The Bicentennial in Tampa, July 4th, 1976

A crowd of nearly 40,000 packed Tampa Stadium on America’s 200th anniversary for “4th Of July Jubilation,” an outdoor concert featuring The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac and Loggins & Messina. This was the Eagles’ first appearance in Florida with their newest member, Joe Walsh. A bootleg recording exists of the concert. I have provided a few clips at the end.

In the nearly 100-degree heat, Loggins and Messina kicked off the festivities with a great performance “as evidenced by two girls in the front row who removed their blouses in appreciation.”¹ Next came Fleetwood Mac, after an hour delay, who brought the audience to their feet with their hit, “Rhiannon.” Excitement had reached its peak when the Eagles hit the stage around 9:30pm with their anthem, “Take It Easy.” A few songs later, “Lyin’ Eyes” was dedicated to presidential candidate, Ronald Reagan, and Elizabeth Ray, a secretary, who was involved in a highly publicized sex scandal at the time involving her boss, U.S. Rep. Wayne Hays of Ohio. Following that was “Take It To The Limit,” the first of three songs Randy sang lead on that night. Between encores, which included “James Dean'” and “Best Of My Love,” there were fireworks with displays in the shape of the state of California, the American flag, and an eagle. Spotlights roamed the audience with blue and white beams. One journalist summed up the evening’s festivities this way: “It was a bang up Fourth Of July party, but one that a founding father never could understand.”²

Setlist
(via audio recording)

“Take It Easy”
“Outlaw Man”
“Desperado (Reprise)”
“Turn To Stone”
“Seven Bridges Road”
“Lyin’ Eyes”
“Take It To The Limit”
“Desperado”
“Midnight Flyer”
“Already Gone”
“One Of These Nights”
“Funk 49”
“Too Many Hands”
“Good Day In Hell”
“Witchy Woman”
“Rocky Mountain Way”
“James Dean”
“Best Of My Love”

Photos

The following images show Randy decked out in a red, white and blue, Fourth of July ensemble of red polo shirt, blue jeans, and a white Fender bass. Glenn Frey, on the other hand, chose to pay homage to the original Americans with a Chief Red Cloud t-shirt.

_{The Eagles heading to the stage.
Roadie Tommy Nixon, in visor up front, is hustling everyone.
Photo by David Alexander}

Audio

Below are the three songs that featured Randy on lead vocal that evening, taken from an audience recording of the show. The audio quality is far from perfect.

“Take It To The Limit”

After an intro by Glenn Frey, Randy delivers an absolutely flawless performance of his hit song. Unfortunately, the people around the recording device chitchat through most of it, but go berserk after Randy’s 6-second, world-ending high note at the end. After about 45 seconds of applause, Glenn comes to the mic and says “How about Randy?” (or something to that effect.)

“Midnight Flyer”

Our friends around the recording device decide to clap along instead of chitchat during this song.

“Too Many Hands”

Another intro by Glenn. The audio cuts in and out about 90 seconds into the performance.

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Reviews

¹“Top Rock Acts Fire Up Fourth,” Lillian Simoneaux, Central Florida (University) Future, July 16, 1976
² “Concert Fans In Pursuit Of Rock,” Bob Ross, Tampa Bay Times, July 5, 1976

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