This was most likely Randy’s last touring date with The Stone Canyon Band.

Chicago Tribune, February 19, 1971

The following review in the underground Chicago paper, Earth, provides a partial setlist for one of the Mr. Kelly’s shows.

Hello Mary Lou
Easy To Be Free
California
She Belongs To Me
Life
Look At Mary
Honky Tonk Woman


Randy’s last name is misspelled in the review as “Meysner.”

Earth Magazine, July 1971

RICK NELSON & THE STONE CANYON BAND
Houston Music Theater
December 27, 1969

Houston Chronicle, December 26, 1969

Below: L-R: Randy Meisner, Rick Nelson, and Allen Kemp

Photo by Larry Lent (via Rockin Houston)

Rick was interviewed the UT/Austin newspaper, The Daily Texan, in the dressing room before the Houston show. Tequila sours were passed around, but Rick declined. The band members were asked what they thought of Rick as a person and performer (no band members were mentioned by name): “A sensitive and fair, understanding and easy-going guy.” The article also included a less-than-positive review of the show. The reviewer felt that Rick exuded no personality and just stood there and sang. He was also criticized for singing too much country and western and not enough of the earlier hits he was known for.

The Daily Texan (Univ. Of TX/Austin), January 7, 1970

Below: Rick backstage with local Houston rock photographer, Larry Lent.

Photo via Rockin Houston

RICK NELSON & THE STONE CANYON BAND
Bitter End, New York City
August 22nd – September 1st, 1969

Newsday, August 22, 1969

Watch their performance of Fats Domino’s “I’m Walkin'” filmed by David Nelson at the Bitter End, August 1969.
This was the first song Rick sang on The Adventures Of Ozzie and Harriet back in 1957.
Notice at 1:44 that Randy is playing a red Gibson bass, a switch from his usual gold Fender Precision from this period.

Although we hear pedal steel, there is no steel player on stage. The Stone Canyon Band was only a foursome at this point (Rick Nelson, Randy Meisner, Allen Kemp and Pat Shanahan).
The audio here is from Rick Nelson In Concert, recorded at the Troubadour a couple of months later in October 1969, with Tom Brumley on pedal steel.



Rick Nelson & The Stone Canyon Band
JD’s, Phoenix, AZ
October 24-25, 1969


Rick Nelson & the Stone Canyon Band performed two nights at JD’s.

Arizona Republic, October 25, 1969

The Arizona Republic noted that Rick was “sharing the spotlight” with a “longhaired bass player”:

Arizona Republic, October 25, 1969

Here’s Rick and the band performing their cover of Bob Dylan’s “She Belongs To Me” from the Easy To Be Free documentary, directed by David Nelson. At the 1:34 mark, the footage moves from JD’s to their appearance at The Troubadour in Hollywood a week later. The footage is less than perfect. Rick and The Stone Canyon Band’s recorded a cover of “She Belongs To Me” during the summer of 1969. It was released as a single in August to coincide with their tour and became a Top 40 hit.

At the time of the JD’s appearance, the Rick Nelson & The Stone Canyon Band was a four-piece with Randy on bass, Allen Kemp on guitar, and Pat Shanahan on drums. Tom Brumley was added on pedal steel for the Troubadour shows.

Read more about Randy’s tenure as an original member of Rick Nelson & The Stone Canyon Band here: