EAGLES Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles December 31, 1974
Dan Fogelberg opened. They also invited a few guests to join them. That’s Randy with the beard in the photos from the show.
Los Angles Times, December 29, 1974
Daily Trojan (USC), January 10, 1975
Randy (left) with J.D. Souther
“When midnight arrived, the Eagles treated everybody to a bluegrass treatment of ‘Auld Lang Syne,’ released a passelfull of balloons and let loose a gorilla who threw bananas to the audience.Then they invited a few of their friends, including Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne and opening act Dan Fogelberg–on stage to join them for ‘Take It Easy.'” (San Pedro News-Pilot, January 4, 1975) Joe Walsh was also among the guests.
L-R: Randy, Joe Walsh, Dan Fogelberg, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne.
POGO Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA December 26-29, 1968
Also on the bill were The Steve Miller Band & Sly and The Family Stone.
Berkeley Barb, December 20, 1968
The following poster was created for the Fillmore show by psychedelic poster pioneer, Wes Wilson, who was commissioned by concert promoter Bill Graham to design posters for the Fillmore in the late 1960s. These posters have become legendary.
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. All photos featuring Randy have been included. Presumably, of Randy’s three solo albums, only One More Song has a songbook.
***A couple of pages were accidentally left out of the Desperado and On The Border Songbooks. Those have been updated.
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
EAGLES Coliseum, Evansville, Indiana December 17, 1973
Also on the bill were Bachman Turner Overdrive and Dan Fogelberg.
The review below includes a very brief interview with Glenn Frey, who said he was at a “low emotional ebb” after performing five nights in a row. It also has a couple of misprints, including the ages of the band members (“23 and 24”). At the time of the concert, Randy was the oldest at 27, Don Henley and Bernie Leadon were 26, and Glenn Frey was 25. Randy’s “Tryin'” is listed as “Keep On Moving” and “Sun’s Come Up” is “Ol’ 55.” The latter would appear on their not-yet-released album, On The Border in April 1974. Another song intended for the album, “Don’t Be Mean To Your Bad Man,” written by J.D. Souther and Glenn Frey, was also performed, but did not end up on the album. It later appeared as just “Bad Man” on Randy’s self-titled debut in 1978.
THE DYNAMICS Sidney High School Christmas Cotillion, Sidney, NE December 14, 1963
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. Randy is on the right.
In the photo at bottom right (L-R): Bobby Soto, Larry Soto, and Randy Meisner
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.
EAGLES Kiel Opera House, St. Louis, MO December 13, 1973
Dan Fogelberg opened.
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
RANDY MEISNER University Of Florida Bandshell, Gainesville, FL December 12, 1982
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.
EAGLES Atlantic Christian College, Wilson, NC December 11, 1973
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.
EAGLES Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, IN November 22, 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 walked into the Burger King I was managing 2 blocks from old Market Square Arena in Indianapolis the afternoon of their local Hotel California tour concert at MSA. Saw them in the same clothes on stage that night. https://t.co/lShQwTBtdI
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.
EAGLES Metropolitan Sports Center, Minneapolis, MN November 18th, 1976
J.D. Souther was the opening act.
Minneapolis Star, November 11, 1976
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.
Sadly, no mention of Randy in the review (the only band member not mentioned).
“Gathering Of The Clan” Benefit for Fred Walecki August 8, 2000
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 “Already Gone” and “Take It To The Limit” (listen to his set 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
“Already Gone” and “Take It To The Limit” (the entire set with talking between songs and at the end).
Star-studded group photo at the Gathering Of The Clan. Randy is in the middle with his World Classic Rockers bandmates.
