Black Tie was formed in 1985 by Randy Meisner, Jimmy Griffin (Bread) and Billy Swan (‘I Can Help”). They released one album together called When The Night Falls.
When The Night Falls
Bench Records, Vinyl LP, released in 1985
Produced by Reggie Fisher & T-Bone Burnett
Randy sings lead on one song: Buddy Holly’s “Learning The Game.”
It’s unclear whether he plays bass on all tracks since more than one bassist is mentioned in the credits (i.e. Jerry Scheff and Kerry Morris).
“Learning the Game” (LP version – Randy on lead vocals)
“If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody”
Black Tie’s first single, James Ray’s 1961 hit, “If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody,” was released in the summer of 1985 on Reggie Fisher’s private label, Bench Records. Jimmy Griffin sang lead on the track. The band was honored at L.A.’s La Serre Restaurant following the single’s release.
In the following Cash Box article, Randy talked about the differences between the Eagles and Black Tie:
Cash Box, August 17, 1985
“With The Eagles, as I think it is with any group, you’ve got four or five members and each just gets a little bit. He doesn’t get to do everything he wants to get across. What’s been nice about this is that we’ve been able to do a lot more. There’s a real openness.”
Black Tie in 1986 (L-R: Jimmy Griffin, Randy Meisner, Billy Swan)
Photo: Richard Walton
When The Night Falls CD Reissue (1990)
For the CD reissue, Randy’s lead vocal on “Learning The Game” was replaced with Jimmy Griffin’s, although this was not mentioned in ads or articles.
Concert History
via the Randy Meisner Concert Archive
| September 28, 1985 | Civic Center | Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles Street Scene Festival |
| November 14, 1985 | Belly Up Tavern | Solana Beach, CA | Debut club performance. Bernie Leadon performs with the band. |
| December 7, 1985 | Madame Wong’s West | Santa Monica, CA | Bernie Leadon performs with the band |
| January 25-27, 1986 | The Lone Star Cafe | Brooklyn, NY | Bernie Leadon performs with the band |
| January 30, 1986 | Jonathan Swift’s | Boston, MA | Blondie Chaplin replaces Bernie Leadon |
| February 2, 1986 | The Station | Wilkes-Barre, PA | |
| February 8, 1986 | Harlow’s | Atlanta, GA | |
| February 9, 1986 | Music Row Showcase Club | Nashville, TN | |
| February 11, 1986 | Mississippi Nights | St. Louis, MO | |
| June 7, 1986 | Camp Kiwanis | Scottsbluff, NE | Music Fest ’86 |
| June 17, 1986 | Cinegrill | Hollywood, CA | |
| July 8, 1986 | Cinegrill | Hollywood, CA | |
| September 5, 1986 | Kono Hawaii | Santa Ana, CA | Show was cancelled. |
Black Tie Two
Black tie parted ways in 1986. Following the split, Randy toured with Rick Roberts as The Roberts-Meisner Band, then reunited with the original members of Poco for an album, Legacy, and a tour. In 1991, Reggie Fisher reassembled Black Tie, adding a new member, Charlie Rich, Jr, with the hopes of recording a second album. One song was released from these sessions, “I’m Sure Of You,” co-written by Rich and Billy Swan, which became a minor hit on the country charts in 1992. Years later, in 2006, Fisher issued an internet-only, 3-song EP called Black Tie Two (or just Two), which included “I’m Sure of You” and “Listen to the Radio,” as well as a version of “Away In A Manger.”
Below (clockwise from top: Reggie Fisher, Randy Meisner, Jimmy Griffin and Billy Swan)
Meisner, Rich & Swan
Black Tie disbanded for good in 1992. Jimmy Griffin left to focus on his group, The Remingtons, with Richard Mainegra and Rick Yancy. The remaining band members, Randy, Billy Swan and Charlie Rich, Jr decided to stick together and form their own group called Meisner, Rich & Swan.