Kansas
Long Beach Arena
Long Beach, CA
December 31, 1977
Mike Millard Master Tapes via JEMS
The Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Tapes Volume 56
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 > Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 > Sound Forge Audio Studio 13.0 capture > Adobe Audition > iZotope RX6 > iZotope Ozone 6 > Audacity > TLH > FLAC
01 Magnum Opus Intro > Hopelessly Human
02 Point Of Know Return
03 Paradox
04 Icarus (Borne On Wings Of Steel)
05 Child Of Innocence
06 Closest Chronicles
07 Dust In The Wind >
08 Acoustic Guitar Solo
09 Piano Solo >
10 Lonely Wind
11 Cheyenne Anthem
12 Miracles Out Of Nowhere
13 Drum Solo >
14 The Spider
15 Portrait (He Knew)
16 Sparks Of The Tempest
17 Carry On Wayward Son
18 Down The Road
19 Violin Solo
20 Magnum Opus
Known Faults:
-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 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.
Kansas, Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA, December 31, 1977
This week the Mike Millard way-back machine takes us to New Year's Eve 1977, where if you had been sitting in the Long Beach Arena, you would have seen a double bill of Cheap Trick and Kansas.
It might sound like an odd pairing in hindsight, but both bands were under the CBS/Epic Records umbrella, and in those days it was not uncommon for labelmates to take an opening act slot. Kansas was touring behind their multi-platinum fifth album, Point Of Know Return, which featured two of their three biggest hits, "Dust In The Wind" and the title track. Leftoverture, which also went multi-platform the year before, spawned their third pop success, "Carry On My Wayward Son."
I can't say I was ever a huge fan of Kansas' curious prog-rock meets AOR-anthems style, though working on this show made me appreciate the undeniable hook of the song "Point Of Know Return."
This performance also illustrates how big album-oriented rock was at this time and how many bands that we never considered superstars were popular enough to sell out arenas and shift a lot of product. The albums Point Of Know Return and Leftoverture are both certified 4x Platinum for sales in excess of four million copies, which is quite incredible when you stop and think about it.
Kansas' singles were in steady rotation on the AOR station I grew up listening to ("KISW, Seattle's Best Rock"). Given the success of those two albums, it shouldn't be surprising they were headlining a New Year's Eve gig in a big Southern California arena. More so than The Forum or Sports Arena, the Long Beach Arena hosted a lot of these "big then, not so much now" rock acts.
The band certainly gives the audience its money's worth, playing nearly two hours including a three-song acoustic set. Millard's recording has previously circulated and correctly attributed to him, though we expect this version to be a material update. Samples provided.
A previous post of this show notes this is the original line-up of the band with Kerry Livgren on guitar and Dave Hope on bass. They play undeniably well, so if I'm not a fan and liked the show, I suspect Kansas fans will be extremely pleased.
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JEMS is proud to partner with Rob, Jim R, Barry G and 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.
Finally, cheers 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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