Crosby Stills Nash & Young
Civic Auditorium
Santa Monica, CA
March 31, 1990
Mike Millard Master Tapes via JEMS
2496 Edition
The Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Tapes Volume 87

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

JEMS 2021 Transfer: Mike Millard Master Cassettes > Nakamichi Cassette Deck 1 azimuth-adjusted playback > Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 > Sound Forge Audio Studio 13.0 capture > Adobe Audition > iZotope RX8 > iZotope Ozone 8 > Audacity > TLH > FLAC


01 Rockin' In The Free World
02 Eldorado
03 Someday
04 Mother Earth (Natural Anthem)
05 Wasted On The Way
06 Change Partners
07 Blackbird
08 The Lee Shore
09 To The Last Whale...A. Critical Mass B. Wind On The Water
10 House Of Broken Dreams
11 Almost Cut My Hair
12 For What It's Worth
13 Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
14 Human Highway
15 Silver And Gold
16 Southern Cross
17 Wooden Ships
18 Teach Your Children

Known Faults:

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. 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 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.

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

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, CA, March 31, 1990

Mike was on hand for a special benefit concert that saw CSNY reunite to raise money and awareness for organ donation in support of their original drummer Dallas Taylor, who was in need on a kidney transplant. CSNY shared the bill with Chris Hillman's Desert Rose Band and Don Henley at the relatively intimate Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.

Though CSNY had played Young's Bridge School Benefit concert the prior October, one can forget that circa 1990 a CSNY reunion was a rare thing indeed. They had only reunited seven times prior to this show since the 1974 tour, and many of those gigs were brief appearances like Live Aid. While they would tour significantly in 2000, 2002 and 2006, CSNY had played fewer than 250 times ever.

The Civic show was a generous 18 song set, albeit made up primarily of songs from Young's solo career, CSN, Buffalo Springfield and a cover of The Beatles' "Blackbird."

Neil opened the show with "Rockin' In The Free World" and what would prove to be the second to last performance ever of "Eldorado," performed with Frank Sampedro. Third up was "Someday," followed by the world premiere of "Mother Earth (Natural Anthem)." Later in the set he added "Human Highway" and "Silver and Gold." On the solo tip, Stills chips in his own "Change Partners."

Dallas Taylor himself sits in for the final two songs of the night, "Wooden Ships" and "Teach Your Children," his first appearance with the group in 15+ years.

This recording is a rare exception to the rule of Millard only taping shows where he had tickets exactly where he wanted them. A quick audition makes it clear Mike was in the back of the hall, far from the PA, which can be extra challenging with acoustic performances. With the crowd largely Neil fans, true to form they are loud and obnoxious, meaning Mike's tape has more audience noise than usual. Samples provided.

While the recording is clear, it is not one of his best, but the historic nature of the show certainly merits his release. He also recorded the rest of the bill, and did the same for the second night on April 1.

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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.

Thanks this week to Professor Goody, who helped out with pitch on VERY short notice, and to the unflappable mjk5510 who always catches my pitches no matter how off the plate I throw them.

Finally, cheers 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.

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