consistent And Interesting "The Firm" Turns 40

The Firm was a super British rock band formed in 1984 featuring the singer Paul Rodgers, guitarist Jimmy Page, drummer Chris Slade and bassist Tony Franklin, the anticipation for this project was quite intense back then when it was announced, Rodgers was the past voice of Bad Company, Jimmy of course the Led Zeppelin's former guitarist, the idea of an album came out after their successful collaboration on the ARMS benefit tour for Ronnie Lane in 1983. Based upon the fact that it had been over five years since Page's last band effort, and two years since Rodger's lackluster finale with the original Bad Company, pundits were more than eager to hear what new material the duo would unleash. 
 
However, when the band's self-titled debut was actually released in 1985, it received a critical drubbing and was all but ignored by the record-buying public unfortunately, because the album was quite good, the record spawned three singles "Radioactive", "Closer", & "Satisfaction Guaranteed".
 
The album had certain good moments, the opener "Closer" cleverly uses a subtle horn section to good effect, "Someone to Love" represents all the good elements of the band in one number. the hit was "Radioactive" its quirkiness overcoming the goofiness of the lyrics, but the album's best cut is "Satisfaction Guaranteed," a mid-tempo gem with a snaky and exotic Page riff and a heartfelt vocal performance by Rodgers. 
 
The album had a raritie, the unnecessary cover of the Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Loving Feeling," which feels totally out of place and also is the weakest track of the album, in contraste the closer  "Midnight Moonlight" could have been the Firm's best song, but the underwhelming arrangement and superfluous backing vocals partially destroyed it, and this is rare, because this was actually an unfinished Led Zeppelin cut entitled "Swansong," left over from the Physical Graffiti sessions, led some to believe that Page had run out of new ideas for the project. 
 
The band enjoy chart success with the singles "Radioactive", "All The King's Horses" & "Satisfaction Guaranteed", and the album peaked at No. 17 on Billboard 200 and No. 15 on the UK Albums Chart, the band will released another album in 1986.  

The Firm Track List:
 
1. Closer
2. Make Or Break
3. Someone To Love
4. Together
5. Radioactive
6. You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling
7. Money Can't Buy
8. Satisfaction Guaranteed
9. Midnight Moonlight

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