Neville Brothers
Pacific Amphitheatre
Costa Mesa, CA
October 22, 1990
Mike Millard Master Tapes via JEMS
The Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Tapes Volume 183

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

JEMS 2023 Transfer: Mike Millard Master Cassettes > Nakamichi Cassette Deck 1 azimuth-adjusted playback > Sound Devices USBPre2 > Audacity 3.1 capture > iZotope RX > iZotope Ozone > MBIT+ resample to 16/44.1 > xACT 2.50 > FLAC

01 Shake Your Tambourine
02 Big Chief
03 Yellow Moon
04 Fearless
05 Tell It Like It Is
06 Healing Chant
07 Fire On The Bayou
08 Brother Jake
09 River Of Life
10 Amazing Grace
11 One Love/People Get Ready
12 When Something Is Wrong With My Baby

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

Neville Brothers, Pacific Amphitheatre, Costa Mesa, CA, October 22, 1990

We're back with another companion release, this time completing the lineup from the evening of October 22, 1990 when the Neville Brothers opened for Linda Ronstadt at the Pac Amp in Costa Mesa. Linda's set was released way back on Vol. 20 of the Lost and Found series and it is well worth a download in terms of both quality and performance.

The Nevilles were on the road in support of their 1990 A&M album Brother's Keeper, songs from which feature here. But the pairing with Ronstadt was more in response to the two hit singles she had as duets with Aaron Neville: the 1989 Grammy-grabbing smash "Don't Know Much" and 1990's "All My Life," both of which feature in her Costa Mesa performance. Linda does return the favor, appearing at the end of the Neville's opening set, duetting on a cover of the Sam & Dave classic "Something Is Wrong With My Baby."

As we wrote in the Ronstadt notes in Vol. 20, the quality of this recording is outstanding and incredibly up close. Mike "The Mike" Millard must have been sitting directly in front of the PA in Row CC, so much so that we've had to pull the bass back a touch because the AKGs and Nak 550 were getting everything the bass cabinet was pouring out. Samples provided.

We've noted before that Mike was not in the habit of recording opening acts all too often. Having seen but not taped the Nevilles opening for Linda ten days earlier at the Universal Amphitheater (Vol. 123), he must have enjoyed the set enough to make a point of recording them at the Pacific Amphitheatre.


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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 again to the extended JEMS family for helping get these spring break releases done ahead of time: Rob S for the transfer; Professor Goody for the pitch adjustment; 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
