Linda Ronstadt
Universal Amphitheatre
Los Angeles, CA
October 12, 1990
Mike Millard Master Tapes via JEMS
The Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Tapes Volume 123
1644 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 > Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 > Sound Forge Audio Studio 13.0 capture > Adobe Audition > iZotope RX8 > iZotope Ozone 8 > resample to 16/44 .wav > Audacity > TLH > FLAC

01 It's So Easy
02 When Will I Be Loved
03 Blue Bayou
04 Tumbling Dice
05 Ooo Baby Baby
06 Just One Look
07 Hurts So Bad
08 I Can't Let Go
09 Still Within The Sound Of My Voice
10 The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
11 Shattered
12 I Keep It Hid
13 Adios
14 Don't Know Much (with Aaron Neville)
15 I Need You (with Aaron Neville)
16 All My Life (with Aaron Neville)
17 Trouble Again
18 Goodbye My Friend
19 Band Introductions
20 Cry Like A Rainstorm
21 You're No Good
22 Back In The U.S.A.
23 Poor Poor Pitiful Me
24 Heatwave
25 When Something Is Wrong With My Baby (with Aaron Neville and the Tower of Power horn section)

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

Linda Ronstadt, Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles, CA, October 12, 1990

Linda Ronstadt was Mike Millard's favorite female artist. He recorded her eight times between 1977 (two shows from which were released as Vols. 11 and 72 in the Lost and Found series) and 1990, the year of this recording. The 1990 shows marked Ronstadt's first Amphitheatre apperances in eight years, a gap which saw her explore other genres including mariachi and her famous recordings with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra.

What's lovely about this show is the blend of Ronstadt's classic material with her other musical forays. She's on tour in support of her 1989 album Cry Like A Rainstorm, Howl Like The Wind, material from which is showcased here, notably her smash hit duet with Aaron Neville, "Don't Know Much," which the two perform this night as the Nevilles were the opening act. The album also served as a showcase for songwriter Jimmy Webb, and here Ronstadt performs a moving sequence of five Webb songs starting with "Still Within the Sound of My Voice" and wrapping with her marvelous vocal turn on "Adios."

As for those classics, they are rendered with panache, and if you want proof that Ronstadt hadn't lost a step, listen to her absolutely kill "I Can't Let Go."

The show finishes with a marvelous reading of "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby" featuring Neville and the Tower of Power horn section. That's one of two songs performed at Universal was dropped from the set when Mike recorded Linda eight days later in Costa Mesa (Vol. 20).

I'm not sure Mike ever walked out of the Universal Amphitheatre with anything less than an excellent recording. This one is truly sublime, capturing Linda and her band in full, powerful fidelity. 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.

Week after week we rely on the extended JEMS team for support and week after week they come through. Thank you to Professor Goody for pitch support, cpscps for off-DIME distribution and mjk5510 for 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

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