The dance took place at the Ft Sidney Motor Hotel.
Sidney Telegraph, December 13, 1963
The yearbook page below includes a picture of the band.
In the photo at bottom right (L-R): Bobby Soto, Larry Soto, and Randy Meisner
Randy, at right, was seventeen at the time, married, with a three-week-old son.
The following article is perhaps The Dynamics first-ever review. The students at the dance were asked what they thought of the band. Even then the critics were tough.
The review below also includes an interview with Don Henley and Glenn Frey backstage. Randy and Bernie did not contribute much, but “stuck their heads in to add dry wit from time to time.”
At the show, the Eagles played a couple of numbers that would eventually end up on On The Border, including “Good Day In Hell” and “Ol’ 55” (sung by Glenn, but the author incorrectly states it was sung by Bernie). They also played “Be Good To Your Badman” (aka “Bad Man”), co-written by J.D. Souther and Glenn Frey, which did not end up on On The Border, but did become the first track on Randy’s first solo album in 1978.
Daily Illinois State Journal (Springfield), December 15, 1973
This was a free concert. The show started almost two hours late due to rain and temperatures in the 50s.
Pine Knot Yearbook, 1974
The preview of the concert below features a nice little write-up about Randy. The only inaccuracy is that it states that the first Poco album, Pickin’ Up The Pieces, made no mention of Randy. He is acknowledged in the credits, but not pictured.
Below, a couple tries to stay warm waiting for the concert to begin.
Randy wore the yellow Morehead jersey he purchased in the bookstore at Morehead State University when the band played a concert there the week before. He’ll wear it again in early 1974 during the taping of Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert.
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.
The Eagles played Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, IN on November 22nd, 1976. J.D. Souther opened.
Indianapolis News, October 22, 1976
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.
“Don Felder, Randy Meisner and a 3rd guy I believe was JD Souther came into a Burger King I managed which was a block from old Market Square Arena in Indy where they were playing that night. I went to counter and said hi guys. They replied in kind. Saw them on stage in same clothes that evening.” –@jn_walkerjr on X
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.
In November 1968, Pogo (aka Poco) played a legendary two-week stand at the Troubadour in West Hollywood. It was an appearance that would put them on the map.
The Eagles played the Met Center in Minneapolis on November 18th, 1976. J.D. Souther was the opening act.
Minneapolis Star, November 11, 1976
Photos copyright Timothy Crowe.
A week before the show on November 11th, the band was interviewed by radio host, Gary Bridges, for an Eagles special on WDBG.
Minneapolis Star, November 11, 1976
According to the review, the truck transporting the band’s sound system was involved in a serious accident in Des Moines, IA the day before the show, so the band had to rent less-than-ideal sound equipment for a large arena.
Randy participated in the first of a two-day benefit called “Gathering Of The Clan” for Fred Walecki, owner of Westwood Music in Los Angeles, who had been diagnosed with throat cancer. Walecki’s store was well-known in the music industry as the go-to place to buy instruments and other gear. According to Randy, all of the Eagles bought their instruments from him. “He became like one of the group almost.” The benefit was organized by Glyn Johns and Bernie Leadon. At the August 8th show, Randy sang “Take It Easy,” “Already Gone” and “Take It To The Limit” (listen below). Accompanying Randy on both tracks were his bandmates in the World Classic Rockers, plus fellow former Eagle, Bernie Leadon.
Randy backstage at the Fred Walecki benefit
“Take It Easy”
“Already Gone” and “Take It To The Limit”
Star-studded group photo at the Gathering Of The Clan. Randy is in the middle with his World Classic Rockers bandmates.
This was Black Tie’s first club performance. The band included, Randy, Jimmy Griffin from Bread, Billy Swan, David Kemper from the Jerry Garcia Band, and Randy’s former Eagle bandmate, Bernie Leadon, who toured with the band through January 1986, when he was replaced with Blondie Chaplin.
All but Leadon appeared on the band’s album, When Night Falls, which featured Randy singing lead on one song: Buddy Holly’s “Learning The Game.” However, when the album was rereleased on CD in 1990, Randy’s lead vocal on the song was replaced with Griffin’s. Listen to Randy’s version here:
“Learning The Game” (original album version) – Black Tie
On December 9th, 1961, the Dynamics played their first paid gig at Little Moon Lake, which was located about 30 miles northwest of Scottsbluff on the Nebraska-Wyoming state line.
Guitarist Larry Soto recalled the excitement of that first dance at Little Moon:
“That concert went so fast it was like it was over in a split second. The excitement level was incredible as the people were screaming and hollering and wanted to dance. Dances at Little Moon were big.” (Gering Courier, July 25, 1991)
This dance was the start of what became a regular job, in which the band performed at least two weekends a month. Twenty years later, Randy remembered how his parents drove him to the dances:
“Our first regular job was playing at this dance club that was about 30 miles away. I think we earned about $12.50 a night. My mom and dad would drive me out there, sit through the entire dance, and then take me home.” (Teen magazine, February 1981)
It was at Little Moon Lake that the band developed as performers, especially Randy.
“The dances at Little Moon Lake were responsible for us learning to play as a group and also as individuals. Randy and I had a hard time playing our guitars and singing at the same time. I was very shy, afraid of playing in front of a crowd. Randy, on the other hand, was a pure showman, playing in front of people made him perform better. He had the knack of feeding off the crowd. He was always on a different level than we were, which later on, helped him with his career.” (Larry Soto,TheDrivin’ Dynamics: A Rock And Roll Retrospect Of The Early Years, 1996)
The Dynamics in their first performance at Little Moon Lake: Drummer John Ankeny, guitarist Larry Soto, bassist Randy Meisner, and guitarist Richard Rohnke. (via TheDrivin’ Dynamics: A Rock And Roll Retrospect Of The Early Years by Larry Soto, 1996)
The Poor were among several acts on the Decca label who served as entertainment for a Decca Records promotional seminar in early August 1968. Randy’s ex-wife, Jennifer, recalled the the band performed “right inside the entrance as people were waiting to get on the trams.”
Cash Box, July 27, 1968
The Poor was included in photos of the seminar from Cash Box magazine, August 31, 1968
Randy took this photo of his wife Jennifer at Universal Studios during the Decca event. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Meisner)
The Eagles played Chicago Stadium on November 11th, 1976. J.D. Souther opened.
Chicago Tribune, October 24, 1976
Randy wore a shirt with the logo for Randy’s Rodeo in San Antonio, TX. He was also playing his newly acquired Music Man Stingray bass, which were just introduced that year.
Photos by David Slania.
“Best of all for me was ‘Take It To The Limit,’ played and sung with the kind of organic power that seemed rooted in the earth rather than pumped through amplifiers.” –Dick Saunders, Chicago Sun-Times.
