Day On The Green 1977: The Eagles Play Music & More in Oakland
The Eagles headlined two concerts at Day On The Green in Oakland over Memorial Day weekend. They also played a softball game.
EAGLES
Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC
June 27, 1977
Andrew Gold opened.
Randy handed out water to sweltering fans. His high note on “Take It To The Limit” was compared to opera soprano, Anna Moffo.
“Bassist Randy Meisner gave the crowd a good rush when he took a note in ‘Take It To The Limit’ that Anna Moffo would be proud to call her own. Meisner had a great rapport with the crowd. At least twice he came to the aid of fans sweltering on the front lines of the surging floor crowd with some liquid relief. They appreciated it and showed so by making him come to the mike to take a bow for his high note.”
Russ Edmonston, Greensboro Daily News, June 28, 1977
This was the Eagles’ second-to-last date on the first leg of their 1977 Hotel California tour (they played Cleveland the next two nights). Their next stop was Europe after a three-week break. Jimmy Buffett was the opening act.
The Eagles in Toronto:
Photo ©Doug McClement
Although their musicianship was flawless, many reviews from the Hotel California tour criticized the Eagles for just standing around like statues onstage. It was something that irked Randy, who wanted to move around and have fun. He was in a rock band, after all. The reviews for the Toronto show were no different in this regard. However, the critic for the Globe And Mail complimented Randy for bringing some much-needed humanity to the show, albeit temporarily, with his dazzling performance of “Take It To The Limit”:
“When humanity breaks through, it can often dazzle. Randy Meisner’s vocals were a case in point: he appeared throughout to be only passingly interested in the performance, but then stepped to the front for is impassioned vocal on ‘Take It To The Limit.’ Only then was it apparent that this man’s seeming disinterest actually hid some real emotion. The revelation passed as he returned to his bass.”
Paul McGrath, Globe and Mail, March 31, 1977 (see full review below)
Below: Randy dazzles the audience.
Photos © John Rowlands.
At a reception following the show, the Eagles were presented with a platinum record for Hotel California. Below they are photographed at the gathering with representatives from WEA (the international distributor for Asylum) and Toronto radio stations, CHUM & CFTR.
My only question is: Where’s Randy?
Reviews:
This was the third date on the Eagles’ 1977 Hotel California tour. Jimmy Buffett was the opening act.
Although this was the Eagles’ debut at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, the band played Felt Forum, the Garden’s smaller venue, back in 1972. For this sold-out appearance, the Eagles were backed by an orchestra for three songs: “Desperado Reprise,” “Wasted Time,” and “Take It To The Limit.” Three members of the Rolling Stones attended the concert: Mick Jagger, Ron Wood, and Bill Wyman. Wood accompanied the Eagles onstage for their last encore of Chuck Berry’s “Carol.”
An after-show party was given by Elektra/Asylum at the Garden’s Penn Plaza Club.
Praise for Randy:
“The event of the evening came with bassist Randy Meisner’s stunning vocalization of ‘Take It To The Limit’. In addition to sing-along support from the total audience, he received a standing ovation after each chorus.” (Record World, April 23, 1977)
Setlist
(Compiled from contemporary reviews)
Hotel California
Turn To Stone
Lyin’ Eyes
Doolin-Dalton/Desperado Reprise
Wasted Time
Take It To The Limit
New Kid In Town
Desperado
One Of These Nights
Turn To Stone
Already Gone
Life In the Fast Lane
Victim Of Love
Rocky Mountain Way
Welcome To The Club
Witchy Woman
James Dean
Take It Easy
Best Of My Love
Carol
Reviews
Rolling Stone, May 5, 1977
Record World, April 23, 1977
The After-Show Party
Among the guests were Faye Dunaway, Paul Simon, John Belushi, Dan Ackroyd, Linda Ronstadt and J.D. Souther. Although members of the Rolling Stones were present at the concert, they did not attend the post-concert party.
According to Rolling Stone magazine: “The guests dined on Mexican food, but only had one brand of cheap white tequila to wash down their tacos.”
Below: Glenn at the buffet table which included an ice eagle sculpture.
The Eagles At The Capital Centre, March 1977: A Closer Look
We take a deep dive into the concerts and footage from the Eagles’ two-night stint at the Capital Centre in 1977.
EAGLES & RANDY MEISNER
SONGBOOKS & TOUR BOOKS
Songbooks
These songbooks were released around the same time as each of the albums (Eagles & Desperado were published as one volume, back to back. Read one side, then flip it over to read the other). They included sheet music and lyrics for each song, accompanied by photos. The files below include abridged (shortened) versions of each these songbooks. I did not want to risk damaging the books by scanning every page (a couple are in fragile condition). All photos featuring Randy have been included.
Eagles – Eagles Songbook
Published 1973, Warner Bros. Publications
Included as a two-in-one with the Desperado Songbook.
Eagles – Desperado Songbook
Published 1973, Warner Bros. Publications
Eagles – On The Border Songbook
Published 1975, Warner Bros. Publications
Eagles – One Of These Nights Songbook
1976 Warner Bros. Publications
Eagles – Hotel California Songbook
1977 Warner Bros. Publications
Randy Meisner – One More Song Songbook
1981 Warner Bros. Publications
Tour Books
To my knowledge, the Eagles only published two tour programs during Randy’s tenure with the band. One to coincide with their Japanese tour in 1976 and one for the U.S. and European tour in 1977. Tour programs were published for Randy’s Japanese tours in 1981 and 1983. The latter is extremely hard-to-find. The ’81 program is included below.
Eagles – Japanese Tour Book 1976
Book included a poster
Eagles – 1977 Hotel California Tour Book
Distributed in both Europe and America.
Randy Meisner – Japanese Tour Book 1981
Nearing The End – The Eagles At Fort Worth, July 1977
The Eagles performed two nights in a row at the Tarrant County Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas on July 7-8, 1977. These shows marked the next to last concert appearances of Randy Meisner with the band.
EAGLES
Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, IN
November 22, 1976
J.D. Souther opened.
Before the show, Randy, Don Felder, and J.D. Souther were spotted grabbing a bite at the Burger King down the street from Market Square Arena.
Randy’s performance of “Take It To The Limit” was the highlight of the evening and earned him a standing ovation.
“The man who stole the show, perhaps, was bass player Randy Meisner, who sang lead only once. The number was last winter’s giant hit, “Take It To The Limit.” Meisner had ’em cheering long before the finish of the song. His clean, crisp high vocals earned him the only standing ovation for an individual performance.”
Zach Dunkin, Indianapolis News, November 23, 1976
Review from Indianapolis News, November 23, 1976. Joe Walsh is incorrectly identified in the photo as Don Felder.
EAGLES
Convention Center Arena, San Antonio, TX
November 2nd, 1976
J.D. Souther opened for the Eagles.
“The turning point of the show occurred when Randy Meisner, bass guitarist, sang “Take It To The Limit.” Meisner reached incredible high, sustained pitches with his strong, forceful voice that just sent shivers up the crowd’s spines. Crazed fans screamed and dashed toward the stage, where they remained until the end of the concert. Meisner received a standing ovation that lasted several minutes. When he realized the crowd wouldn’t stop, he danced and skipped around the stage which made the audience applaud even more.”
EAGLES
Arizona State University
October 15th, 1976
On October 15, 1976, the Eagles played the Activity Center at Arizona State University. J.D. Souther opened.
The review of the show in the Arizona State University newspaper, The State Press, mentions “Hotel California” as being played, which would have been the first documented performance of the song. The author incorrectly claims the album, Hotel California, was released in February 1976. This person must have been thinking of Their Greatest Hits: 1971-1975, which had been released that February (and did not include “Hotel California). The album Hotel California was not released until December.
Debunking The Myths: The Knoxville 1977 Concert, “Take It To The Limit,” and Randy Meisner’s Departure From The Eagles
The real story behind the Knoxville 1977 concert, using facts from published reviews, plus Randy’s own words.
Photo Archive: Eagles, May 6th, 1977
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Photographer: Hardy Schiffler
The Eagles pose following a press conference in Hamburg during their European tour. Read more here.
Photo Archive: Eagles, May 11th, 1977
Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands
Prior to their show at the Rotterdam Ahoy, the Eagles were presented with an award from their record company, WEA (Warner-Elektra-Atlantic), for exceeding half a million in record sales in the Netherlands.
European Tour 1977, Part One: London
The European Tour kicks off with four nights at the Wembley Empire Pool in London.
This four-part series documents the Eagles’ 1977 European tour in support of Hotel California. Playing seventeen gigs in five countries, this was the band’s first major tour of the continent as headliners.
