Rolling Stones
The Forum
Inglewood, CA
July 13, 1975
Mike Millard Master Tapes via JEMS
The Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Tapes Volume 246
Recording Gear: AKG 451E Microphones (CK-1 cardioid capsules) > Nakamichi 550 Cassette Recorder
JEMS Transfer: Mike Millard Master Cassettes > Yamaha KX-W592 Cassette Deck > Sony R-500 DAT > Analog Master DAT Clone > Audacity 3.1 capture > iZotope RX > iZotope RX8 Advanced and Ozone 10 > MBIT+ resample to 16/44.1 > xACT 2.50 > FLAC
01 Fanfare For The Common Man Intro
02 Honky Tonk Women
03 All Down The Line
04 If You Can't Rock Me > Get Off Of My Cloud
05 Star Star
06 Gimme Shelter
07 Ain't Too Proud To Beg
08 You Gotta Move
09 You Can't Always Get What You Want
10 Happy
11 Tumbling Dice
12 Band Introductions
13 It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (but I Like It)
14 Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)
15 Fingerprint File
16 Angie
17 Wild Horses
18 That's Life (Billy Preston)
19 Outa-Space (Billy Preston)
20 Brown Sugar
21 Midnight Rambler
22 Rip This Joint
23 Street Fighting Man
24 Jumpin' Jack Flash
25 Sympathy For The Devil
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 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: [
www.thetradersden.org].
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:
Rolling Stones, The Forum, Inglewood, CA, July 13, 1975
We've reached the fourth and final Stones recording made by Mike "The Mike" Millard in 1975. As Jim points out below, the year was a fruitful one for Millard, making some of his best recordings on his new Nakamichi 550 and AKG 451e rig.
Based on some of the comments received for the other Stones '75 tapes, it seems these transfers might be bigger upgrades in general compared to Mike's Led Zeppelin work, which seemed to be more widely distributed in first-generation copies on various mediums as well as subject to considerably more remasters than his Stones work.
This is not only Mike's last '75 Stones recording but the final show of their LA Forum run of five shows. At one point you'll hear Mick suggest this was the best audience of the bunch. July 13 is not generally held up as the best performance of the run, but I found this to be a satisfying listen if not slightly meandering at times. The band plays with more bite than I had previously given them credit for and there's something charming about Billy Preston's contributions, particularly on synthesizer, a sound not normally associated with this band.
Mike's capture is excellent, balanced and very "you are there." Samples provided. The source recording for this show is Rob S's DAT transfer of Mike's master cassettes done in the early 2000s.
Here's what Jim R recalled about the Rolling Stones' final show at the Forum in 1975:
I attended the Rolling Stones concert with Mike Millard at The Forum on July 13, 1975, the fifth of the five shows, four of which Mike recorded.
Closing night. In hindsight, this was the last time we saw the Stones indoors. All subsequent tours we went to were in stadiums. What a bummer!
We had great seats once again: Section B, Row A on the floor. Yep, once again Mike Millard and I were in the Front Row. Man were we spoiled. Mike might have sat a couple of rows back, but I can't remember.
Allow me to reminisce a bit: 1975 was such an awesome year for recording concerts. We saw Led Zeppelin seven times in March, all in arenas, and recorded five of them. Add to that these four Stones nights in July, and don't forget we also saw Tull in February, Faces in March, Pink Floyd in April, Yes in June and Elton in September. And those are just the major acts. We hit a multitude of lesser acts as well. What a run.
Ok, back to Stones, closing night 1975.
So here we are, the Rolling Stones, front row on a Sunday night with the Nak humming along and my camera clicking. It doesn't get old to say it was almost like they were playing in our own living room. High energy to say the least. Mick's vertical leaps were mind blowing. It does not get any better than this. Plus they played for over two and a half hours.
The only thing that would have made these shows better was if Mick Taylor was still on lead guitar. MT was so smooth and melodic. A virtuoso. Ronnie did the best he could; it was the beginning of the Keith and Ronnie "guitar weave" as Keith called it in later years.
I hope you enjoy the sights and especially the sounds of this very special night.
Hats off to my dear friend Mike may he rest in peace.
###
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.
This week we are indebted to and extremely grateful for Jim R's fine written and photographic contributions; Rob's original transfer and digital rip; Professor Goody's pitch advice; and the post production and CD design work of mjk5510.
Finally, cheers to the late, great Mike the MICrophone. His work never ceases to impress. May he rest in peace.
BK for JEMS
Also on FileFactory:
[
www.guitars101.com]
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024-10-21 18:28 by Rank Stranger.