Grateful Dead/CA,USA 1980 Mike Millard First Generation Tapes

The released Mike Millard recording is from the Grateful Dead’s Long Beach Arena in 1980. Millard’s recording of the Dead, “LOS ANGELES 1991: MIKE MILLARD MASTER TAPES,” released last year, is still fresh in our memory, but this time, the Dead’s stage was unearthed 10 years earlier. 1980, and especially the second half of that year, was the time when the Dead recorded for the live album “DEAD SET,” which is highly regarded as a timeless masterpiece, and was one of their many peaks. This means that the releases during this period seem to be concentrated on recordings related to “DEAD SET,” and the last of the official live archive series that began after the band broke up was the Atlanta performance on November 30th, released in “DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 8.” However, Millard’s recording this time was from Long Beach, two weeks after Atlanta. The fact that he recorded this period is sure to attract attention from enthusiasts around the world, but the sound quality is truly amazing. The on-sound image and the detailed presence without any unpleasantness are exactly what you would call Millard’s style. Thanks to this, the combination of Jerry Garcia’s lead guitar and Bob Weir’s rhythm guitar can be clearly heard. Unfortunately, the cassette tape used during “To Lay Me Down” seems to have loosened, and the rotation speed becomes slightly unstable during the song. This is a flaw, but it was a blessing in disguise that it did not fall to an unstable level that was unbearable to listen to. Another thing is that this version is based on a first-generation cassette that Millard copied from the master to a friend, and at that time, the drum solo time “Drums / Space” by Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, which is familiar from live performances, was cut and copied. Thanks to this, it is not complete, but ironically, the drum solo was omitted, which made it easier to listen to as it fit on two discs. If it had been included, it would have taken up three discs. And as for the performance, in addition to the live album, the live video “DEAD AHEAD” was also recorded, so the Dead’s best performance can be heard throughout the entire album. They start off slowly, as they are, and then they start full throttle from around “Minglewood Blues”. And in “Playing In The Band”, Bill and Mickey’s twin drums overlap and rise to the top, making for a wonderful performance. The sound is so good that you can hear their playing clearly, and the reactions to the performance, such as the chorus from the audience on “Not Fade Away”, can be heard from behind, with an exquisite balance. This is literally another side of “DEAD SET” recorded by the master Millard! Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA, USA 13th December 1980 TRULY PERFECT SOUND Disc 1 (75:04) 1. Feel Like A Stranger 2. Sugaree 3. C.C. Rider 4. To Lay Me Down 5. Minglewood Blues 6. Ramble On Rose 7. Lost Sailor 8. Saint Of Circumstances 9. Deal Disc 2 (67:20) 1. Scarlet Beg onias 2. Fire On The Mountain 3. Playing In The Band 4. Not Fade Away 5. Black Peter 6. Sugar Magnolia 7. One More Saturday Night Jerry Garcia – lead guitar, vocals Bob Weir – rhythm guitar, vocals Brent Mydland – keyboards, vocals Phil Lesh – bass, vocals Bill Kreutzmann – drums Mickey Hart – drums