Eagles at Day On The Green, 1977
The Eagles headlined two concerts at Day On The Green in Oakland, CA over Memorial Day weekend, 1977. They also played a softball game.
EAGLES
Greensboro Coliseum
June 27, 1977
The Eagles played Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, NC on June 27, 1977. Andrew Gold opened. This concert was one night before the infamous Knoxville concert where Randy and Glenn Frey had a backstage fight.
During the concert, Randy handed out water to sweltering fans, and 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
Notice that Randy is playing a black Hagstrom bass. A change from his usual Rickenbacker 4001 from the 1977 Hotel California tour. He played the black Hagstrom a few days earlier in Birmingham as well. Find out more about Randy’s basses here.
Photo by Marc Y. Chenevert:
At some point during this stop in Greensboro, Randy was interviewed by Lou O’Neill, Jr from the New York Post. The short interview was published on July 15th, 1977. Read it below:
New York Post Interview, July 1977
An interview with Randy Meisner published in the New York Post, July 15th, 1977.
Keep readingThe Eagles played Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario on March 30th, 1977. It was the second-to-last date on the first leg of their 1977 Hotel California tour. Jimmy Buffett was the opening act.
The Eagles in Toronto:
Photo ©Doug McClement
Although Paul McGrath, from the Toronto Globe & Mail, criticized the Eagles for just standing around onstage, he did compliment Randy, albeit backhandedly, for bringing some much-needed humanity to the show, 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 his impassioned vocal on ‘Take It To The Limit.’ Only then was it apparent that this man’s seeming disinterest actually hid some real emotion.”
Paul McGrath, Globe and Mail, March 31, 1977 (see full review below)
Below: Randy with his Rickenbacker 4001 at Maple Leaf Gardens.
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. Randy is not pictured.
Reviews:
EAGLES
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
MARCH 18th, 1977
On March 18th, 1977, the Eagles played Madison Square Garden in New York City. This was the third date on the Eagles’ 1977 Hotel California tour. Jimmy Buffett was the opening act. Although this was the Eagles’ first appearance at Madison Square Garden, the band played the Garden’s smaller venue, Felt Forum, 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.” Randy also performed “Try & Love Again” from their latest album, Hotel California. 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.” (Kristeen Nicholson, Record World, April 23, 1977)
Setlist
(Compiled from concert reviews)
Hotel California
Turn To Stone
Try & Love Again
Lyin’ Eyes
Doolin-Dalton/Desperado Reprise (with orchestra)
Wasted Time (with orchestra)
Take It To The Limit (with orchestra)
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
Oh Carol (with guest Ron Wood)
Randy performing “Take It To The Limit.” Photo ©Stephanie Tarre.
Reviews
New York Post, March 19, 1977
This review mentions Randy’s performance of “Try & Love Again,” although it is misspelled as “Trying Love Again.” The reviewer, Jan Hodenfield, referred to the song as “The Eagles meet Hall and Oates, at the intersection of San Bernardino and South Philly.”
Rolling Stone, May 5, 1977:
“Certainly the Eagles stage presence and show are not intended to drive anyone to the brink of Rollermania…the Eagles strike no rock & roll stage poses, flaunt no athletic grace, if anything, they loiter….
“The tunes — and the Eagles must be celebrated for their tunesmithing — were certainly fun to listen to. Don Henley, who has a problem drumming and singing at the same time (admittedly, not the easiest of tasks), wasn’t miked loudly enough, a problem since he’s taken over most of the lead singing. But Randy Meisner’s tenor cut through the instrumental mix well, and Glenn Frey, the original California dreamer, was surprisingly forceful.” (Peter Herbst, Rolling Stone)
Record World, April 23, 1977:
Variety, March 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 with Faye Dunaway and Joe with his mom.
Photos from Rolling Stone, May 5th, 1977:
Below: Glenn at the buffet table which included an ice eagle sculpture.
The Eagles At The Capital Centre, March 1977: A Closer Look
On March 21st and 22nd, 1977, the Eagles played sold-out shows at the Capital Centre in Largo, MD. Both of the shows were filmed. Here we take a deep dive into the concerts and existing footage.
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.
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 Eagles’ 1977 Knoxville concert & Randy Meisner’s alleged refusal to sing “Take It To The Limit,” using facts from published concert reviews, plus Randy’s own words.
Photo Archive: Eagles by Hardy Schiffler
Press Conference, Hamburg, May 6th, 1977
The Eagles pose following a press conference in Hamburg during their European tour. Read more here.
Photo Archive: Eagles, Award Ceremony
Rotterdam, May 11th, 1977
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.
Eagles at the Wembley Empire Pool, London, 1977
The Eagles played four nights at the Wembley Empire Pool in London on April 25-28th, 1977. It was the first gig of their European Tour.
The Eagles at the Ahoy Rotterdam, May 11-13, 1977
The Eagles were presented with an award in Rotterdam, and a newly-shorn Randy emerges for the final shows in Sweden.
BANDSConcert HistoryEaglesEuropean Tour 1977Hotel CaliforniaHotel California TourSongsTake It To The Limit
Eagles In Germany, May 1977
The Eagles toured Germany as part of their 1977 European Tour. Valerie Carter was the opening act. This was Randy’s second visit to the Germany. […]
The Eagles in Glasgow, Scotland, 1977
The Eagles performed two nights at the Apollo in Glasgow, Scotland on April 30th-May 1st, 1977. Joe Walsh played the bagpipes in a kilt, and Randy’s version of “Take It To The Limit” was a highlight.
BBC Radio 1 interview with the Eagles, April 1977
In April 1977, the Eagles were interviewed for BBC Radio 1 in London. Each member was interviewed individually, including Randy who answered questions for a full six minutes.