Elton John / Los Angeles 1979 Final Night Mike Millard First Generation Tapes / 2CDR

Elton John / Los Angeles 1979 Final Night Mike Millard First Generation Tapes / 2CDR/ Uxbridge 1856
Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles, CA, USA 6th October 1979

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LA, which was also the highlight of the “BACK IN THE U.S.S.A.” tour that Elton John toured around the United States in the fall of 1979, was a famous audience recording by Mike Millard created from consecutive performances at the Universal Amphitheater. LOS ANGELES 1979: MIKE MILLARD FIRST GENERATION TAPES”.
However, Millard, who was a considerable Elton freak, could not finish the Universal Amphitheater continuous performance in one day, and he also participated in the performance on October 6, which was the final day.
“LOS ANGELES 1979: MIKE MILLARD FIRST GENERATION TAPES” was hit by rain on the fourth day of the performance, and Millard was able to experience the recording there, so Millard secured a good position from the fourth day as a second chance. dare to record.
The fourth day was also a wonderful recording, but the recording at the front seat was successful, and the best audience of the mirrored quality explosion that surpassed the fourth day was left.

This time also, the closeness of the sound image unique to mirrored recording stands out. Among them, the closeness of Elton’s piano and the vividness of the tone, and maybe even multi-tracks can’t be captured. You will be stunned by the realistic texture that seems to be.
Furthermore, since the first hour of the “BACK IN THE U.S.S.A.” tour is Elton’s solo performance, it is worth more that his piano handling was captured with such vividness, and listening with headphones is a thrilling level.
In terms of the fact that the stable mirrored quality was fully demonstrated, it definitely exceeded the quality of the 4th, and it seems that even the press CD could have been done with ease.

And the basic line of the set list and the stage composition where Ray Cooper joins with percussion from the middle is the same as the fourth day, but there is a special suitable for the last day of the continuous performance, so “Elton’s Song” which was not yet released A surprise to show off.
Moreover, the music has already been completed for the performance here, and it can only be said that it is fortunate that Millard captured the extremely valuable live performance scene with the finest sound quality.
As was the case on the fourth day, the excitement in the second half of the live was strange on this day, and Elton, who was beginning to be confused as an album artist at the time, continued to be a top-notch live performer. You will be reminded.
Millard captures such an enthusiastic excitement with an exquisite balance, for example, the call and response at “Bennie And The Jets”, and even the big circle “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”. Even the really fun chorus in “I Saw Her Standing There” is captured by Millard with a sense of realism with a harmonious balance.
In contrast to the lively performance of “LOS ANGELES 1979: MIKE MILLARD FIRST GENERATION TAPES” in the rain, this day was the final day of a series of performances held in a happy atmosphere. Once again, Millard will make maniacs around the world groan!

エルトン・ジョンが1979年の秋にアメリカ中を回った「BACK IN THE U.S.S.A.」ツアーのハイライトでもあったLAはユニバーサル・アンフィシアターでの連続公演から生み出されたマイク・ミラードによる名オーディエンス録音が『LOS ANGELES 1979: MIKE MILLARD FIRST GENERATION TAPES』。
しかし相当なエルトン・フリークであったミラードはユニバーサル・アンフィシアター連続公演を一日で終わらせるはずもなく、最終日となった10月6日の公演にも参戦してくれたのです。
『LOS ANGELES 1979: MIKE MILLARD FIRST GENERATION TAPES』こと四日目の公演が雨に見舞われたこと、さらにそこで録音を体験できたことからミラードはセカンド・チャンスとばかりに四日目より好ポジを確保しての録音を敢行。
四日目も素晴らしい録音でしたが、より前の席での録音が功を奏して四日目を上回るミラード・クオリティ炸裂の極上オーディエンスが残されることになりました。

今回もミラード録音ならではな音像の近さが際立っている。中でもエルトンのピアノの近さと音色の生々しさたるや、もしかしたらマルチトラックでも捉えられないのでは？と思えるほどリアルな質感に唖然とさせられます。
ましてや「BACK IN THE U.S.S.A.」ツアーは最初の一時間がエルトンの独演ですので、なおさら彼のピアノさばきがこれほどまでの生々しさで捉えられたという価値は高く、ヘッドフォンで聞くとゾクゾクするレベル。
安定のミラード・クオリティがいかんなく発揮されたという点においては間違いなく四日のクオリティを超えており、むしろプレスCDでも余裕で行けたと思えるほど。

そしてセットリストの基本線や途中からレイ・クーパーがパーカッションで加わるステージ構成は四日目と同じなのですが、そこは連続公演の最終日に相応しいスペシャルという事でまだリリース前だった「Elton’s Song」を披露するというサプライズ。
しかもここでの演奏は既に楽曲が完成しており、その極めて貴重なライブ披露の場面をミラードが極上音質で捉えてくれたというは幸運だとしか言いようがない。
四日目がそうだったように、この日もライブ後半の盛り上がりは異様なほどで、当時アルバム・アーティストとしては混迷期が始まりつつあったエルトンもライブ・パフォーマーとしては超一流であり続けたことを思い知らされるでしょう。
そんな熱狂的な盛り上がりに関してもミラードは絶妙なバランスで捉えてくれており、例えば「Bennie And The Jets」でのコール・アンド・レスポンス、さらには大団円「Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On」にインクルードされた「I Saw Her Standing There」における実に楽し気な合唱の様子までも、まるで嫌味のないバランスの臨場感で捉えているのもミラードの面目躍如。
雨の中でむしろ盛り上がった『LOS ANGELES 1979: MIKE MILLARD FIRST GENERATION TAPES』に対し、この日はひたすらハッピーな雰囲気で行われた連続公演の最終日。またしてもミラードが世界中のマニアを唸らせてくれます！

Disc 1 (79:50)
1. Your Song
2. Sixty Years On
3. Daniel
4. Skyline Pigeon
5. Take Me To The Pilot
6. Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going To Be Long, Long Time)
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. He’ll Have To Go
14. Elton’s Song
15. I Heard It Through The Grapevine

Disc 2 (78:49)
1. Funeral For A Friend
2. Tonight
3. Better Off Dead
4. Idol
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 / Pinball Wizard
14. Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On
15. I Saw Her Standing There
16. Twist And Shout
17. Crocodile Rock >
18. Back In The U.S.S.A. (Back In The U.S.S.R.)

Elton John – Piano, Vocals
Ray Cooper – Percussion, Vibraphone

Uxbridge 1856