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U.K.
Long Beach Arena
Long Beach, CA
November 14, 1979
Mike Millard First-Generation Tapes via JEMS
The Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Tapes Volume 134
Recording Gear: AKG 451E Microphones (CK-1 cardioid capsules) > Nakamichi 550 Cassette Recorder
JEMS Transfer: Mike Millard First-Generation Cassettes > Nakamichi RX-505 azimuth adjustment) > Sound Devices USBPre 2 > Audacity 2.0 capture 2496 > iZotope RX8 > iZotope Ozone 8 > MBIT+ resample to 1644 > Audacity > TLH > FLAC
01 In the Dead Of Night
02 Nostalgia
03 Rendezvous 6:02
04 Night After Night
05 The Only Thing She Needs
06 Waiting For You
John Wetton - bass, vocals
Terry Bozzio - drums
Eddie Jobson - violin, keyboards
Known Faults:
-"In The Dead of the Night": joined in progress.
-Missed before it are "As Long As You Want Me Here," "Alaska" and "Presto Vivace"
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.
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
UK, Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA, November 14, 1979
With Volume 134 of the Lost and Found series we return to the collection of newly acquired first generation recordings Mike the Mike made for Jim Ri. While most of Mike's famous recordings were already in the hands of others, as luck would have it a handful of the shows Mike copied for Jim Ri were unique to his collection at least in terms of what Millard recordings have been gathered so far. The cassettes Jim Ri loaned us add another ten previously unavailable performances to the archive for which we are immensely grateful.
On tap this week is U.K. opening for Jethro Tull at the Long Beach Arena. Mike caught the band on their previous tour at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, July 28, 1978, and made an outstanding capture released as Vol. 66 in the Lost and Found series. Just a year later, the U.K. line-up shifted dramatically, reducing from a four-piece to a trio, with guitarist Allan Holdsworth exiting along with drummer Bill Bruford, and former Frank Zappa Band drummer Terry Bozzio coming aboard.
The 1979 iteration of U.K., on tour in support of their second album Danger Money, moved the group further along the spectrum that began closer to jazz fusion and prog rock on one side and pop music on the other. U.K. eventually dissolved in late 1979/early 1980. Everyone went their separate ways and started new projects, with both Wetton and Bozzio diving into deeper into pop-rock with Asia and Missing Persons respectively.
There's a synth heavy sound here, courtesy of the Yamaha CS-80, but with Jobson's violin and some underlying prog elements, UK doesn't sound dated. If anything they sound fairly vital and it's clear the audience thoroughly enjoys their set.
We've written previously that Millard rarely recorded opening acts, but having already seen U.K. before, the fact that he did here isn't surprising, nor is him missing the start of the show, which explains the rather short, incomplete set we present here. That being said, what Mike did record is excellent quality and highly entertaining. Samples provided.
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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.
Once again, thank you to Jim Ri for sharing his tapes so we could add them to the Millard archive. We are so thrilled to check more shows off the list as “found” and we hope there are others holding similar lost recordings. Professor Goody gave us his pitch guidance and, as always, mjk5510 killing it on the post production and artwork front.
Finally, here's to the late, great Mike the MICrophone. His work never ceases to impress. May he rest in peace.
BK for JEMS
UK 1979-11-14 Long Beach Arena - Long Beach, CA (Millard First Gen via JEMS Volume 134).zip - FileFactory
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