Electric Range

In 1996, Randy Meisner produced the self-titled debut by the Ohio band, Electric Range. It was his first and only stint as sole producer of an album.

Randy had long had an interest in producing. Over the course of his career, he had watched and learned from some of the best in the business, from Peter Asher to Bill Szymczyk. In the mid-70s, he designed and built his own studio in the basement of his home in Mitchell, NE. He also had a studio at his last home in Studio City, CA.

The role of a producer may vary depending on whom you ask. But to put it simply, a producer is responsible for the overall sound and feel of an album. As Beatles producer Sir George Martin described it, the producer’s role is “to steer the recording into the particular musical direction he wants.”¹

The origins of Electric Range date back to 1970 when Ohio natives, John Alden and Peter Bradstreet, along with L.A. musician Billy Darnell appeared on Dewey Martin And Medicine Ball, the first solo album by former Buffalo Springfield drummer, Dewey Martin.² A short time later, Alden, Bradstreet and Darnell, along with Pat Aicholtz & three others, formed the band Starbuck (not to be confused with the band by the same name who sang “Moonlight Feels Right.”)

_{Below: Starbuck opened for Love and the Spencer Davis Group at the Univ. of San Diego in May 1971}

In 1971, Starbuck was signed to Clean Records, a subsidiary of Atlantic, and were all set to record their first album, with none other than Don Everly as producer. But the project was scrapped halfway through the recording.

Peter Bradstreet:

“We began at the top (in Los Angeles). We worked the Hollywood Bowl with the Everly Brothers. We had a recording contract. We seemingly had it all, but it all fell apart.”³

Electric Range, 1996
L-R: Robin Lamble, Pete Bradstreet, John Alden, Billy Darnell, Patrick Aicholtz.

Twenty-five years later, the members of Starbuck reunited at the urging of longtime fan, Jim Foreman, who became their manager. This time calling themselves Electric Range. In addition to Bradstreet, Aicholtz, Alden, and Darnell, bass player, Robin Lamble, had been added to the group.⁴ The band returned to their roots in Dayton, OH, to finally record their first album.

In 1997, Randy described how he became involved with the project:

“A couple of years ago I was invited to sing with Billy Darnell, Robin Lamble, and Jon York on a vocal track for an album by Peter Lewis of Moby Grape.⁵ A few weeks after we finished, Billy and Robin came by my studio with an arrangement for a song they were working on called ‘Walking In My Sleep’. After calling John Alden long distance to get the lyrics down, Billy, Robin, and I huddled around a microphone trying to vocally capture the dreaminess of someone walking in their sleep. That was my introduction to Electric Range.

“Over the next few months, they would drop by with new material the band was working on to get an opinion or suggestion here and there. Pretty soon I was calling them with ideas. By the time Smokehouse signed them, it was almost mutually decided that I would produce their album. When they actually got around to asking me – of course I said yes.

“Over the years I have been fortunate to work with some great producers – Peter Asher for the ‘Sweet Baby James’ sessions, and Glyn Johns and Bill Szymczyk during my years with The Eagles. When you work closely with great talents like these, you hope that some of the knowledge and magic rubs off. When I accepted the role of producer for this album, I was certain those lessons I learned would help me find the best approach to making their music even more powerful. I’m thankful to have learned from the best and proud of the work we’ve accomplished on this album. I think we’ve made some fine music. I hope, gentle listener, that you find it so.”⁶

Randy with members of Electric Range.
L-R: Pat Aicholtz, John Alden, Robin Lamble, Randy, Billy Darnell, Peter Bradstreet
_{Photo by Jim Foreman}

The album was recorded Refraze studios in Dayton in the Spring of 1995. Besides Randy as producer, the album was engineered by Refraze owner, Gary King, and Allen Day.

_{Randy at Refraze studios in Dayton, June 1995}

David Larsen of the Dayton Daily News published a short piece about the making of the album on June 5th, 1995. He mentioned how Randy had been in town for the past two weeks working on the album. He also described a recording session for one of the songs on which Randy sang backing vocals.

David Larsen, Dayton Daily News:

“Meisner, who founded the band Poco, was asked to produce because of his experience with vocal harmonies.

“‘He’s a good choice for a producer,” said Refraze owner and engineer Gary King. ‘You can tell he spent a lot of time in the studio.”

“The band invited family and friends…to the studio Saturday to record an ensemble chorus for the song Old Timers. Meisner joined in, signaling King and engineer Allen Day from inside the studio as he sang.”

_{Studio A at Refraze, circa 2000}

_{Randy with Kenny Day, brother of recording engineer Allen Day, at Refraze:}

Album artwork

Henry Diltz is credited for the cover & Joshua Tree photos. Both Diltz and Neil Young are credited with the cow photo on the disc (Young owned a cattle ranch). Band photo by local Dayton photographer, Colin Gatland.

The photo of Randy in the CD booklet was taken by Henry Diltz. Below are a couple of outtakes from that session. Randy posed with his vintage red Ford pickup truck in the driveway of his home in Studio City. He purchased and restored the truck in the 1970s and kept it until his death in 2023. (Photos via George Carpenter)

Randy with Electric Range manager, Jim Foreman, left, and Henry Diltz, taking a selfie with his Nikon camera. (Photos via Jim Foreman.)

Randy’s father Herman passed away during the recording of the Electric Range album on June 18th, 1995. The album is partially dedicated to him. Randy’s girlfriend and future wife, Lana Graham is also listed in the acknowledgements.

Making notable guest appearances on the album were Chris Hillman, Hoyt Axton,⁷ and Vern Monnett, guitarist for Meisner, Swan & Rich.

Axton appeared as a favor to guitarist Billy Darnell and Randy, according to Smokehouse Records president George Carpenter:

“Hoyt, who traveled to Dayton in 1995 with his driver Bubba in his big blue ‘Montana Sky’ bus to sing a few supporting parts on the first Electric Range recording at ReFraze Studio, was an engaging personality. As a favor to guitarist Billy Darnell and our producer Randy Meisner, Hoyt supplied his talents for gas money only.” (George Carpenter, public Facebook post March 2023)

In addition to producing, Randy also contributed to four tracks on the album on either bass or backing vocals.

Black Satin – Bass, with Chris Hillman on mandolin
Sailing Home – Backing Vocals
Riding Down The Canyon – Backing Vocals
Far Away – Backing vocals by Randy & Hoyt Axton

When Randy passed away on July 25th, 2023, Smokehouse Records founder George Carpenter wrote the following tribute:

“In 1994 Randy agreed to produce the self-titled Electric Range project for my fledgling Smokehouse Records. He flew to Dayton and for 2+ weeks worked through live rehearsals with the band (John Alden, Pete Bradsteet, Billy Darnell, Robin Lamble and Patrick Aicholtz) at Michael Bashaw’s Linden Ave. studio … and then laying down those wonderful tracks at ReFraze Studio with Gary King and the assistance of the late Alan Day. Randy went back home for a few weeks and returned to complete mixing. His attention to the bands harmony-focused material was a reflection of his history with the famous Eagles vocal mastery…

“By no means were Randy and I anything more than business associates, but his contributions to this project validated my desire to get ER’s music out there. He was kind and professional, never losing his temper or composure … the vocal tracks being particularly central. Throughout the turmoil of his professional and, sadly his personal life, Randy weathered many storms. May you now rest in eternal peace Mr. Meisner. TITTL ” (George Carpenter, public Facebook post, July 28, 2023)

Electric Range member John Alden passed away in 2022.

Notes

1. Sir George Martin, All You Need Is Ears, 1979 ↩︎
2. Dewey Martin and Billy Darnell, along with Randy, were original members of Open Secret with Rick Roberts, which later became the Roberts-Meisner Band. Dewey was eventually replaced with drummer Ron Grinel. Darnell with guitarist Cary Park. ↩︎
3. Dayton Daily News, January 7, 1975 ↩︎
4. Robin Lamble was a former member of Al Stewart’s band, in particular the Time Passages album (1978). His brother Martin Lamble was the original drummer for UK folk rock legends, Fairport Convention. Martin died tragically in a van accident in 1969. ↩︎
5. The Peter Lewis song on which Randy sang backing vocals was called “Changing.” Listen to it here. ↩︎
6. Former Smokehouse Records website (now defunct) ↩︎
7. Hoyt Axton and Poco shared a bill in 1968 at a benefit for the L.A. Free Clinic held at USC’s Bovard College. At the time Poco was billed as R.F.D. ↩︎