Steve Winwood/CA, USA 1988

In 1988, Steve Winwood was enjoying his heyday with his masterpiece “ROLL WITH IT” reaching No. 1 in the US. Introducing the original master of the legendary Mike Millard who conveys the scene. What is infused into this work is “July 24, 1988 Costa Mesa performance”. This is a super-superb audience recording of a vacuum-packed act of “TOUR OF THE WORLD 1988” accompanying “ROLL WITH IT”. This work is not only a wonderful Wynwood live album, but also an important work in Millard’s recording history. However, before we talk about its meaning, first let’s talk about Shaw’s position. Speaking of the “ROLL WITH IT” era, the legendary solo first visit to Japan was also realized, so let’s check the schedule at that time. 1988《“ROLL WITH IT” released on June 21st》・July 7th – September 4th: North America (43 performances) ←★Here★・September 25th – October 6th: UK (9 performances) March 27th – April 7th, 1989: Japan (7 performances) [Winter: Production of “REFUGEES OF THE HEART” begins] This is Steve Winwood in 1988/1989. In 1989, there was only a performance in Japan, but the main part of the tour was the “North American” leg immediately after its release. The Costa Mesa performance of this work was the 13th concert. What makes this work recorded at that show so special to Millard? In fact, it was a comeback work after a long hiatus. Millard is known for leaving countless masterpieces in the 70’s and being active until the early 90’s, but he did not always continue recording. He suddenly stopped his activities in the latter half of 1983, and has not left any work for about five years. Why he stopped recording, and what prompted him to restart it…even among those who knew the deceased, it is still unclear. The currently prevailing theory is that he was arrested in the latter half of 1983 and has been marked by the authorities since then. It seems that the last recording before the suspension of activities was “ARMS BENEFIT CONCERT” in December 1983, but it may have been a show that Millard wanted to attend even at the risk of being arrested again. In any case, this is the first work in which Millard, who had once retired, returned as a taper for the first time in about five years. The sound of this work is a wonderful recording that makes the blank seem like a lie. Anyway, it’s a super direct sound with no sense of distance and a clear outline. Although it is not mistaken for a sound board in terms of tone, there is no sparse feeling peculiar to the audience, and it is a powerful recording with plenty of density in the mid-bass. In fact, because it was so direct, there was some chatter at the peak of the deep bass during the opening part (as expected, the sound became dull!?), but it recovered immediately. The amazing skills of the 70’s that continue to intoxicate the world are back. The stunning comeback sound depicts a full show with Wynwood in the middle of a huge success. Speaking of “TOUR OF THE WORLD 1988”, the radio sound source of the Mansfield performance broadcast on WESTWOOD ONE is a classic, but that FM sound board was edited according to the broadcast frame. This work, which goes all at once, has a large number of songs as well as the order of the songs. Let’s organize the sets while comparing them here. Solo (13 songs)・Arc of a Diver: While You See A Chance・Talking Back to the Night: Help Me Angel (★)/Valerie・Back in the High Life: Freedom Overspill / Take It As It Comes (★) / The Finer Things / Split Decision (★) / Higher Love / Back In The High Life Again Roll With It: Put On Your Dancing Shoes / Hearts On Fire (★) / Don’t You Know What The Night Can Do?/Roll With It Other Classics (4 songs)・THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP: I’m A Man (★)/Gimme Some Lovin’・TRAFFIC: The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys /Glad *Note: Songs marked with a ★ were not heard on the FM broadcast of the Mansfield performance. …and it looks like this. A full set that includes all the same songs as the Mansfield broadcast, plus 5 additional songs. Not only has the volume of each solo album increased, but you can also enjoy “I’m A Man” from THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP era. Another highlight is the collection of famous songs unique to that time. Winwood put an end to his solo career in 1991 and proceeded to reunite with TRAFFIC, but here they will sing “Valerie,” “Split Decision,” “Hearts On Fire,” and “Don’t You Know What The Night Can Do?” He will also perform numbers that he didn’t sing as often after he restarted his solo career. More specifically, “Help Me Angel,” “Take It As It Comes,” and “Put On Your Dancing Shoes” will no longer be regulars until this tour. You can fully enjoy such delicious repertoire with Mirrored’s magic sound. Steve Winwood, who was enjoying the wind of a big hit, and Mike Millard, who returned to the front line after a five-year hiatus. This is a masterpiece of musical culture that could only have been born because two geniuses from completely different fields were in the same place at the same time. A live album that fans of both can’t miss. A superb audience recording of the “July 24, 1988 Costa Mesa performance”, which was held while “ROLL WITH IT” was No. 1 in the United States. This is Millard’s comeback work after being away from recording for about 5 years, but the sound is so beautiful that the blank is like a lie. In any case, it is a powerful recording with no sense of distance, an ultra-direct sound with a clear outline, and plenty of density in the mid-bass. The set that sums up his solo career is wonderful, and you can enjoy plenty of delicious masterpieces unique to that time, such as “Split Decision,” “Hearts On Fire,” “Take It As It Comes,” and “Put On Your Dancing Shoes.” Live at Pacific Amphitheater, Costa Mesa, CA, USA 24th July 1988 TRULY PERFECT SOUND Disc 1 (71:53) 1. Intro 2. Freedom Overspill 3. Take It As It Comes 4. Help Me Angel 5. Put On Your Dancing Shoes 6. Hearts On Fire 7. Don’t You Know What The Night Can Do? 8. The Finer Things 9. The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys 10. Glad 11. Band Introductions 12. I’m A Man Disc 2 (40 :57) 1. While You See A Chance 2. Split Decision 3. Roll With It 4. Valerie 5. Higher Love 6. Back In The High Life Again 7. Gimme Some Lovin’ Steve Windwood – vocals, guitar, keyboards Anthony Crawford – guitar, vocal Mike Lawler – keyboards Randall Bramblett – saxophone, keyboards Hollie Ferris – trumpet, keyboards, Vocals Michael Rhodes – bass Russ Kunkel – drums Bashiri Johnson – percussion LeAnn Phelan – vocals