Jethro Tull -
Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA
April 7, 1977


Mike Millard Master Tapes via JEMS
The Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Tapes Volume 136

Recording Gear: AKG 451E Microphones (CK-1 cardioid capsules) > Nakamichi 550 Cassette Recorder

Transfer: Mike Millard Master Cassettes > Yamaha KX-W592 Cassette Deck > Sony R-500 DAT > Analog Master DAT Clone > Sound Devices USBPre2 > Audacity 3.1 capture > iZotope RX > iZotope RX9 Advanced and Ozone 9 > Audacity > xACT 2.50 > FLAC

01 Wond'ring Aloud
02 Skating Away On the Thin Ice of the New Day
03 Jack-In-The-Green
04 Thick As A Brick
05 Songs From The Wood
06 Instrumental > Drum Solo
07 To Cry You A Song
08 A New Day Yesterday (incl. Bourée, Living In The Past)
09 Velvet Green
10 Hunting Girl
11 Too Old To Rock'N'Roll, Too Young To Die
12 Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
13 A Minstrel In The Gallery
14 Cross-Eyed Mary
15 Aqualung
16 Guitar Solo
17 Wind-Up > Back-Door Angels
18 Locomotive Breath > Dambusters March > Back-Door Angels (reprise)

Known Issues:
-None

Introduction to the Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Series

Welcome to JEMS’ Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone series presenting recordings made by legendary taper Mike Millard, AKA Mike The Mike, best known for his masters of Led Zeppelin done in and around Los Angeles circa 1975-77. For the complete details on how tapes in this series came to be lost and found again, as well as JEMS' long history with Mike Millard, please refer to the notes in Vol. One: www.dimeadozen.org :: EzTorrent v0.7.0r495 :: Login.

Until 2020, the Lost and Found series presented fresh transfers of previously unavailable first-generation copies made by Mike himself for friends like Stan Gutoski of JEMS, Jim R, Bill C. and Barry G. These sources were upgrades to circulating copies and in most instances marked the only time verified first generation Millard sources had been directly digitized in the torrent era.

That all changed with the discovery of many of Mike Millard’s original master tapes.

Yes, you read that correctly, Mike Millard’s master cassettes, long rumored to be destroyed or lost, have been found. Not all of them but many, and with them a much more complete picture has emerged of what Millard recorded between his first show in late 1973 and his last in early 1993.

The reason the rediscovery of his master tapes is such a revelation is that we’ve been told for decades they were gone. Internet myths suggest Millard destroyed his master tapes before taking his own life, an imprudent detail likely concocted based on the assumption that because his master tapes never surfaced and Mike’s mental state was troubled he would do something rash WITH HIS LIFE’S WORK. There’s also a version of the story where Mike’s family dumps the tapes after he dies. Why would they do that?

The truth is Mike’s masters remained in his bedroom for many years after his death in 1994. We know at least a few of Millard’s friends and acquaintances contacted his mother Lia inquiring about the tapes at the time to no avail. But in the early 2000s, longtime Millard friend Rob S was the one she knew and trusted enough to preserve Mike’s work.

The full back story on how Mike’s master tapes were saved can be found in the notes for Vol. 18 Pink Floyd, which was the first release in our series transferred from Millard’s original master tapes:


Jethro Tull, Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA, April 7, 1977

Another week, another one of Mike "The Mike" Millard's outstanding recordings of Jethro Tull. Anaheim 4/7/77 is the companion to Vol. 85 (April 6) in the Lost and Found series, capturing back to back nights at the Convention Center in Anaheim on the Songs From The Wood tour.

As Jim notes below, he and Mike caught four shows in 1977 including the tour openers in Pasadena (Lost and Found Vol. 51) and Los Angeles (Vol. 12). The band was meant to play Anaheim in late February 1977, but the shows were rescheduled to April due to throat issues suffered by Tull leader singer Ian Anderson according to the Tull fansite ministry-of-information.co.uk.

Jethro Tull's West Coast run in early April, which also included San Diego, Long Beach and Las Vegas, was rescheduled from February and tacked onto the end of the US tour, just before the band flew to Germany to start their European leg.

The setlist is virtually identical between the two Anaheim nights. As for the sound quality, that's pretty much a tie as well, though perhaps this recording just nudges out the first show. Mike' recording, as is so often the case, is exceptionally clear and close. Samples provided.

Here's what Jim R had to say about seeing Jethro Tull play in Anaheim 1977.

I went with Mike Millard to the Jethro Tull concert at the Anaheim Convention Center on April 7, 1977. Can you believe that was over 45 years ago? Lots of cobwebs.

We attended both Anaheim concerts (April 6-7) after the shows were rescheduled from February. The Songs From The Wood tour began in SoCal in January, where Mike and I recorded the first two gigs, Pasadena and downtown Los Angeles. Both were outstanding performances so we were excited to see the band again in Anaheim.

On this, the second show, we sat in the sixth row on the floor, but off to the side just a bit. For the first night we sat on the floor in the 11th row center. Being five rows closer night two I was able to take better photos.

As noted in Volume 85, Mike and I finally figured out how to make excellent recordings in the Anaheim Convention Center after challenges with Bowie and ELP in 1974 and improved results with Rick Wakeman in 1975. With a capacity of 7,500, the Convention Center is a little less than half the size of The Forum. In addition, it had a ceiling that dipped in the front and back of the stage, similar in shape to a Pringles potato chip. All of this lends itself to the potential of great sound due the acoustics of the room, as long as you are in the right spot.

You always get your money's worth when you see Jethro Tull. Ian Anderson is such a dynamic performer. You can’t take your eyes off of him and he mixes in a little (often semi-appropriate) humor. From time to time you can hear Mike chuckle into his mics--hey, sometimes it cannot be helped. Being well into the tour, the band firing on all cylinders.

Ian Anderson could be a mesmerizing performer. On occasion, he would connect individually with members of the audience if you caught his eye with a unique pose. Once he saw you, he would match your pose for a few seconds, then continue on. This happened to me along with a couple of our friends who also had great seats. Anderson's pose mimicry was something we would all talk about after the show.

The Anaheim Convention Center was a very laid back place in 1977, so we easily smuggled in Mike's gear and my photo bag. The security folks, who were the age of my grandparents, would believe anything you told them. You just needed to sell it a bit and be polite.

I hope you enjoy the sights and sounds of this one.

Cheers to my buddy Mike. RIP.

###

JEMS is proud to partner with Rob, Jim R, Ed F, Barry G, Jim Ri and many others to release Millard's historic recordings and to help set the record straight about the man himself.

We can't thank Rob enough for reconnecting with Jim and putting his trust in our Millard reissue campaign. He kept Mike's precious tapes under wraps for two decades, but once Rob learned of our methods and stewardship, he agreed to contribute the Millard DATs and cassettes to the program. Our releases would not be nearly as compelling without Jim's memories, photos and other background contributions. As many of you have noted, the stories offer an entertaining complement to Mike's incredible audio documents.

Our thank you list this week includes Professor Goody, who fine-tuned the pitch of the recording, Rob S who transferred the Tull master tape to DAT and ripped the DAT for this release, Jim R, who shot photos at the show, and mjk5510, who designed the cover art and continues to manage the JEMS release queue week in, week out.

Finally, here's to the late, great Mike the MICrophone. His work never ceases to impress. May he rest in peace.

BK for JEMS

;flac fingerprints generated by xACT 2.50 on 2022-05-08 02:13:46 +0000

01 Wond'ring Aloud.flac:3efaca4ae1e0977c200a45e1c5f26768
02 Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of A New Day.flac:659c544d40baf5c151b513a1375d89ab
03 Jack-In-The-Green.flac:0e49cc03802fab51e744a2a0ae98764f
04 Thick As A Brick.flac:db7e05f3412cdb2f94bebae11eabb899
05 Songs From The Wood.flac:54916615a9fb25ec7655a952902aa71b
06 Instrumental + Drums.flac:c75a13a54fb4777f06f2554c8375892f
07 To Cry You A Song.flac:7b2db540cc49bd81e22f21b56ba301e6
08 A New Day Yesterday + Flute Solo.flac:185e87f3402962c14431679c93f6986c
09 Velvet Green.flac:aa41a16e9be05f9960da8bf4b5bb0406
10 Hunting Girl.flac:f5f2c17522de39361aa80b81cd684ca8
11 Too Old To Rock 'n' Roll.flac:50f9f5571c96fe5ded041ec469477dd8
12 Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.flac:b5d5b4ec30688140aa20707dc3618456
13 A Minstrel In The Gallery.flac:a2858307e8c4199991c8980ab3c5cdb5
15 Aqualung.flac:d11b7364648bb8f784c61aba0c28775e
15 Cross-Eyed Mary.flac:440d5971a6629296204ed21345f885c2
16 Guitar Solo.flac:0d0855e8c71d04ef9df52dbd2ae50271
17 Wind Up + Back-Door Angels.flac:d231d67ffa17010d65fce1b5d900f134
18 Locomotive Breath + Dambusters March + Back-Door Angels (Reprise).flac:26584a5b8ba2a62845441b9d3ba75229