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STEVE WINWOOD - COSTA MESA 1991 [MILLARD TAPE]

April 29, 2023 – 6:50 am

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STEVE WINWOOD
Costa Mesa 1991 [Mike Millard Master Tapes via JEMS, 2CD]
The Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Tapes Volume 180. Live at the Pacific Amphitheatre, Costa Mesa, CA; May 10, 1991. Very good audience recording.

Thanks to Mike Millard; Rob, Jim R; Barry G; JEMS; BK; Goody; and mjk5510 for sharing the show at Dime.

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Welcome to JEMS’ Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone series presenting recordings made by legendary taper Mike Millard, AKA Mike the MICrophone, best known for his masters of Led Zeppelin done in and around Los Angeles circa 1975-77.

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 1992.

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.

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Steve Winwood - Pacific Amphitheatre, Costa Mesa, CA; May 10, 1991

This week’s release marks the second appearance of Steve Winwood in the Lost and Found series. Way back on Vol 63, we released Mike “The Mike” Millard’s capture from the same venue on July 24, 1988, when Winwood was on tour in support of Roll With It. The 1991 tour was in support of its less successful follow-up Refugees Of The Heart, but is arguably a more compelling and impressive performance.

The LA Times noted as much when in its review of the Costa Mesa performance, describing previous tours as featuring, “slick, rote arrangements with little room for change, Winwood seemed a reluctant frontman, with his stage moves often seeming awkward and forced. If he was finding much pleasure in performing, he sure wasn’t conveying it.”

In contrast to those over-polished shows, Winwood stepped things up considerably for his 1991 outing: “Compared to his previous stiff, lifeless tours, Winwood himself seemed more loose and colorful, singing with reborn feeling and soul, and with the music flying freely between him and his musicians.”

The review goes on to make a point I noticed myself which is that unlike many artists of the era, Winwood performance didn’t suffer from its heavy use of keyboards: “Synthesizers may have yet to match the expressiveness of the Hammond, but Winwood comes as close to attaining that as anyone. He originated some of the now-industry-standard synth patches, and the trademark solo tone - part soprano sax and part pure invention - he applied to ‘While You See a Chance’ and ‘The Finer Things’ spoke like a voice.”

I also credit Winwood for a setlist that neatly blends his early works like “I’m A Man” and “Gimme Some Lovin’” with a healthy dose of Traffic songs leading into the big solo smashes like “Higher Love” and “Roll With It.”

As usual at the Pac Amp, Mike is well positioned to make an excellent recording that offers rich, full fidelity and punchy sound. As the Times review above suggests, there is real bite and edge in Winwood’s performance and his voice is peerless as always.

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JEMS is proud to partner with Rob, Jim R, Ed F, Barry G 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.

Shoutouts this week go to Rob S for his fine transfer, Professor Goody for a rapid pitch check and mjk5510 for post-production and artwork.

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

BK for JEMS

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Lineage:
AKG 451E Microphones (CK-1 cardioid capsules) > Nakamichi 550 Cassette Recorder
JEMS 2023 Transfer: Mike Millard Master Cassettes > Nakamichi Cassette Deck 1 azimuth-adjusted playback > Sound Devices USBPre2 > Audacity 3.1 capture > iZotope RX > iZotope Ozone > MBIT+ resample to 16/44.1 > xACT 2.50 > FLAC

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Disc 1
Track 101. I’m A Man 5:25
Track 102. While You See A Chance 5:35
Track 103. Hearts On Fire 5:31
Track 104. Another Deal Goes Down 5:19
Track 105. One And Only Man 5:21
Track 106. In The Light Of Day 11:51
Track 107. Valerie 4:54
Track 108. The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys 8:24
53 mins

Disc 2
Track 201. Glad 5:30
Track 202. Feelin’ Alright 5:19
Track 203. Medicated Goo 5:25
Track 204. Split Decision 8:40
Track 205. The Finer Things 6:12
Track 206. Roll With It 5:16
Track 207. Higher Love 8:47
Track 208. Back In The High Life Again 6:04
Track 209. Gimme Some Lovin’ 4:47
56 mins

Lineup:
Steve Winwood - keyboards
Russ Kunkel - drums
Larry Byron - guitar, keyboards
Randall Bramlett - saxophone
Michael Rhodes - bass
Luis Conte - percussion

   Click here to order Steve Winwood releases.