Keith Richards and the X-Pensive Winos
Hollywood Palladium
Los Angeles, CA
December 15, 1988
Mike Millard First-Generation Tapes via JEMS
The Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Tapes Volume 252

Recording Gear: AKG 451E Microphones (CK-1 cardioid capsules) > Uher CR-240

JEMS Transfer: Mike Millard First-Generation Cassettes > Nakamichi CR-7A azimuth-adjusted transfer > Sound Devices USBPre 2 > Audacity 2.0 > iZotope RX10 > iZotope Ozone 8 > xACT 2.50 > FLAC

01 Take It So Hard
02 How I Wish
03 I Could Have Stood You Up
04 Before They Make Me Run
05 Too Rude
06 I Wanna Be Your Man
07 You Don't Move Me
08 Make No Mistake
09 Time Is On My Side
10 Big Enough
11 Whip It Up
12 Locked Away
13 Little T&A
14 Struggle
15 Happy
16 Connection
17 Rockawhile
18 It Means A lot

Known Faults: only 35 seconds of "Connection" recorded.

Keith Richards � guitar and lead vocals
Waddy Wachtel � guitar and backing vocals
Steve Jordan � drums, backing vocals, bass, keyboards
Charley Drayton � bass guitar, backing vocals, drums
Ivan Neville � keyboards, backing vocals, guitar, bass
Sarah Dash � backing vocals, percussion, lead vocals on "Time Is On My Side" and duet on "Make No Mistake"
Bobby Keys � saxophone

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.thetradersden.org/forums/...d.php?t=142055.

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.thetradersden.org/forums/...d.php?t=156400

Keith Richards and the X-Pensive Winos, Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles, CA, December 15, 1988

The Lost and Found Series on TTD continues with a decidedly DIME unfriendly recording of Keith Richards and his solo band the X-Pensive Winos at the Hollywood Palladium.

Mike "The Mike" Millard recorded the show at the behest of his friend Ed F. In fact, as noted above, this show wasn't taped on Millard's primary deck, the legendary Nakamichi 550, but Ed's Uher CR-240, which was the backup unit when the Nak was in the shop or having issues.

With the Stones off the road since 1982, Richards' tour was the closest thing to seeing the Stones and his setlist was peppered with band tracks including a few deep cuts, covers and a lot of his Talk Is Cheap solo album.

The Winos were with great players including future Stones drummer Steve Jordan and longtime Stones' saxophone player Bobby Keys. Studio aces like the legendary Waddy Wachtel round out the lineup.

This show was officially released in late 1991 in a 13-song incarnation omitting "Before They Make Me Run," "Too Rude," "I Wanna Be Your Man," "You Don't Love Me," "Little T&A," and "It Means A Lot." A more recent reissue restores all but "Before They Make Me Run" and the show-closing "It Means A Lot."

The Palladium is a very large ballroom in the shape of a roller rink and never known for its acoustics. Mike's not as close as he often was on his best work, but still able to make a solid capture. Samples provided.

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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 Ed F for clarifying the provenance of this recording and providing the first-generation copy; Professor Goody for the pitch analysis; and mjk5510 for handling post production and CD artwork.

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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