Eric Clapton
Pacific Amphitheatre
Costa Mesa, CA
May 4, 1990
Mike Millard Master Tapes via JEMS
The Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Tapes Volume 186
16/44 Edition

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

JEMS 2022 Transfer: Mike Millard Master Cassettes > Nakamichi Cassette Deck 1 azimuth-adjusted playback > Sound Devices USBPre2 > Audacity 3.1 capture > 24/96 > iZotope RX > iZotope Ozone > MBIT+ resample to 16/44.1 > xACT 2.50 > FLAC

01 Pretending
02 No Alibis
03 Running On Faith
04 I Shot The Sheriff
05 White Room
06 Can't Find My Way Home
07 Bad Love
08 Before You Accuse Me
09 Old Love
10 Tearing Us Apart
11 Wonderful Tonight
12 Band Introduction > Cocaine
13 Layla
14 Crossroads
15 Sunshine Of Your Love

Known Issues:
-Before You Accuse Me: splice

Eric Clapton � guitar / vocals
Phil Palmer � guitar
Greg Phillinganes � keyboards
Alan Clark � keyboards
Nathan East � bass / vocals
Steve Ferrone � drums
Ray Cooper � percussion
Katie Kissoon � backing vocals
Tessa Niles � backing vocals


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

Eric Clapton, Pacific Amphitheatre, Costa Mesa, CA, May 4, 1990

I'm privileged to curate Mike "The Mike" Millard's extraordinary archive of live recordings each week, but a whopping 186 volumes in, one can lose perspective.

Because I spend so much time transferring and/or mastering his tapes, the remarkable and consistent quality of Mike's work never escapes me. But I'll admit to sometimes thinking his '90s work is so long after his classic '70s era. This Eric Clapton show took place 33 years ago, hardly "new" work, and only 16 years after the first time Mike recorded him. Even within the Clapton timeline, this show predates him touring with the late George Harrison in Japan by one year and MTV Unplugged by two years.

The tour was in support of his late 1989 album Journeyman which spawned the hits "Pretending" and "Bad Love," both of which are showcased here along with several other album cuts, plus a best of his previous work include classics like "Layla" (is it just me or does he take something of an odd solo in this song?) and "White Room."

As we discussed in the recent Steve Winwood release (Vol. 180), a lot of early '90s concerts have a distinct (some might say cheesy) sound largely driven by heavier use of synthesizers. This isn't the most guitar-forward Clapton show you'll ever hear, but it is a--this word feels appropriate--smooth and polished performance with strong vocals and a great rhythm section.

The Pac Amp was Millard's home court in the '90s and he's up close as usual making a fat, rich pull. Samples provided. There is close clapping in spots, but mjk5510 did his best to mitigate the issue and overall this is an excellent document of the 1990 tour.


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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.

Each week I thank our collaborators and with good reason: These shows wouldn't be reaching your ears in such a consistent manner without their help. Thanks to Rob S for the transfer; Professor Goody for pitch advise; and mjk5510 for his post production support 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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