Stanley Clarke
Greek Theatre
Los Angeles, CA
September 11, 1979
Mike Millard First-Generation Tapes via JEMS
The Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Tapes Volume 135

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

JEMS Transfer: Mike Millard First-Generation Cassette > Nakamichi Cassette Deck 1 azimuth-adjusted playback > Sound Devices USBPre2 > Audacity 3.1 capture > iZotope RX > iZotope RX9 Advanced and Ozone 9 > Audacity > TLH > FLAC

01 Hymn Of The 7th Galaxy
02 Rock 'N' Roll Jelly
03 Silly Putty
04 Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (Charles Mingus)
05 Band intro
06 School Days
07 I Wanna Play For You
08 Confirmation (Charlie Parker)
09 Lopsy Lu
10 Life Is Just A Game
11 Hot Fun

Stanley Clarke - electric & acoustic basses
Steve Bach - keyboards
Charles "Icarus" Johnson - guitars
Simon Phillips - drums
Alfred Williams - saxophones
Al Harrison - trumpet
Al Binkley - trumpet
Dale Devoe - trombone

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

Stanley Clarke, Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, September 11, 1979

One of the revelations brought on by the discovery of previously uncirculated and uncredited Mike "The Mike" Millard recordings is the breadth of artists Mike captured. We add another great one to the list with this outstanding capture of the incredible bass player Stanley Clarke performing at the Greek in 1979.

Clarke was not only a leading light on the jazz-fusion (or more accurately jazz-funk) scene, but moved seemlessly between genres, seemingly just as comfortable touring with Chick Corea as with the Rolling Stones offshoot the New Barbarians.

Mike ended up see Clarke playing with both acts, as well as multiple times as a solo artist. This 1979 set sees him on tour in support of the double album I Wanna Play For You, songs from which are featured in the 11-song set along with covers of work by Charles Mingus and Charlie Parker.

That Clarke was playing a big venue like the Greek reflects how popular jazz and its rock and R&B flavored offshoots were at the time. Shame things aren't like that any more. Also check out the players in Clarke's band, aces all around. The playing here is outstanding and I find Clarke's lead bass work captivating.

As for Mike, the sound at smaller outdoor venues already works in one's favor and he makes an excellent pull this night, with wide fidelity from the bass to cymbals. Samples provided.

Here's what Jim R had to say about seeing Stanley Clarke and band at the Greek in 1979.

I went with Mike Millard to the Stanley Clarke concert at the Greek Theatre on Sept 11, 1979. We sat in Section A, Row G. This is seven rows behind the pit, dead center. We were elevated a bit above the stage. Great sight lines and definitely in our much desired "Sweet Spot."

The Greek Theatre is located inside Griffith Park near the famous observatory featured in Rebel Without a Cause. The setting is excellent for concerts--open air, offering a gentle, cooling breeze on a warm, late-summer evening and also great acoustics. Though it holds close to 6000 people, The Greek feels relatively intimate, making it one of the most desirable venues in SoCal. As a matter of fact, three days later Mike and I saw Joni Mitchell (Vol. 79 in the Lost and Found series). The venue had a strict "No Camera" policy so I left my camera bag at home for Stanley.

Mike and I loved seeing Clarke in concert. Just four months earlier in May, we saw him at the Forum as the bass player in the New Barbarians with Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood. We also saw Stanley several times at The Roxy in Hollywood. With his long, powerful fingers, Clarke could do things to a bass guitar few others could match. He is a wizard with a bass in his hands.

Stanley brought together an extremely gifted group of musicians, too. All of this easily won over a group of rowdy fans around us.

That's all I got for this one. I hope you enjoy the show as much as Mike and I did.

Cheers to my buddy Mike. RIP.


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JEMS is proud to partner with Rob, Jim R, Ed F, Barry G, Jim Ri 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.

Another week, another thank you to those who make our weekly releases in the Lost and Found series possible. Professor Goody is always available to consult on pitch adjustments and each week's release is the better for it. Goody also helps with some of the more challenging setlists including this one. JEMS' own mjk5510 continues to manage our release queue and handle post production and artwork. We thank them both. Shout out to Rob as well for the tape transfer and to Jim R for finding his ticket stub.

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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