Press Kit For Randy’s 1978 Solo Debut
This press kit for Randy’s first solo album included a bio, photos, and a rare interview.
This press kit for Randy’s first solo album included a bio, photos, and a rare interview.
Florida Today writer, Billy Cox, attended the show. He had seen the Eagles back in 1975 at Greensboro (NC) Coliseum. He’d paid $10 (a lot of money in those days) for a seat behind the stage in the “nosebleed section.” But he didn’t complain. “We were lucky just to get in.” Now, seven years later, he was seeing Randy Meisner, one of the original foursome, at a Cocoa Beach nightclub.
Cox:
“It was strange to see him so close, and at only $5 a head. Not that he looked any different from the album covers, but here was some genuine symbolism. Randy Meisner, one of the Eagles’ original foursome (along with Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Bernie Leadon), had wound up at Brassy’s nightclub in Cocoa Beach.
“His soprano rang with soaring conviction, and when he performed his two trademark songs, which established him on creative parallel with main songwriters Henley and Frey –“Take It To The Limit” and “Try And Love Again” –the old magic was clearly at work here.”
After the show, Cox interviewed Randy backstage, where he unloaded, in uncharacteristic fashion, about his former Eagles bandmates, Don Henley and Glenn Frey. “I’m tired of covering up for those guys,” he said. He was angry and didn’t care who knew it.
“You bet I’m (angry). I may get sued for this but I really don’t care. I’m tired of covering up for those guys…I’ve been protecting the scoop and I want the truth to come out. You want a story, you got one.”
Attending the show that night were Randy’s parents, Herman and Emilie, who had made the trip from his hometown of Scottsbluff. After the show, his parents stood on stage with him onstage as Randy was given the keys to the city by Carol Veys, daughter of Mayor Al Veys. Not to be left out, Randy’s mom was given a silver plate engraved with the city seal. Randy thanked Ms. Veys with a kiss on the cheek and, since it was her 25th birthday, presented her with a cake.
In the lead up to the concert, Randy was interviewed by Steve Millburg from the Omaha World-Herald where he discussed living in Palm Springs and his decision not to retire from music after he left the Eagles (“I could have.”)
Randy’s show was plagued with sound problems, especially on “Deep Inside My Heart” and “Never Been In Love.” Nevertheless, he remained friendly and pleasant onstage, even with his crew, who had to turn off a spotlight that was burning the side of his face. Both reviews below include portions of a backstage interview with Randy, who talked about his future plans, including an upcoming tour of Japan (“for some reason they love me over there”), as well as recording and producing a new album the next year in Dallas with live sound engineer Buford Jones. This album ended up as the Dallas LP, which was recorded at Nick’s Uptown Theater and released in Japan in 1983. It was reissued on CD in the U.S. as Live In Dallas in 2003.
Randy Meisner returned to the stage in Houston, Texas in February 1981, following a two-and-a-half year absence. After the show, he sat down for a rare, candid interview with Dale Adamson of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE.
Randy opened for the Little River Band.
Randy spoke briefly backstage after the show, where he referred to himself, while he was a member of the Eagles, as “Harrison to Glenn and Don’s Lennon-McCartney.”
The real story behind the Knoxville 1977 concert, using facts from published reviews, plus Randy’s own words.
A rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the recording of Randy’s second solo album, ONE MORE SONG.
My series in which I let Randy do the talking.
“In His Own Words” will be an ongoing series featuring a compilation of quotes from Randy on different subjects. In this first installment, Randy shares his thoughts on performing, both as a solo artist and with the Eagles.
Keep readingIn this second installment of my series, In His Own Words, Randy talks about how he came to write or co-write some of his most treasured songs…
Keep readingThis is part three in my ongoing series where I let Randy tell his own story through a compilation of quotes. Here, he describes his early life and career, up until the formation of the Eagles.
Keep readingA variation on my In His Own Words series. Here…
Keep readingPart 5 in the series
The inside story of the Eagles’ third album and first with producer Bill Szymczyk & guitarist Don Felder. In the reviews, Randy’s “Is It True” is called the “most beautiful song on the album.”
In this interview, published by Teen magazine in February 1981, Randy talks about taking piano lessons as a kid, his early struggles in California, and leaving the Eagles.
A variation on my In His Own Words series. Here friends and colleagues tell us what they think of Randy.
This is part three in my ongoing series where I let Randy tell his own story through a compilation of quotes. Here, he describes his early life and career, up until the formation of the Eagles.