Moody Blues / LA Forum 1974 Mike Millard Master Tapes / 2CDR

The Forum, Inglewood, CA, USA 30th January 1974

Equivalent to the new Corona Severe … No, the master excavation project of the absolute master Mike Millard, which will be remembered as an even more important matter for collectors. The masterpiece of the early mirrored announced as the 99th bullet is now available.
It is “January 30, 1974 Inglewood performance” that is imbued with such a work. It is the excellent audience recording. Speaking of mirrored, his favorite machine “AKG mic + Nakamichi 550” is legendary, but in the early days when he started recording, he used “Shure mic + Sony TC-152SD”. rice field. It is said that the original equipment recorded 10 times, but this work is the very early stage, which is the second time among them. It is a live album where you can enjoy the moment of the dawn of the giant who has made a name for himself in the history of recording.
Of course, the protagonist of the music work is not the recorder but the performer. In that respect as well, this work was extremely good, and it was the eve of the collapse of the golden lineup of the famous band THE MOODY BLUES of the dawn of progressive rock. To realize its meaning, let’s first look back on the schedule at that time.

● 1972
<< September “Seventh Sojourn” completed >>
・ October 21st-November 4th: North America # 1 (13 performances)
● 1973
・ September 4th-October 8th: Europe (23 performances)
・ October 24-November 8: North America # 2 (14 performances)
● 1974
・ January 18-23: Japan (5 performances)
・ January 27 + 28: Honolulu (2 performances)
・ January 30-February 4: North America # 3 (4 performances) ← ★ Coco ★
《April: Withdrawal from Mike Pinder》

This is the process from the completion of the last masterpiece “Seventh Sojourn” in the progressive rock era to the collapse of the golden lineup. Mike Pinder returned in 1978, but withdrew again during the production stage of “Octave of the New World.” He was a “golden five” and never went on tour again. The Inglewood performance of this work is the final stage. It was the first day of “North America # 3”.
This work recorded at such a show is a masterpiece representing the early mirrored. As a matter of fact, compared to the masterpieces of later years, the sound is rough and it is also a “very vintage recording”, but even in the early days, the genius is a genius. The sprouting of talent has already been felt, and the aesthetic sense that is similar to later works is exuding in the thick core and delicate details. The overall image is like a radio broadcast in the 1960s, but its brilliant yet old fashion taste suits THE MOODY BLUES. After all, they were a synonymous band of Mellotron at that time. The powerful yet sepia-colored sound amplifies the unique sorrow.
What is drawn with such an early mirrored sound is the culmination of the progressive rock route. Speaking of the golden lineup live (although it may be a little off), the official excavation board “LIVE AT THE ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL 1970” is famous. Let’s organize the set while comparing here.

・ Days of Future Passed (2 songs) Tuesday Afternoon / Nights In White Satin
・ In Search of the Lost Chords (2 songs) Legend Of A Mind / Ride My See-Saw
・ Dream (5 songs) Are You Sitting Comfortably? / The Dream / Have You Heard (Part 1) / The Voyage / Have You Heard (Part 2)
・ To Our Children’s Children (4 songs) Higher And Higher (★) / Out And In (★) / Watching And Waiting (★) / Eternity Road (★)
・ Question of Balance (2 songs) Melancholy Man / Question
・ Dome (2 songs) The Story In Your Eyes (★) / One More Time To Live (★)
・ Seventh Sojourn (1 song) I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band) (★)
* Note: “★” marks are songs that cannot be heard in “LIVE AT THE ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL 1970”.

… And it looks like this. Not only “Domu” and “Seventh Sojourn”, which are works after the Isle of Wight, but also a repertoire from the masterpiece “To Our Children’s Children”. It is a literal “culmination” that is evenly selected from all seven works of the progressive rock era.
A famous band among the famous bands that Jimmy Page said, “The only really progressive bands are PINK FLOYD and MOODY BLUES”. The most important turning point in its history was recorded by the master Millard … It is a live album that makes me excited about the fact itself. A new masterpiece with a historical thrill that not only allows you to experience the 1974 full show that should have been left officially, but also allows you to enjoy the starting point of an absolute master. Please enjoy it to your heart’s content.

★ Excellent audience recording of “January 30, 1974 Inglewood Performance”. This is the very early work, which is the second work even in the early days when Millard used “Shure Microphone + Sony TC-152SD”. The sound is rough and can’t be compared to the masterpieces of later years, but the thick core and delicate details already show the sprouting of talent. The brilliant yet old fashion taste suits THE MOODY BLUES, and you can fully experience the culmination show of the prog-rock line that concentrates the famous songs from “Days of Future Past” to “Seventh Sojourn”.