Alannah Myles
Sports Arena
San Diego, CA
August 9, 1990
Mike Millard Master Tapes via JEMS
The Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Tapes Volume 141
1644 Edition

Contrast Clause: 2496 Edition located here:


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

Transfer: Mike Millard Master Cassette > Nakamichi Cassette Deck 1 azimuth-adjusted playback > Sound Devices USBPre2 > Audacity 3.1 capture > iZotope RX > iZotope RX9 Advanced and Ozone 9 > MBIT+ resample to 16/44.1 > Audacity > TLH > FLAC

01 Still Got This Thing
02 Rock This Joint
03 Love Is
04 Just One Kiss
05 Keyboard Solo
06 Lover of Mine
07 Hurry Make Love
08 Black Velvet
09 Kick Start My Heart

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 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: http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=500680.

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:

http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=667745&hit=1
http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=667750&hit=1

Alannah Myles, Sports Arena, San Diego, CA, August 9, 1990

We wrap up five straight weeks of female artists with Alannah Myles. Perhaps the most obscure of our picks so far, Myles is best known (in truth, to all but the most ardent known Canadian fans, only known) for her song "Black Velvet" which was a rock-radio smash at the time and won her a Grammy.

Myles was signed to Atlantic Records, which explains how she got the slot opening for Robert Plant on his Manic Nirvana tour. Plant's set from this night was released as Vol. 35 of the Lost and Found series.

Myles' self-titled debut album was released in March 1989 and over time reached the Top 5 largely on the strength of the single "Black Velvet" which went all the way to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 much to my surprise. I knew the song was big but not THAT big.

Her eight-song opening set is drawn entirely from her first album. As we've noted many times before, Mike "The Mike' Millard was not in the habit of recording opening acts, so we can only presume he like everyone else was enthralled with "Black Velvet" which is the clear highlight here.

Mike's in a great spot to record Myles' set and gets a better than usual capture out of the acoustically challenged Sports Arena. It's on par with the Plant recording. Samples provided.


###

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.

Big ups to Professor Goody for his pitch consultation and to mjk5510 for handling 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

Images for all shows as well as full size images for this show.

Images for this show: