Crosby, Stills and Nash
The Forum
Inglewood, CA
June 29, 1977
Mike Millard Master Tapes via JEMS
16/44 Edition

The Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Tapes Volume 250

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

JEMS Transfer: Mike Millard Master Cassettes > Nakamichi CR-7A azimuth-adjusted playback > Sound Devices USBPre2 > Audacity 3.1 capture > iZotope RX > iZotope RX9 Advanced and Ozone 10 > xACT 2.50 > FLAC

01 Pre-Road Downs
02 The Lee Shore
03 Love the One You're With
04 I Used to Be A King
05 Just A Song Before I Go
06 Shadow Captain
07 Turn Back The Pages
08 Long Time Gone
09 Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
10 You Don't Have to Cry
11 Guinnevere
12 Our House
13 Cathedral
14 King Of The Mountain
15 Cross Road Blues > You Can't Catch Me
16 4 + 20
17 As I Come Of Age
18 Helplessly Hoping
19 Blackbird
20 To The Last Whale: a. Critical Mass b. Wind On The Water
21 D�j� Vu
22 I Give You Give Blind
23 Band Introductions
24 Military Madness
25 Carry On
26 Wooden Ships
27 Teach Your Children

Known Faults: "Pre-Road Downs" joined in progress, "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" cut/splice

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

Crosby, Stills and Nash, The Forum, Inglewood, CA, June 29, 1977

Three-part harmony continues for another week as we stay with Crosby, Stills and Nash, rewinding the clock five years back to what was arguably the trio's commercial peak having just released the third album, CSN, two weeks prior, their best-selling without Neil Young's involvement. The supporting tour had them playing sold-out arenas across the country including SoCal's concert cathedral, the Fabulous Forum.

Millard scholars will also recognize this concert takes place but two days after the final Led Zeppelin show of their six-night run at the same venue, four of which were recorded by Millard. Talk abut a busy eight days.

Like his Zeppelin work, Mike's CSN capture is excellent though given the sonic signatures of each group, quite different. While Zep's '77 sets also featured an acoustic set, CSN's acoustic numbers in 1977 were presented quieter in the room and less amplified, making for a stark contrast between the acoustic and electric numbers. What isn't different is the rapturous audience response each song brings.

The Forum crowd was all in on CSN who return the favor with a generous 26-song set loaded with new material and plenty of interaction with the audience, whose singalongs are strong too.

The level of audience interaction and dynamics between loud and soft songs only enhances the you-are-there quality of Mike's great recording. There's a different recording up on YouTube of this show that's inferior to Mike's. We had presumed his tape was out in the world but perhaps it will be new to many of you. Samples provided.

Here's what Jim R had to say about CSN at the Forum 1977:

I attended the CSN concert at The Forum on June 19 with my dear friend Mike Millard. Our new pal Rob S got us the tickets. We all sat together in the sixth row center on the floor. Thanks again Rob. We used the wheelchair to get in our gear.

This show was two days after closing night of Led Zeppelin's six shows at this same venue. What a contrast! We went from the hard rock, high decibel onslaught of LZ to the gentle harmonies of CSN with a normal volume level. LZ had a very tall black stage, the tallest I had ever seen at The Forum. CSN deployed a much shorter stage, making the artists and their music much more accessible.

This was a great show and all three members had a good supply of well-written songs from which to build a satisfying setlist.

I hope you enjoy the sights and sounds of this one. I did take a few decent pictures.

Cheers to my buddy Mike, may Mike and David Crosby Rest in Peace.

###

And here are memories from Rob S about the CSN �77 show as well:

CSN tickets for June 29, 1977 were to go on sale at the Forum box office on a Monday morning in March at 9:00 am. The Thursday night before, I drove to the Forum from my home in South Orange County to investigate and found a camper parked on the street with a list started for those lining up for tickets early so you didn�t have to stay in line the entire time. I signed in at #6, and was instructed to come back each day before a specified time and check in to keep my place in line.

On Saturday I signed in again and was talking to someone hanging out there about concert bootlegs and he said there was a guy he knew that recorded concerts with microphones in his hat, demonstrating with his index fingers pointing out from his head like horns. This old guy in his mid-20�s with red hair saw this conversation from way across the parking lot and walked over to us. He introduced himself as Mike Millard. He said he wasn�t on the list and asked where I was in line. He gave me his phone number and said to call him if I had an extra ticket.

Monday morning we needed to be in line by 10:00 AM but traffic from the OC was brutal and we got there a few minutes late. I got to the window and asked for 6 floor seats. The girl at my window turned around to her supervisor and said something to the effect of �is this kid a scalper?� I wasn�t, and I was given sixth row center seats.

I called Mike and arranged to meet him at his house in Fullerton. I didn�t want money for the tickets, I wanted something more valuable: copies of Millard�s tapes.

I figured I may never see this guy again, so I went for broke and asked for 4 shows in trade for a pair of tickets (Jim R, you are welcome!). I received Pink Floyd �75, Yes Long Beach �75, Clapton Forum �75 and Tull Dorothy Chandler Pavillion �77, all with Millard�s now trademark custom artwork. I remember not being able to wait until I got home to listen so I popped the Yes show in my Mazda pickup�s cassette deck and was just blown away by the quality of his recording.

These weren�t my last Millard Tapes. We became good friends and stayed that way until Mike passed in 1994. It all began at a chance meeting at the CSN ticket sale.

###

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 to Jim R for his notes and fine photography; Professor Goody for pitch correction guidance and mjk5510 for his stellar post-production work and CD friendly 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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