GiGinJapan Artwork of Japanese CDs (mostly) Elton John / Los Angeles 1979 Mike Millard First Generation Tapes / 2CDR / Uxbridge
Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles, CA, USA 29th September 1979
Play sample :
In terms of expressions at the time, Elton John in 1979 achieved the feat of “Western” rock artists performing live in the Soviet Union for the first time. After the performance in the Soviet Union, which was a big topic at that time, the US tour, which was held in the autumn in a triumphant mood, was also named “BACK IN THE U.S.S.A.”.
Regarding this tour, “BACK IN THE USSA TOUR: BOSTON 1979” released from UXBRIDGE has been regarded as the representative board, but a shocking and superb sound quality audience comparable to that was discovered.
The person who recorded it was Mike Millard. As a matter of fact, he was a big fan of Elton, which has been released so far “L.A. FORUM 1974: MIKE MILLARD MASTER TAPES”, “SAN DIEGO 1975: MIKE MILLARD ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES” and “ANAHEIM 1980: MIKE MILLARD MASTER TAPES” has been proven, but if that happens, it will be a “BACK IN THE U.S.S.A.” tour … Such a maniac’s wish will come true this week. After all Millard was recording the same tour.
The tour is set for 10 performances at LA’s Universal Amphitheater from late September to early October, and Millard can’t help but go there. In addition, speaking of this tour, it was performed with a simple organization of Elton’s piano and Ray Cooper, so instead of the arena and stadium like Elton until then, the number of performances was increased and the theater was performed.・The fact that the class venue was used also attracted a lot of attention.
Millard was recording the day that hit the middle of such a continuous performance, but the Universal Amphitheater is an outdoor theater. Despite this, the weather was not good on the day, and it seems that Millard also had a hard time setting up the recording.
For example, until the beginning of “Daniel”, there is only a little microphone connection noise mixed in, and finally there are places where the sound becomes monaural because it started raining from the middle. Because of that, I can’t deny the feeling that this time it was released on CD-R.
However, regarding the content of the live, there was even a feeling that the rain rather caused a miracle. On this tour, Elton, who was quick-witted when he finally got down in the middle of the familiar R & B cover “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”, sang “Singing In The Rain” ad lib, but the venue seemed to explode there. To the excitement. In the first place, the reaction of the live itself on this day is enthusiastic. In addition, the sound image is close like a mirrored recording.
In terms of the freshness of the detailed sound, “BACK IN THE USSA TOUR: BOSTON 1979” is the winner, but this time it is overwhelming in terms of the on-sound image and excitement. On the contrary, in “Tonight”, the sound of rain hitting (although it may be a disaster for Millard) is vivid.
Ironically, this situation resulted in raising the tension of the audience who would rather have been soaked, which culminated in the call-and-response scenes of “Bennie And The Jets” and “I Saw Her Standing There”. To. Ahead of the excitement, Elton involuntarily said at the finale, “I’m sorry for the unfortunate weather today.”
I would like you to fully grasp the feeling of such an exciting scene with headphones, and it is a level that gives you goosebumps when you actually listen to it. The excitement of Millard who captured the excitement of the tour, which was a great success, with an exquisite balance. A new standard from the 1979 “BACK IN THE U.S.S.A.” tour is here!
当時の表現で言うとすれば「西側」のロックアーティストが初めてソ連でのライブを敢行するという快挙を成し遂げた1979年のエルトン・ジョン。当時大きな話題を呼んだソ連公演後、意気揚々とした中で秋に行われたアメリカ・ツアーはその名も「BACK IN THE U.S.S.A.」名付けられました。
このツアーに関してはUXBRIDGEからリリースされた「BACK IN THE USSA TOUR: BOSTON 1979」が代表盤とされてきましたが、それに匹敵する衝撃の極上音質オーディエンスが発掘されたのです。
録音してくれたのはご存じマイク・ミラード。実のところ、彼がエルトンの大ファンであったことはこれまでリリースされてきた「L.A. FORUM 1974: MIKE MILLARD MASTER TAPES」、「SAN DIEGO 1975: MIKE MILLARD ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES」そして「ANAHEIM 1980: MIKE MILLARD MASTER TAPES」といった名盤群が証明してくれていましたが、そうなれば「BACK IN THE U.S.S.A.」ツアーだって…そんなマニアの願いが今週叶います。やはりミラードは同ツアーを録音してくれていたのでした。
同ツアーは9月下旬から10月上旬にかけてLAのユニバーサル・アンフィシアターでの10公演がセッティングされており、そこへミラードが向かわないはずがない。おまけに本ツアーと言えばエルトンのピアノにレイ・クーパーの二人だけというシンプルな編成で行われたことから、それまでのエルトンのようなアリーナやスタジアムではなく、代わりに公演数を増やしてシアター・クラスの会場が使われたことでも話題を呼んだもの。
そんな連続公演のちょうど中日に当たる日をミラードは録音してくれていたのですが、ユニバーサル・アンフィシアターは野外のシアター。にもかかわらず当日は天候が思わしくなく、ミラードも録音のセッティングに苦心した模様。
例えば「Daniel」の序盤までは少しだけですがマイクの接続ノイズが混入してしまいますし、遂には途中から雨が降り出してきたせいで音がモノラルになってしまう箇所まである。そのせいで今回はCD-Rでのリリースとなった感は否めません。
ところがライブの内容に関しては雨がむしろ奇跡を呼び起こした感すらあったのです。このツアーではおなじみのR＆Bカバー「I Heard It Through The Grapevine」の途中で遂に降りだすと機転を利かせたエルトンが「Singing In The Rain」をアドリブで歌い出したのですが、そこで会場は爆発しそうなほどの盛り上がりに。そもそもこの日のライブ自体がの反応が熱狂的。おまけにミラード録音らしく音像が近い。
きめ細やかな音の鮮度という点では「BACK IN THE USSA TOUR: BOSTON 1979」に軍配が上がるのですが、オンな音像と盛り上がりという点では今回の圧勝。それどころか「Tonight」では雨が当たる音まで（ミラードからしたら災難かもしれませんが）入るという生々しさ。
皮肉なことに、この状況がむしろずぶ濡れとなったであろう観客のテンションを上げる結果となり、それが「Bennie And The Jets」や「I Saw Her Standing There」におけるコール・アンド・レスポンスの場面で頂点に。あまりの盛り上がりを前に、フィナーレでエルトンが思わず「今日はあいにくの天気でごめんね」と語りかけたほど。
そうした盛り上がりまくる場面は是非ヘッドフォンにてたっぷりと感じを掴んでいただきたいほどでして、実際に聞いていて鳥肌が立つレベル。大盛況だったツアーの盛り上がりを絶妙なバランスで捉えてくれたミラードの面目躍如。79年「BACK IN THE U.S.S.A.」ツアーからの新たなるスタンダードがここに！
Disc 1 (69:27)
1. Your Song
2. Sixty Years On
3. Daniel
4. Skyline Pigeon
5. Take Me To The Pilot
6. Rocket Man
7. Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me
8. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
9. Roy Rogers
10. Candle In The Wind
11. Ego
12. Where To Now St. Peter
13. I Heard It Through The Grapevine / Singing In The Rain
Disc 2 (72:17)
1. Funeral For A Friend
2. Tonight
3. Better Off Dead
4. Island
5. I Think I’m Going To Kill Myself
6. I Feel Like A Bullet (In The Gun Of Robert Ford)
7. Scott Joplin Intro / Bennie And The Jets
8. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
9. Mama Can’t Buy You Love
10. Part-Time Love
11. Crazy Water
12. Song For Guy
13. Saturday Night ‘s Alright For Fighting
14. Pinball Wizard
15. Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On
16. I Saw Her Standing There
17. Twist And Shout
18. Crocodile Rock
19. Back In The U.S.S.R.
Elton John – Piano, Vocals
Ray Cooper – Percussion, Vibraphone
Uxbridge 1738
